If Maguire and Lindelof go I can see why we would want to bring him in.
There's plenty of game time to go around for 4 centre backs (Martinez, Deligt - Yoro, Brathwaite)
I think you may have misread his responseBecause we have a finite budget and should be prioritising some central midfielders. We’ve signed two CBs already.
We had a terrible year last season because we had no fit senior left backs and Jonny Evans at CB - guess what happened at the weekend? We had no fit senior left backs and Jonny Evans was starting at CB. If Lindelof leaves and Branthwaite is available for 60m we will sign him. Having 4 CBs plus Maguire - freeing Martinez as emergency cover at left back is not overkill given the issues we had last year and shaw/malacia/mazroui’s/Martinez injury records over the last 18 months.No it doesn’t, we need midfielders or we’ll have another terrible season like last year, ten Hag will be sacked and we’re back to square one.
Exactly... why would we buy 3 CBs and say ahh nevermind the midfield, there's always next year!No it doesn’t, we need midfielders or we’ll have another terrible season like last year, ten Hag will be sacked and we’re back to square one.
You’re right — apologies @Steve 007 !I think you may have misread his response
I’d rather we sign that chap from Atletico on a free if that’s the concern, then he can cover Licha and Chunkberto. And he doesn’t cost £60m.We had a terrible year last season because we had no fit senior left backs and Jonny Evans at CB - guess what happened at the weekend? We had no fit senior left backs and Jonny Evans was starting at CB. If Lindelof leaves and Branthwaite is available for 60m we will sign him. Having 4 CBs plus Maguire - freeing Martinez as emergency cover at left back is not overkill given the issues we had last year and shaw/malacia/mazroui’s/Martinez injury records over the last 18 months.
Exactly... why would we buy 3 CBs and say ahh nevermind the midfield, there's always next year!
We don't have a realistic need for Branthwaite now , focus on getting midfielders now.
That’s makes no sense. We have strengthened enough in defense while there is a gapping hole in CDM. We need someone with young legs able to cover a lot of ground. Ugarte is the right fit. He is available now for a decent price so he should and rightly be prioritized.Makes sense to sign him this summer then fully focus on the midfield next summer
Not needed. Your scenario would still leave us with Maguire as back up. If we do raise some more funds I think it’s more likely we go for another midfield player (Fofana?) and possibly, budget allowing, a striker.I think if we offload McT and Sancho (Plus Lindelof/Mejbri and other 'fodder') then we can get Ugarte and Branthwaite
Collyer Ugarte Casemiro all for the 6 is enough, you then have Mount, Mainoo, Bruno / Zirkzee for the other 2 positions. Doubt we need more.Not needed. Your scenario would still leave us with Maguire as back up. If we do raise some more funds I think it’s more likely we go for another midfield player (Fofana?) and possibly, budget allowing, a striker.
I don't agree, it's an issue now, this summer.The midfield problem becomes an issue next year when Casemiro and Eriksen depart
Getting 1 in now won’t fully fix it, it can be done next summer
Guehi only made the England team because our Harry was injured.,.just saying.It would only weaken Everton's hand. Guehi was picked ahead of Branthwaite for England and is being valued by Palace below Everton's Branthwaite valuation.
It's not really that significant though when Everton are saying they don't want to sell. £70m is above the players' actual worth because they don't want to sell.
As long is the player doesn't kick up a fuss it means little.
I think a lot of people will be very surprised at how much better our current midfield will be when they have top class centre backs supporting them
The athletic article from the beginning of the window said they wanted him in part because they viewed him as a CB who could also play left back to cover Shaw and MalaciaCan he play Left Back?
From what I have seen of him which is admittedly not a lot he doesn’t seem to be exceptional in any area.The athletic article from the beginning of the window said they wanted him in part because they viewed him as a CB who could also play left back to cover Shaw and Malacia
I’d have really liked this signing to happen. It feels weird we never heard more about it after the second bid was rejected. Hope we come back in January
I’d rather we sign a top young CB that’s part of our long term strategy than short term fixes because they’re cheap. We currently have 2 fit fullbacks for the next 2 months and 4 fit CBs - one of whom is Jonny Evans. We’re one injury away to Martinez, Dalot or Mazroui (who has a dreadful injury record) from having a defensive injury crisis and the season hasn’t even kicked off. Branthwaite obviously makes sense.I’d rather we sign that chap from Atletico on a free if that’s the concern, then he can cover Licha and Chunkberto. And he doesn’t cost £60m.
