I love to have him too
Morgan: His only chance to play Champions League football.Wes Morgan?
What about Shawcross?
Shawcross: Nah his level is Stoke
Do we really need a new CB, if so who?
- Thread starter Mark Pawelek
- Start date
Shawcross: Nah his level is Stoke
No kidding. When you play against much better opposition there is a higher chance we concede more goals.
Even if this notion of playing safety first football is true, Mourinho sets up very defensively with a high press and everybody behind the ball(especially in big games) .
Thirdly what CB options are available?
Ashley Williams isnt a bad shout, he's been one of the better defenders in the league for a while now, and a leader, Fonte from Southampton hasn't been bad either.
Williams has a lot of presence at the back, and a whole lot more leadership than Smalling. He has been pretty consistent the last few seasons. If he costs less than 15 mil, I'm all for him. He would help the younger CBs too.
He's a better defender and leader than Blind, more consistent than Jones, and simply better than Rojo. He'd actually be fighting Bailly for a spot on the starting XI.
I haven't seen or heard about Fonte enough.
Miranda is another veteran CB we might look at. Miranda and Fabinho on one side, Shaw and Smalling on the other
Williams or Fonte would both been good players to bring in, both are very solid, both are leaders.
For next season, if Laporte has recovered from his injury, then pay his release clause.
For next season, if Laporte has recovered from his injury, then pay his release clause.
Didn't he almost kill RvP in a match once? Hard to see him welcomed here.
I'd love to see Pepe here. We need a proper bastard in the team... Not gonna happen though. He's been immense for Real.
I'm gonna throw out some names...
Marquinhos would be a great signing for us.
Rami from France would probably be cheapish and he has experience.
Mustafi would be a good fit for here, looks to be a top player.
Miranda would be a good fit in a Mourinho side.
Dante for a season might not be bad.
Mascherano to wind up the Scousers.
Howedes maybe.
Vertonghen would be a great fit here but Levy wouldn't sell to us.
Then we have Garay, Dragovic and Manolas, the usual.
I'm gonna throw out some names...
Marquinhos would be a great signing for us.
Rami from France would probably be cheapish and he has experience.
Mustafi would be a good fit for here, looks to be a top player.
Miranda would be a good fit in a Mourinho side.
Dante for a season might not be bad.
Mascherano to wind up the Scousers.
Howedes maybe.
Vertonghen would be a great fit here but Levy wouldn't sell to us.
Then we have Garay, Dragovic and Manolas, the usual.
Linked with Miranda by the fail.
We don't need another CB unless one of Blind or Jones gets sold.
I wonder if José will try and hold on for a year and then go for Varane. He will get itchy feet at Madrid sooner or later.
Should be fine with: Bailly, Smalling, Tuanzebe and Blind
But we would be more comfortable with an extra experienced CB in that mix
I do hope Jones and Rojo will be sold
But we would be more comfortable with an extra experienced CB in that mix
I do hope Jones and Rojo will be sold
Miranda might be a Lucio type signing. A CB past it, but Mourinho managing to get an another year of top performances from him.
Obviously he was never as good as Lucio in the first place, but he was quite good. And at worst case, he would be a good third or fourth choice, something we can not say for Rojo or Jones.
If he comes cheap, I am all for it.
Obviously he was never as good as Lucio in the first place, but he was quite good. And at worst case, he would be a good third or fourth choice, something we can not say for Rojo or Jones.
If he comes cheap, I am all for it.
I think we definitely need another CB. Unless José plans to maintain the Smalling /Blind pairing. Bailly he has already said is not ready for a full season, Jones is injured all the time. Unless he can release the potential in Rojo
Miranda would be a fantastic player for a three year period, we're seriously lacking experience at the back and he's got bags of it.
I wouldn't say he's completely past it either.
I wouldn't say he's completely past it either.
Smalling and Blind did a "great job" last season but as soon as they were put under pressure by half-decent opponents they conceded lots of goals. Righto.
Van Gaal's safety-first football was based on the premise that while you have the ball your opponent can't hurt you, which in practice meant maintaining possession far from goal with a seemingly endless string passes between the back 4 and midfield. Mourinho's sides sit deep, soak up pressure and then look to hit the opponent on the break. Both strategies could be termed 'defensive' but the latter involves using defenders who can actually defend, rather than just pass it about a bit.
