... but could Rudi be that CB we're looking for? Heads, tackles, clears brilliantly, commanding & covers ground quickly. Would miss him in midfield, but something makes me wonder ... Thoughts?
Not a bad idea Jock, although the amount of penos he may give away would put me off. How about Matt Smith as CB?
Admit to being much more impressed with Austin today, but was a little concerned when he was booked. Thing is, any centre half should be able to do his role, and any one doing his role should be able to play at centre=back. Wootton may provide us with another option. Peltier, when played at centre-back, has been much more solid, so maybe our problem area now is right back. But when Byram comes back - and he made some shocking mistakes (learning curve) last year from right back - that we could see two of Lees, Pearce and Peltier dropping out. Green much better today, Murphy still finding his feet, McCormack showed how much we really do need to keep him, and the front guys caused problems when they had the opportunity to do so. We can expect those types of first 15 or 20 minutes every time we go away, and if we can shore things up like we did today and then start creating, the future looks brighter white
Wouldn't feel comfortable with Austin at the back, he likes a big tackle too much! It's all well and good doing it in the centre circle, but if you mistime one in the box it's a penalty. His energy would be missed in the midfield anyway, I just wish he'd improve his distribution...
3 goals from 4 from central midfield for a winger who isn't an out and out goalscorer is pretty good I'd say. Yes I know he's not a winger, but I'm satirising those who claim he's not a natural goalscorer.
3rd 2-1 of the season coming from behind. For a team that can't score goals, we're scoring a lot of goals.
Think I'd prefer Austin in defensive midfield. He can run box to box, but some of his tackles might cause us a problem if he played CB.
We're fine at CB, don't see the point of moving one of our most influential players out of midfield. Lees slipped, these things happen, also thought Peltier could have done better covering McGoldrick's run. The fact is, centre backs with the attributes of Lees and Pearce who also don't make any mistakes are playing in the PL, and as they gain experience they could both prove to be good enough. Byram, Warnock and two of Lees, Pearce and Wootton (or even Peltier) makes for one of the best back fours in the division IMO, we've got one of the best defensive records in the league so far, and that situation's only going to improve once Byram comes back and Wootton starts pushing Lees and Pearce for a starting spot.
Easy tiger, just having a bit of fun! Btw, can't believe you've left Warnock out of your back 4. Best LB we've had in a long time.
Hugely agree. He's solid and ain't afraid to go forward when he's called upon but isn't naive enough to be caught while doing it (like White, Pelts on occasion ect, even Byram but he's got the work ethic to get back and get a good tackle in when he's caught napping). When people criticise Warnock they need to remember the season we had Aidy as our regular left back
He's there mate! Might want to get your eyes checked, and agree with everything KMIG says above, maybe lost a bit of pace but if he hadn't he'd still be in the PL.
