Kanji

Yeah, still holding my position here. Colo's first season he was shit, we got relegated. He dominated the Champo and came back and had 2 great seasons for us and then really fell off. Yes he played for shit managers and had generally shit partners. At his best he was a solid, classy CB who would take the piss out of people with some of his interceptions, he was silky smooth on the ball. Lejeune was hurt by Kane in his first match for us, came back from injury and looked terrible getting used to english football next to Ciaran Clark and then struck up a partnership with Lascelles and turned it all around where we looked extremely solid in a back 4. He's now even looked better in a back 3 where he's creating more from deep, starting attacks, capable of handling physical aerial battles, etc.

in one of the matches versus Chelsea he pinged a ball from deep for 1 of the goals.

Mad fucker just pass the fucking ball to Miggy

Yedlin has served his purpose for us and continues to do so.

Good question - do we think we would have seen the 3 centre backs earlier had Lejeune been fit? I feel like we would have - that injury really fucked things up for us IMO - we tried to get that Brazilian guy at Barca, which fell apart due to work permit and then Rafa went for the all-around workhouse in Fede late. I think he HAD to wait as long as possible, for it because he didn't have his 2 ball players (?)

taking the piss

I want to clarify that during the 1st Champo season i believe we had a very large number of games televised, and they were on ESPN3 in the US. Since NBC took the PL rights we've had access to every single PL game as well. But in my post above, Colo set the standard for being a classy, game-reading, strong distributor of the ball. I just think when you compare his body of work (we were always under immense pressure when he played for us in the PL) compared to that of Lejeune, I see our current CB as being a better passer of the ball short and far, as good at reading the game, stronger against larger attackers, and probably net neutral on pace. I think we haven't even seen the best of Lejeune IMO.

Can't say I agree with that. Colo, at his best was about as classy a centre back as you're likely to see. Fantastic on the ball, smart at interceptions, great distribution and a leader by example. I'm a massive fan of Lejeune and I do think he has all of the above attributes but to say he's better in every department is a bit of an exaggeration. It's a shame Colo's latter seasons seem to have soured the perception of just how good he was for the two at his peak. Honestly, I feel comfortable in saying I've seen nearly every single one of our matches from the Champo season to prime peak Colo in the 5th season to his demise...I've seen every match Lejeune has played for us as well and while he was a cool character on the ball with a great reading of the game, he did not have that diagonal ball in his locker at all nor the intelligence to start attacks from the back. I mean we're splitting atoms here because both were class, I just think honestly believe Lejeune has it all.

Feel like Fede is just waiting in the wings and knows he'll be next man in if he needs to be. To be honest he is actually better on the ball than Lascelles by a ton.

Honestly, Lejeune is a better player in every department to Colo in my eyes.

Nah don’t be bored of it - carrick was generally a brilliant player. Incredible if he does it.

This guy is absolutely insane. Proper knows he has a better shot and pass than most of his teammates

Stottie, what a terrific post man. There’s just something extra satisfying about the way this kid carries himself on the pitch. He’s so calm and his presence is massive. That finish was something you see a 20 goal striker would be proud of, settled down and lashed ruthlessly into the net. Reminded me of a Diego Costa goal from a few years ago.

Robbie Earle has always talked it right regarding Rafa; same usually with Kyle Martino too.

let's get bigger lol

why didn't ritchie pass to almiron

God damn if you just think if we had some of these lads fit and better in form from the off, a singing or two early off in the pre season - we should be talking about 7-10 finish. This team is absolutely capable of that in current form and with this system in place. Seal this up with 1 or 2 more gols, please. Clean sheet too.

this fucking club man

GET INNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

let's fucking have it tonight boys.

Bummed Kenedy didn't make bench, but fuck it, looks fine enough to me.

Good, stay away from Rafa

Honestly, i hope Rafa doesnt change the team. If he does, it be Kenedy for Ritchie or something like Ki/Diame for Hayden.

and let him spend the kitty the way he wants; and have your fucking finance people and MD figure out how to pay that over 1 lump sum, installments (like most clubs do) and manage the financial cash flow and balance sheet with some proper competence. The same old excuse about not having the money is factually incorrect.

This for me. I wouldn’t make a single change. Not at least versus these.