Depth? Yes. Quality? No. Darmian, Jones, Smalling, Lindelöf etc aren't anything special.
Real Madrid has Carvajal, Ramos, Marcelo, Varane... I would say non of our defenders would go to RM:s starting eleven. Or maybe Bailly, maybe.
Agreed.
People need to look more at the top quality and the quality of squad-members than just numbers.
Bayern and Real Madrid are far ahead on qulity. Tons of others (Chelsea, Juventus, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, PSG etc) are either on our level of quality, above it or performing much better because of their systems and settled defenders.
Our defense is ok, but far from the top of the lot. Letting statisctics tell us shaky defenders who let Kante dribble them and score, twice, or that injury prone players are good for depth, or that brainfarts in the makings are world class because they had one great period within a season where we barely took any chances... That these make up for the best there is? No.
If we could get them, tons of defenders would improve our defense.
Also, for all the talk of defenders needing to be good at defending (which i completely agree on), we cant fortet that in todays game, defenders are a huge part of the build-up, controll and wide-play. Our defenders lack severely in this area.
We have good numbers, questionable overall quality and some who can become the best but are still a far shot from it.
... do note, while i do seem overly critical of our players, i still enjoy watching our team. I still want to see Bailly become the beast he can be and enjoy it when he shows it in periods for now. Im not saying that just because there are better players out there we should toss everything we have out in pursuit of that. Im merely trying to counteract the massive hype and delusion so many (in my eyes) have about our players.
The funniest thing to me is that people are willing to protect/speak up for Lindgard, Young, Shaw, Jones, Smalling, Fellaini and others and then turn around to talk shit about Pogba, Martial & Bailly
Mind, i do agree that Fellaini especially gets too much criticism (from me as well) as he in no way have acted badly and only done the job asked of him, but to then go and slag off our top talents because they can't do it all on their own just feels wrong.
Martial as an example has had no support from the left back, at all, since he started to play out wide. Yet people seem to expect him to dribble past 4-5 men and shoot/pass for a goal whenever he gets the ball out wide. Thats not realistic as a playing-style.
He needs a quality left back to come running for the overlap option time and time again so the defenders cant gather up around him and a midfielder to offer a passing option more on the inside of the field. That way he has 4 choices at least (overlap pass, pass to midfielder and get behind the line, dribble if there is space and cross of Lukaku seem in good position).
Martial can do these things, he has the potential to do it at the highest level, but we still leave him isolated and bemoan him when he fails to pull off the magical.
Lingard, as an example, cannot do those things at the top level, in my eyes. He is a useful squad player who can come in and offer 3 of those 4 options in a well run system (out to the overlap, pass to midfield and run behind or cross), he is not a capable dribbler, so he should mostly be used when we need to rest Martial. In a great squad, the players in Lingards supposed role should be able to do what the main man can, just to a lesser level or bring their own strengths that are different from the main man (like how Perisic for example could choose to pass for the overlap, run behind and go for a cross because he is a good crosser from the line, or go straight for the line and not wait for the overlap).
Players like Pogba and Martial needs time and the system and players around them to support their play. Bashing them for our weak-areas not performing is wrong in my eyes.
Anyway, sorry for going down the rabbit hole. If i seem mental its because i am. Just got back from another hospital stay where i beat another 2/3 chances of dying and im still not fully well, so if what ive written comes across as a mad mans ramblings, its likely just that.
Edit to say what i actually think of the potential signing of Rose:
Id like it, i havent watched him a lot, but he seems energetic and eager to run up and down, and the Tottenham supporters i still havent put on ignore do praise him as a good player and defender (i believe). If he can offer that tireless overlap option, can cross the ball and not be a liability in defense i think he could be a great signing. I doubt we are in for him however due to our numbers in dsfense. Maybe if Shaw gets let go.
