Player Gleison Bremer

[Aphex]

LOL Joel Matip was a laughing stock next to Lovren. Amazing what can happen when you have a few years to work under a top drawer coach, and they add players around you.

Just not true. He's a very good player in his own right. As is Konate I'll add. Gomez is quality too but can't get a look in.

People are going way over board on Davies and Dier. They did well last season but they have gaffes in them.

We all hope our defence does really well next season, but let's not pretend they are elite defenders.

The system of course helps players. When you have a great coach and system, average players look better than they are. On an individual basis though, Matip, Konate are much better than Dier and Davies. It really isn't a debate, Matip was magestic at times last season and many Pool fans rated him higher than VVD form wise. Konate was actually stand out in the CL final, he was brilliant.

 

[ralphs bald spot]

defending is not about individuals at all - its all about having the right balance at the back, communication and knowing your role. The upward spiral Conte achieved was on the back of organising the team to defend and reducing the mistakes. You can bring in the best centre half in the world and if others aren't doing their jobs its irrelevant - I believe that Conte will drill the side and make defending and the roles within it second nature - I would be quite relaxed about signing any more centre backs unless you can do it quickly as understanding their role and the sides structure is the more difficult thing no matter how good they are

 

[Aphex]

Wow matip bossed a game that the other team didn't bother to turn up for

Take away vvd or laporte and matip and stones are bang average and full of mistakes just like they were before they were surrounded by players that are actually world class

Nonsense. What about Ruben Diaz? Is he rubbish then? Because you've just named Lapore. Or is that now two top quality CBs Man City have?

 

[Ben1]

defending is not about individuals at all - its all about having the right balance at the back, communication and knowing your role. The upward spiral Conte achieved was on the back of organising the team to defend and reducing the mistakes. You can bring in the best centre half in the world and if others aren't doing their jobs its irrelevant - I believe that Conte will drill the side and make defending and the roles within it second nature - I would be quite relaxed about signing any more centre backs unless you can do it quickly as understanding their role and the sides structure is the more difficult thing no matter how good they are

Whilst partially true, it’s funny how the best players win almost everything.

 

[JCRD]

There is no issue if a system makes a player look good because that isnt how it should be seen as - its more that a good coach would implement a system to use the best of the skill set of his current players. Dier was never a shit player or inadequate, he just didnt suit a two, Lenglet will be the same where he will suit a three. Same with Davies.

I would rather have someone, regardless of how great he is, fit into our system and work in unison and with good chemistry with our current defenders

 

[JCRD]

Whilst partially true, it’s funny how the best players win almost everything.

There are a lot of shite players who have won stuff, there are also a lot of players out there who have won more than say Kane/Son have who you would consider inferior. I digress but someone liek Henderson, i personally like him but loads of people would think otherwise, but in the system he is integral to how Liverpool play.

Dier is integral to how the defence works (just see last year when Dier was out and how our defence was in sixes and sevens, we just need a centre back who can rotate with Dier given we have Lenglet now.

 

[fletch82]

Nonsense. What about Ruben Diaz? Is he rubbish then? Because you've just named Lapore. Or is that now two top quality CBs Man City have?

Less of your lip lol
Yes man City have lots of quality players world class ones but stones isn't one and matip definitely isn't one either they were both bang average before they got surrounded by quality because quality up lifts the people around you.
Sell them to west ham and they will revert to type you just seem obsessed with anything shiny and new ✨️

 

[Flobadob]

Unfortunately for us it seems next summer is best for CB shopping

This is why Lenglet is probably a smart signing. As well as the fact I think his skill set is actually very well suited to LCB. Pretty confident he will do well

 

[kendoddsdadsdogsdead]

Whilst partially true, it’s funny how the best players win almost everything.

It sounds nice and it would be good if it was like that, but like anywhere else on the pitch the good combination/chemistry has to come with real quality within that. That’s the thing that makes the difference in the end unfortunately.

 

[dtxspurs]

Guarantee Conte isn't thinking this way though. We don't need to play City & Liverpool every week and to be honest we held our own against them when we did play them. Conte is trying to put together a squad that is deeper, has more parts that fits what he wants to do and is fitter and more well drilled than any of us fans can remember. We need to be more consistent and put weaker teams away, that is where we can make up some of the gap. They even brought in a set piece expert to help us grow there too (as City and Liverpool were top in the league in goals from set pieces). Try and win as many games as possible (I think 25 wins is a good target) and then see where it gets us.

For sure Conte is trying to win the league. But I also think he's perfectly happy with Lenglet instead of Ndicka or Bremer seemingly like others are wishing for.

And our issues against the non- Man City/Liverpool teams weren't the CBs (although maybe he thought we needed a better passer than Davies which we've addressed) it was wingbacks and forward depth which we've addressed/are addressing.

