There is no CB in world football who can also play inverted Wing Back in Ange’s system effectively. The closest you’d get is a hybrid player like Ben Davies who does neither role to quite the required level, despite his best efforts.That stock pile, and total madness. Van de Van goes missing we are destitute. We need a specialist LCB, who can cover LB.
That was what I said a few posts ago…. Sometimes I feel I’m shouting into a vacuumMaybe we need to be looking for more of a LB that can cover LW, or even maybe a midfield spot?
Because that feels like less of a difference to our current LB Vs LCB roles.
A left footed Archie Gray would be nice!
This is a good point - I think LB/LW is possible but LB/RB is also a good shout. We could justify a decent fee if that gave us 3 high quality full back optionsSolving the squad puzzle these days is best achieved by having players who can play in multiple positions. In Ange's setup it is not having an LCB that can play LB (because of picture below), it's about getting in a full back that can play on both sides IMO.
Therefore I think we are going to go with a right footed player that can play RCB and LCB rather than asking a left footed centre back to only be backup to one of the best young defenders in the world.
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First I don’t accept the implied premise that signing Solomon was a bad idea. He had performed in the PL and Ange seemed to like him, his injury problems were not predictable. Second Tosin is a good player and would be a fine squad member. It’s just not a position we need right now. Signing him if he isn’t going to play doesn’t allow us to inflate his valueThis is a Levy special all over - just like with Solomon.
If we sign Tosin it will be to flip him in 1-2 seasons for a profit.
You’d hope so, but if that’s the play we should be after Kelly for LCB who ticks the same boxes but also actually helps the squad.If signing Tosin as 4th choice CB allows us to satisfy the HG issues and get in top quality attackers/midfielders from Europe, then it’s absolutely worth sacrificing getting a left footer for.
Something has to be a compromise eventually when squad building, this seems as good a compromise as you can make. Tosin is a very good player!
There is no CB in world football who can also play inverted Wing Back in Ange’s system effectively. The closest you’d get is a hybrid player like Ben Davies who does neither role to quite the required level, despite his best efforts.
Id rather sign a proper LB and a proper CB than try and find this mythical player that doesn’t exist.
As for the left footer CB issue, Ange has already said he doesn’t think like that and isn’t concerned. I’ll trust him to make the call on what he wants!
I reckon Simakan could on the right and Hato could on the left but he’s still raw. But yeah Calafiori would be a good one, shame he’s likely going to Juve.Best bet is Calafiori.
Yeah I really don’t think the calls for a LCB that can cover LB make any sense considering the demands of the inverted fullback position. I don’t think that player exists and if they do they’ll be of a quality which won’t make them coming here to be a backup an option. Davies is an ideal hybrid LCB/LB and even he isn’t up to the inverted fullback role at all. A CB that good on the ball won’t be coming to be back up at Spurs they’ll be starting already for a good club.Maybe we need to be looking for more of a LB that can cover LW, or even maybe a midfield spot?
Because that feels like less of a difference to our current LB Vs LCB roles.
A left footed Archie Gray would be nice!
We're not making a profit on Solomon were paying approx 3m in wages and he's been injured all seasonThis is a Levy special all over - just like with Solomon.
If we sign Tosin it will be to flip him in 1-2 seasons for a profit.
There is no CB in world football who can also play inverted Wing Back in Ange’s system effectively. The closest you’d get is a hybrid player like Ben Davies who does neither role to quite the required level, despite his best efforts.
Id rather sign a proper LB and a proper CB than try and find this mythical player that doesn’t exist.
As for the left footer CB issue, Ange has already said he doesn’t think like that and isn’t concerned. I’ll trust him to make the call on what he wants!
There are a few. But he is not the answer. We need a proper LCB, who is actually left footedThere is no CB in world football who can also play inverted Wing Back in Ange’s system effectively. The closest you’d get is a hybrid player like Ben Davies who does neither role to quite the required level, despite his best efforts.
Id rather sign a proper LB and a proper CB than try and find this mythical player that doesn’t exist.
As for the left footer CB issue, Ange has already said he doesn’t think like that and isn’t concerned. I’ll trust him to make the call on what he wants!
We also have Phillips coming though, who looks a player at Plymouth, and is very 2 footed. I'm not sure I want to block that progression too much. Looks primed to come in and play that 4th CB role to me.There are a few. But he is not the answer. We need a proper LCB, who is actually left footed
I'm closer to this thinking unless we're looking at a high quality LCB, which I'm not convinced either Adarabioyo or Kelly is. I would let Davies play out the last year of his contract next year as a LCB option and get full year loans for Phillips and Dorrington (and Vuskevic). Maybe one of them looks like taking a spot in summer 2025; if not, we can bring in an option then knowing a bit more how those youth are progressing and if/where we see them fitting in. Spend our money this summer recruiting one or two fullbacks who suit the way we play rather than a LCB who sort of can almost cover at fullback. I'm afraid either Adarabioyo or Kelly end up looking like dead wood we need to shift in 2-3 years.We also have Phillips coming though, who looks a player at Plymouth, and is very 2 footed. I'm not sure I want to block that progression too much. Looks primed to come in and play that 4th CB role to me.
Guess a 3 year contract would be appropriate for either of them? I'm not for either for a slew of reasons but as long as we don't overcommit contractually we should be fine. There was a past issue to get a profit/fee but I think we as a club have become more pragmatic in that regard.I'm closer to this thinking unless we're looking at a high quality LCB, which I'm not convinced either Adarabioyo or Kelly is. I would let Davies play out the last year of his contract next year as a LCB option and get full year loans for Phillips and Dorrington (and Vuskevic). Maybe one of them looks like taking a spot in summer 2025; if not, we can bring in an option then knowing a bit more how those youth are progressing and if/where we see them fitting in. Spend our money this summer recruiting one or two fullbacks who suit the way we play rather than a LCB who sort of can almost cover at fullback. I'm afraid either Adarabioyo or Kelly end up looking like dead wood we need to shift in 2-3 years.
There are a few. But he is not the answer. We need a proper LCB, who is actually left footed