Why would he? Rojo and Blind will spend 90% of their game time in central defence. I also see no reason why Blackett cant play as a left back for us for I dont buy the he is not ready argument. Ive only seen him look out of his depth for us once and that wasvs Leicester last season
Do we really need another central defender?
- Thread starter Browniee
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You must have missed some of his other games then Chief. Basically Blind and Rojo occupy the same spot in central defense so only one will play there at a time, meaning if Shaw is injured the other will be LB.
No one will have to take Shaws place this season as he's going to stay fit. He's a great little player and only 20 years old
No we do not need any more central defenders and that's true even if Evans leaves.
Smalling should start when fit unless his form completely goes to pieces. Rojo or Blind as left central defender. Jones and McNair as cover for Smalling and options for left central defender if necessary. Blackett for league cup and fa cup games.
Smalling should start when fit unless his form completely goes to pieces. Rojo or Blind as left central defender. Jones and McNair as cover for Smalling and options for left central defender if necessary. Blackett for league cup and fa cup games.
I'm not so sure, I think Rojo may well get the nod ahead of Blind when we are up against a strong player like Benteke, although Blind did very well against the height, power and pace of Oulare when he came on last night.
Should Shaw get an injury, we also have the option of Darmian at left back, with Valencia coming in at right back. I can see Van Gaal using this option as he seems to like Valencia too, I just think Darmian's performances have forced his inclusion ahead of Valencia a lot sooner than expected.
I don't think we need another centre back, but I'd be gutted to miss out on Stones, especially as it would strengthen Chelsea's position for the foreseeable future (Stones and Zouma seems a perfect partnership on paper). Best scenario would be for Everton to keep hold of him and we can have another look next summer.
IF design a world class centre back,there would sell one of the others. That answers the question, only worth getting in a new one IF he goes straight in the team, else we have enough depth for rotation and injuries.
We'll cope this season, get Laporte next. He needs another season at Bilbao.
We don't need another centreback..
But if we could sell Evans and buy chiellini I'd be quite happy
And at least lvg would have his left centreback sorted for a couple of seasons
But if we could sell Evans and buy chiellini I'd be quite happy
And at least lvg would have his left centreback sorted for a couple of seasons
If Smalling goes down I think we'd be in big trouble, Jones isn't reliable to play 4 consecutive games, Evans from it could be said is *sporadic* at best, it depends how much faith the club has in Rojo to kick on this season and stay clear of injury.
we had no CBs on the bench in a must win CL qualifier?
Darmian can go to CB and he had Valencia on bench to cover Darmian. Also had Carrick if needed, except he was naff and hauled off.
I don't think we do, no. Honestly, I'd prefer some continuity and consistency and think it'd benefit our defense more than any player could. I don't think our defenders are worse than Chelsea's, Arsenal's or City's, as individual players. All we need is some good understanding and chemistry between them.
EDIT: This is all very dependent on injuries, of course. If Jones and/or Smalling can't stay consistently fit for yet another season, we should be out on the market next summer or even January.
EDIT: This is all very dependent on injuries, of course. If Jones and/or Smalling can't stay consistently fit for yet another season, we should be out on the market next summer or even January.
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Like many others have said, it all is heavily reliant on Chris Smalling's fitness... I think its a gamble to say the least.
Yes, we certainly do. Blind will get found out against the likes of Aguero, Benteke, Costa and Sanchez over the course of the season. He's doing a decent job against average opponents, but we need an experienced top class defender alongside a much improved Smalling if we're aiming to contend for the league and in Europe.
That was just because Rojo isn't match-fit yet and Jones is out with an issue. One or both of them would have been otherwise.
I'm gonna call it, though tbh I've always had this inclination towards Blackett but one day he might be our next Smalling. The guy has been shoe horned into left back position simply because he is left footed but his attributes are almost uncanny to the young Smalling that joined us.