If people want to get worked up about more attacking options, I'll buy that but I don't think the defense is going to be holding us back.

In the games Dier was out I'd also highlight that Winks started in a midfield 2 vs both the Southampton & Wolves games that we lost.

In the close games we couldn't get across the line the defense wasn't the issue. It was the attack.

 

[Bulletspur]

They had to replace Rudiger but not many teams have more than 1 top centre back. We have Romero , Liverpool VVD and City Diaz.

....and Man Utd have Maguire

 

[Finchyid]

For sure Conte is trying to win the league. But I also think he's perfectly happy with Lenglet instead of Ndicka or Bremer seemingly like others are wishing for.

And our issues against the non- Man City/Liverpool teams weren't the CBs (although maybe he thought we needed a better passer than Davies which we've addressed) it was wingbacks and forward depth which we've addressed/are addressing.

If people want to get worked up about more attacking options, I'll buy that but I don't think the defense is going to be holding us back.

In the games Dier was out I'd also highlight that Winks started in a midfield 2 vs both the Southampton & Wolves games that we lost.

In the close games we couldn't get across the line the defense wasn't the issue. It was the attack.

View attachment 114381

13 clean sheets in 23 when dier played

 

[dtxspurs]

13 clean sheets in 23 when dier played

Bingo, defense wasn't an issue depth maybe but the attack was the let down in the Brentford, Brighton, Burnley games.

 

[spurs mental]

This always happens when we start to do better as a team and people become really protective of players. You got to differentiate between players being carried a bit and looking better in a good team to those who mainly get us producing performances. There is more of the former in our defence in particular. There is a bit of space to get better there and it would be nice to do it now while we have the attacking power to compete. It will more than likely end up being the difference at the end of the year like it has multiple seasons over the last decade.

I'd love to know who you think was being carried at the end of last season? Especially if its in defence.

To add, agree with your general comment on us being able to improve

 

[Beni]

For sure Conte is trying to win the league. But I also think he's perfectly happy with Lenglet instead of Ndicka or Bremer seemingly like others are wishing for.

And our issues against the non- Man City/Liverpool teams weren't the CBs (although maybe he thought we needed a better passer than Davies which we've addressed) it was wingbacks and forward depth which we've addressed/are addressing.

If people want to get worked up about more attacking options, I'll buy that but I don't think the defense is going to be holding us back.

In the games Dier was out I'd also highlight that Winks started in a midfield 2 vs both the Southampton & Wolves games that we lost.

In the close games we couldn't get across the line the defense wasn't the issue. It was the attack.

View attachment 114381

Yet in both the Wolves and Southampton games, Davies was directly at fault for 2 goals in a run of 3 straight games where he made an error leading to a goal, the other in Europa Conference League game.

Davies is a good player, Conte has brought him on leaps and bounds with the system suiting him. I am more than happy if he starts a number of games next season, but he is easily upgradable along with Dier, and others, and that’s what we should be aiming to do to push on further.

Edit: Along with an CAM or RWF to add something different when trying to break down stubborn teams.

 

[barry]

Cairo, Torino president, wants nice wedge for Bremer. People in the comments think 50m euros. Could that be too much for Inter? Will Bremer wait till Jan and go for 15m? Is his love for Torino enough to push him our way? Decisions.

 

[barry]

 

[WorthATry]

View attachment 114385

Why are you posting this in the Premier League centre-backs discussion thread?

 

[Roberts84]

Absolutely spot on. Davies wasn't even a first choice player 6 months ago, now he's better than all of Liverpool and Man City's CBs. Laughable.

Dier has about 1 year to 18 months of proven good form as a CB. Matip and Konate have bossed CL finals.

Bar 2020, Davies has played more than any other LB at our club since each season since 2015 so hardly not first choice.

 

[H-SF]

For sure Conte is trying to win the league. But I also think he's perfectly happy with Lenglet instead of Ndicka or Bremer seemingly like others are wishing for.

And our issues against the non- Man City/Liverpool teams weren't the CBs (although maybe he thought we needed a better passer than Davies which we've addressed) it was wingbacks and forward depth which we've addressed/are addressing.

If people want to get worked up about more attacking options, I'll buy that but I don't think the defense is going to be holding us back.

In the games Dier was out I'd also highlight that Winks started in a midfield 2 vs both the Southampton & Wolves games that we lost.

In the close games we couldn't get across the line the defense wasn't the issue. It was the attack.

View attachment 114381

I'd argue that it was neither and instead our playing style was the issue. Conte's reluctance to consistently have us pressing high meant we were too passive in games, didn't have enough of the ball and failed to sustain pressure. This was why we didn't score.