It's Quiet 17 - Glory Thread

[balotelli's back pocket]

I think it's really silly having two centre backs out of the four who are left footed.

99.9% of the time, left footed centre backs can't play on the right. So you have two out of the four who can't play together.

How many times have Ake and Laporte played together at centre back in two years?

It makes even less sense when you consider that Dias is comfortable on both sides, if not stronger on the left. Even Stones is more comfortable on the left than Ake and Laporte would be on the right. So we effectively have two options at RCB, and three/four at LCB. Massively unbalanced.

If we sold Ake, I'd want someone who isn't limited to one side, and could therefore partner anyone. Kounde would be perfect, as he would replace Ake's recovery pace (assuming he can play on the left).

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

I should have said he is a capable player who can cover lm, cm or lb.

Maybe if we draw Salford in the Carabao ;-)

 

[Saddleworth2]

If Ake leaves, we probably wont replace him

Why on Earth not? We need 4.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

I think it's really silly having two centre backs out of the four who are left footed.

99.9% of the time, left footed centre backs can't play on the right. So you have two out of the four who can't play together.

How many times have Ake and Laporte played together at centre back in two years?

It makes even less sense when you consider that Dias is comfortable on both sides, if not stronger on the left.

If we sold Ake, I'd want someone who isn't limited to one side, and could therefore partner anyone. Kounde would be perfect, as he would replace Ake's recovery pace.

Why can’t two left footed centre backs play together?

It‘s the same concept as having two right footed ones, just a mirror image.

Surely it’s a perfect balance to have 2 left and 2 right footed centre backs in the squad.

 

[Blue_Lightsaber]

I think it's really silly having two centre backs out of the four who are left footed.

99.9% of the time, left footed centre backs can't play on the right. So you have two out of the four who can't play together.

How many times have Ake and Laporte played together at centre back in two years?

It makes even less sense when you consider that Dias is comfortable on both sides, if not stronger on the left. Even Stones is more comfortable on the left than Ake and Laporte would be on the right. So we effectively have two options at RCB, and three/four at LCB. Massively unbalanced.

If we sold Ake, I'd want someone who isn't limited to one side, and could therefore partner anyone. Kounde would be perfect, as he would replace Ake's recovery pace (assuming he can play on the left).

I might be wrong but I don't think Ake leaves.. at least not to Chelsea. He's very good friends with KDB and Lukaku and he's got bad history with Chelsea.

He may fancy Juventus though who are thinking of selling De Ligt.

 

[LucahArchie10]

But Stones does tend to have a lot of injuries and by the WC this year we will have played 7 games more than this season. Only way I'd be happy is if the club think Mbete is capable of the step up.

Sure I seen something about the Everton kid Brathwaite or whatever his name is, being linked to him?

 

[Eoiyflem]

Can’t really return to wingbacks because Walker is the only fast defender we have.

We always set up with a line of 3 at the back - Walker + 2 CBs and if we play attacking fullbacks then that would become Rodri + 2
CBs which is pretty slow.

Depends, we went 3-5-2 early Mendy and destroyed teams at times.

Not saying it's the default but can 100% see it being an option and leaving the spare "sweeper" deeper to give us time to regroup against the counter.

 

[balotelli's back pocket]

Why can’t two left footed centre backs play together?

It‘s the same concept as having two right footed ones, just a mirror image.

Surely it’s a perfect balance to have 2 left and 2 right footed centre backs in the squad.

There are far more right footed centre backs at the elite level than left footed ones, and therefore the right footers are much more likely to be paired with another right footer than vice versa.

Basically, right footers often grow up playing both sides. Lefties almost always stick to the left.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

There are far more right footed centre backs at the elite level than left footed ones, and therefore the right footers are much more likely to be paired with another right footer than vice versa.

Basically, right footers often grow up playing both sides. Lefties almost always stick to the left.

That doesn’t mean that they can’t play on the right side though.

Having 2 of each means there needs to be 2 injuries for it to happen, whereas 3 and 1 means one injury means one of the players is on the “wrong” side.

 

[balotelli's back pocket]

That doesn’t mean that they can’t play on the right side though.

Having 2 of each means there needs to be 2 injuries for it to happen, whereas 3 and 1 means one injury means one of the players is on the “wrong” side.

Dias is arguably better on the left though, as was Otamendi. Plenty of right footers are more comfortable on the left because most sides don't have the luxury of a quality left footed centre back.

Did you see Laporte playing on the right for Spain at the Euros? It was a car crash.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Dias is arguably better on the left though, as was Otamendi. Plenty of right footers are more comfortable on the left because most sides don't have the luxury of a quality left footed centre back.

Did you see Laporte playing on the right for Spain at the Euros? It was a car crash.

Sure and I do get your reasoning. It’s just less likely that we don’t have the balance with 2 of each.

It only happened once last season, didn’t it?

 

[balotelli's back pocket]

Sure and I do get your reasoning. It’s just less likely that we don’t have the balance with 2 of each.

It only happened once last season, didn’t it?

Sod's law, my friend.

 

[Legal Alien]

Sure I seen something about the Everton kid Brathwaite or whatever his name is, being linked to him?

We have our own kids though and they will be going up against the likes of Kev, Haaland, Foden, Bernie, Grealish, Mahrez etc in training so they deserve a shot first.

We have to think of the future also, and as has been said earlier, whoever comes in is at the moment, behind Dias, Stones and Laporte.
If one of TH-B, Mbete or Doyle kick on, then they will be pushing not only for a squad place, but to play, within the next few seasons.
I wouldn't do anything at the moment and just see how it's going in January.

 

[Manx Blue]

there is no thing as a lower key PL fixture .

Bournemouth at home, second game.

Regardless of result, it won't have an immediate impact on the destiny of the title

 

[Seth MCFC]

Need to recreate this with Cucurella, Phillips, Alvarez and Haaland.

 

[DeBlueLou]

Raheem is his own man and he might just blink when it comes down to it, but I would be surprised now.

Chelsea also showing genuine interest in Ake at £50m.

Replace Ake with Pau and move on... or even Timber or Martinez.

Important to replace Ake, as his role last season during some real crunch games was pivotal... I’d like to keep him though

 

[Blue Maverick]

If we don’t replace Ake if we go we are stupid, look how we struggled just to put 4 defenders out at the end of the season, unless we have decent youngster or someone else in mind keep Ake,I think he’s a great defender and very good on attacking set pieces.

 

[razman]

 

[DeBlueLou]

I really hope this doesn’t happen :/

 

[WRicko]

A fitting send off ?