Will we buy a left back this coming January, if so who?

2 LBs: Blind, Rojo
2 RBs: Darmian, Valencia
3 CBs: Smalling, Jones, McNair

We need another senior CB. Once Shaw returns, we can put Blind back at CB and send McNair on Loan.
 
Don't think we will sign a lb in January unless Blind or Rojo pick up a bad injury (3+ months)
 
Blind, Rojo and Young have all been good there at various times under Van Gaal. It's the exact opposite of a problem position for us, and it would be batshit to go and buy someone for the sake of a single season when our slam-dunk first choice won't be available.
 
Ashley cole on a free? - at least we wouldnt have to wait for the transfer window and he knows the PL plus wouldn't be cup tied (probably more back up to Rojo and Blind but experienced and available)
 
Aaron Cresswell at West Ham mentioned this morning. Don't know to much about him. Anyone?
 
sun_tzu said:
Ashley cole on a free? - at least we wouldnt have to wait for the transfer window and he knows the PL plus wouldn't be cup tied (probably more back up to Rojo and Blind but experienced and available)
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He was shit at Roma last season, and not much better at Chelsea in the previous season. He's finished.

I don't think that we need a new LB to be fair. Rojo, Blind and Young should be enough for that position, with Darmian being able to play there too (and then play Valencia as RB). CB is more problematic though considering that we have only Smalling and Blind reliable there (with Blind probably needing to play at times at LB).
 
There's this pretty good French guy in Italy who's aging and has PL experience, he's even won it a few times...
 
I think our best option is to switch Darmian to a LB and to play Valencia as a right back. This allows us to keep defensive solidity on the left hand side and gives Juan Mata a better player going forward to link up with;thus, increasing the productivity of our offense. The only negative repercussions I see is us being a bit more exposed on the right due to the difference of defensive abilities between the two full backs.

I don't trust Blind at LB for most opponents. I mean, the guy has great defensive fundamentals and is an intelligent player going forward, but his serious lack of strength and speed can leave a major hole in our defense. His inability to defend pacey RW most of the time can make us very vulnerable to counter attacks and chances being created from the right hand side imo.

Rojo has shown promise but he still deals with communication issues and has moments where he displays piss poor IQ. For example, Rojo can sometimes show a tendency to leave more than arms length of space between him and the winger which gives them an opportunity to put in a good ball. Rojo also isn't that great of a passer, and can decide to pull up with a cross from way way out other than trying to pick out a simple pass. Even though these moments lead to frustration, when he is on his game, he can be a defensive powerhouse and can pick out some nice passes. If you watched him closely in the second half, you would see some glimpses of that. It all depends on whether or not one would take the risk with his inconsistencies and try to stick with him there.

I think Rojo has promise to be a decent squad player, but from the little I have seen him there for us he is too inconsistent and is still dealing with communication issues.
 
Dante said:
2 LBs: Blind, Rojo
2 RBs: Darmian, Valencia
3 CBs: Smalling, Jones, McNair

We need another senior CB. Once Shaw returns, we can put Blind back at CB and send McNair on Loan.
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I think this is the right idea, now that I've had some time to process the Shaw injury. We think he's coming back, Rojo and Blind are solid left-backs who can be platooned - with Rojo better defending and Blind's passing rendering him a better option when we're not worried about wingers with pace and have the ball. - or just compete.

We need a partner for Smalling. It's unlikely we have one in the squad right now. Jones is a good option to backup Smalling, Blind - as well as he's played - can be targeted by height or pace and Rojo might improve as he hits his prime, but looks to have an error in him.

So, instead of waiting until the summer of 2016 to sign that player, and our interest in Ramos indicates we were looking at it, we should just go hard for it in January even if it costs us a few million more.

It doesn't make sense to panic after the Shaw injury. But it can move up our plans to find an LCB by 6 months. If it doesn't happen, then maybe a very short-term move at LB or LCB can be found (Ashley Cole, Vlaar or another past-it player, or preferably someone decent with 6 months to go before a Bosman who we can pay 2-3 million for and just plug in).
 
Cresswell isn't even particularly good at defending, he was awful in their match against Bournemouth a few weeks back. Not that we should be looking to bring in a LB, anyway.
 
I'd rather just bring Blackett back as cover than sign someone new.
 
We could just hit the Laporte clause of 37M Pounds, toss him in at CB next to Smalling and let Blind compete with Rojo at LB.

