Conversely, one of the reasons that Grealish was so successful at Villa was that Matty Targett reliably provided an overlap from fullback to free up space for Grealish to drive into. We might actually want a more conventional left-back as an option if we utilise Grealish on the left. We could always have Cancelo tuck inside on the right if we deploy a traditional left-back on the other side
I don't think we'll find another Zinchenko, but I don't think we need one. We probably need a Walker-type left-back as a genuine alternative to Zinny
Whose Asymetric.Asymetric could work depending which is the natural side wide player over the inverted Classic LB overlapping Sterling
I don't know why this is still being debated. Zinc is adequate cover but we need rid of Mendy and get in a top class left full. Not likely to happen anytime soon and its a fucking disgrace tbh.Here's the thing...
At the 70th minute or so - KDB and Zinchenko are substituted on.
What happens? KDB transforms the game.
Meanwhile - first Zin involvement - Edders hand-passes the ball to Zin who does his best to fuck us over - miss-passing on his first touch right to a Spurs opponent.
Later on, Zin is confused with KDB by Arlo White on the US broadcast - anyhow, what happens? Zin gets the ball and delivers a deft cross right to Lloris. Zero quality.
KDB - best player on the field by far.
Zin - thank fuck Mendy is off! But at least twice needlessly giving the ball away - and his first touch might have cost a goal.
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Need a left back? WTF do you think? Hell - Spurs aren't even very good - and yet Zin had a very - just as expected - iffy performance.
Is it really a disgrace? You're exaggerating for effect right?I don't know why this is still being debated. Zinc is adequate cover but we need rid of Mendy and get in a top class left full. Not likely to happen anytime soon and its a fucking disgrace tbh.
Not really it is an obvious area of concern which has been identified by our opponents as a weak spot and it has been clear for a long time that the player primarily brought in to fill this position is nowhere near good enough. So for some time now we have been playing makeshift fullbacks with a degree of success as the manager experiments but nonetheless leaving a weak chink in the armour which good teams can exploit. It is well beyond time the issue was addressed.Is it really a disgrace? You're exaggerating for effect right?
The fact that mendy even gets game time is a disgrace in its own right, I await some sort of smart arse reply for you to tell me that isn’t the case somehowIs it really a disgrace? You're exaggerating for effect right?
I fucking kill for a "tradition" english left fullback.The "traditional" english f/b, basically a burly type that is hard to get past, is obsolete in the modern game. Much more is needed, ball skills, tactical nous, awareness of the opposition's threat and a turn of pace are the minimum requirements, there is no place for a single-purpose player in a team that aspires to be the "best". Knowing how close to mark, when and how to support the forwards, an instinctive link to the central players regarding the off-side lines.
Phillip Lahm being the bench-mark in my humble opinion, we have never had anyone that comes close. Maybe there aint one...
Is an abhoration better?So yes, disgrace was an exaggeration.
Got to agree with this - why are we not strengthening in a position where we appear the weakest ?Has been for several seasons , I dont understand why it's not been resolved it's clear as day it's a big weakness of ours for ages and yet here we are still hoping Mendy will finally be injury free and back to his Monaco form. Weve given him more than enough time now to produce the goods and hes never turned up for us!
We’re probably looking to bring that Mendes kid in next summer as long as he doesn’t regress this seasonas this thread has been going for over a year i would say yes, i would love a lb in the mold of walker, a defensive power house, we have cancelo and zinc as the more technical full backs walker and a walker lb clone as the defensive speed.
In my humble opinion Philip Lahm is one of the greatest players of all time and easily the best full-back/defensive midfielder I have ever seen. When I have met opposition fans in Germany his name always comes up first in discussions about the greatest German players. I am sure Pep would like to have him back.The "traditional" english f/b, basically a burly type that is hard to get past, is obsolete in the modern game. Much more is needed, ball skills, tactical nous, awareness of the opposition's threat and a turn of pace are the minimum requirements, there is no place for a single-purpose player in a team that aspires to be the "best". Knowing how close to mark, when and how to support the forwards, an instinctive link to the central players regarding the off-side lines.
Phillip Lahm being the bench-mark in my humble opinion, we have never had anyone that comes close. Maybe there aint one...
imagine the matchday forum if he has a bad game, Lahms to the slaughterIn my humble opinion Philip Lahm is one of the greatest players of all time and easily the best full-back/defensive midfielder I have ever seen. When I have met opposition fans in Germany his name always comes up first in discussions about the greatest German players. I am sure Pep would like to have him back.
Mendy s contract ends 30th June 2023. Apologies for being the harbinger of doom..I'm sure the left back conundrum will be sorted next summer. Mendy is out contract and I'll be amazed if we offer him a new one. However give him a job in the PR/Media department and he would be ace.
Also next summer we have to replace Dinho who hopefully will be offered a back room staff position if he doesn't want to play in the MSL etc.