45 | Abdukodir Khusanov - 2025/26

1st choice for central defender.
Let’s hope he won’t be affected by another brain fart called.
 
If we are going to persist with the suicidal, open, high line which has seen us carved open by very average sides, it's difficult not to see him as the first name on the sheet. You have to pack the defence with as much pace as possible to have any chance of getting away with it which probably means a back 4 consisting of nunes, akanji, khusanov and 1 other most games.

Don't see Pep making that call though.
 
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ninjamonkey said:
If we are going to persist with the suicidal, open, high line which has seen us carved open by very average sides, it's difficult not to see him as the first name on the sheet. You have to pack the defence with as much pace as possible to have any chance of getting away with it which probably means a back 4 consisting of nunes, akanji, khusanov and 1 other most games.

Don't see Pep making that call though.
Click to expand...
Gvardiol over Akanji a million times and Air Nouri left back
 
Ruzzles said:
Gvardiol over Akanji a million times and Air Nouri left back
Click to expand...
I think youve missed the point of my post. I'm not putting forward that as my preferred choice of back line. Those are simply our 3 fastest defenders and it feels like we have to have our fastest players on the pitch for the defensive setup not to look extremely vulnerable.
 
The recovery page is the biggest get out of jail card we have. If we're going to persist with a high line then Khusanov has to be in the team. Ait-Nouri can play inside and Khusanov can start RB and move into a back three.

Even tonight against more limited opposition you see the value he brings.
 
He has been criticized for not being comfortable on the ball, did not see that this evening, his stats are great even though he was playing left side, which is not his natural position, Also for his communication and decision making, but he and Stones use of the offside was outstanding, only questionable moment was when he let a ball bounce in the box when he could maybe have cleared it, but I would say that the Keeper had probably shouted to let it.
This guy has the abilities to be a superstar defender, if he is not a first choice I would consider it a crime, because he is streets ahead of Dias, Akanji and probably Ake also. Khus at RCB, Gvardiol at LCB should be our No. 1 pairing.
 
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