I don't know who's available, but ideally the club should be looking for someone experienced.
No that is not what I am saying at all. It is common sense that when you play better teams, the defense will always concede a much higher possibility of conceding goals or chances created because great offense forces more defensive errors--which every defender makes in every game;thus, goals will be scored. When comparing the goals against record based on the quality of the opposition, which typically have a higher quality of offense the better the offense, the better the quality of opposition, the higher chances of goals scored. Secondly, we didn't concede that much goals against bigger teams compared to our rivals.
For example in the EPL we conceded 11 goals in 8 games against top 4 EPL teams(bit extreme to call the biggest teams in the Prem and Champs league, better than half decent aswell)
Tottenham conceded 11 goals 9 games against top 4 in all comps
Arsenal conceded 9 goals in 10 games against top 4 in all comps
Leciester conceded 13 in 8 against top 4 in all comps
God knows how many goals Man City got wrecked by, but you see my point. 1 point I might also add is that 6 of those goals came in 2 games where we made tactical errors-- Against Arsenal Van Gaal thought it would be a smart idea to press two of our slowest DMs in Carras and Basti up the pitch to man mark the oppositions central midfield which gave Ozil and Sanchez ample space to dominate-- and injuries-- against tottenham, right after TFM comes off we concede 3 straight goals thanks to piss poor defending from Darmian. Also, a large amount of goals that we conceded playing against bigger teams was from poor man marking on set pieces.
While you may be correct about the conservative set up by Van Gaal, it is not as if we are always dominating possession. On average we have 54 %possession most games, but any team that can play good offensive football can still kill us with less possession. For example, against Tottenham we had 54 possession throughout the whole game , so we should concede less chances right? Wrong. They killed us by 3 and we conceded 16 shots on target. Playing safety first football limits the opportunity of counter attacks, but it doesn't stop teams from scoring through buildup play, set pieces, and long balls.
Mourinho teams don't just require 2 CBs who can defend it requires the ENTIRE team to be able to defend well collectively as a team with everybody behind the ball working their socks off to win it off the opposition then to hit them on the counter.
Much easier said then done. Most experienced CBs--that actually have talent-- are in their prime and in much better situations in much better teams, then again we did sign Pogba so you never know.
Mustafi and Miranda are the only good options on that list
Shame Umtiti wasn't signed before the Euros he looked some player.
Not many options really, Alaba is someone you would want but he's not cheap.
Alderweireld is a decent shout.
Not many options really, Alaba is someone you would want but he's not cheap.
Alderweireld is a decent shout.
50m offer for Gimenez
Umtiti is young and we're more likely looking at experienced CB. Bailly has a lot to learn himself. Having 2 inexperienced CBs doesn't sound right.
Not too impressed with Alaba as CB especially 2 CBs system.
Adderweireld was one of the best CB performer in the league, yet not total convinced he is that high quality by the world class standard. Not much an upgrade overall on Smalling. Not worth the time and money to pursue and persuade him out from Tottenham (Levy)
Ashley Williams would be a good addition for the next three seasons. He is one of the better centrebacks in the Premier League, and has been so for some years. He is a leader and can give some of his experience to the young boys (Tuanzebe, Williams & Bailly). He can play football and knows the league as well. And a realistic option I would like to think..
Reading through the thread and there's 2 pages derailed into a discussion about our finances.. 
On topic though I believe we could do with another CB (considering we sell Rojo/Jones) and I'm surprised Alderweireld is barely mentioned. He just came off his best season and was one of Spurs top performers and one of the best CBs in the league. He's the main reason why they were so solid defensively last season.
He's fairly quick, with great positional awareness, is not afraid to get stuck in, and is decent in the air. He can also score headers from set pieces and has the occassional long ball in him. He's experienced enough to command the back-line and at 27 years old he can still get better.
His contract however runs out in 2020 so I doubt Spurs are willing to sell. Still worth a try though in my opinion if we actually sell any of our CBs.
Other notable mentions and more plausible targets, are Koulibaly and Manolas.
