Jamaal Lascelles

[samptime29]

While not wanting to see any player injured this could be a bit of luck for Steve Bruce. He was never going to drop Lascelles being the club captain but Lejeune is just a far superior player and far better distribution from the back. The front three will benefit hugely from this.

 

He needs to displace Clark first though, he’s done well that lad when called upon, in fairness.

 

Can't drop Clark ATM.

[Raconteur]

If Lejeune is back then Clark is a good option in the middle in the interim. Ideally working towards a Lejeune-Fernandez-Schar back three - and with Willems and Yedlin in form, that looks decent (objectively)

[Guest Howaythetoon]

I think he’ll be a bigger miss than some realise, for all his flaws on the ball, he will leave a big gap back there in the air, at set pieces, at leading and with his pace and recovery getting back. He’s their best defender in terms of just defending easily. No-one else fills me with as much confidence in terms of strictly defending.

[gjohnson]

While he has no particular stand out abilities,  he doesn't have any glaring weaknesses either.  he is a very decent defender, the leadership in the backline will be missed. Can't see Schar or Lejeune screaming at Dummett for being his usual 20 yards out of place

[mrmojorisin75]

we'll miss his leadership and presence if nothing else imo, not sure we have anyone else in the squad close to him in that respect

[nemtizz]

we'll miss his leadership and presence if nothing else imo, not sure we have anyone else in the squad close to him in that respect

 

[Guest]

Not sure it was even that last night. The balance was all wrong. Clark on the left of the three, Schar on the right, Fernandez in the centre organising. I don’t think Clark is good enough to lead a defence but he’s been more than fine when he’s played where he has been.

[Kanj]

As soon as PD was named in the team it was down the drain.

[Newcastle Fan]

We hardly talk about him much here judging by how far back this thread is, but he really deserves a lot of praise for his performance most of this season, it annoys me to see players like Tyrone Mings getting ahead of him in the national team when he's been preforming the way he has been for us.

[Dokko]

We hardly talk about him much here judging by how far back this thread is, but he really deserves a lot of praise for his performance most of this season, it annoys me to see players like Tyrone Mings getting ahead of the in the national team when he's been preforming the way he has been for us.

 

Still think the forum hates him for his Ashley comments. Before then he was loved.

[joeyt]

I really like him. Needs a different thread title

[Guest Butcher]

So uncomfortable on the ball when pressured. Don’t think he’ll ever play for England.

 

Cracking defender and leader, mind.

[andyc35i]

Can’t wait to see him lift all the trophies  #Saudioptimism

[Collage]

I’m still undecided. I like him and want him to do well, but god he’s no good on the ball.

[toontownman]

Playing next to a morphing into Jaap Stam, Fernandez makes a big difference to Lascelles imo. Class performance though. Alongside even more quality he could actually find himself in the England picture.

[Infinitely Content]

He is a fantastic defender like. Better than Mings imo who has managed caps lately. I'd also say he's a better defender than Maguire so...

[toon25]

He is a fantastic defender like. Better than Mings imo who has managed caps lately. I'd also say he's a better defender than Maguire so...

 

Aye. I don’t think Maguire offers a great deal more than wor Jamal tbh, who I think has been fantastic for us for the most part. Really grew as a player under Rafa

[Infinitely Content]

I also feel like Lascelles is the type of character who if he got capped it would actually improve him as a player, both in stature and confidence. Some cower a little under the pressure, I think Jamaal would have the correct mentality for it and we'd see the benefit.

[Guest]

Don’t think he’s anywhere near good enough for England. A big part of a centre-back role with England the majority of matches is being able to step out from defence confidently and pick a pass against teams sat with two deep defensive lines.

[Infinitely Content]

Don’t think he’s anywhere near good enough for England. A big part of a centre-back role with England the majority of matches is being able to step out from defence confidently and pick a pass against teams sat with two deep defensive lines.

 

Mings, Stones, Maguire all loads better than him like? At passing maybe, defending nah.

[Lenny]

Lascelles has actually added carrying the ball out of defence to his game of late, when the opportunity arises.

 

Given though, how we have next to no possession and don't ever have to worry about teams sitting deep against us, he's hardly going to be doing it multiple times a game.

 

His technical game and positioning has improved a lot IMO.

[Infinitely Content]

Lascelles has actually added carrying the ball out of defence to his game of late, when the opportunity arises.

 

Given though, how we have next to no possession and don't ever have to worry about teams sitting deep against us, he's hardly going to be doing it multiple times a game.

 

His technical game and positioning has improved a lot IMO.

 

Quite a powerful runner with the ball when he gets going. Far less awkward and bumbling than Maguire for instance.

[St1pe]

I think it gets overlooked how dominant he is in the air too and how important that is. I don’t think there’s another English centre back that commands the area like he does. Mings is probably the closest but has the draw back of being an absolute over rated calamity. I’d definitely have him in the England squad but he doesn’t seem to be in favour Southgate for whatever reason.

[Dokko]

All I ever see is stones carrying the ball in to an opposition player for England. If that’s what makes you England quality then fair enough, Jamaal isn’t your guy.

 

You really don’t need two centre backs who pass out of defence, not when you have others around strong at it. I think that’s why it works well for us, Jamaal Does all the proper defending and his keeper and partner (and fbs) can take care of distribution. When he does come out it’s usually a shock to the opposition and he gets away with it. Think it was against Sheffield Utd (Certainly a game since the restart) he ran with the ball in to their half and no one was ready to pick him up.

 

He has improved in this department, but probably not enough to allow posters to forget/forgive his pro Ashley comments So will always now be a lumper of a centre who needs replacing as soon as the money hits our account.

[Raconteur]

All I ever see is stones carrying the ball in to an opposition player for England. If that’s what makes you England quality then fair enough, Jamaal isn’t your guy.

 

You really don’t need two centre backs who pass out of defence, not when you have others around strong at it. I think that’s why it works well for us, Jamaal Does all the proper defending and his keeper and partner (and fbs) can take care of distribution. When he does come out it’s usually a shock to the opposition and he gets away with it. Think it was against Sheffield Utd (Certainly a game since the restart) he ran with the ball in to their half and no one was ready to pick him up.

 

He has improved in this department, but probably not enough to allow posters to forget/forgive his pro Ashley comments So will always now be a lumper of a centre who needs replacing as soon as the money hits our account.

 

It seems like he’s quite conservative in his decision making - he always looks for a low risk pass and almost never carries it. From memory of the incident you mentioned, he took a long moment to decide to dribble. He indeed looked strong and positive, but he didn’t exactly ooze confidence.

 

Still, impressive to see.