John Stones transfer saga

[MACCA75]

I dont see a defence that's worth keeping in its present shape. We relied on Howard there to get those two CBs out of jail yesterday. They stunk, as per usual.
I'll speak the unspeakable truth here: we have one of the worst CD pairings in the PL. They look good on paper but are a disaster zone in reality.

£30M regardless of the Barnsley situation would have been way more preferable than this.

I am a bit concerned at the pairing tbh, especially as they should be well covered with Barry and McCarthy. Still, the alternative right now is Mori and Browning - and that actually scares me.

 

[davek]

Could be worse mate, we could have lovren and skrtle!

I forgot about them!

 

[Bluesnapper]

I dont see a defence that's worth keeping in its present shape. We relied on Howard there to get those two CBs out of jail yesterday. They stunk, as per usual.
I'll speak the unspeakable truth here: we have one of the worst CD pairings in the PL. They look good on paper but are a disaster zone in reality.

£30M regardless of the Barnsley situation would have been way more preferable than this.

Whenever Jagielka has 'time off' from football he is an accident waiting to happen, coupled with Howard usual taking forever to make a decision and the inevitable cock ups are being made.

 

[davek]

I am a bit concerned at the pairing tbh, especially as they should be well covered with Barry and McCarthy. Still, the alternative right now is Mori and Browning - and that actually scares me.

I think Jagielka is a decent centre back. He doesn't have the organisational skills to be it's leader though. He' should be the one taking instruction and Stones doesn't have the gravitas for that. The blend just isn't right. This window I'd hoped we could have got in a more dominant personality in at CB.

 

[davek]

Whenever Jagielka has 'time off' from football he is an accident waiting to happen, coupled with Howard usual taking forever to make a decision and the inevitable cock ups are being made.

I've said it loads of times in the past: he has a period in every season when he goes walkabout and the whole defence is in disarray...the worst thing is that I dont think we've even seen that happen yet. The worst is to come!

 

[MACCA75]

I think Jagielka is a decent centre back. He doesn't have the organisational skills to be it's leader though. He' should be the one taking instruction and Stones doesn't have the gravitas for that. The blend just isn't right. This window I'd hoped we could have got in a more dominant personality in at CB.

Time will tell. I remember when we had Weir and Yobo, both at the time very good defenders - yet together they were shocking - we needed Stubbs in the team to keep it organised. Maybe Distin was that player for us recently.

 

[Bluesnapper]

I've said it loads of times in the past: he has a period in every season when he goes walkabout and the whole defence is in disarray...the worst thing is that I dont think we've even seen that happen yet. The worst is to come!

Take the Barnsley game, he nearly wellied the kid Pennington into the stand when he was trying to clear the ball for the first goal. As for the second goal he took two steps back and allowed the Barnsley player in.

 

[royvernon39]

This window I'd hoped we could have got in a more dominant personality in at CB.

I agree that is why I was hoping we would have got Damn. Damn is slower than Jags but he is so dominant. Watching Palace defend yesterday, winning nearly all the high balls, was fun. Eveytime Spurs had a corner yesterday I expected the worst.

 

[davek]

I agree that is why I was hoping we would have got Damn. Damn is slower than Jags but he is so dominant. Watching Palace defend yesterday, winning nearly all the high balls, was fun. Eveytime Spurs had a corner yesterday I expected the worst.

Defo. False economy wins the day (again). We should have paid the money for him.

 

[oldblue]

I think Jagielka is a decent centre back. He doesn't have the organisational skills to be it's leader though. He' should be the one taking instruction and Stones doesn't have the gravitas for that. The blend just isn't right. This window I'd hoped we could have got in a more dominant personality in at CB.

i agree with this but feel it's exagerrated by a keeper who showed he can be a good shot stopper when at his best but doesn't see organising the defence or commanding the area at set pieces as part of his job. Maybe people won't like it but the loss of Fellaini at setpieces in both boxes is also a big factor. Selling Stones to sort it though is way down the list of ways we can resolve this. I think you are spot on about the lack of gravitas, but that feels like it is across the park. We need to see three or four players taking on a leadership role.

 

[Blue Cheese]

And scapegoat of the week is coming to you live from Phil Jagielkas House

 

[Chang Elephant]

I'll speak the unspeakable truth here: we have one of the worst CD pairings in the PL. They look good on paper but are a disaster zone in reality.

They could do with some central midfield protection, Barry is too slow now for professional football, but if he heads the ball once in a game that's seen as intelligent play that vindicates his selection. McCarthy needs to up his game but thinks he's being dragged down playing next to Barry.

 

[bizzaro]

.... money can't buy me Stones

 

[oldblue]

They could do with some central midfield protection, Barry is too slow now for professional football, but if he heads the ball once in a game that's seen as intelligent play that vindicates his selection. McCarthy needs to up his game but thinks he's being dragged down playing next to Barry.

yep Barry has now got to the point of making people around him nervous, as well as hiding when he is tired in positions that are adding confusion. I like him and think he has stuff to offer the squad but 90 mins is not doing him any favours now.

 

[Jags..class]

Let's not turn this thread into bashing jags. He got his own thread