Could you play Tuenzebe at right back? He could be the answer we are looking for. Anyone else think Leif isn't the greatest of defenders, I have said this before, going forward he is great but his defensive side of the game is very questionable and as a pure defender.....I preferred Greg Leigh, who imo we should never have sold!! The problem is, you want Leif's attacking abilities but we need someone with better defensive quality!! We have leaked too many goals this season and the problem needs addressing in January, if not.....it's the playoffs and I don't fancy our chances there!!
Good point Spanish. Our defense needs sorting. We have tried several players at RB, each with their strengths and glaring weaknesses. Maybe Tuanzebe can be coached into being a strong, tall, calm gifted RB presence, with a talent for probing accurate passes. He is getting more game time & fitter too. Leif is a tricky one. Outstanding going forward and skinning defenders with brilliant passes into threatening areas, but limp & awkwardly too often out of position in defensive mode.
I'm not sure what it says to the other 3/4 players in that position if you move a CB into RB. I see what you mean though as he's got the physical attributes to play there. It'll be interesting to see who McKenna replaces Burgess with whether it be Axel or Edmundson. I think both are good CBs but Burgess and Woolfenden have been outstanding for the past year, I can count the mistakes they've made on one hand which is remarkable given as you have highlighted the potential defensive weakness in our fullback positions. I would say Axel and Edmundson despite playing a handful of games have made equally as many mistakes or more than Burgess and Woolfenden, which is unsurprising in the fact they have not had a great deal of minutes and we play quite a high risk game attacking game that will mean you leave gaps at the back. It means there is a big risk when we lose the ball and highlights given that Woolfenden and Burgess aren't blessed with huge amounts of pace that they've done so well. In many ways it reminds me of how we were under Burley or Royle, when we had decent defenders but the way we play means there's always going to be more space at the back and risk conceding more goals. And Davis is very much in the Clapham mould, decent going forwards with a great engine but he's more of a midfielder than a full back, he certainly needs to improve defensively but I don't think he's cost us too many times or it's a glaring weakness whereas for me the right back role has been. Teams have got down our right hand side too easily and caught us out too many times when we're not even in transition. I agree though we have missed Leigh, I thought he offered Davis great competition but also would come on and give us some more physicality if a team were putting pressure on us down that side.
Posts were too long to read... How about changing things slightly and playing 3 cbs with burns and leif wing backs?
Tuanzebe is the better passer and is quick with his feet but it’s no coincidence our most disastrous performances have been against Fulham and Leeds, with an own goal at Rotherham too. Woolfy reads the game so well and covers our shortcomings at full back. Woolfy and Tuanzebe instead of Burgess and Williams at right back would be my pick. Davis is the least of our weaknesses - but there’s no cover for him. It’s odd that Clarke is playing when Williams is fit and it’s odd that we make a change to drop Woolfy in such a crucial game against Leeds. I don’t know what the answer is, but whoever it is, stop tinkering from one game to the next. If it’s going to be Tuanzebe then wait until he’s fully fit and then give him a proper run.
Agree with most of what you say Hampy, but Burgess has at times been a tower of strength heading and clearing us out of trouble.
I’ll leave it up to McKenna to decide whether it’s better to have an old fashioned defender alongside a ball player, if two more skilled defenders is the way to go, or if right side / left side preference is more important. He does get it wrong occasionally but each time he does make a mistake we come out of it stronger.
In McKenna we trust, and he has done bloody marvellously so far! I am sure a packed PR tonight will be a big factor, especially if we get that oh so important 1st goal.
I thought Woolfenden was outstanding last night, his positional play when others around him running around like headless chickens is understated.
Agreed PTC, he was the best defender by a mile. We gave Mavididi acres of space. Woolfy to start every game.
Not sure why Clarke is in the team ahead of Williams especially against the better teams when we are not going to dominate the ball, Clarke is better going forward and he did make a couple of very good last ditch tackles but the reason for that was he was out of position in the 1st place. No idea why he was standing next to Wolfy when Leicester scored. With burgess going away with Australia, could do with a left footed centre half to come in and partner Wolfy who now is ahead of Axel for me
He still scares me at the back, would much prefer him in a morsy type role, he has the quality on the ball, he is wasted in defence.
Wolfy plays, his contributions in the Leicester game were numerous. He was the player we missed most against Leeds. I also think his range of passing is better than Tuanzebes.
Wolfy against pace is a disaster waiting to happen, I still think he would be a fantastic player in the Busquets role!!
I think it's clear that the defensive line is a conundrum we're yet to solve this season and Tuanzabe has only brought more questions than answers at the moment. Individually it's hard to drop anyone. But I see first choice as Hladky Williams Woolfenden Burgess Davis No reason to shoehorn Tuanzabe into the 11 just because of his "pedigree"
I think we need a new right back especially against the better teams. Clarke is better going forward but his positional play is poor at the higher end of this level. Williams is an odd one - looked like a decent player when he came in but has regressed. I know he had an illness / injury - wonder if he’s still not 100%.
