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Antolin Alcaraz

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A bit harsh that. Bringing in a player for nothing who fully understands your system when you've just been hired seems to make a lot of sense to me.

Is he good enough? Maybe not, maybe so. Having his experience around on the training ground I'm sure paid high dividends.

Thats what coaches are for -- he spends more time in medical as he has done prior to joining.
 
I expected pelters for my Alcaraz comment, and I wasn't wrong. Martinez likes the ball playing out from the back. Both Jags and Distin, top defenders, have struggled in varying degrees to adapt to this system. Our two best centre backs at this aspect of the game are Stones and Alcaraz. Bobby has come to a club were we have normally been better at defending than Wigan, but poor as Wigan were, they played out of defence very well when they were on their game. Alcaraz has made defensive mistakes, but no more than Distin,Jags or Stones. Duffy will not make it at Everton, because although he has a very good defensive header in his locker, he does not have much else that is Prem standard. Within two seasons I reckon we will have a new centre back alongside Stones, who will be exactly Bobbys type of player.
 
I expected pelters for my Alcaraz comment, and I wasn't wrong. Martinez likes the ball playing out from the back. Both Jags and Distin, top defenders, have struggled in varying degrees to adapt to this system. Our two best centre backs at this aspect of the game are Stones and Alcaraz. Bobby has come to a club were we have normally been better at defending than Wigan, but poor as Wigan were, they played out of defence very well when they were on their game. Alcaraz has made defensive mistakes, but no more than Distin,Jags or Stones. Duffy will not make it at Everton, because although he has a very good defensive header in his locker, he does not have much else that is Prem standard. Within two seasons I reckon we will have a new centre back alongside Stones, who will be exactly Bobbys type of player.
The age of Distin, Jags and Indeed Alcaraz means finding a young, left sided centre half a priority. We have done alot of scouting around Holland and Belgium for a defender so I expect someone to come in from Europe in the summer. The lad from Forest was scouted but I think he will be expensive and perhaps too big a risk for the price.
 
The age of Distin, Jags and Indeed Alcaraz means finding a young, left sided centre half a priority. We have done alot of scouting around Holland and Belgium for a defender so I expect someone to come in from Europe in the summer. The lad from Forest was scouted but I think he will be expensive and perhaps too big a risk for the price.


What about Browning and Duffy, should Roberto be giving them some game time say at Hull where there is nothing to the game apart from pride and points.
 

I still like him, but he's clearly not a viable option for every opponent. Against City and Liverpool he was shocking. But in his other appearances he was really good.

His pace is a problem but there's no doubt that he's sharp in the head and excellent on the ball.
 
...Alcaraz is decent as far as I'm concerned. He's looked the part when he's come in and is a useful member of the squad. He hasn't played well the last couple of games, but I don't think it helped yesterday that Jagielka was clearly off the pace. Browning is reportedly top drawer, so I think we'll be fine in that area for a while.
 

Not many actually have a top class 4th choice centre back. In fact, does anyone?

He'll do

I am sure when he was signed, he was supposed to be 3rd choice. Stones displaces him thanks to his talent this season.
 
I think he was the best center back at Wigan but 4th or 5th center back at Everton. Good coverage for the squad but never first choice.
 

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