Should Huddlestone play at CB?

[EZSpur]

Guys i thought Hudders was awesome at the back on Saturday.

His passing was really impressive - i think because he has more time on the ball at the back he can pick out his passes.

I'm pretty sure he used to play CB at Derby, so maybe he should play there more often, seemed comfortble enough, although still needs to get tighter.

Thoughts!!?

 

[gooch]

not enough pace or turn of pace or mobility for my liking, and by all accounts he was good whilst sunderland had 1 up top but found it more difficult when they switched to two

 

[idlepete]

We need pace at CB so we can play with a high line.

 

[chinaman]

Ramos will make the right decision about Hudds.

 

[Bill_Oddie]

I'm just watching a re-run of the game now, and he looks wonderfully comfortable. But then, it is Sunderland. At home. I agree that he'd struggle to do the job against quicker attacks.

I was going to start a thread on this, but I'll say it here as it's my bedtime. Huddlestone was the 8th Centre-Back we've used this season. That has to be some kind of record - especially for January! Anyone who can tell me how many CB pairings we've used gets a single piece of rep (this isn't a test. I can't find it anywhere. Just for starting XI is fine). :up:

 

[chrissivad]

I wouldn't play him at CB, i thought we got away with it against Sunderland.

I just think Hudd will give away too many pen's, holding on to players or just to slow in trying to win the ball.
Thought he had a good game, but no.

 

[chrissivad]

Sunderland- Kaboul Gardner
Everton- Kaboul Gardner
Derby- Rocha Gardner
Man U Rocha Gardner
Fulham- Kaboul Rocha
Arsenal- Kaboul Dawson
A.Famagusta- Kaboul Dawson
Bolton- Rocha Dawson
Middlesbrough- Kaboul Dawson
Villa- Kaboul Dawson
A.Famagusta- Gardner Dawson
Liverpool- Kaboul Dawson
Newcastle- Kaboul Dawson
Getafe- Kaboul Gardner
Blackburn- Kaboul Dawson
Blackpool- Kaboul Dawson
Middlesbrough- Kaboul Dawson
Hapeol Tel Aviv Kaboul Dawson
Wigan Kaboul Dawson
West Ham Kaboul Dawson
Aalbourg Chimbonda Dawson
Birmingham- Kaboul Dawson
Anderlect -Zokora Dawson
Man City- Kaboul Dawson
Portsmouth- Kaboul Zokora
Man City- Kaboul Zokora
Arsenal- Kaboul Chimbonda
Fulham- Kaboul King
Reading- Kaboul King
Villa- Kaboul Dawson
Reading- King Dawson
Arsenal- King Dawson
Chelsea King Dawson
Reading Kaboul Dawson
Sunderland- Dawson Hudd

 

[YidGraham]

I think alongside King he'd be fine against most teams. He's certainly less dopey then Dawson and would give away less freekicks. Mobility wise he probably doesn't lose much to Dawson either.

King would compensate for his lack of pace and if we had a strong fast FB next to him that would help even more.

Worry would be in the air for corners and long balls. Hudd never really attacks the ball very well.

Can you imagine the footballing ability of a CB pairing of the Hudd and King though!? Would put most CM pairings to shame. Including our own.

 

[EZSpur]

BO - Does this sound about right:

Dawson Kabboul
Dawson Zakora
Dawson Chimbonda
Kabboul Gardner
Dawson Gardner
Dawson King
Kabboul Huddlestone
Huddlestone Dawson

 

[EZSpur]

D'oh!!! - Bloody 'quick reply' my butt!! lol

 

[tRiKS]

i counted 13 different pairings

 

[nightgoat]

Sunderland- Kaboul Gardner
Everton- Kaboul Gardner
Derby- Rocha Gardner
Man U Rocha Gardner
Fulham- Kaboul Rocha
Arsenal- Kaboul Dawson
A.Famagusta- Kaboul Dawson
Bolton- Rocha Dawson
Middlesbrough- Kaboul Dawson
Villa- Kaboul Dawson
A.Famagusta- Gardner Dawson
Liverpool- Kaboul Dawson
Newcastle- Kaboul Dawson
Getafe- Kaboul Gardner
Blackburn- Kaboul Dawson
Blackpool- Kaboul Dawson
Middlesbrough- Kaboul Dawson
Hapeol Tel Aviv Kaboul Dawson
Wigan Kaboul Dawson
West Ham Kaboul Dawson
Aalbourg Chimbonda Dawson
Birmingham- Kaboul Dawson
Anderlect -Zokora Dawson
Man City- Kaboul Dawson
Portsmouth- Kaboul Zokora
Man City- Kaboul Zokora
Arsenal- Kaboul Chimbonda
Fulham- Kaboul King
Reading- Kaboul King
Villa- Kaboul Dawson
Reading- King Dawson
Arsenal- King Dawson
Chelsea King Dawson
Reading Kaboul Dawson
Sunderland- Dawson Hudd

13 in 35 games... That's utterly ridiculous...

 

[EZSpur]

Ok! Well here's the question - which pairing works best??

 

[nightgoat]

King and Dawson, mainly because they've played together the most, and have the best understanding...

 

[ChRiStOpHe]

Ok! Well here's the question - which pairing works best??

Best defensive partnership so far this season was away to Pompy IMO - Kaboul and Zokora :lol:

If we had everyone fit, and it was the FA Cup final, I'd go for Kaboul and King.

 

[EZSpur]

King and Dawson, mainly because they've played together the most, and have the best understanding...

Totally agree! I think Dawson feels much more comfortable with King next to him.

But saying that, i think Kaboul has the potential to be really good, i think he just needs time - problem is, don't think Ramos will give him the time he needs! :roll:

 

[nightgoat]

He needs that time alongside King, or someone else with the same level of experience and reliability though...

 

[chrissivad]

Kaboul Gardner-6 (3 games- av-2)
Rocha Gardner-1 (2 games Av-0.5)
Rocha Kaboul-3 (1 game Av-3)
Kaboul Dawson-23 (17 games Av 1.35)
Rocha Dawson-1 (1 game Av-1)
Gardner Dawson-1 (1 game Av-1)
Chimbonda Dawson-2 (1 game Av-2)
Zokora Dawson-1 (1 game Av1)
Kaboul Zokora-0 (2 games Av 0)
Kaboul Chimbonda-2 (1 game Av2)
Kaboul King-5 (2 games Av2.5)
King Dawson-7 (3 games Av2.33)
Dawson Hudd-0 (1 game Av-0)

This doesn't include goals after a player has come off or come on though.

 

[Rocksuperstar]

Huddlestones passing and vision was just about as good as it gets in the first half but ,once the attackers got the ball down and started running in, he was caught out a few times with a quick turn and burst of speed. I know he's no roadrunner, don't expect him to be, but that's the one reason i still consider his future as a defensive midfielder.

It also bodes well to see him with a bit more grit in his teeth, getting stuck in for the odd challenge he would more likely have been seen dangling a toe at last year.

Who knows, i like the guy but his pace is the one big down factor in him being CB more regularly - a good midfielder and capable CB cover if needed.

 

[eViL]

Nah, Defensive Midfield everyday of the week.