Footballing intelligence seemingly low check, tall AND wide check, strong check, got pace and can cover the ground well check, long stride check, doesn't seem to drop his head (despite poor performances) check, will continue playing his game (like Smalling didn't have much awareness) for worse or good check, has poor passing decisions check, played in a variety of defensive positions and sometimes looks reassuring and sometimes woeful check etc etc.
Basically like Smalling he's an athletic beast and seems to have that 'yes boss I'll run through the brick wall' dumbness (lolol) that could lead him well to be very coachable.
We just need to keep him around the squad and stop faffing about with his position. He is built for the centre back position. Will he ever be a classy player, nope, but Smalling has shown how useful and dominant you can be by playing to your strengths.
We may not see this for a good couple years and everything falls into place though he is still only 21 so I have hopes he will at the minimum turn out to be a good squad player for us; like Brown, Silvestre etc was and if he aims higher, he should take inspiration from Mike.
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to go along with van gaal's obsession with a left footed CB in his line up, i'll go for Laporte.
smalling-laporte could be potentially world class. can't see this happening this season though. we'll have to do with smalling-blind for the time being. and if mike gets injured, we are definitely fecked.
smalling-laporte could be potentially world class. can't see this happening this season though. we'll have to do with smalling-blind for the time being. and if mike gets injured, we are definitely fecked.
Won't only one of them be playing lcb at a time though? Also Darmian could play LB and Valencia RB.
If Schneiderlin and Smalling stay fit, no.
RCB:
Smalling
Jones
Evans
LCB:
Blind
Rojo
McNair
Need - youth teamer/prospect to replace Evans.
Would like - World class LCB in case Smalling gets injured.
Smalling
Jones
Evans
LCB:
Blind
Rojo
McNair
Need - youth teamer/prospect to replace Evans.
Would like - World class LCB in case Smalling gets injured.
Laporte would be a brilliant signing for the future and will fit into the current system as well. A signing like him would make sense.
Im expecting heavy rotation this season once the competitions become many. I fully expect LVG to employ two sets of back fours. I also doubt he will employ the back men in any unfarmiliar roles. That is why I believe McNair and Blackett will get more game time than first thought. Especially since we will still have injury prone CBs on the books
i think we're fine at CB particularly when you consider the protection we can put in front of them this season any combination of morgan/basti/carrick brings great solidarity
there's a bigger question up front
there's a bigger question up front
I think we are more in need of a striker and even someone pacey who can play behind. We have a fair few good centre backs with Smalling being the one who is very good. If we bought someone like Laporte I'd be ecstatic though. I'd prefer we strengthened elsewhere.
With our current performance it would seem another defender is not a priority. Need to see this against a top side before we can see though, our defence may still be found out. Has slipped down our list of players needed for now though. However one injury or mess up could change everything.
lol it's not that really outlandish.
Even for the last 6 months, Smalling doesn't strike me and has shown that he has great footballing intelligence; what's he done very well is maintain his concentration levels AND his intensity to defending. Every tackle, duel, sprint, shepherding of plays etc have been fully physical and wholly dedicated. That's an observation and not a criticism. Could he be a bit smarter with perhaps positioning and his reading the game? Sure but I wouldn't change it for a thing because his qualities are exactly what we need right now and because of it he's shown very good form.
Blackett is very similar to a young Smalling and I have no qualms repeating that again.
I feel is Smalling maintains his current form, Blind keeps improving, Dmalling's best partner Rojo can keep fit and above Jones rediscover his true self, Evans too possibly, We really wont need another CB.
Smallings ability to read a game seems to be hugely underrated here, it seems because he looks so unnatural on the ball people assume his football intelligence isn't there. Smallings positioning is very good, as is his timing.
We're one injury away from being a mess at the back again IMO.
Yes. Smalling has been playing very good so far and is clearly our best CB but Jones is a sick note and not that great when fit anyway, always has a brain fart in him. Evans is just not good enough and Rojo for me is a better LB than CB, he can't even shift Otamendi from CB for Argentina and people were saying he is not that great.
