Transfer rumours and speculation to take us through to summer.
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Comments
Why wait the sooner it is fixed the quicker we will improve? :ok:
Well, budget and FFP for a start.
If Reid can get back to form, we have 3 very good CDs, with Rice able to go back there in an emergency.
I think Fredericks is a better than decent RB, and Zaba is fine this year as cover.
I'm not in the Cresswell is pants camp, and think that between him, Arthur and Johnson we have enough to cope at LB.
If Johnson makes the step up this year, that is one of the two FB positions sorted for the season after next. I'd sooner see him given a proper go than sign another FB that then restricts his chances.
I just think we play in a way that leaves our defence exposed, particularly through the centre. Rice has helped, but I still feel our defence is under a lot of pressure every game because we are too open across midfield.
That constant pressure is leading to nerves at the back and therefore a lot of individual errors.
We need better defensive shape throughout the team and I also think we need to keep the ball better to relieve pressure. Players like Wilshere and Fornals should hopefully help with that.
:ok:
Both Fornals and Haller are good with the ball, and happy to do their defensive duties, so hopefully
a) we'll turn the ball over less often
b) when we do, we'll have more pressure on to recover it
If our forward players can't reach the technical heights of the Man Citeh players, they can at least attempt to emulate their off the ball work rate.
I think the choice of forward midfielders we have now means that Pelle can be more insistent on work rate, since if a player doesn't offer enough, there are viable alternatives available.
How many times when we watched a team score against us last year were we gobsmacked at how easily they just strolled straight through the big gaps in the middle? It was a lack of defending as a team (or as a team, getting pulled out of shape/ losing the ball at the point where we were not in any kind of defensive shape) rather than our back 4 being consistently rubbish, imo.
Ogbonna is bang average needs to go whilst we can get a decent fee for him
Reids injuries mean he is not reliable to be counted upon
Cresswell and Masuaku are not good enough Left backs neither can defend well.
Fredericks looks like he could come good in the RB spot
Zab is ok as a backup but nothing more and i dont expect another season out of him after this season regardless.
Diop and Balbuena are decent enough as a CB pairing.
I think they deserve a little more praise than that.
I think it’s way too simplistic to equate goals conceded with bad defenders alone.
We could have Varane and Maguire at CB and but if they’re left exposed 1 v 1 over and over again, they will be beaten by players with pace and skill. Same for the full-backs.
I think our problem lies in how we defend as an 11, not just the back 4.
I do think that the system leaves them overexposed, but I dont think the players are pulling their weight
Diop & Balbuena granted I think are top players, but it's not like we have a line of clubs after them
I am not a fan of ogbonna at all. Hes too reckless, giving away cheap fouls and makes me nervous when hes tackling in the box
Reid was a top player, but even before this latest injury he looked a shadow of his former self
I like Fredericks, especially his pace, but he often lunges in and misses leaving us a man light
Zab is a top pro and ny nearly a bad as some make out, but he aging and has been woefully exploited by pace already
Masuaku has all the makings of a top player, but mentally he lapses way to much to be reliable. I'd be happier with him being 1 v 1 with winger than the opposition whopping in a deep cross and he hasnt anticipated the run
And dont know where to start with Cresseell, he literally unreacognisable from the player who first joined us...and it's been about 2/3 of being poor so I dont see him regaining his old form anytime soon
Fredericks - Diop - Balbuena - Masuaku is a solid back 4, but with costly errors especially at full back
That said a B2B CM partner for Rice would deffo be my priority
I do feel another CM with defensive qualities would massively help us as we are short in there with just young Rice. But with some proper work done on defensive shape & being a unit between defence & midfield, we will improve defensively.
Few clubs can afford to just buy all the best players.
:hmm:
No one wants to be seen to rip off Saint Eddie.
That there's no point comparing apples and stairs, maybe? :biggrin:
Jordan Hugill age 27, no caps, a couple of PL appearances. Striker.
Byram, age 25, no caps, a fair few PL appearances 3 season ago. Plagued by injuries since. Defender.
How much would YOU pay for them?
Lys Mousset, age 23, 16 caps at U20 and U21 incl 6 goals. PL appearances - 23 one season, 24 another. No significant injuries (according to transfermarket).
I can see a sound reasons why he might command a higher transfer fee.
But would you want him? Would you pay £10m for him?
I wonder if Sheffield will think they have got a good deal there, when they are relegated?
Also, I don't recall anybody saying we should have been all over that when Bournemouth signed him in 2016 for £7m aged 20 after playing 34 games in 2 seasons for Le Havre.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing.