Zatara
Player Valuation: £100m
@balggy
Getting late here so will try and make this short (edit lol)
But for Wham (many reasons for the loss not least Mori 2 headers to clear) weve been ok since Robles came in.
The defence of Coleman-Jags-Distin-Baines was built to be solid in the centre and allow the full backs to attack. The style of martinez first season of course also. Distin then goes off a cliff and martinez wants to play with wingers so the full backs need to be solid defensively.
Coleman -- better with lennon in front of him than Deulofeu and weak positionally.
Baines -- Never the best defensively and notable difference with Oviedo recently.
Stones -- Great article by Hoddle today highlighting that he will make mistakes the way he plays and comparing him to top ball playing CBs.
Jagielka -- Our best defensive player but always left free by the opposition as hes weak at passing.
Mori -- First season and looks good overall but needs to go up a level next season.
I think Stones and Mori next season need to be the starters so the defence can pass the ball out from the centre.
I also think we need a RB and would prefer a Thuram type player whose a man -mountain defensively. This for me is Kalidou Koulibaly whose a CB primarlily for Napoli but can play RB. Hes been one of the best defenders in Italy this and last season.
Left back we have an issue as we have Baines (can favourite) Oviedo (injury prone) Garbutt (who knows) and Galloway (needs a loan) and have to play Cleverley in front of Baines as hes not going to be great behind a winger...if Yarmolenko came in then Baines would be exposed every game i think.
I think if we sign a Rico/Leno level keeper and a Koulibaly type we will see a HUGE improvement defensively next season...then work on the left side with another solid left back signed perhaps the following summer. Could be too drastic to change so much in one window.
Id much rather see Koulibaly /Deulofeu than Coleman/Lennon....it has more upside for me...also would rather see a winger on the left than attacking full back baines leaving us exposed as needing cleverley in front of him.
I could be totally wrong of course but i also think Barry in DM needs McCarthy there to do the running and also those two need to be on the pitch together as they are greater than the sum of their parts....
So when i go on and on about the squad not being great for this style of play i think we need at minimum a GK/RB/CM/LW but i also think we need to focus a lot on the balance of full backs / wingers and the CB and DM combinations not only attacking but defending also.
If it was me id sell Baines this window and Coleman as well...bring in 2 top defensive monsters who can pass the ball out and a top keeper and i think we would see a massive step up.
Getting late here so will try and make this short (edit lol)
But for Wham (many reasons for the loss not least Mori 2 headers to clear) weve been ok since Robles came in.
The defence of Coleman-Jags-Distin-Baines was built to be solid in the centre and allow the full backs to attack. The style of martinez first season of course also. Distin then goes off a cliff and martinez wants to play with wingers so the full backs need to be solid defensively.
Coleman -- better with lennon in front of him than Deulofeu and weak positionally.
Baines -- Never the best defensively and notable difference with Oviedo recently.
Stones -- Great article by Hoddle today highlighting that he will make mistakes the way he plays and comparing him to top ball playing CBs.
Jagielka -- Our best defensive player but always left free by the opposition as hes weak at passing.
Mori -- First season and looks good overall but needs to go up a level next season.
I think Stones and Mori next season need to be the starters so the defence can pass the ball out from the centre.
I also think we need a RB and would prefer a Thuram type player whose a man -mountain defensively. This for me is Kalidou Koulibaly whose a CB primarlily for Napoli but can play RB. Hes been one of the best defenders in Italy this and last season.
Left back we have an issue as we have Baines (can favourite) Oviedo (injury prone) Garbutt (who knows) and Galloway (needs a loan) and have to play Cleverley in front of Baines as hes not going to be great behind a winger...if Yarmolenko came in then Baines would be exposed every game i think.
I think if we sign a Rico/Leno level keeper and a Koulibaly type we will see a HUGE improvement defensively next season...then work on the left side with another solid left back signed perhaps the following summer. Could be too drastic to change so much in one window.
Id much rather see Koulibaly /Deulofeu than Coleman/Lennon....it has more upside for me...also would rather see a winger on the left than attacking full back baines leaving us exposed as needing cleverley in front of him.
I could be totally wrong of course but i also think Barry in DM needs McCarthy there to do the running and also those two need to be on the pitch together as they are greater than the sum of their parts....
So when i go on and on about the squad not being great for this style of play i think we need at minimum a GK/RB/CM/LW but i also think we need to focus a lot on the balance of full backs / wingers and the CB and DM combinations not only attacking but defending also.
If it was me id sell Baines this window and Coleman as well...bring in 2 top defensive monsters who can pass the ball out and a top keeper and i think we would see a massive step up.
