A case for the (changing of the) defense?

Seems to be the defence has come under fire in the last few days as being championship quality and you can't deny it.

Lacselles - signed EPL from a championship team, 12 months later relegated
Clark - Signed to the championship from another relegated team
Fernandez - Signed having been relegated
Schar - signed having been relegated
Krafth - signed having just beaten the drop in France
Manquillo - signed after promotion having been relegated with the scum the season before
Lewis - signed from a relegated team

Then you have:
Murphy - signed as a winger from a championship club having failed to get them promoted
Ritchie - signed as a right winger in the championship
Dummett - Better than Maldini

Every single one of the above are due replacing (bar Dummy), probably 2 seasons ago. All signed for Approx ~ £20m and entire defense were bought either for relegation, having just come up to battle relegation or had just been involved in a relegation scrap the season before they joined. Carragher suggested we need a minimum of 4 defender in January and I personally think that's the minimum. We need at least 6 of the above sold or released by the end of the season and replacements lined up and ready to come in 1st January.

Out of the current crop which two would you keep?

 

Manq and Schar for me. They're the only two who have anything about them.

 

Schar and Manquillo.

 

This but I would include Feders and I would give Lewis a chance. There’s potential there.

 

I don't despise Fede and Dummett, and given we can't ship them all out would keep them around. The rest, though - **** right off.

Lewis might have potential but his performances have been borderline embarrassing. All of them. I couldn't tell you a good game he had.

 

Manq and Feders, with Schar and Clark just behind.

They can do a job, Laecelles and Lewis are out of their depth these days.

 

Honorable mentions as well to Jethro Willems and Florian Lejeune - probably two of our best defenders since promotion - no longer at the club...

 

Fede and Schar. If I had a 3rd option I'd pick Lewis too. He's worth keeping and I think could be something special under the right guidance.

 

I'd keep the 4 I'd play at palace - Manq, Schar, Fede, Lewis.

Best back 4 for me (maybe switch Lewis for Dummet but I think Lewis needs some games)

All of these can perform backup if we get someone new in.

The rest should be shipped out ASAP ( I don't count Murphy or Ritchie in this as they should never be counted as defenders)

 

Schar is the best CB easily. I'd also keep Fernandez. Manquillo is expendable.

I'd like us to buy a new LB and RB tbh, and also a new captain like CB to play along side preferably Schar.

 

Conor Coady calling Newcastle an "absolutely incredible club". Roll out the welcome mat.

 

This.

 

Get him in! He'd be a massive upgrade on what we have (if we can get him)

 

Like Conor Coady. Got a bit of leadership in him too. This is exactly the bracket of player we need to target. Fringe top end. Reminds me of Man C with Lescott, Barry, Given, Milner, Bridge, SWP, etc. Bought enough to get them up the league a bit.

 

Interesting that there's a back four basically selected above

Manquillo - Schar- Fernandez - Dummett

Would be people be happy with this as the back four next game? Have those 4 played together as a unit at all previously?

 

Yes for me, although I'd be tempted with Lewis at LB instead of Dummet.

Even if they've not played together too much, they can't be worse than what we've put out in recent weeks right?

 

The current back four look like they haven’t played together before anyway.
The above four would be my choice with Lewis until Dummett is fit.

 

I don't really care much which team they came from, it's their performances with us that matter.

Schar looks quality at times, Fernandez looks ok, the others though are piss poor and championship quality.

Schar is the only one I'd be desperate to keep a hold of because he has a mix of good defensive ability and also has the odd goal in him, sometimes scoring 4-5 goals in a season, and has good ball playing abilities.

Schar alongside a prop captain figure would be great.

 

Yeah and I'm happy to go Dummett or Lewis.

I think people overrate Schar at times, he makes a good few errors which seem to be overlooked for some reason. I think Fernandez is our best and most reliable centre back personally. Schar is good with the ball, and we badly need this at present.

I wouldn't overworry about how much they've played together. Clark appears to have forgotten how to play centre back altogether