- Jun 8, 2003
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- #1
As the new season is soon due to get under way I thought I'd give my assessment of the current squad, who should be starting and who should be sold.
First up is the defence. Although there could be some argument depending on how strongly you feel about the need for consistency at the back, the majority of this writes itself so should be fairly uncontroversial.
=== Goalkeepers ===
Our goal-keeping situation is a strange one. We have one error-prone keeper who can cost us matches just as easily as he wins them for us. As backup we have a more experienced keeper who back in his day was one of the best (if not the best) in the Premiership. You’d think that it’d make perfect sense to sign a strong up and coming keeper to push Gomes for a place. Someone along the lines of Courtois (who we did track this summer but lost out to Chelsea) would have been perfect. Instead we sign another experienced keeper who back in his day was one of the best (if not the best) in the Premiership. Déjà vu.
For those crying out that I’ve forgotten someone, Alnwick unfortunately has more chance making a go of his home movie career than he does of ever being a serious option for us between the sticks.
That leaves us with Gomes as a clear first choice in my eyes but when he loses a bit of confidence (or breaks a fingernail and needs a few weeks out) we have the experienced, albeit near-arthritic, hands of Friedel. If Carlo's happy to stay as 3rd choice then great, if not move him on.
Rob’s Verdict: Unless we can sign a young keeper with the potential to be first-choice in a few years, our goal-keeping situation is solid.
(For an easy to use colour code, I've come up with: first choice, sub, loaned out for experienced, surplus to requirements)
Heurelho Gomes
Brad Friedel
Carlo Cudicini
Ben Alnwick
=== Central Defenders ===
Although on the face of it the decision for central defence is straightforward enough, you pick our best two defenders (King and Gallas), unfortunately injuries make this far more complicated and instead they have to be considered bit-part players. Woodgate, incidentally, would have fallen into the same category but we’ve finally done the right thing there and let him move on. When fit, he should walk (or hobble) into the Stoke back four.
To build a successful team we need consistency at the back, especially in front of a keeper whose decision making can be suspect at times (normally when he’s 20 yards from the ball doing a poor impersonation of a flailing salmon).
Considering the above, there’s no question that Dawson is the first name down for central defence. While it’s tempting to play whoever happens to be fit alongside him, King and Gallas can surely not have many more seasons left in them now and we need to start planning for the future. Bassong could have been the answer but he’s never really impressed for us in a consistent manner as he did for Newcastle. Maybe giving him games is all it’d take but with rumours that he wants out it looks like that ship may have sailed. That leaves Kaboul as our other option. While undoubtedly a talent and rapidly gaining plaudits as a solid defender, he still looks shaky at times in his positioning and reading of the play. We’ve been spoilt with Ledley at the back and Kaboul is certainly no Ledley but given time, the Dawson/Kaboul partnership could flourish. However, given his aggressive style of play (I just wanted to use the “Kaboul in a china shop” pun :wink, there will inevitably be bookings and suspensions so having two players in King/Gallas who can easily slot in alongside Dawson is a bonus.
Ideally, I’d prefer one “classy” central defender who’s composed on the ball alongside one more suited to the “bloody and guts” style of defending. I believe both Dawson and Kaboul fall into the latter category but with the right coaching Kaboul could develop well, just like he progressed significantly between leaving us and rejoining from Pompey.
Finally, whilst not officially in the first team squad yet, Steven Caulker looks like a real talent and deserves an honourable mention.
Rob’s Verdict: Consistency is the key so it has to be Dawson/Kaboul with King/Gallas filling in when needed.
Younes Kaboul
Michael Dawson
William Gallas
Ledley King
Bongani Khumalo
Steven Caulker
Sebastien Bassong
=== Right Back ===
With the hopefully imminent departure of our favourite dad-bashing Scot and having sent Naughton out on loan to gain valuable experience, we’re finally down to a sensible number of right-backs. For me Corluka is the solid option with Walker as the more exciting but raw option. I’d like to see us utilise both, with Charlie as first choice and Walker the impact player when Lennon’s flagging or unavailable on the right wing.
Vedran Corluka
Kyle Walker
Kyle Naughton
Alan Hutton
=== Left Back ===
In a similar situation to right back, we have one solid (and I never expected to be using that adjective to describe BAE!) option with an exciting but raw understudy in Rose. Benoit has quickly developed from a player who’d have you trembling every time he hit a 40 yard pass square across his own goal to one of the best left backs in the league. For that reason he’s clearly our first choice but towards the end of last season Rose showed glimpses of why Arry and co reckon he could be converted into that position.
Rob’s Verdict: Our more experienced players have to be first-choice but we have exciting options on both flanks.
Benoit Assou-Ekotto
Danny Rose
And with that, our defence is sorted and it's pretty much as you were but with good options if we need them.