Don’t forget both Mazraoui and Dalot can cover at LB too so that’s really not the best use of Licha.
Yeah, would give us “city” type options at the back, especially with the inverted CB/LB hybrid nonsense like Ake/Gvardiol has been deployed. Martinez & Branthwaite could both fill that role down the left.If Maguire and Lindelof go I can see why we would want to bring him in.
There's plenty of game time to go around for 4 centre backs (Martinez, Deligt - Yoro, Brathwaite)
Exactly, the impact of defenders not keeping the high line can't be understated. You could have thrown prime Xavi Iniesta and Busquets in there last season and the gaping chasm of space would still have been there because of the defenders dropping off.I think a lot of people will be very surprised at how much better our current midfield will be when they have top class centre backs supporting them
Only one of those is an actual CM and he’s still a teenager.Collyer Ugarte Casemiro all for the 6 is enough, you then have Mount, Mainoo, Bruno / Zirkzee for the other 2 positions. Doubt we need more.
We will play one of the three midfielders in an advanced midfield position. Zirkzee Bruno and Mount can all do that. Casemiro is probably better as an 8 too. I'd argue Bruno is a capable 8 if needed on top.Only one of those is an actual CM and he’s still a teenager.
Completely disagree that Casemiro is better as an 8, he can’t come close to taking the ball on the turn even if he’s decent in the opposition box. Mainoo is literally the only “connective” 8 we have as even Bruno struggles more at that position where his dribbling issues become more apparent and he can’t be as creative.We will play one of the three midfielders in an advanced midfield position. Zirkzee Bruno and Mount can all do that. Casemiro is probably better as an 8 too. I'd argue Bruno is a capable 8 if needed on top.
Bruno has proven time and time again to be a very capable 8. Casemiro is also still useful in that role moreso than an isolated 6. I'd also argue Mount is a very good connector in that 8 role if called upon. We certainly have options. Fofana doesn't look like he'd add any more value as an 8 than what we've seen from Bruno and Mount at least.Completely disagree that Casemiro is better as an 8, he can’t come close to taking the ball on the turn even if he’s decent in the opposition box. Mainoo is literally the only “connective” 8 we have as even Bruno struggles more at that position where his dribbling issues become more apparent and he can’t be as creative.
My hope is the McT/Fofana deals go through as the latter would provide another natural option to Mainoo. Feels like those two deals are related so we’ll see.
Bruno has proven time and time again to be a very capable 8. Casemiro is also still useful in that role moreso than an isolated 6. I'd also argue Mount is a very good connector in that 8 role if called upon. We certainly have options. Fofana doesn't look like he'd add any more value as an 8 than what we've seen from Bruno and Mount at least.
We certainly have options if we sell McT for Ugarte, that's for sure.
Sure, we don't need to go to deep into it. I don't think Casemiro and Ugarte would play together in that situation. It would be a Bruno/Mount 8, Ugarte 6 and Zirkzee 10.You and I see football very differently then I’m not in the mood to argue this.
We can circle back when Mainoo has to miss time and I’m watching Ugarte and Casemiro treat the ball like a bomb when pressed and our forwards are struggling to ever get on the ball if it happens. Fielding a midfield 3 of players that struggle to dribble or carry the ball at all is a recipe for disaster. Hopefully it doesn’t come to that.
Zirkzee is either WF or a 9, shouldn’t be counted as midfielder - he’s a forwardCollyer Ugarte Casemiro all for the 6 is enough, you then have Mount, Mainoo, Bruno / Zirkzee for the other 2 positions. Doubt we need more.
He isn't really a 9, in his own words.Zirkzee is either WF or a 9, shouldn’t be counted as midfielder - he’s a forward
I don’t mean like classic #9 but rather the way we have tried Sancho and Bruno a sort of false 9.He isn't really a 9, in his own words.
Yeah, a 9.5 if you will. It depends on the system but Ten Hag will have plenty of options in midfield if he has Collyer, Ugarte, Casemiro, Mainoo, Mount, Bruno + Zirkzee as a more advanced option. It's actually a wealth of options, with only Casemiro really looking like he wont have the legs over a prolonged period.I don’t mean like classic #9 but rather the way we have tried Sancho and Bruno a sort of false 9.
Either way he looks a lot more like forward than a midfielder or #10
