Talk of pushing Yoshida and Stephens down to 3rd and 4th choice, I just find bewildering. It makes me wonder what exactly a player would have to do in order to command a starting place. They’ve barely put a foot wrong, they’ve handled pressure, they’ve performed in big games, they’ve formed a solid partnership in a relatively short space of time. Whether or not VVD leaves is the swinger, but a van Dijk/Yoshida partnership looks great to me with Stephens as back up and another addition for more rotation and competition. I can’t see how the club would let Yoshida leave without offering him a new deal. He’s a consummate professional, he has waited for his chance, and I think what is important too and is clear for all to see is that he loves the club. I’m struggling to think of a more deserving player of a new contract in our recent history. So for me, sign one CB or two if Virgil leaves. We will have cup games next season and plenty of opportunities for Stephens to play. It would seem harsh to even drop him let alone demote him and Yoshida to the bench. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion of course, but surely that feeling of dread when seeing a Yoshida/Stephens pairing is a long way behind us...
Must be the same cretins that gave Matty Targett a hard time, I mean how are these players ever going to develop into top players if we don't play them? We are reaping the benefits with JWP and Morgan and Adam took a while to get to their level too.
The only thing I'd add to that is, perhaps our team shape has changed a little to incorporate Jack & Maya, a little more defensive, that has maybe helped people tar us with the negative tag.
I've always had faith in Jack and Maya but I was a little concerned with a Stephens/ Gardos partnership mainly because Gardos hasn't played too much. Jack has all the tools to be a very good player, composure being one of his biggest assets and I think that Jason McCarthy could step up some time in the future as well.
Under all 3 of our recent managers, our defence has always been our strength. I think Poch and Koeman had the advantage of having better finishers (until Gabbi joined) and Koeman had Mane to play off Long and Pelle. We have always said that we don't finish enough of our chances, but that was just more about scoring 2 instead of 5 under Poch and Koeman. Been tougher for Puel.
Exactly! VVD, Yoshida, Stephens, McCarthy seems ample to go to war with considering we have one less competition to play in. I actually forgot about McCarthy, so thanks. I agree too about Gardos, the first opportunity we have to cut him from the wage bill should be taken.
Stephens has done very well. Not the finished article quite yet but certainly not out of place. He's probably not going to be a superstar but there's nothing wrong with that. Would be happy with him as 3rd or 4th choice next year. On a related note, I sort of hope a few decent to good Academy youngsters - around the Targett, JWP (currently), Stephens level - come through, stick around and form a good core in the dressing room. I expect a new starting CB to come in this summer so I wouldn't be surprised to see Yoshida go if VVD stays. He's not really good enough for where the club wants to be. If VVD goes I could see him staying, if only because replacing both first choice CBs is a hell of a job.
Amazing that you think Yoshida isn't good enough for "where the club wants to be". I'm baffled. I respect your opinion and it's equally valid to my own but I couldn't disagree more. I think Yoshida is exactly what we need at the club and could do with more of. I also don't think that his future at the club hinges on whether or not van Dijk leaves.
No - get rid of the entire defence, including Fraser, and play exciting football with 7 strikers and 4 midfield players. Then the "fans" would stop moaning about negativity and would see loads of goals ......
We could do a Blackpool and play some of the most entertaining and gung-ho football seen for years despite ultimately being relegated.
I have real hopes that Stephens will turn into a superstar for us....not necessarily a superstar by United, Chelsea standards. Defenders can get better with age and experience...and a defence can be better than the sum of its parts. Get it right and a defence can be judged more as a unit than the skill of the individuals....look at the famous Arsenal back four. Looked good playing for England as well. Tony Adams was often called a donkey....and no doubt we are used to more attractive players now....but at the time any team would want him. Fonte did very well for us....but wasn't a superstar. I have very high hopes for Jack in a few years time....but he does need to keep getting game time.
It's also worth mentioning that we will need 2 long term injuries to end up with Gardos or McCarthy playing regularly. And we can always bring in another CB in January if we get a long term injury before then to bring us back up to 4. Its really not the end of the world if we get unlucky and are forced to blood youth. It didn't turn out too badly this year even after losing 2 CB's in Jan.
I'm sure the guys behind me in the Kingsland who spend most of the game shouting "get it forward" and insulting our players would be delighted. In fact, I might suggest it to them tomorrow night ......
Just my opinion, but Stephens has possibly performed at a higher level, during his run in the team, than Fonte did in his first dozen or so games in the Premier League. There was a lot of discussion, at the time, that maybe Fonte wasn't going to make that step up, yet I think most of us have already seen that Jack is capable of doing a very good job, with only 100 first team games under his belt, and with only 14/15 of those for us in the Prem. As I pointed out in the Liverpool match day thread, he showed a calmness in the first few minutes to put his foot on the ball, and pick out a simple pass, after drawing players to him. And twice in the first 7 minutes, he let teammates know that he wasn't happy with what he had seen. He is a player we need to persevere with, as his attitude could mark him out as a future captain.
Not possible. A chap I know, otherwise normal, told me that Yoshida has to go as "You can rely on him to have a brain fart every single game". In the game in question the "brain fart" was apparently Maya being muscled off a ball while off-balance after a deflection. Vin
We need four good CBs that can step into the first team at a moments notice if we are to compete on at least three fronts (Prem + 2 Cups) so Yoshie and Stephens take half that allotment then does VVD stay? Hopefully (not holding my breath) so we need one more who should be better than Yoshie or Stephens. Sell Gardos and bring back McCathy as additional cover for RB/CB McGuire would be my first choice by some distance
Crystal Palace were in the Championship when Jose joined us in League 1, he'd never played in the Premier League.which I think was the point St. Badger was making.
