With Jose and VVD possibly missing for Liverpool I ask are they actually that important? They are the least mobile and run the least of all the team. It's the position that the oldest players can continue to play. If you have a good defensive midfield they they are seldom called on in open play. Must be tall for set pieces defensively or when we have a corner offensively and be positionally aware at all times. Mainly abused for a poor back pass to the goalkeeper. In my opinion they are the least effective players on the pitch and I would rather we strengthen anywhere else!
Ouch! Well, er, goalkeepers are less important, I think. I don't mind playing Bertrand in the centre for a bit, if we can't get anyone we want to keep for 3 years.
I would say that VVD undermines your argument somewhat, considering that he's a CB, a defensive midfielder when he chooses, a creative midfielder when he starts spraying balls around, a winger when he goes roaming, an attacking midfielder when he bursts into the opposition box, a la Beckenbauer style, or a striker when he fancies his chances. All that suggests that he could be labelled undisciplined, which is the last thing you want in a CB. Perhaps you need to pick another team, with another pair of CBs, as an example.
VVD on his own has saved us countless times this season. If we played a full season with two substandard CBs we'd be deep in a relegation battle, especially given our scoring proficiency this season
Of course they are, no matter how good your midfield is you still need good CB's otherwise even decent strikers will bully them all game long.
CB is the most important position on the field, imo. It`s the base on which the rest of the team is built - team`s aren`t successful unless they get it right.
Generally speaking it's the best defence that wins the league title rather than the best attack I hope he doesn't play
He looked composed and unflustered......but they be a bit **** in all honesty. I'm happy with him starting, the guys in front of him will be more important regarding the outcome of this game though.
Of course CB's are important for set pieces and so on but the important thing is to defend from the front when we lose possession. Against Leicester it looked like we have remembered how to do that, and it will be even more important against Liverpool.
In the short time he was on, he looked a little eager at times. Couple of times he got caught either wrongside or trying to steal in front of the striker. That would get exposed against a frontline like Liverpool. It was only a couple of times though. He'll learn.
CBs just need to be big really. And strong. Preferably ugly, good in the air, of a mean spirited and begrudging nature. Oh, and able to the read the game, which shouldn't be difficult as they are ideally placed to spend most of 90 minutes watching it unfold in front of them. Occasionally you will get one who can actually play a bit, like Virgil. But this is a very modern phenomenon, and rather like soy lattes or phones with sat navs, a bit of a luxury.
