Younes Kaboul returned to training on Monday after his long injury lay-off. It'll probably be a few weeks before he's back in contention for a place in the match squad, at the very least, but even then it seems difficult to re-integrate him, for me. His form last season was extremely impressive and there's no doubt that we've missed him, but how does Villas-Boas go about getting him back up to speed? It's the problem facing Rafa Benitez at Chelsea with John Terry, but with the added complication of our 4 other centre-backs. It's doubtful that he'll perform at anything like 100% unless he can get a run of games and get match-fit, but how can we give him that opportunity? There are already a group of fully fit squad members fighting for contention in his position. One possibility would be to use him in one of the other positions that he's played in the past, namely right-back or as a holding midfielder. Not sure that'd be a good idea in the first place, but it's also complicated by the fact that we've got good depth in both roles. How do you think our manager should deal with it and how do you think he actually will?
When fit YK would be in my 1st team - either with Verts, Daws or Caulker. (Willy G is still around this season but is clearly not going to be around next). That means 4 CB's to choose from and possibly rotate for a season, which is about right I would think. And the fact that Verts and Kaboul can also cover other positions means that they are seldom not going to be getting game time. So - no problem....... Edit: just reread your post PNP and realise that I haven't really covered the 'this season' issue. Personally don't think that it will be a problem as it will take him a couple more weeks to be getting back into contention for what will be about 8 or so games + EL. Can't imagine YK to be the sort to kick off for not jumping straight back into the team and there will surely be a few opportunities for him to get on if only from the bench.
Kaboul plus Gallas, Vertonghen, Caulker & Dawson yes we are rich in this area. Dawson has played his way back, Gallas has returned and looks good but has age against him. Vertonghen is the finished article whereas Caulker is still learning. One is going according to AVB, Gallus being the obvious one. If we manage to continue in the Europa that would be handy otherwise Kaboul as a bits and pieces player filling in midfield, right back and centre back until he plays himself into an undroppable position. It's a good problem to have it's a pity we don't have the same one up front.
Tough run-in. Especially with a possible Europa run. To have him fully fit just for April and May would be great.
Centre back looks to be an area we are strong in, yet virtually all great teams, all teams which have success have a regular centre back pairing that play the majority of games and play the big games, even last season with City, I personally don't think Kompany and lescott are as individually as good (some say kompany is world class) as some believe, but as a pairing they helped city win the league and this season Mancini messing about with the defence is one of the reasons they have struggled. So, Villas Boas, has to work out who our best partnership is, and stick with it for league games. Kaboul looks to be our most impressive centre back, while Verts early season impact took away attention from some of his defensive mistakes and lets not forget Arsenal have a belgium centre back who became more known for his attacking insticnt, fans saying he is superb and now he's viewed as an average defender. With Verts, I hope he doesn't go the same way, as he looks to be more assured but if he can clamp put some of his defensive errors then Verts & Kaboul look to be our best partnership.
Sods law says at least one and probably two of our current defenders will get injured between now and the end of the season. It will be a bonus to have him back. I don't see a problem.
As for this season I don't see any issue with Kaboul returning, as he will no doubt be used in a variety positions, different games until he regains full fitness and he doesn't strike me as a player that will demand to be back as 1st choice.
For me, we've missed him badly. He was rapidly turning into a possibly world class CB. I imagine he will be reintroduced gradually as a sub. Or, as has been mentioned, if any of our other Cb's are injured. Whichever way, it will be good to have him back.
I think that, going by how AVB has handled additions so far he will be eased back very gently, especially given our wealth in that position. I think it will be a long time and many second-half sub appearances til he starts a game. And several reserve games (or whatever we have nowadays). I do not think he will be eased back into the team by playing out of his primary position. Once he's got going, mind, I seriously see him as our second-choice right back. He's looked very impressive there before and Naughton has just shown me nothing so far to have much confidence in him
The minute Kaboul is fit enough to play, he'll get game time, and if he's as good as he was he'll be playing plenty.
For me its easy. Kaboul and Vertonghen are our two best centre backs with Gallas, Dawson and Caulker as back up.
For me, the moment he's actually fit to play, he should start. In my opinion, he's our best CB by a distance and although the likes of Dawson/ Vertonghen/ Caulker have performed admirably, none of them are on Younes' level - at least for the moment - and so with him back in the team, it'll only make us stronger. Question is who gets dropped our of what seems to be the first choice pairing at the moment - Daws and Verts? Daws has come in and bar the Norwich game (felt he and Verts got bullied by Holt), has been brilliant and I'm delighted he's stuck with us, always been a fan and he's Spurs through and through, his leadership was sorely missed when AVB was deciding to harshly leave him out the squad. Verts started off brilliantly, he looked a seasoned EPL pro and to adapt as well as he did was amazing. Was without a doubt our best player in the first couple of months of the season. He had a sort of dip in form for a while, nothing drastic but I think his performances in his first 15 or so games kind of gave us big expectations and so when his form dipped from a brilliant to a decent standard, it looked worse than what it actually was. A tough choice of choosing who makes way, though I think I'd drop Dawson purely because I think Vertonghen would be more ideal to work with Kaboul. For me, Kaboul is a slightly more mobile and advanced version of Daws, will throw himself into anything and is a beast in the air (last season, there was only one player I can remember of note that actually beat Younes more than once in the air - Chris Samba), where as Vertonghen is a bit more "elegant", he'll be the one that brings the ball out of the defence, hes technique is better than Younes' and the fact he's a lefty also works in his favour in my opinion. Very harsh on Daws as he doesn't actually deserve to be dropped but for the sake of improving the team, I think Verts and Kaboul would compliment each other better. Next season will be far more interesting though, as I think Caulker will have something to say about the first choice pairing, he improves game by game in my opinion and I think potentially, he can be better than ALL of our current CB's. I won't say the heir to Ledley as I truly don't think we'll see a defender of his quality for years and years possibly even decades, but Caulker is certainly an exciting prospect, our best prospect since... Well Ledley!
My problem with JV is getting back in position if we're caught up the pitch, I clocked early in the season he just jogs back, and still does, seen him do it a couple of times recently. No harm done yet, but we will concede a goal sooner or later because of it. I don't see why YK's return to full fitness should be hampered, he'll get U21 games as an overage player same as Parker. Good players don't need long to get up to speed.
Me too The fact that Willy G has had 17 appearances this season shows we need Kaboul back in fairness. In as much as I liked Gallas back in defence last season, he's fairly past it, and its time for Kaboul to step up and take that starting spot by the end of this season.
I think his immediate future is at right back. In the big games, he would make me more comfortable than Walker in current form.
There are some rather stupid stories emerging in the media now about Anzhi wanting to sign Kaboul and being put off by our supposed price. How much, you ask? €12m. Seriously. If you're going to make up a transfer story, then at least make it plausible.
Almost as stupid as the stories linking us with Ashley Williams and the Feyenoord defenders. Good players I'm sure, but hardly the area of the team that needs strengthening right now is it...
