I'm not a fan of Tomkins being used as a right back, he is far too good a centre half to be wasted in that role and lacks the crossing ability when in advanced positions to fulfil the right back role, but the tactic employed by Grant against Stoke shows the advantage of having tall men in the defensive positions. Our priority should therefore be to source a pacey and tall right back to play in that position next season.
I like Jacobsen but he is, like Ilunga, short on inches. Spector has the height but lacks the composure and ability to do the job and Faubert is too short, too indisciplined positionally and is leaving anyway. Jordan Spence may be the answer and his loan spell at Bristol City could be the making or breaking of the lad. However, even if we are only looking for Jordan's understudy, the brief should be to find somebody with pace AND physical stature.
Most agree that the squad is now looking very good but, if we do stay up, we still face problems for next season. Upson will almost certainly leave and da Costa and Tomkins are too inexperienced a pairing to start as first choice together. We will need to find a leader for the back four therefore. Bridge is only on loan, of course, so he will leave in the summer, unless Man City fancy giving him away and paying 50% of his wages until his present contract runs down. That's a possibility but is unlikely.
We therefore need a right back, a centre back and a left back in the summer. Any ideas?
8 comments:
I can think of a few I don't want to see in our back four: Gallas, Dawson, Hutton and Assou-Ekotto for starters. If they play like they did against Wolves when we come up against them on Saturday week happy days really are here again. But I'd have Roger Johnson - he's too good for Birmingham.
I would have Ridgewell at left back. He's an ex Hammer too so would probably jump at the chance of returning! Anton at right back anybody?
I'd prefer Micah Richards. Anton always was something of a liability.
I hope Da Costa can concentrate on his football (with all the criminal charges brought against him today) because we really do need him on the final stretch to the end of the season. I think he is be far our best defender.
You are right to say that we need height and pace for our full backs. A very hard combination to find. Tomkins' acceleration (or lack of it) is his biggest problem. Jacobsen, is our current best option because he moves and reads the game well. He is also quite experienced, calm and collected. No comparison to the either Faubert, Spector or even Gabbidon.
If we manage to stay up I would be very happy to see the three of them replaced. Maybe Spence can be one home grown solution. We need another two and I really hope they are looking and planning already. With Hitz back and playing well in midfield and our attack scoring goals, we only need to find a long-overdue solution for our full backs. I can't offer any ideas but I am sure it is a good start to know what qualities you are looking for.
So would I but I can't see Unreal City letting him go. He's a regular at the moment isn't he?
"I like Jacobsen but he is, like Ilunga, short on inches."
...the evidence mounts...
We should have bought Hutton when he came back from Sunderland wasn't it? He does the defending, the pushing forward and crossing, yet also the running with the ball and getting the odd goal. Now Harry's playing him.
And giving away penalties against Wolves!
...Ok then, Alves it is. I'll get Sulli onto it.
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