Saylor looks to be a stayer

You had me worried until you said it was a Chronicle story. I do think we need to be looking at Good and Streete pretty soon to see what we have. If they are not going to cut it then we need to know. I don't mind offloading MYM though. I'd prefer we went out and got ourselves a proper first team option to replace him though. At the moment we have Colo (who is injury prone), a solid option in Willo, and a pair of average centre backs with a propensity to drop clangers. I like Saylors attitude, but that and his locality should not excuse him any more than it should MYM being a fringe French international when he arrived. Both get big money but deliver average performance. Hell I'd even be ok with selling both, getting one top notcher and using the two young lads.

 

Yes, I agree and like your last suggestion. I don't think France is the place to look for CB's - the PL is brutal, with a different style every week. I think in France it's always more or less the same - most of the strikers, correct me if I'm wrong, tend to like their tricks and flicks so every week you're dealing with a similar style of play, whether it's the best in PSG or some like Le Havre or Orient. Germany is more varied, so perhaps we could/are looking there. But what we desperately need here is a reliable, 7 out of 10 CB, and I'd even look to the Championship if I had to to get it. I think we missed a trick in pulling Ashley Williams in. I don't know who else to suggest, but a Ryan Shawcross type would be very welcome. A defender with leadership ability, that's what we need. MYM will never have that, no matter how skilful he becomes.

Both Streete and Good have shown tendencies towards injury as well. To perform in the PL, you need a CB who is going to play at least 30 matches a season, preferably with the same partner most of the time.

 

He's just one of those last ditch defenders. Occasionally will get a big roar from the crowd as goes flying in to clear one off the line with his head, the post looming large.

When you watch true class CB's the game seems to almost visibly slow down for them. They are the boss of their box and no one shall pass the edge of the 18 yard line. In fact I personally think that there is nothing in football I enjoy watching more than a proper classy CB performance. Colo has this in him on his day.

 

Have we ever signed a CB from the French League that has worked out for us? MYM, Cacapa, Goma, Rozehnal, Dumas never worked for us. Charvet (via Chelsea), Beye and Debuchy are the only 3 defenders that came from France that worked well for us and they all played right back not CB.

 

Bassong came from France, and from what I remember he was pretty good for the one season he was here.

 

Had potential but could never deliver it, I love his passion but he has a mistake
In his back pocket every game waiting to happen.