Good when he had a consistent run in the side, which was actually pretty rare - always had niggling injuries, and too many bookings/red cards, and that's before you add in missing a whole summer due to being banged up. If he'd been consistent on the pitch, he would have been justified with his constant remarks, but most of the time he was more of a motor mouth observer that one contributing.
I was really disappointed with Lascelles when he made his first few appearances. He looked absolutely terrified and I wasn't sure he would ever cope with being a premier league player - a bit like Darlow looked on his debut. While I agree that there is still a long way to go for him, I am happy to say I think I was wrong and that he looks very promising. Love his attitude and think we have a player that could turn into a great partner for Mbemba (if we can keep Mbemba). Going forward, whatever division we are in next year, we need an experienced and proven CB as an option for the first team. However, there is no reason that Lascelles and Mbemba could not go on and make a good CB partnership if they can prove that they deserve to be first choice based on performances. That is what we have been lacking for years. Players haven't needed to earn their way into the team as they have ended up there through necessity and lack of choice. More than happy to have Lascelles there at the minute as he is proving he is a better option than either Colo or Taylor.
So some of you seem dead against Lascelles as next captain, so....................... who would you have? Lets presume that we are in the Championship, because we almost certainly will be. Who would you pick from the current squad that would likely still be here next season?
No one I'd buy one. We need to start afresh. It won't matter because there is going to be a mass overhaul of the squad with loads leaving. This time we need to do that age old thing of investing in the spine of the team. We need to build from the back which we never seem to do, despite it quite obviously being the most successful way to build a football team. Lascelles can be one of the players that is involved in restarting, I'm just not sure how big a part he plays.
Whichever league we end up in, if Lascelles and Mbemba are still with us, I say stick with both of them as first choice CB's. They're both young and will improve. The more game time they get together as a partnership, the better it will be for us. I wouldn't want either of them consigned to the bench, it will just stifle their development.
A 22 year old is being spoken of as a potential captain I rate JL and I can see he's somewhat of a leader of men but this highlight's how feeble some of them really are.
The fact that he got in the face of a senior player and Dutch international speaks volumes about his leadership qualities. Not afraid to call out a team mate on their performances regardless of who they are and you can see in how he carries himself on the pitch that he is captain material. That said, he's not even a guaranteed starter yet and I think we should be looking to sign a senior CB next season who can be made captain (if not in another position). That new signing, plus Mbemba, Lascelles and Dummett would be ample CB coverage for me, either in the Premier League or in the Championship.
Rafa is believed to want to tie up a £7m deal for Torino's Kamil Glik which for me would be a fantastic deal. Glik and Maksimovic of Torino are clearly world class centre backs and couple him with another good centre half to compete with one of Lascelles and Mbemba (preferably Lascelles) then the centre of defense will look stronger than it has for a long time. But let's not forget the full backs as we need 3 or 4 of them seeing as though Haidara is injury prone and pretty average to boot and Janmaat wants out and Mbabu is vastly inexperienced, leaving Dummett who though he isn't too bad we need a bit better.
Agreed, We need to sign a first team CB, LB and RB. Dummett and Mbabu are okay cover at LB/RB and Lascelles and Dummett would be decent cover at CB for me. There's still Sterry, Satka and Good from the development squad, although I'm not sure any of them are going to make the grade.
Jamie Sterry is slowly developing and needs a similar loan opportunity as James Tavernier had and should no way be relied upon at premiere league level yet and in fact the Championship may prove challenging right now. As far as full backs go Mitchell Dijks and Todd Kane would prove sufficient.
Think its a bit premature to talk of captain, but i do like the lad, team has lacked any tangible form of leadership all season.
I cannot fathom us having Mbemba and Lacelles as our first choice CB's next year if we manage to stay up. It clearly hasnt worked for us this year so why try again next? Although Lascelles has improved, for me we would need to purchase another CB to partner Mbemba with Lascelles being an option when players get suspended/injured. A new LB is a must and with Janmaat clearly on his way out a new RB.
Chancel Mbemba is a good defender but Jamaal Lascelles is the more mature of the two and deals with the uglier games much better and I do like CM but Anderlecht definitely got the better deal at £8m although I'm hoping he will still grow into that sort of value but for now I have more confidence in Lascelles.
If we stay up (won't happen) and we have Mbemba and Lascelles as 1st choice centre backs next year then we will be fighting relegation again. FFS we have to learn from our 6 year catalogue of transfer errors if we do stay up. We need an experienced leader at centre half. I'm not saying they have to 30 but we need someone 25 plus who learnt the game a bit and has a voice. If we stay up and go into season with those two I'd lose all faith in humanity. Rafa would never allow it though, far too cute.
I disagree on the old head to a degree. I'd actually have JL and Mbemba as first choice and I think they compliment each other well... and have an old head as support, rather than first choice. We need two cb's for me... Someone with some experience and someone with lots.
