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Centre Back Issue
- Thread starter mcfcirlam
- Start date
Slashman X
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 7 Jul 2015
- Messages
- 360
Is Denayer even fit yet?
B\connellblue
Well-Known Member
We are stuck with 3 poor central defenders. How it has come to this fuck knows. Need to get a decent player to cover for a few .month's. I'm sure it won't be too hard to convince some experienced non regular to join a potential champions gig. Otamendi whilst the best of a bad lot is anything but dominant, rash,small and outmuscled far to easily for a supposed hard man. Loanee the way forward. Honestly are any 2 from 3 much better than what they replaced?
Promote Kean Bryan or even Humphries or Tosin and stick them at RCB, so Sagna can look after them. Anything is better than Demi at the moment, as he's just causing havoc.
Our CB problems when Mangala and Otamendi are together are massively overblown, they've been decent enough despite our shambolic lack of a system and our inability to keep the pressure off them by dominating games in the way we should do. We've not kept many clean sheets, but I can't think of many games in which we've conceded more than the odd goal. As soon as Demi comes in, it's a whole different story.
Our CB problems when Mangala and Otamendi are together are massively overblown, they've been decent enough despite our shambolic lack of a system and our inability to keep the pressure off them by dominating games in the way we should do. We've not kept many clean sheets, but I can't think of many games in which we've conceded more than the odd goal. As soon as Demi comes in, it's a whole different story.
Lancet Fluke
Well-Known Member
I'd be hesitant in assuming we've signed shit defenders while they are playing under a manager who has pretty much admitted in some press conferences that he isn't too bothered about the defending. You have to ask yourself whether you really believe otamendi, mangala and even kompany for much of last season would look the way they do under different management. I'm reserving judgement until they've had a season for us under a different coach.How about we set up a proper scouting network and not rely on u tube videos because thats what it looks like were doing now.
Mr Ed (The Stables)
Well-Known Member
Its amazing the amount of money we've thrown at this problem and the fact we've gone backwards in player quality that we've recruited.
Gareth Barry Conlon
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 5 Sep 2014
- Messages
- 14,703
How about we set up a proper scouting network and not rely on u tube videos because thats what it looks like were doing now.
That’s BS. Ottamendi was widely regarded as the best CB in spain outside of the big two and even including the big two by some. To suggest we have been scammed into buying some no-hoper based on utube vids is way of the mark. He had top class pedigree when we signed him and I don’t think you make any sensible argument for anything else. What he’s done since he has been here is a separate discussion but personally I think he will come good. You could also say the same for Mangala, top player in Portugal and decent champions league and international pedigree for a young player. We chased him for at least a year – it’s hardly an impulse buy.
That’s BS. Ottamendi was widely regarded as the best CB in spain outside of the big two and even including the big two by some. To suggest we have been scammed into buying some no-hoper based on utube vids is way of the mark. He had top class pedigree when we signed him and I don’t think you make any sensible argument for anything else. What he’s done since he has been here is a separate discussion but personally I think he will come good. You could also say the same for Mangala, top player in Portugal and decent champions league and international pedigree for a young player. We chased him for at least a year – it’s hardly an impulse buy.
I agree Otamendi needs more time and has shown glimpses of what he could become. But Mangala is more of a worry. It's now been 1 1/2 seasons and he is still making schoolboy errors. He looks good in certain circumstances (e.g. marking big, power forwards - real shame he got injured yesterday), but he really struggles against light-on-their-feet, mobile offensive players. I dont know whether that will change. He's not a no-hoper, but I don't know if he can anchor a championship-winning defence. He would be ok as a squad player, but with Kompany made of thin glass, we would need two other front line CBs.
DClarkMiamiU
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 9 Dec 2015
- Messages
- 279
IMO Otamendi needs to be paired with someone who's content being the saftey valve, last line of defense. This is why Kompany's constant loss hurt us, because unless it's a set piece, he fills this role. That flat back 4 turns into more of a diamond as Otamendi attacks and VK drops.
Right now.. you have two "destroyer" type CB's and one (MDM) who doesn't have the pace or skill level anymore to play that sweeping spot.
We don't need a world-beater out there to fulfill this role, you just need someone who still has pace, and is content playing 100% defensively. Honestly that shouldn't be too hard to locate in this window. It's the scoring, attacking types of CB's that are in such high demand, and that's why we paid soooooo much for Mangala and Ota.
Right now.. you have two "destroyer" type CB's and one (MDM) who doesn't have the pace or skill level anymore to play that sweeping spot.
We don't need a world-beater out there to fulfill this role, you just need someone who still has pace, and is content playing 100% defensively. Honestly that shouldn't be too hard to locate in this window. It's the scoring, attacking types of CB's that are in such high demand, and that's why we paid soooooo much for Mangala and Ota.