Rodriguez/Kurzawa/Sandro
Sandro in particular looked the real deal against Bayern, whereas ours looked like windswept fence posts
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Our glaring weakness at LB, will it be fixed?
- Thread starter NipHolmes
- Start date
Sandro in particular looked the real deal against Bayern, whereas ours looked like windswept fence posts
Rodriguez/Kurzawa/Sandro
Sandro in particular looked the real deal against Bayern, whereas ours looked like windswept fence posts
Rodriguez isn't an upgrade. Sandro and Kurzawa (although looked very shaky in the games I have watched him) maybe but it looks like we have cooled our interest in both of them
kun
Well-Known Member
Clichy's average at best but HG. Kolarov average defensively but good going forward. Both nearly 30 as well.
Ricardo Rodriguez
Lavyin Kurzawa
Lucas Digne
Alex Sandro
Fabio Coentrao
Jose Gaya
Felipe Luis
Abdul Rahman Baba
Arthur Masuaku
Jetro Willems
Surely one of these "upgrades" are available?
Ricardo Rodriguez
Lavyin Kurzawa
Lucas Digne
Alex Sandro
Fabio Coentrao
Jose Gaya
Felipe Luis
Abdul Rahman Baba
Arthur Masuaku
Jetro Willems
Surely one of these "upgrades" are available?
kunaguero10
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 16 May 2009
- Messages
- 7,745
Thats the sticking point - but I don't believe there isn't a left back out there good enough. A few months ago the whole board pretty much wanted AK gone, and he is getting on now anyway so we could do with freshening up this position.Who really out there is an upgrade? Kolarov could easily score 5 or more a season and set up the same! Anyway it would be interesting to see who you think we should replace them with?
Also bemusing that so many are happy for us not to sign any new defenders, because lets be honest, we can't defend very well and I'm not sure how not signing anyone will improve the situation. Denayer coming into the squad and no more 442 in big games, yes, but I would have though LB was one of the priority areas.
We better hurry if we want Alex Sandro. Juventus are meeting Porto to discuss him today and are dangling Llorente as a sweetener. Kolarov sitting on his huge wage packet (that's my guess anyway - if we allowed his agent to talk to the Milan clubs as Di Marzio reported, we're open to selling) may have crushed our plans to finally have a left-back of Champions League latter stage quality for now.
I don't know why but the Italians just seem infinitely better at doing business than the English. Italian football is supposed to have been in a crisis whilst we have been going through a boom but what kind of respective European performance did the squads our teams put together have to show for it last season?We better hurry if we want Alex Sandro. Juventus are meeting Porto to discuss him today and are dangling Llorente as a sweetener. Kolarov sitting on his huge wage packet (that's my guess anyway - if we allowed his agent to talk to the Milan clubs as Di Marzio reported, we're open to selling) may have crushed our plans to finally have a left-back of Champions League latter stage quality for now.
Give it 12months indeed maybe less and Angelino might get a shout, especially when loan at NYCFC finishes, plus the bonus he is U21 so does not need to be listed in PL Squad I THINK !I don't know why but the Italians just seem infinitely better at doing business than the English. Italian football is supposed to have been in a crisis whilst we have been going through a boom but what kind of respective European performance did the squads our teams put together have to show for it last season?
Sheikhspeare
Well-Known Member
I think if dont land Pogba we'll be able to turn more focus and finances towards LB. Especially Alex Sandro because Porto probably have an obscene release clause. The rush of clubs in for Baba seems to have quieted as well.
NQCitizen
Well-Known Member
Only Coentrao has really proven to be a level ahead of what we have regularly in a decent league out of those though.Clichy's average at best but HG. Kolarov average defensively but good going forward. Both nearly 30 as well.
Ricardo Rodriguez
Lavyin Kurzawa
Lucas Digne
Alex Sandro
Fabio Coentrao
Jose Gaya
Felipe Luis
Abdul Rahman Baba
Arthur Masuaku
Jetro Willems
Surely one of these "upgrades" are available?
talkativesprout
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 30 Mar 2009
- Messages
- 10,416
Is left back such an issue, I am guessing we wont be playing wing backs so often now.
