Full Backs?

[hartshairgel]

I was surprised in the summer when we wasted a lot of time trying to sort our goalkeeper and Sane for wide right neither of which were a priority over full back positions. We know and have known for some time that none of our current crop are good enough anymore if we want to compete in the top four. We should have made more of an effort for Sandro and pushed hard for Rose or Cresswell. The latter because we need to boost our home grown quota as its likely both Clichy and Delph will not have futures at the club. Fabinho is another but with us now playing Monaco and them being on a good run doubt we'll see much happen there until the summer. Pep seems to rely heavily on full backs (as do many managers now) so don't understand why we didn't do something sooner.

 

[ws01]

We need players with a good turn of speed, first and foremost. That is a highly important asset for a good fullback to have and a big reason why Kolarov struggles as much as he does in defence.

 

[blue b4 the moon]

Left back & centre half are really urgently needed, if we don't buy or piss about til the end of the window this seasons ship will probably have sailed.

Has Pep ever had a trophy less season? He's looking down the barrel if one unless the back 3/4 is sorted.

 

[BAB.DAB]

Mo

I was surprised in the summer when we wasted a lot of time trying to sort our goalkeeper and Sane for wide right neither of which were a priority over full back positions. We know and have known for some time that none of our current crop are good enough anymore if we want to compete in the top four. We should have made more of an effort for Sandro and pushed hard for Rose or Cresswell. The latter because we need to boost our home grown quota as its likely both Clichy and Delph will not have futures at the club. Fabinho is another but with us now playing Monaco and them being on a good run doubt we'll see much happen there until the summer. Pep seems to rely heavily on full backs (as do many managers now) so don't understand why we didn't do something sooner.

Most of our fullbacks are out of contract this summer seeing that we couldn't shift any last summer it will be addressed this summer

 

[blueparrot]

I was surprised in the summer when we wasted a lot of time trying to sort our goalkeeper and Sane for wide right neither of which were a priority over full back positions. We know and have known for some time that none of our current crop are good enough anymore if we want to compete in the top four. We should have made more of an effort for Sandro and pushed hard for Rose or Cresswell. The latter because we need to boost our home grown quota as its likely both Clichy and Delph will not have futures at the club. Fabinho is another but with us now playing Monaco and them being on a good run doubt we'll see much happen there until the summer. Pep seems to rely heavily on full backs (as do many managers now) so don't understand why we didn't do something sooner.

We had 4 fullbacks we couldn't offload and I think that's the main reason we didn't bring any in. With all of them out of contract next summer they probably thought they could stick with what we have until next summer.

 

[blueparrot]

We had 4 fullbacks we couldn't offload and I think that's the main reason we didn't bring any in. With all of them out of contract next summer they probably thought they could stick with what we have until next summer.

Edit should have read the last post before posting.

 

[Steve68]

I would be happy to see a new defender coming in and Kolorov sent on gardening leave. Not sure we can wait until the end of season to sort our defensive mess out. Not that a new left back will completely sort it by any means.

 

[Manc in London]

Left back & centre half are really urgently needed, if we don't buy or piss about til the end of the window this seasons ship will probably have sailed.

Has Pep ever had a trophy less season? He's looking down the barrel if one unless the back 3/4 is sorted.

Given the choice, I'd have a midfielder over a centre-half. There are better defences than ours because other teams have a midfield rather than a single player like we do (i.e. Dinho).

A midfielder and a full back on either side will significantly improve our defence.

 

[Trautmann's Chiropractor]

Seems like Grimaldo is our first choice left back target according to the papers over the past few months. Not seen him play but a quick google and looking at his stats he looks like he's been doing pretty well at Benfica. I'd love for us to get a quick, young left back in January, the sooner we get in the players Pep wants the sooner we can get a team that will be playing his system comfortably. Also we were linked briefly to Silvan Widmer a couple weeks ago and he looks a good shout at right back. He's 23 and had 4 assists in 11 games for Udinese.

 

[domalino]

Djibril Sidibe, Monaco RB.

Rapid, 6ft+ loves going forward but is also part of a very good defence. Can also play LB very well.