What do we do in central defence?...

Rozay

Master of Hindsight
Joined
Oct 22, 2012
Messages
28,194
Location
...
So at the start of a month where we have about 9 games to play, we have lost both Varane and Maguire to injury, both likely for a few weeks.

We have Lindelof and Martinez left (for now). Do we play them every game this month? And even Victor doesn't have the best fitness record of late. What do we do if one of these two gets injured? Matic has now left who had been used as an emergency option.

Is Tyler Fredericson up to joining the rotation in the EL?
 
As a last resort I'm sure you could put McTominay in there although he's only played in a 3 for Scotland
 
Phil Jones

Or something that has been caf's fantasy for a long time, Bissaka at CB.
 
Can find an alternative for the easier Europa games but even so it's a far from secure looking partnership.
 
Samid said:
Phil Jones

Or something that has been caf's fantasy for a long time, Bissaka at CB.
Click to expand...

Is PJ even fit? If he is then that is by far the most sensible option rather than putting midfielders in there.
 
Isn't Tuanzebe still about? I'd like to see him get gametime ahead of Jones, McTom or Casemiro at CB.
 
OleGunnar20 said:
Isn't Tuanzebe still about? I'd like to see him get gametime ahead of Jones, McTom or Casemiro at CB.
Click to expand...

From what I recall he withdrew from the pre-season tour for personal issues and hasn't been seen since, and he is just mentioned as 'unavailable' in match previews. Could be something going on behind the scenes. I hope he's okay and that he can step in if needed. Not that he's amazing or anything but I think he would suit ETHs play.
 
Samid said:
Phil Jones

Or something that has been caf's fantasy for a long time, Bissaka at CB.
Click to expand...

I'm still convinced that could be his best position. He has almost all the tools for todays game with speedy strikers, but I am worried about his lack of positioning and awareness at times. But looking at most of our other CB's that means he'll fit right in!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Cheimoon
Jones, Axel, Mengi

Shaw, Malacia , Scott has played there before.
 
DutchSerb said:
I'm still convinced that could be his best position. He has almost all the tools for todays game with speedy strikers, but I am worried about his lack of positioning and awareness at times. But looking at most of our other CB's that means he'll fit right in!
Click to expand...
You are worried about 2 items that a defender must have. :lol:

He would be embarrassingly bad at CB.
 
Amir said:
I think he was among the players listed as injured on the weekend.
Click to expand...
Trequarista10 said:
From what I recall he withdrew from the pre-season tour for personal issues and hasn't been seen since, and he is just mentioned as 'unavailable' in match previews. Could be something going on behind the scenes. I hope he's okay and that he can step in if needed. Not that he's amazing or anything but I think he would suit ETHs play.
Click to expand...
Gotcha. I'd lost track of the guy really since the disastrous Napoli loan. I still hold out hope of him playing a role in the squad, though its looking more and more unlikely.
 
DutchSerb said:
I'm still convinced that could be his best position. He has almost all the tools for todays game with speedy strikers, but I am worried about his lack of positioning and awareness at times. But looking at most of our other CB's that means he'll fit right in!
Click to expand...

Poor positioning, awareness and the worst aerial ability of any of our defenders…that is absolutely the worst partner to have for Martinez
 
Lindelof is the obvious next cab of the rank after Varane and Maguire, but having lindelof, Martinez and de Gea in the same team is pretty terrifying thought when it comes to dealing with high balls.

Mctominay would be the next obvious candidate after that, ticks alot of boxes but would be concerned about his positional awareness.

A.W.B maybe ok on the right side of a 3 but I wouldn't fancy him in a 2, and Shaw I think could do a pretty decent job in the left sided CB role but I wouldn't fancy a pairing of Martinez and Shaw neither would confartable on the right side of defence I feel and again massive concern about dealing with high balls etc.

In conclusion with Maguire, Varane, Tuanzabe and Jones all out the options are either lindelof and Martinez or Mctominay and Martinez.

Casemerio I think should be given a run in midfield don't think it would be fair to bring him into a new team out of position in the most physical league in the world.
 
bond19821982 said:
Jones, Axel, Mengi

Shaw, Malacia , Scott has played there before.
Click to expand...

I don’t think any of these are available.

And none of the other three have played in a back 2. Malacia literally only played there (in a back 3) for the first time and has been complaining about it in the press since.

Casemiro has played in a pair for Real so I guess he’d be the best solution to step in. I wouldn’t want him just playing there for the sake of rotation though, and we will need to play someone just for the sake of rotation. We need him settling in midfield as a priority.
 
Fullbacks and midfielders will probably end up getting a game at CB here and there to cover. Not ideal for a side that concedes as many goals as we do, but the squad is paper thin in terms of quality and this season will be brutal for fatigue injuries.
 
DutchSerb said:
I'm still convinced that could be his best position. He has almost all the tools for todays game with speedy strikers, but I am worried about his lack of positioning and awareness at times. But looking at most of our other CB's that means he'll fit right in!
Click to expand...
:lol:

He lacks the most important tool of all which is the footballing iq.
 
Lindelof & Martinez.

If one of them get injured I'd imagine we'd go to a 3 though.
 
Perhaps we bring Tom Huddlestone up from whatever we have him doing in the reserves!
 
Sounds crazy but we need another CB this summer. Varane can never stay fit and the other two are mediocrity personified.
 
More than they should because our Goalkeeper doesn’t do more than one thing.
 
In theory we still have Tuanzebe, Jones, Bernard and Mengi

In practise I think all have been injured for the whole season so far
 
We desperately need an athletic playable CB together with Varane or Martinez.

Martinez could also play DCM when Casemiro needs a rest (or whatever) or together with Casemiro (double pivot) when we need a very compact midfield.
 
Longlivekeano said:
Shaw could do the trick. Decent in the air, strong in the tackle, can play the ball out.
Click to expand...

We need a RCB to partner Martínez in case of further injuries. Shaw would only make sense as a makeshift option if the Argentine got sidelined as well.
 
Put CR7 in there, great leap, good on headers, which is apparently all we need….
 
Varane shouldn't be out for long. Did mengi go out on loan? What's up with tuanzebe and jones?

Guessing if something happens to Lindelof, McTominay will drop. Can see a scenario where Shaw goes CB for Martinez.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.