Slim Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 start from the back tbh. get a few good defenders in and builld on that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keefaz Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 Start from the east. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 To be fair I never said 'ignore the defence'. If Dunne is available, get him in, for example. What I mean is the focus and attention should be more on sorting out the bits of the team/squad that are complete gash. As of now, the defence doesn't come into that category when compared against the midfield. You're right. I wouldn't complain at going into next season with the current back-four as starters, but I can't say the same about at least 3 of the other positions on the park (Butt, Geremi and Viduka - who's crocked anyway, so make that Smith/Carroll.... ). However, like you also said, we've got absolutely zero cover for either full-back and Edgar/Cacapa don't exactly fill me with confidence as pertains back-up to Taylor and Faye. Diatta - well who knows on him? We definitely need another left-back if Zoggy goes (probably do anyway), at the very least, but in an ideal world I'd like to see us sign a quality centre-half. Dunne fits the bill, for me. Dunne and Faye together shifts Taylor to the bench with Edgar/Diatta/younguns as emergencies. Looks good enough to me. Taylor can cover Beye to some degree, leaving just a left-back. Which as you say, we need anyway. For this club at this time (no Europe etc etc), I think it's just about as good as it gets defensively. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 PS - not saying they're world class or owt. PPS - that's for you, NM. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Libertine Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 we've conceded 65 goals this season (in the league). thats makes us the third worst in the league in that area, just 1 goal above being joint second worst. say what you will about negative tactics and such, but anytime the defence comes under any kind of pressure it usually results in a mistake/goal. defence is a priority now. we need at least 3 new defenders and Dunne would be a good start. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 The goals conceded column this season is a red herring IMO. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 Just to expand on that, if you take away the Man Utd drubbings we let in 21 at home (that's less than 6th place Villa) and 33 away (only four more than Villa). Then think about the fact we only scored 25 at home (less than relegated Birmingham) and 20 away (less than relegated Reading). As usual, the solution lies somewhere in the middle - boom boom - but it's too simplistic to just look at the number we let in and say we need to replace three quarters of the defence. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wullie Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 You can't lump the defence altogether as one and say the current back four is not good enough! Bet beye, faye, taylor and enrique have a decent record as a unit other than one or two abberations where the whole team collapsed. Hardly fair to say 'look how many this mob conceded' when enrique barely got a run out for months bey and faye were in africa for weeks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
relámpago blanco Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 You can't lump the defence altogether as one and say the current back four is not good enough! Bet beye, faye, taylor and enrique have a decent record as a unit other than one or two abberations where the whole team collapsed. Hardly fair to say 'look how many this mob conceded' when enrique barely got a run out for months bey and faye were in africa for weeks. Agreed. You also can't blame the back 4 for all of the goals when earlier in the season we had a non-existent midfield add that to fact Rozehnal was first choice for a while. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 You can't lump the defence altogether as one and say the current back four is not good enough! Bet beye, faye, taylor and enrique have a decent record as a unit other than one or two abberations where the whole team collapsed. Hardly fair to say 'look how many this mob conceded' when enrique barely got a run out for months bey and faye were in africa for weeks. That as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NG32 Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 Thinking back we weren't offensive enough and that bloody christmas period was a fucking mess but that was the whole team playing terrible. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 Start from the east. Aye, its about time they did our stand up a bit, especially the inside. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Edd Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 Just looking at a simple goals conceded statistic says as much about the players in front of the back 4 as the defenders themselves. If the forwards and midfielders can't keep hold of the ball then the best defenders in the world will concede a few goals if the opposition regularly has the lions share of possession over a season. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baggio Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 We've enquired about Joao Moutinho according to a Portuguese lad on another forum, it's news doing the rounds over there. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeletor Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 We've enquired about Joao Moutinho according to a Portuguese lad on another forum, it's news doing the rounds over there. Classy player. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUPERTOON Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 We've enquired about Joao Moutinho according to a Portuguese lad on another forum, it's news doing the rounds over there. Good player we have been linked with there two CM now they have just qualified for the champs league so dont know what chance we have of either him or Veloso Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alberto2005 Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 Rather have Veloso. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUPERTOON Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 Rather have Veloso. He is a DM Mouthino is a creative midfielder Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alberto2005 Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 Rather have Veloso. He is a DM Mouthino is a creative midfielder Veloso's a better player, I really do think Moutinho would struggle to adapt to the Premiership. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUPERTOON Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 Rather have Veloso. He is a DM Mouthino is a creative midfielder Veloso's a better player, I really do think Moutinho would struggle to adapt to the Premiership. Aye just sayng we need players for both positions Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alberto2005 Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 Rather have Veloso. He is a DM Mouthino is a creative midfielder Veloso's a better player, I really do think Moutinho would struggle to adapt to the Premiership. Aye just sayng we need players for both positions Yep, I believe Moutinho's more of a box to box player than creative midfielder, he covers a lot of ground. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KaKa Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 Well seeing as we were after Modric then Moutinho probably makes more sense than Veloso as Moutinho's type of game is similar to Modric. Moutinho is slight but very scrappy and dogged. I don't think he would struggle to adapt to the premiership. He's competitive in the same way a Mascherano or a Fabregas are, both smaller players, who don't get pushed around or overwhelmed physically. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KaKa Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 In the beginning of 2005 he was called up for a game in the Portuguese Cup, thus making his official debut on 23 January 2005. Based on extremely consistent displays, Moutinho wasted no time in establishing himself as a regular as he quickly grew into a polished performer, able to play in any position across a flat midfield or in a diamond formation. His box-to-box dynamism and tremendous determination quickly made him a firm fans favourite, as he rarely missed a game since becoming a first-choice player. Absolutely key. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baggio Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 We could be after both, it's 2 positions we need to fill and I don't think Ashley would be against splashing the cash if it is on young players who can have a big future here, would help them settle in the area better too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
afar Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 Don't know if this has been posted already but beeb goosip says: Tottenham and Newcastle are to battle it out for Manchester City defender Richard Dunne. (thisislondon.co.uk, 1125 BST) Looks like we'll lose another Alreeady in the dedicated Richard Dunne thread, sorry to repeat, ignore this. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts