21 Oct 2020 07:38:00
Eric Bailly out for 3-4 weeks with muscle injury confirmed . Feel sorry for the lad but its a business and might be wise to think about cashing in if he can't stay fit, obviously more to it than plain bad luck he might just be one of those injury prone players his whole career.

1.) 21 Oct 2020
21 Oct 2020 08:42:09
I said this over the summer, while I think Bailly is one of our better centre backs, the lad just can't stay fit.

2.) 21 Oct 2020
21 Oct 2020 09:28:21
I donâ€™t even think heâ€™s that good. Bailly, Rojo and Jones all need to be shipped out and replaced. Promote Tuanzebe and one other, and buy another CB.

Tuanzebe last night was incredible. Now if he can stay fit!

3.) 21 Oct 2020
21 Oct 2020 10:04:59
If Tuanzebe can stay fit then he can become a great option for us. Mengi also looks a super talent. Add that to Maguire and Lindelof (who aren't half as bad as most people seem to think) . Then we have some decent players to work with, if we play three at the back then Shaw looks well suited to the LCB role, maybe look to bring in another left footed CB to complete with him and add some balance to our defensive options.

4.) 21 Oct 2020
21 Oct 2020 12:07:50
Iâ€™m with you Eric, I donâ€™t see what Bailly has to offer us. It probably says more about the quality of our other CBs that Bailly is highly thought of.

5.) 21 Oct 2020
21 Oct 2020 15:55:17
Really like Tuanzebe. But most importantly, we looked much more in control and focused. Lindelof looks much more assured when not playing with Maguire.

Maguire's positional sense is a nightmare which gives those around him more work to do. But when lindelof plays with a more competent centre half, like Tuanzebe last night, it just seems to work better.

But I'm sure Maguire will walk back in unfortunately.

And shappy, mengi, he is the one. Honestly, really excited to see him when he makes the step up. We shouldn't need to buy another CB with him around.

6.) 21 Oct 2020
21 Oct 2020 17:12:13
Angel, Mengi looks potentially like a top level talent. However, that jump from academy to professional football is vast, and many highly talented players have fallen by the wayside.

To be honest if looking at our central options when playing with three at the back we have Lindelof, Maguire and Shaw as first choice and I think they work well together. Tuanzebe and Mengi coming through to challenge those in the first 11. What we really need is another left footed (or at least left sided) centre back to challenge Shaw.

When playing three at the back the RCB and the LCB need to be comfortable moving wider into areas more traditionally covered by the full back. Which is why ideally you want a left footed LCB.

There are some very good options out there who could be available. David Alaba, if he can't sort out a new deal with Bayern would excel in the role. While players like Pau Torres, Zagadou, Bastoni, Badiashile and Ndicka could all offer solid options as well, all being left footed.

While Mengi has played on the left of the centre back partnership and at LB on occasion, so while being right footed he could easily enough cover there.

7.) 21 Oct 2020
21 Oct 2020 17:51:14
I'm still not convinced with Lindelof angel.
He has not improved over time.
He still gets bullied and struggles in one vs one situations.

I'd like us to go for a top class CB like Giminez or Upamecano, to compete with Maguire, Lindelof and Tuanzebe.

8.) 21 Oct 2020
21 Oct 2020 23:37:53
Angel,

You say unfortunately our captain will walk straight back in but I thought he had a very good game against Newcastle, he won absolutely everything and looked so assured after he got his goal.

9.) 22 Oct 2020
22 Oct 2020 09:40:11
I think a back three with quick players either side of Maguire suits him. It allows him to step forward into midfield with the ball with adequate protection either side of him.

While I think Lindelof has better defensive instincts than Maguire, Harry is far more physical and certainly stronger in the air.

While we played excellently against PSG one thing I did note was PSG never tried the aerial route. Which suited us as Shaw and Lindelof are okay at best in the air and Tuanzebe is untested at the highest level.

In the EPL Maguire might be the better option. In Europe Lindelof might be the better option.

10.) 22 Oct 2020
22 Oct 2020 12:33:46
I donâ€™t get this obsession with needing a left footed CB. Especially as most wingers are now inverted and cut inside, moving on to the defenders right foot. It seems mythical to me.

11.) 22 Oct 2020
22 Oct 2020 23:41:45
Wazza, it's about balance and shape. I would agree in a back four a left footed CB is less important. However, when you play a back three the LCB will have to move out to cover the LB area of the pitch. Which is why being left footed in that situation is preferable.

While the current fashion for higher pressing means that centre backs need to play passes quicker while maintaining accuracy. If you are right footed playing on the left, your options for a quick pass are limited to those players playing on your left, either LB or LW. Whereas a left footed player has a wider area of the pitch to play passes quickly.

If you're right footed and you are pressed then you will have to turn so your left hand side is shielding the ball. If you do that on the left hand side of the pitch you are turning inward towards your goal and then your passing option is limited to your CB partner or maybe a longer more dangerous pass across your box to your RB. If they are marked then you are screwed.

The advantage of a right footed player on the right and a left footed player on the left. Is that the players can play passes more quickly off their stronger foot. While if they are pressed they will naturally, instinctively turn their body in such a way that they will play away from goal and away from the danger area.

That is why Pep has signed Lapotre and Ake, while Arteta has signed Gabriel, David Luis and Pablo Mari.

Tactical managers looking for the best "ideal" solution. It is why left footed CB's are highly prized.

It's why Bayern Munich paid â‚¬80m for Lucas Hernandez. While they also play Alaba at LCB often if Hernandez isn't available.

While it's perfectly possible to play a right footed player on the left, you statically get better results from playing a left footer.

12.) 23 Oct 2020
23 Oct 2020 13:24:59
The players you list don't exactly pour glory over your argument Shappy. With the exception of Laporte, of course, but the rule of averages says one of them will be good.

Look where it got LVG, he's history and we've ended up with Rojo.

Think where we'd be if had just signed Koulibaly or Varane rather than try to over complicate things.

I can't remember any time in following football where a CB pairing has been successfully because one of the pair is left footed, and that's when wingers were proper wingers. In fact most to the best pairings have both been right footed.

It's a load of old bolloxolgy if you ask me.

13.) 23 Oct 2020
23 Oct 2020 15:54:18
GDS, not convinced he deserves the spot to be honest given how he has been playing. And it's unfortunate that he will walk straight back into the team.

14.) 23 Oct 2020
23 Oct 2020 15:54:52
TRD, I'm still much more convinced by Lindelof than I am Maguire.

15.) 24 Oct 2020
24 Oct 2020 00:52:16
Weâ€™ve got a LCB. His name is Rojo. Argentina international. Didnâ€™t work out. Injured a lot. Very rash. To be fair he would have been decent in a back 3 a few years back. Never really tried it.

16.) 24 Oct 2020
24 Oct 2020 02:12:36
Eric,

He played there for the under 23s tonight who played a 3-4-3 formation. Williams played right wing back and Pellestri also played. A last minute penalty winner in a 2-1 win, impressive performance considering how young this team is.

17.) 24 Oct 2020
24 Oct 2020 08:05:11
Is Rojo even in the Premier league squad?

{Ed047's Note - yes but not the Champions league squad