I know Lascelles is our captain and a good promising prospect but I feel as if he's made one too many mistakes recently and I feel sorry for Hanley. Hanley has been solid whenever he's played. He looks like a consistent version of an in form Steven Taylor. Clark and Anita are our best defenders so they stay in for now.
No, other than in Rafa's rotation. Don't think Lascelles has made that many mistakes plus he's young and learning. Hanley hasn't actually impressed me so far and I've been a little disappointed with him as I was expecting more from him. He hasn't done anything significantly wrong but just hasn't been a dominant force that I was media wise expecting to see.
I think he will play this Tuesday in the cup game we should get a good look at Preston as well, as they are on a good run of wins
He's been very strong when playing not even putting a foot wrong. Lascelles play on the ball has been quite poor at times and he hasn't been consistently good. He was bullied quite a bit by Jerome actually vs Norwich.
He will get a chance when one of our defenders has a clusterfuck but don't see fixing what isn't actually broken ATM. He can wait his turn like Atsu is
Doubt it! Sure there was a stat while he was at Liverpool that he didn't select the same starting XI for 99 games or something ridiculous like that.
"During a six-year spell at Liverpool, Benitez earned a reputation for regular alteration, once going 99 consecutive games without naming an unchanged team, a sequence finally broken for a Champions League tie against Bordeaux in 2006." http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/rafa-benitez-sir-alex-ferguson-jose-mourinho-459395
Nope...but that's why it isn't broken yet (injury wise) In answer to Tash's que ...nope ...unless Lascelles take his foot off the pedal, or Clark doesn't train hard enough etc etc etc. He WIll get his chance ...His sole job atm is to train hard and push the selected defenders for their slot ..make it impossible for Rafa to ignore him basically. Squad depth at NUFC ..who would of thunk it!
Don't worry, we will get injuries all over the team soon enough. Nothing wrong with rotating, especially when you have a match on satuday and then tuesday, another on Saturday and another on Tuesday. Reason why we had so many injuries under Pardew was because he kept playing the same 11. Also in terms of team spirit, constantly rotating is actually good. There's no 1st and 2nd string.
Lascelles and Clark are clearly first choice at the moment. Put Mbemba and Hanley as the pairing for the league cup and see if they can up therir game. Not really impressed with what I've seen from Hanley so far, looks a bit sluggish and immobile.
Think Mbemba is unlucky not to be in, I still think that over time the best CB pairing is Lascelles and Mbemba and they looked good at the end of last season in the Premiership. All 4 of the players we are talking about are young enough (I think) to be with us for a few years and all can do a job but I would be more worried with Hanley and Clark in the Premiership. Hanley has looked shakey for Scotland too when I've seen him and against opposition who aren't the best.
Everyone will get their chance. With Hanley he is probably not going to improve over time as much as Lascelles who is younger and has massive potential, and is doing pretty well as it is anyway. I'm not saying it is going to happen but Lascelles could our captain and first choice CB for a long time to come and if he develops he has the attributes to go to the top - England CB, even England captain. I realise that Hanley is Scotland captain now but they aren't in the same league IMHO.
