Rate our centre backs

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Archers Road said:
<laugh> Obviously none have covered themselves in glory recently. However, Jack Stephens, Wes Hoedt, and Bednarek all have considerable improvement in them. Any pairing of those two could be moulded into a decent unit imo, especially with Romeu going through people in front of them.

Yoshida and, probably, Vestergaard, just aren’t good enough imo.

Just as concerning if we are going to press opponents up the pitch, are our full backs. You expect CBs to be slow; FBs can’t afford to be. Lack of pace appears to be Targett’s one significant weakness. Not sure about Valery, he kept getting skinned by Murphy yesterday, but maybe Murphy is really fast?

Neither FB got much help from the CBs, as TLL pointed out to me yesterday.

Last comment; to defend effectively, you do so as a unit. We’re miles from that recently, but it’s no lost cause, even with the personnel we have
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Yeah I think Beddy showed a bit of inexperience in not going out to support Valery more when it was obvious he was struggling. Agree with your last point too.

Can't see how you're putting Beddy, Jack and Wes above Maya though, I'd personally have Maya in for now at least as he's our most experienced and knows what it takes in this league.

As many mistakes as he's made I can't help but think there's a player in Hoedt and under the right coaching can be part of a decent defence.

I'd go with those two until we can sign someone I think.
 
The Liebherr Legacy said:
Yeah I think Beddy showed a bit of inexperience in not going out to support Valery more when it was obvious he was struggling. Agree with your last point too.

Can't see how you're putting Beddy, Jack and Wes above Maya though, I'd personally have Maya in for now at least as he's our most experienced and knows what it takes in this league.

As many mistakes as he's made I can't help but think there's a player in Hoedt and under the right coaching can be part of a decent defence.

I'd go with those two until we can sign someone I think.
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<laugh> as many mistakes as every one of our defenders have made between them, it's still half as many as Yoshi has made on his own. We'll have to agree to differ on that one.

I'd probably go with any two from Bednarek, Hoedt and Stephens. So expect Vestergaard and Yoshida to line up vs Arsenal <ok>
 
Archers Road said:
<laugh> as many mistakes as every one of our defenders have made between them, it's still half as many as Yoshi has made on his own. We'll have to agree to differ on that one.

I'd probably go with any two from Bednarek, Hoedt and Stephens. So expect Vestergaard and Yoshida to line up vs Arsenal <ok>
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Yeah think we'll always disagree on this one <laugh>

I'm actually leaning towards giving Jack a run out as at least he's been here a while and I've fully accepted his limitations whereas after the money we've spent on Wes and Jan it just makes me sick seeing them make yet another mistake.
 
Archers Road said:
I’m not sure they ever have Fats.

And therein lies part of our problem; none of our possible combinations of CBs have been given the chance to form a partnership.
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Yep we really need to pick and stick until we bring someone in imo.
 
Bednarek is 22. Hoedt and Stephens are 24 (Jack is actually slightly older than Wes - and yet whereas some people like to refer to Jack as young, I never read that about Wes). And in the grand scheme of things, they've all had relatively limited exposure to the PL. Given game time, given the right coaching, there is improvement to be had there. Especially with Hoedt.

Whereas Maya is 30, and has been playing in the PL for what, six years now. This is his level. And it still includes regularly being at fault for goals.

As for Vestergaard, I don't know. He's 26, so neither young nor old. But he is the newest of all of them to the PL. My suspicion is that he's just rubbish; that we're been sold a total dud. I believe Leicester spent on Maguire and Evans combined what we spent on Vestergaard, and either one of them would appear to be a significant upgrade on what we have.
 
st_brendy said:
Bednarek is 22. Hoedt and Stephens are 24 (Jack is actually slightly older than Wes - and yet whereas some people like to refer to Jack as young, I never read that about Wes). And in the grand scheme of things, they've all had relatively limited exposure to the PL. Given game time, given the right coaching, there is improvement to be had there. Especially with Hoedt.

Whereas Maya is 30, and has been playing in the PL for what, six years now. This is his level. And it still includes regularly being at fault for goals.

As for Vestergaard, I don't know. He's 26, so neither young nor old. But he is the newest of all of them to the PL. My suspicion is that he's just rubbish; that we're been sold a total dud. I believe Leicester spent on Maguire and Evans combined what we spent on Vestergaard, and either one of them would appear to be a significant upgrade on what we have.
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Give Maya a run of games and the mistakes become fewer. He’s also our quickest and most experienced CB and is the closest to a leader. He’d be one of my two every time. Ok he’s not one for the future, but longer term we probably need two new CBSs anyway.

Of who to partner him with I’m struggling, on paper Yoshi and Vestergaard should work well but Vesti hasn’t looked up to it on the appearances he’s made. Yoshi and Jack has worked ok for half a season in the past. Maybe Yoshi and Beddi. Whoever it is needs to be given a chance to form an understanding. Difficult to stick with one when they all keep making result changing mistakes, but we need stability at the back if we’re to improve.
 
They are all prone to the occasional brainfart or regular in some cases.

The best performer at actual defending but not perfect has been Stephens so far IMO
Hoedt looked good for a few games after a shaky start and then lost it again
Maya hasn't had a decent run but hasn't been solid when he has played
Vestergaard is not up to the pace of English football IMO
Bednarek simply hasn't played enough this season yet to judge.

These aren't in order of best to worst by the way.
 
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fatletiss said:
Yep. Too many changes and for a defence that is tough.
Strange if they haven’t played together yet though.
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Hughes paid the ultimate price for playing three at the back all pre season and abandoning the plan after 45 minutes(even if they were woeful) and then it was various combinations and the occasional return to a three.

I’d be amazed if we have seen the same pairing for more than two games in a row.

Ralph now has a week of training, will he stick with four or go to a three?
 
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We need to give a run to a combination including Maya, Jack & Bednarek
Jacks appearances have been intermittent and Bednarek hasn't had a chance
Need someone to boss it a bit and Maya is most likely if given a run
(But none of them are VVD are they!)

Vestergaard and Hoedt aren't good enough and have been given enough chances at present
 
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