Centre back options

Shads said:
Mangala himself thinks he is most likely to stay as a back up LB or LCB if he stays. He just wasn't sure when I asked him if he was going to stay or not.
Click to expand...

I'd keep him for this season and see how he gets on. Especially if we're going to be playing with 3 at the back. He's left footed so will help with the balance of the team. Still think there's lot of improvement in him.
 
We are not going to be able to get a CB who is better or equal to what we already have for anything less than £35 million in the current climate.

Personally I'd keep Mangala. He's different and can physically handle the stronger attackers. If we're defending a 1 goal lead away at a long ball side like WBA or United then he'd be the perfect option to bring on.

Plus I don't see his lack of passing ability to be a major problem. The majority of teams that we play just turn up to defend and all you want your CB to do is give it to the likes of Yaya or KDB who normally drop deep or pass it to the more accomplished passer is Stones, Vinny or Ota.

Kompany is a shoe in to start when fit. The club won't give up on Stones who is also a top defender and Otamendi is a criminally underrated player who is easily one of the best CBs in the PL.

Trying to sell the position of 4th choice CB might be difficult to a player but it looks like Eli will be willing to take a squad role and will cost nothing!
 
It's an near enough impossible task in finding the right Centre back for anything less than £35m. Although I think Mangala should be moved on, he could do a job for this season.
 
Last edited:
I'm rooting for a Manga comeback, I think it just makes massive sense to keep him around as depth, but unfortunately just can't see it happening.
 
daztrueblue91 said:
We are not going to be able to get a CB who is better or equal to what we already have for anything less than £35 million in the current climate.

Personally I'd keep Mangala. He's different and can physically handle the stronger attackers. If we're defending a 1 goal lead away at a long ball side like WBA or United then he'd be the perfect option to bring on.

Plus I don't see his lack of passing ability to be a major problem. The majority of teams that we play just turn up to defend and all you want your CB to do is give it to the likes of Yaya or KDB who normally drop deep or pass it to the more accomplished passer is Stones, Vinny or Ota.

Kompany is a shoe in to start when fit. The club won't give up on Stones who is also a top defender and Otamendi is a criminally underrated player who is easily one of the best CBs in the PL.

Trying to sell the position of 4th choice CB might be difficult to a player but it looks like Eli will be willing to take a squad role and will cost nothing!
Click to expand...

I've had a sneaking feeling for a while that we're gonna keep Mangala.
 
capiloton said:
keep Mangala and sign another LB to rotate with Mendy.
Click to expand...
Danilo was excellent this morning. Wouldn't mind mangala staying as if we want to play 3 at the back we need another cb but he is far to physical he needs to calm down he wouldnt last 90mins for us with a premier league ref.
 
Neville Kneville said:
Kompany has lost a yard of pace, Otta never had any & Stones isn't exactly Usain Bolt. Imo the system we played v Real Madrid will be countered by bus parking & direct ball, in the Prem & we need a cb with pace, to stop the Lukakus etc running onto long balls &.punishing us.
Click to expand...

Agree with this. Though I think the back three affords us that extra space so hopefully we won't get hit as much on the break. No idea who we could sign, But Mangala isn't the option for me.
 
Neville Kneville said:
Kompany has lost a yard of pace, Otta never had any & Stones isn't exactly Usain Bolt. Imo the system we played v Real Madrid will be countered by bus parking & direct ball, in the Prem & we need a cb with pace, to stop the Lukakus etc running onto long balls &.punishing us.
Click to expand...

That's why we've signed Walker, Mendy and Ederson to cope with that threat.
 
City_Sean said:
Agree with this. Though I think the back three affords us that extra space so hopefully we won't get hit as much on the break. No idea who we could sign, But Mangala isn't the option for me.
Click to expand...

I'm willing to give Mangala a chance if Pep thinks he can do it, but last season for example, the back 3 system allowed teams to run at us with pace & our cbs were unable to do anything once a pass, even a short pass, was made to people such as Vardy. They didn't read the pass nor anticipate the danger, in the situation before the pass & once the pass was made, they were two, three yards too slow to close down the recipient, it's then just upto the keeper, or the oppo to fall over/miss the target, or we'd had it.

Chelsea's centre backs were much more proactive & often snuffed it out or fouled, before the situation even developed. We can't see it coming & we were absolutely hopeless at seeing it v Real Madrid & when we did see it, too late, we didn't have the pace to recover & just relied on hope, which worked.

As usual, the defensive shortcomings are being ignored on here & everyone was 'fantastic' at the back defending. But they weren't, non of them.

Acceleration over 10-20 yards, rather than a 50 yard sprinter, might be enough to give us that split second which makes the difference, as we saw with the fullbacks last night.
 
Neville Kneville said:
Kompany has lost a yard of pace, Otta never had any & Stones isn't exactly Usain Bolt. Imo the system we played v Real Madrid will be countered by bus parking & direct ball, in the Prem & we need a cb with pace, to stop the Lukakus etc running onto long balls &.punishing us.
Click to expand...

Are you advocating for Mangala to come back?
 
Marvin said:
Stones played very well. If he comes through this season then we don't need another defender.
Click to expand...
Marvin :) I tried to explain this theory of the young getting better... But you wanted non of it.

Happy you are seeing it now :)
 
Dax777 said:
Marvin :) I tried to explain this theory of the young getting better... But you wanted non of it.

Happy you are seeing it now :)
Click to expand...
Nobody is saying he can't or won't improve. I think the issue (certainly IMO) is that we can't just assume that he will definitely improve to the standard we need over one summer and could potentially be in the shit if he doesn't and we didn't buy any cover.
 
I agree with Neville about Real Madrid game. They created many chances and at times our defense looked non-existing. If they were bit sharper we would concede few there. Early times but that still looks very fragile. I don't have idea about solution though.
 
Nothing against the lad, hope it works out for him at his next club but he wasnt a fit for Pep last summer and isnt a fit for him this summer....Need to move on! With Kolarvo gone (CB/LB cover) and if Mangala leaves....we might have to sign another CB.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Unread Posts

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top