Yeah, I agree with horse archers or just archers need a lot of attention, Sometimes I've been working with my main force, only to notice that my archers/horsearchers just forgot to withdraw that one time (even though they were in skirmish mode) and got slaughtered. I've had very good experiences with a large group of archers though.. while crusading, 5-6 units of archers along with 4 spear units has managed to beat off a LOT of what the infidels sent against me. This was quite light armoured troops though, such as beduins, sahara cavalry and nubians/abyssinians..(At least they LOOK lightly armoured) when the saracen spearmen came, it all went to hell. luckily, I dominated the sea, and could send reinforcements from italy constantly.. Sadly these troops came at a large cost. I had a run in with the pope earlier because I lifted a siege of one of my castles after counter-attacking the sicilians by invading sicily.. uhm dispose of him.

When he came back my troops constantly made loyalist uprisings in Rome (whom I retreated with and sent to the holy land). I got automatically excommunicated for the uprisings, assassinated the pope... loyalist uprising again.. and so forth. I figured I wanted to get rid of him the easy way if he excommunicated me again before, and destroyed everything I found in Rome. So the pope wouldnt have any proper defence with decent units. Now he has trouble with catholic bandits(Since he cant produce troops yet, and he refuses to ally with me. The only way to help him is to get excommunicated again (Since you automatically start a siege if you beat the province holders, the rebels) And I want the pope, to be able to crusade.