Our two Youngsters especially McNair will be good players but they need a loan for me. As for Blind, great football brain and technique but he is very slow and not strong or tall enough to handle an aerial bombardment we may face v certain teams especially is Smalling already has he hands full. I dread facing the likes of City and Chelsea with Blind at CB purely due to his pace.
Our two Youngsters especially McNair will be good players but they need a loan for me. As for Blind, great football brain and technique but he is very slow and not strong or tall enough to handle an aerial bombardment we may face v certain teams especially is Smalling already has he hands full. I dread facing the likes of City and Chelsea with Blind at CB purely due to his pace.
Thinking about it... any combination of our CB's that doesn't involved Smalling worries me a fair bit.
Blind + Jones = Probably the one I'm most okay with, but it's definitely vulnerable in the air... and it's also our slowest combination.
Blind + Rojo = Too light weight
Jones + Rojo = It's fine I guess, but it's a bit mad. It's like placing two apes in a microwave.
Evans + Anyone = Jonny Evans.
Blind + Jones = Probably the one I'm most okay with, but it's definitely vulnerable in the air... and it's also our slowest combination.
Blind + Rojo = Too light weight
Jones + Rojo = It's fine I guess, but it's a bit mad. It's like placing two apes in a microwave.
Evans + Anyone = Jonny Evans.
We can manage without other CB but what worries me at the movement as Annihilate suggested, combination without Samlling.We are not sure that we can expect same performance from other combo.At the same time we can't stock players in this position without someone going out.I would suggest sell Evans and get other decent CB.
That made me laugh.
we are one injury away from a striker crisis (rooney)
and one injury away from having no pace in attack (depay)
so with smalling, blind, jones, rojo, evans, mcnair, blackett and at a push darmain and carrick we can probably put out an ok centerback pairing in most circumstanses
Laporte is the right choice, we all know that. Would instantly be our best/second best CB, is still only 21, a left footer and great at passing. He is quite tall and heavy which will make him very suitable for EPL.
Unfortunately, I don't think that it will happen this season. To be fair, I think that Smalling-Blind is a very good partnership and will do great for us, but the problem is what will happen when Smalling gets injured. I don't trust in neither of Jones-Blind, Rojo-Blind or God forbid it, Jones-Rojo partnerships. Blind is very good at what he does but he needs a reliable CB to partner him, a CB who: a) is big and strong; b) is quite good; c) is not crazy.
Blind getting inured on the other side will harm us, but Smalling-Rojo/Jones would somehow work IMO. Not as good as Smalling-Blind but still good enough.
Smalling-Laporte would be fantastic though, and in a couple of years, the best partnership in Europe.
Unfortunately, I don't think that it will happen this season. To be fair, I think that Smalling-Blind is a very good partnership and will do great for us, but the problem is what will happen when Smalling gets injured. I don't trust in neither of Jones-Blind, Rojo-Blind or God forbid it, Jones-Rojo partnerships. Blind is very good at what he does but he needs a reliable CB to partner him, a CB who: a) is big and strong; b) is quite good; c) is not crazy.
Blind getting inured on the other side will harm us, but Smalling-Rojo/Jones would somehow work IMO. Not as good as Smalling-Blind but still good enough.
Smalling-Laporte would be fantastic though, and in a couple of years, the best partnership in Europe.
I want to see your face when we line up with a Blind - Evans CB pairing.
Smalling and Blind as a pair have played well so far so no I don't think buying another centre half is as pressing as many had previously mentioned.
We have have one of the best defences iin EU. Why strengthen it?
Our attack on the other hand is weak - that definitely needs strengthening.
Work on your weaknesses, not your strengths.
Our attack on the other hand is weak - that definitely needs strengthening.
Work on your weaknesses, not your strengths.
Blind has started well and Smalling is a colossus, I just hope the latter stays fit as I have no trust in Jones as the RCB.