That was really one of the only times he stood out for me, and not in a good way. He looked big and clumsy there, and its not as if he was facing some mesmerizing winger....
I think he was quite dominant against our forward players before that.
That was really one of the only times he stood out for me, and not in a good way. He looked big and clumsy there, and its not as if he was facing some mesmerizing winger....
True, but that forward player was Tony Martial.....I think he was quite dominant against our forward players before that.
Him and Todibo are my picks for CB going forward.
True, but that forward player was Tony Martial.....
Indeed he did. And with those two specific actions I think he raised his rating from the 2-3 range up to a 5, maybe, if one is feeling generous.Who managed to score against Everton (again). And win a pen.
He’s fine but he’s hardly a must buy unless you can get an appropriate figure. I would expect he’s at a similar level to the other young CBs we’ve been loosely linked to this season.I don't really get the hype.
Any ideas what kind of fee Everton would ask for if they stay up, and if they go down?
Would be one of the best possible additions we could go for this summer, same with Amadou Onana to pair with Mainoo.
He’s fine but he’s hardly a must buy unless you can get an appropriate figure. I would expect he’s at a similar level to the other young CBs we’ve been loosely linked to this season.
I don't think Onana is good enough on the ball. If we want to become a team a more dominant possession oriented team then we need someone with much better skills and vision on the ball.
That lunge at the end was pretty mindless.
Might well become a top player in five years, but there’s no chance he comes in and makes the immediate impact we’re looking for. Both our centre halves had better games and neither is likely to be at the club next season.
I hope not. We need to keep Varane unless we’re buying another top centre half to partner Martinez. I know the wages are a factor but god knows where we’d be without him this season. He's showing he can stay fit when the minutes are managed correctly.This is the sort of wishful thinking we see near the end of every season.
I can't see us selling Varane, releasing Evans as it'd mean we need to sign another 2 or 3 centre backs. Especially with Martinez's brutal style leaving him out for massive chunks each season.
Knowing us we'll think Evans has done a superb job and is worth another year.
He does look like he'll develop into a strong defender because he does have the attributes to both be a good box defender as well as being capable defending the channel in a higher line. But I'm not sure he's good enough on the ball yet or will be. Maybe he can develop that side of his game but I think there might be better options as far as technical ability on the ball is concerned.
I think I'm leaning towards hoping we sign Castello Lukeba from Leipzig for the LCB role.
One of the league's good young CBs but no more than that. Not a wunderkind or anywhere near the sort of value being attached to him.
Any ideas what kind of fee Everton would ask for if they stay up, and if they go down?
Would be one of the best possible additions we could go for this summer, same with Amadou Onana to pair with Mainoo.
60-70m....
Reminds me of Smalling tbh. Not the finished article but good potential. He does need a talker/leader next to him though.
Oher than being tall and I guess young (although we've had loads of other young players to compare him to) I dont see a comparison with Smalling. We took a gamble on Smalling early when he hadnt played much premier league football. He stayed on loan in the premier league and played a bit more for Fulham but not loads. Its more like with Jones where he played plenty for his premier league team and had been talked up a lot throughout it. Although Jones actually played a lot as a DM rather than a CB so even then...
Branthwaite looks quite different to Smalling in that he wants to make tackles. Smalling was more of a reader and interceptor with very good defensive senses knowing the right move but with lower tackling stats. And other than his size and strength Smalling's big weapon was his pace.
As we saw today Branthwaite's pace and running isnt his strength. For example he's nowhere to be seen on our 2nd penalty move where Garnacho is freed on the right and Mykolenko is there backing off from him as first responder. Garner is the man tracking back McTom's run through the middle while Garnacho goes diagonally across towards his left and wins the 2nd pen. When Garnacho is brought down and the ref points to the spot it goes to the wider view again and it shows Branthwaite is walking back to his position. Getting up and down the pitch quickly is not going to be his strength. So he may be more like Maguire than Smalling or Jones.
Didn't really impressed. Phil Jones made a much stronger impression back then when we were playing against Blackburn.