Hello once again, As many of you may be aware this season our LB and RB have had indifferent success thus far and this has led to several fans calling for a overhaul of the postions totally or less drastically a constant back 4 to play throughout the majority of games. My question to you guys is who do you think our best LB and RB is or could be (including if you think the likes of Smith and Fryers are ready to step up) and also if you think it is the other key area we need to invest in other than the Striker position? Grammar police will be destroyed
It's been fairly obvious to me for some time that AVB doesn't fancy Benny. So, I think next season will either be Rose, or a new signing at L.B. It would seem that Fryers is not considered to be ready yet.
I agree with NSIS. I think We'll see a new LB join us this summer. Questions are being asked about Walkers season, but I don't think there's any chance of him being moved on. There's no doubt about his quality, it's whether he can adjust to AVB's style. - shouldn't really be saying that nearly a season later He's been caught out a lot this season, which is concerning.
Do we need one to join us,when we have one's out on loan,don't think Naughton is the answer,I think Walker will come good,he has the pace needed when playing a high line
We all need to cast our minds back to last season, when we were saying how good Naughton looked for Norwich. Since making that step up and competing for a top 4 place, as well as playing in Europe, he's looked distinctly average. The same has got to be taken into consideration with Rose. When he was with us, he split opinion but everyone said "he's young". - Fair enough. He's gone to Sunderland and played well, but again, like Naughton, it's a big step up. I don't personally feel he's ready to be a starter for us. Top 4 requires that bit of extra quality (which we are already struggling with), not keeping your fingers crossed that a youngster is going to become a superstar in very short space of time.
For me Walker in the last couple of games (Everton and Basel) has showed form of last year and could be on the way to adapting his game. With regards to Rose i think that he is worth a shot as he has got that season under his belt in a new position to him as he was bought as an out and out winger from Leeds. Anyone got any strong opinions of Smith as i have talked to many who rate him very highly and see him breaking into the first team at some point next season. Benny will probably go in the summer and the reason i see for this is that AVB only used to keep him in the squad for his link up play with Bale and now that Bale has been brought into the middle he see's him as nothing more than a barganing tool for the next transfer window
I still think we should try him,and keep our money for a much needed striker,remember Walker made the step up after a season on loan
I can't pinpoint what it is for me, but I look at Tom Carroll and something about him tells me he's ready. I'd be happy to see him start a game against tough premier league opposition. He just seems to have that little bit extra which makes the difference. I don't get that same feeling from Rose, and would therefore be much happier if a top LB was purchased, should Benny leave. Ask yourselves, if Benny left, would you really feel confident in a top 4 push with say Rose at LB? I can see him finding things difficult like Naughton has this season, and as a result, Verts having to step in at LB a few months down the line. - That'd be a nightmare. I don't want this to sound like I'm slating Rose, he's a good young player. But we have to think with the mentality of a side who are chasing the top 4.
Hello again Roo,why would Verts at L/B be a nightmare,i agrre with thinking top4,but with ffp coming we have to start looking for homegrown young players,all P/L clubs may have to,and Rose may be the gem,we need in defence
Sorry, I got the Vertonghen wording v bad. I meant it'd be a nightmare because it'll pull him out of his favoured position too often FFP is a good point Tots, and I don't disagree with you at all. All I'm saying is that I don't feel confident in Rose to be a regular starter, as we push for a top 4 finish.
Walker and Ekotto are outstanding full backs when on form. Unfortunately neither have been good this season, Walker especially. AVB doesn't seem to rate Ekotto so I do think he's likely to be off in the summer, a huge blow in my opinion. If Walker shows no signs of improvement over the next 6 games, I think Smith should definitely be given a chance to impress. If not, then maybe move for one of City's RBs in the summer? Maicon? Richards? Neither are going to beat Zabaleta to a starting birth so perhaps we could try and persuade one of them? As for LB, I don't think Rose is as good, nor can he be as good as Ekotto in my opinion and Fryers is still raw. I'd love to go for Luke Shaw, or maybe looking at City again and go for Kolarov? Good, powerful full back. Reports have linked us with Coentrao, bit "dreamy" in my opinion but would most definitely be welcomed if true.
Would n't go for Maicon,to old now,imo,and i still have the image's of Gareth ripping him a new one in the C/L
Maicon? is this part of the attempt at getting Bale to stay? - "Gareth, we've bought you a pet. His name's Maicon. Now you can enjoy training even more!!"
Agreed on Carroll Roo, I think he's definitely got what it takes. Naughton hasn't been great this year, I think he's suffering playing on the left rather than the right. I don't think he's ever going to be as good as Walker or hold down a starting place here but I think he's adequate cover should Smith not some good. AVB doesn't seem to like Benny at all so I agree with what others say about us moving for another LB this season, we certainly can't go on playing Naughton there IMO. Walker needs consistency, he's certainly got the skill and the physical attributes. He's still only 22 and he showed his class last season. Kolarov is a good shout SoS, solid enough, and another set piece threat, City may be looking to trim the squad and at 27 he'll surely be wanting regular high level football. He'd have to take a wage cut surely but if he wants football he'll take it.
Haha to be fair, CL raping aside, Maicon's been one of the best full backs in Europe for years, experienced enough to not completely lodge Walker/ Smith out but to pass on knowledge and challenge for a place. Richards would be my preferred choice though. Thanks mate, he's always impressed me and like you say regarding set-pieces he's a definite threat. Not a clue what sort of wage he's on, doubt he'd be earning what the Kompany's/ Toure's/ Silva's do but more than what we'd usually fork out. If like you say he values first team football though he knows what to do .
Carroll has got some great attributes about him and i can see him coming of age but hs biggest test will be once the suprise and unkown factor of Carroll wares off with other teams. When he comes up against a tough midfielder who takes no prisoners like a Sandro type player will also give me a bigger indication of whether he is ready. BAE will be gone without doubt and i think it will be down to him not accepting been second string to anyone. Walker will be kept due to his pace and ability to hit on the break as AVB loves swift flowing attacks
I've never even considered Kolarov as I thought he'd be way of our reach. He's been excellent whenever I've seen him.
Players who have the vision and intelligence that Tom Carroll possesses, rarely get caught out. They're always one step ahead and they've made their next move before they've even received the ball. Gerrard is a prime example of this. Loads of time on the ball, finds spaces and spreads the play. - He's not exactly a big lad either.