Mikejl
Well-Known Member
Both LBs we have would walk into most of the Premier League first elevens, & let's be fair which other teams LB would we take ahead of them? Fatty Shaw! however both ours also have faults, Clichy had a few nightmare moments last season, & can be a little slow to link up with the attack but balanced it with some outstanding performances, AK has always been more of a wing back for me, great option on the counter or when attacking a little suspect in defence. I'm sure there was no smoke without fire with the Danny Rose rumours, though probably only feasible if AK moved on, when Edin goes maybe he will leave as well. Also as others have noted Angelino is coming up thick and fast, back in November after playing first team football (whilst in a Micky mouse league) alongside some quality players in front of big crowds, don't be surprised to see him on the bench after Xmas a lot more if his loan goes well.
Skip Donoghue
Well-Known Member
Stop with the talking sense nowA few myths to dispel.
1 - our left backs aren't good enough. As much as I am loathe to resort to stats, but Clichy was whoscored's best rated left back for the league last season. Kolarov also is one of the leagues better attacking left backs. Between the two of them we're fine.
2 - Silva doesn't defend. He does. In spades. In fact he's one of the most niggliest dirty little players on our team. He's always ready to commit the fouls to stop play to allow our full backs to return from advanced positions. He is a gem in this regard, and this side of his game is often overlooked.
Skip Donoghue
Well-Known Member
Bains isn't good enough at the highest level as proven in an England shirt decent prem player but no better than Kolorov or ClichyBaines. No brainer for me. English, £10 mil, 3 year contract, Angelino ready in take over in two years!!
Chancy Termites
Well-Known Member
Coentrao for me. Right mardy git but skilful and always committed.
I know Angelino is a top prospect but is he genuinely that close to being an elite European left back? Because that's the standard we have to be looking for.Give it 12months indeed maybe less and Angelino might get a shout, especially when loan at NYCFC finishes, plus the bonus he is U21 so does not need to be listed in PL Squad I THINK !
mosssideblue
Well-Known Member
Absolutely agree. If we try and change too many in the same period, that could create rather than solve problems.This season we have prioritised Sterling Pogba and De Bruyne. We aren't fantastic at left back but I think we can survive another year with Kolarov and Clichy. I think next Summer we will get a new Right Back to replace Sagna and a new Left Back to replace Kolarov.
ninjamonkey
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 5 Jun 2009
- Messages
- 22,485
We have the perfect left back at our club already. It's just a shame it's split into two different players. Clichy's pace, and defensive attributes, especially 1v1 are top class, there's nothing out there that's much better it's just a shame he literally freezes when we gets beyond halfway line. He's like an asda shopping trolley, as soon as he goes beyond the halfway line the emergency breaks kick in and he's more of a hindrance than anything. It's a weak area that needs improving but it's a position that constantly gets put to the back of the queue every window as we've got 2 very good players in that area for now. I think it could have something to do with a lack of options. All the players we've been linked with in the press are decent and have potential but none of them really stand out as a major upgrade. If there was the next Ashley Cole breaking through somewhere i'm sure we'd make that position a priority.
Bill
Well-Known Member
agree with the op. essential we address this.
A few myths to dispel.
1 - our left backs aren't good enough. As much as I am loathe to resort to stats, but Clichy was whoscored's best rated left back for the league last season. Kolarov also is one of the leagues better attacking left backs. Between the two of them we're fine.
2 - Silva doesn't defend. He does. In spades. In fact he's one of the most niggliest dirty little players on our team. He's always ready to commit the fouls to stop play to allow our full backs to return from advanced positions. He is a gem in this regard, and this side of his game is often overlooked.
The problem with both left backs is that they are inconsistent, Clichy was poor till about December/January. Kolarov when on form is solid going forward but is always a liability defensively, made even worse when you have either Silva or Nasri ahead of him who don't always defend well (Navas and Milner often defend well in comparison)
I think next summer we need a new left back who is significantly better than both and in both parts of the game. Admittedly I can't name a left back who could realistically come, I haven't watched enough of the likes of Alex Sandro, Kurzawa, Gaya etc.