First up is the defence. Although there could be some argument depending on how strongly you feel about the need for consistency at the back, the majority of this writes itself so should be fairly uncontroversial.
=== Goalkeepers ===
Our goal-keeping situation is a strange one. We have one error-prone keeper who can cost us matches just as easily as he wins them for us. As backup we have a more experienced keeper who back in his day was one of the best (if not the best) in the Premiership. You’d think that it’d make perfect sense to sign a strong up and coming keeper to push Gomes for a place. Someone along the lines of Courtois (who we did track this summer but lost out to Chelsea) would have been perfect. Instead we sign another experienced keeper who back in his day was one of the best (if not the best) in the Premiership. Déjà vu.
For those crying out that I’ve forgotten someone, Alnwick unfortunately has more chance making a go of his home movie career than he does of ever being a serious option for us between the sticks.
That leaves us with Gomes as a clear first choice in my eyes but when he loses a bit of confidence (or breaks a fingernail and needs a few weeks out) we have the experienced, albeit near-arthritic, hands of Friedel. If Carlo's happy to stay as 3rd choice then great, if not move him on.
Rob’s Verdict: Unless we can sign a young keeper with the potential to be first-choice in a few years, our goal-keeping situation is solid.
(For an easy to use colour code, I've come up with: first choice, sub, loaned out for experienced, surplus to requirements)
Heurelho Gomes
Brad Friedel
Carlo Cudicini
Ben Alnwick
=== Central Defenders ===
Although on the face of it the decision for central defence is straightforward enough, you pick our best two defenders (King and Gallas), unfortunately injuries make this far more complicated and instead they have to be considered bit-part players. Woodgate, incidentally, would have fallen into the same category but we’ve finally done the right thing there and let him move on. When fit, he should walk (or hobble) into the Stoke back four.
To build a successful team we need consistency at the back, especially in front of a keeper whose decision making can be suspect at times (normally when he’s 20 yards from the ball doing a poor impersonation of a flailing salmon).
Considering the above, there’s no question that Dawson is the first name down for central defence. While it’s tempting to play whoever happens to be fit alongside him, King and Gallas can surely not have many more seasons left in them now and we need to start planning for the future. Bassong could have been the answer but he’s never really impressed for us in a consistent manner as he did for Newcastle. Maybe giving him games is all it’d take but with rumours that he wants out it looks like that ship may have sailed. That leaves Kaboul as our other option. While undoubtedly a talent and rapidly gaining plaudits as a solid defender, he still looks shaky at times in his positioning and reading of the play. We’ve been spoilt with Ledley at the back and Kaboul is certainly no Ledley but given time, the Dawson/Kaboul partnership could flourish. However, given his aggressive style of play (I just wanted to use the “Kaboul in a china shop” pun :wink, there will inevitably be bookings and suspensions so having two players in King/Gallas who can easily slot in alongside Dawson is a bonus.
Ideally, I’d prefer one “classy” central defender who’s composed on the ball alongside one more suited to the “bloody and guts” style of defending. I believe both Dawson and Kaboul fall into the latter category but with the right coaching Kaboul could develop well, just like he progressed significantly between leaving us and rejoining from Pompey.
Finally, whilst not officially in the first team squad yet, Steven Caulker looks like a real talent and deserves an honourable mention.
Rob’s Verdict: Consistency is the key so it has to be Dawson/Kaboul with King/Gallas filling in when needed.
Younes Kaboul
Michael Dawson
William Gallas
Ledley King
Bongani Khumalo
Steven Caulker
Sebastien Bassong
=== Right Back ===
With the hopefully imminent departure of our favourite dad-bashing Scot and having sent Naughton out on loan to gain valuable experience, we’re finally down to a sensible number of right-backs. For me Corluka is the solid option with Walker as the more exciting but raw option. I’d like to see us utilise both, with Charlie as first choice and Walker the impact player when Lennon’s flagging or unavailable on the right wing.
Vedran Corluka
Kyle Walker
Kyle Naughton
Alan Hutton
=== Left Back ===
In a similar situation to right back, we have one solid (and I never expected to be using that adjective to describe BAE!) option with an exciting but raw understudy in Rose. Benoit has quickly developed from a player who’d have you trembling every time he hit a 40 yard pass square across his own goal to one of the best left backs in the league. For that reason he’s clearly our first choice but towards the end of last season Rose showed glimpses of why Arry and co reckon he could be converted into that position.
Rob’s Verdict: Our more experienced players have to be first-choice but we have exciting options on both flanks.
Benoit Assou-Ekotto
Danny Rose
And with that, our defence is sorted and it's pretty much as you were but with good options if we need them.
Code:
Gomes
Corluka Dawson Kaboul BAE