Laporte doesn't leap off the screen as brilliant the way Varane or Marquinhos does but he's left-footed, calm, technically solid, good long passer (takes some free kicks even), has good size and has done very, very well for his age.

Certainly it would be a more long-term solution than panic signing an LB, and I think if used correctly Blind and Rojo could do a good job at LB until Shaw is back, with Rojo playing against scary, pacey wingers and Blind's passing getting him the nod when we are more worried about generating offense from that spot.

And next season, we'd have a balanced D:

Shaw-Laporte-Smalling-Darmian

Backed up by:
Rojo-Blind-Jones-Valencia

with McNair as the utility guy, on loan getting 35 Prem starts or as a backup CB if Rojo leaves in the summer, with Blind and Darmian (and Young) still strong backup LB options.

Only Valencia would be over 26.
 
NoPace said:
We could just hit the Laporte clause of 37M Pounds, toss him in at CB next to Smalling and let Blind compete with Rojo at LB.

Laporte doesn't leap off the screen as brilliant the way Varane or Marquinhos does but he's left-footed, calm, technically solid, good long passer (takes some free kicks even), has good size and has done very, very well for his age.

Certainly it would be a more long-term solution than panic signing an LB, and I think if used correctly Blind and Rojo could do a good job at LB until Shaw is back, with Rojo playing against scary, pacey wingers and Blind's passing getting him the nod when we are more worried about generating offense from that spot.

And next season, we'd have a balanced D:

Shaw-Laporte-Smalling-Darmian

Backed up by:
Rojo-Blind-Jones-Valencia

with McNair as the utility guy, on loan getting 35 Prem starts or as a backup CB if Rojo leaves in the summer, with Blind and Darmian (and Young) still strong backup LB options.

Only Valencia would be over 26.
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Laporte, Barca bound next summer.
 
Buy a RB and sell Valencia.

They we would have plenty of cover for both FB positions.
 
NoPace said:
We could just hit the Laporte clause of 37M Pounds, toss him in at CB next to Smalling and let Blind compete with Rojo at LB.

Laporte doesn't leap off the screen as brilliant the way Varane or Marquinhos does but he's left-footed, calm, technically solid, good long passer (takes some free kicks even), has good size and has done very, very well for his age.

Certainly it would be a more long-term solution than panic signing an LB, and I think if used correctly Blind and Rojo could do a good job at LB until Shaw is back, with Rojo playing against scary, pacey wingers and Blind's passing getting him the nod when we are more worried about generating offense from that spot.

And next season, we'd have a balanced D:

Shaw-Laporte-Smalling-Darmian

Backed up by:
Rojo-Blind-Jones-Valencia

with McNair as the utility guy, on loan getting 35 Prem starts or as a backup CB if Rojo leaves in the summer, with Blind and Darmian (and Young) still strong backup LB options.

Only Valencia would be over 26.
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This would be a dream
 
Here is a random one, clearly with a squad role in mind. Neil Taylor of Swansea, he's a very consistent full back and could easily understudy for our full backs.
 
NoPace said:
We could just hit the Laporte clause of 37M Pounds, toss him in at CB next to Smalling and let Blind compete with Rojo at LB.

Laporte doesn't leap off the screen as brilliant the way Varane or Marquinhos does but he's left-footed, calm, technically solid, good long passer (takes some free kicks even), has good size and has done very, very well for his age.

Certainly it would be a more long-term solution than panic signing an LB, and I think if used correctly Blind and Rojo could do a good job at LB until Shaw is back, with Rojo playing against scary, pacey wingers and Blind's passing getting him the nod when we are more worried about generating offense from that spot.

And next season, we'd have a balanced D:

Shaw-Laporte-Smalling-Darmian

Backed up by:
Rojo-Blind-Jones-Valencia

with McNair as the utility guy, on loan getting 35 Prem starts or as a backup CB if Rojo leaves in the summer, with Blind and Darmian (and Young) still strong backup LB options.

Only Valencia would be over 26.
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Isn't he off to Barca.

He'd be a great addition to our french contingent. Him, Morgan & Martial, with Griezmann to join them in the summer!
 
Bwuk said:
Isn't he off to Barca.

He'd be a great addition to our french contingent. Him, Morgan & Martial, with Griezmann to join them in the summer!
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All the noise from Spain is that he's agreed to join Barcelona. Barcelona have been after him for a while now so not a surprise.
 
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