It's difficult to think of a recent top full back without having great pace/acceleration in their locker. Leighton Baines carved out a good career and I'm sure it's not impossible to achieve. If you can time your runs right, if you can develop a good cross where you don't have to beat a man, then he can offer an attacking threat now necessary for the position.
He might not be a pacy (sandal wearing) defender but another Bertrand thing is he played quite well in a back 3 for us, and back 3s are very fashionable among top teams right now.
Looking at yesterday's Cup Final, I don't think Arsenal have lost a game since switching to a back three towards the end of last season. And Chelsea struggled a bit before making the switch early in the season. Expect a lot more teams to try it in future.
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/sa..._with_Dutch_defender_Ridgeciano_Haps/?ref=rss Echo reports that Saints have been linked with Dutch defender Haps. Will it happen...perHaps.
https://www.noticiasaominuto.com/desporto/802702/ruben-semedo-no-mercado-por-20-milhoes-de-euros €20 Million price now for Semedo. This price will attract more competition I'd guess?
Saints to demand world record fee for VVD. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football...m-chelsea-prepare-200-million-spending-spree/
Man City are having a right old clear out, a few here that were good enough to win the premiership - Willy Caballero, Jesus Navas, Gael Clichy & Bacary Sagna, Joe Hart, Samir Nasri, Wilfried Bony and Eliaquim Mangala
Mangala is quality, would have him in a heartbeat. It won't happen because wages but I don't understand the hate for City's defence. Full backs I get, but Otamendi is one of the best in the Prem, Kompany (big if) he stays fit is great and Stones needs time. Clearly they need back ups but they have a solid starting point. Mangala will thrive next season wherever he goes. Put Virgil in the heart of Otamendi/VVD/Stones and they will be solid.
City's biggest defensive problem hasn't been their defense: it's the fact that they often have no one in midfield with any interest in defending. Fernandinho is a good box-to-box mid (when he isn't being deployed as a fullback), but he's not much help defending counters when he's around the opposition area, and none of the others reliably track back. Hard for any back four to defend with no assistance, harder still when the fullbacks are roughly 85 years old and would rather not be caught in their own half.
Nasri in the number 10 role please...remember how good he was centrally for Arsenal and Navas as an out and out winger. Would be brilliant for us.
No thanks. Nasri always comes across as a horrible little man with a shocking attitude. He sulks on the pitch and off the pitch. I wouldn't want him anywhere near the place.
If the big clubs have gone insane it would be rude not to take them for a ride....positively insulting in fact. We don't want to make them look like cheapskates.
Boufal was known to be a cock too. His attitude has been admirable given the lack of playing time. Plus at Sevilla his attitude was first rate. He's world class on his day and in a position that we are seriously lacking
Boufal is young and can be trained to reach his potential. Not sure he is world class....I'd settle for Saints class. Needs to be consistent.