On topic though I believe we could do with another CB (considering we sell Rojo/Jones) and I'm surprised Alderweireld is barely mentioned. He just came off his best season and was one of Spurs top performers and one of the best CBs in the league. He's the main reason why they were so solid defensively last season.
He's fairly quick, with great positional awareness, is not afraid to get stuck in, and is decent in the air. He can also score headers from set pieces and has the occassional long ball in him. He's experienced enough to command the back-line and at 27 years old he can still get better.
His contract however runs out in 2020 so I doubt Spurs are willing to sell. Still worth a try though in my opinion if we actually sell any of our CBs.
Other notable mentions and more plausible targets, are Koulibaly and Manolas.
Is Fonte any good?
Smalling and Bailly.
Bailly has seemed solid in pre season
Bailly has seemed solid in pre season
Ferdinand rates him highly. Remember him saying a few months ago he should be at a top 4 club.
Heavily linked with Everton this weekend by the way.
We do need one and we will get one I imagine.
I think it'll be someone very experienced though with leadership and organisational qualities.
Those mentioning the likes of Mustafi I think might be wide of the mark of the type of centre half we'll be after.
I think it'll be someone very experienced though with leadership and organisational qualities.
Those mentioning the likes of Mustafi I think might be wide of the mark of the type of centre half we'll be after.
If we don't go into the market for another centre half I'll be massively surprised could be the difference between us winning the league.
Castles is still pushing the experienced CB story, not a lot of mention elsewhere though. Bonucci, Miranda, Garay and Fonte are the names in the mix which makes sense as we have such bright young CB's.
Reports Williams off to Everton for £10m or so.
I said this ages ago but I still maintain Jose fonte would be a brilliant addition to our backline
At this point We need someone who is experienced and BPL proven, he certainly is, he's been very consistent for Southampton and he had a very good euros too, he wouldn't cost a fortune and I think would be quite keen to come as it could be his best chance for silverware + link up with mourinho.
Offer him a contract similar to Ibrahimovic 1 year with option of 2nd
At this point We need someone who is experienced and BPL proven, he certainly is, he's been very consistent for Southampton and he had a very good euros too, he wouldn't cost a fortune and I think would be quite keen to come as it could be his best chance for silverware + link up with mourinho.
Offer him a contract similar to Ibrahimovic 1 year with option of 2nd
I do expect us to buy another centre back this summer. We could do with an experienced one. Garay would be a decent buy and wouldn't cost that much would he?
Fonte would be the best available shout imo
Good signing that I feel. A leader and an organiser.
I think this is a good shout. Fonte knows the Premier League. He also showed he can do it when it matters at Euro 2016. I'd be happy with bringing him into our back line.
'Knows the Premier League' 'Proven'... Jesus wept. Fonte would absolutely not be a good signing.
In a completely unrealistic way I would have liked us to be in for all three of Williams, Ramsey and Bale.
Is Williams really that much better than Smalling?
Any experienced CB is going to be brought in to play week in week out one would think which means 1 of 2 things
A- our many young CB's aren't going to get games such as our 30m+ buy Bailly
B- it's to replace our most experienced CB Smalling
I agree our defence is far from perfect right not but its a bit of a stick or twist situation
Any experienced CB is going to be brought in to play week in week out one would think which means 1 of 2 things
A- our many young CB's aren't going to get games such as our 30m+ buy Bailly
B- it's to replace our most experienced CB Smalling
I agree our defence is far from perfect right not but its a bit of a stick or twist situation
Except he would, and is a competent & experienced defender.
What exactly are you basing that on?
You obviously don't watch enough of him play. He's been up there as one of the most consistent centrebacks in the league the last few seasons.
Players like Ashley Williams and Jose Fonte aren't going to do anything to improve us. They are better than Rojo and Jones, but we shouldn't buy CBs for the sake of buying them - we need genuine improvements on the ones who'll start.
I'm not sure why this has caused such spark anyway, it's being reported by Duncan Castles, who has been posting the same story for near on three weaks, and is still adamant players like Mata and Blind will be sold.
I'm not sure why this has caused such spark anyway, it's being reported by Duncan Castles, who has been posting the same story for near on three weaks, and is still adamant players like Mata and Blind will be sold.