madras Posted June 16, 2023 Share Posted June 16, 2023 6 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said: Fact is LB isn’t as critical a position as CM. Otherwise Dan Burn wouldn’t have been able to play in a CL team. Just leave it altogether then ? I'd say its just as critical if you get the right player. Look at RB in our set up. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BonesJones Posted June 16, 2023 Share Posted June 16, 2023 CM over LB if it was one or the other, because the drop off in performance without Bruno is bigger than if we swap Burn for Targett for example. No doubt we do need a LB though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shak Posted June 16, 2023 Share Posted June 16, 2023 It depends on Howe how feels about Targett, for me. Burn did a commendable job at LB given his skillset but I wouldn't say he was good by any means. The fact that Targett didn't manage to take the job back doesn't fill me with confidence about him going forward. If it was just a fitness thing or aversion to changing something that was working and Howe likes Targett... I'd be OK with no big name LB signing. A young player that can backup Targett (with Burn being the emergency LB option) would be the minimum though, can't go into next season with Burn and Targett the only left footed defenders in the squad. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponsaelius Posted June 16, 2023 Share Posted June 16, 2023 Don't think Howe is ever playing Targett over Burn again unless Burn is needed in the middle. Left back absolutely a priority position for me. I know people worry about his fitness record but I think Tierney would be absolutely superb in our system. Bit of a shame it appears to have gone slightly quiet on that one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NobbySolano Posted June 16, 2023 Share Posted June 16, 2023 WTF is the fascination with hating on Dan Burn? I'm not saying he will be in the UCL team if the season but he is hardly the liability you all make him to be. He was key part of the best defense in the league. When we started giving up goals towards the end it was almost never on his side or his fault. Out of all the positions we can improve or add quality, it's not even top 3. Or maybe 3rd. I would rather add depth in a lot of other spots than spend capital at LB Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Prophet Posted June 16, 2023 Share Posted June 16, 2023 Just now, NobbySolano said: WTF is the fascination with hating on Dan Burn? I'm not saying he will be in the UCL team if the season but he is hardly the liability you all make him to be. He was key part of the best defense in the league. When we started giving up goals towards the end it was almost never on his side or his fault. Out of all the positions we can improve or add quality, it's not even top 3. Or maybe 3rd. I would rather add depth in a lot of other spots than spend capital at LB He isn't a left back and one of the most obvious positions in the first team to upgrade. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NobbySolano Posted June 16, 2023 Share Posted June 16, 2023 The guy played a full season at left back, for the best defense in the league, for the best manager in the league last year, and you will say to his face and his coaches that he is not a left back? Would i love a world class left back to compete and take his spot? Sure. At the cost of having no cover for Bruno, relying on ASM to stay healthy, or Almirón to have a better season than last? Go ahead and upgrade that spot, but not after you have improved depth in other much more needed and important areas. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shak Posted June 16, 2023 Share Posted June 16, 2023 "Say to his face" I mean, he's a CB. Clear as day. Can do a job at LB and his ability to cover there as well as being Botman's backup is going to be a great asset for years to come. Hopefully we only see him there in emergencies going forward. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponsaelius Posted June 16, 2023 Share Posted June 16, 2023 I wouldn't say it to his face no, cos he's huge. He's been a superb signing and love having him around the squad. I wouldn't even say he's clearly a CB - I think he can play both positions effectively. However if your model is to replace the weakest starters with clear upgrades (which seems to be the case) them he's obviously up there as a priority. No top club would have a full back who can't/doesn't cross the ball. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NobbySolano Posted June 16, 2023 Share Posted June 16, 2023 The mental gymnastics here. Do a job. Yeah I'll say. It's great he can play both cb and lb. If Howe thinks he can play lb then I'll say he is a lb that can cover cb. An upgrade would be great. But I'm not fussed. And even so, i would expect heavy rotation and plenty of time for him at LB. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
McCormick Posted June 16, 2023 Share Posted June 16, 2023 His lack of pace as an lb is always a worry but he’s usually very good defensively. We also have a perfectly fine alternative in Targett. I’m more worried about what happens if Trippier were to get a lengthy injury. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tgarve Posted June 16, 2023 Share Posted June 16, 2023 8 minutes ago, McCormick said: His lack of pace as an lb is always a worry but he’s usually very good defensively. We also have a perfectly fine alternative in Targett. I’m more worried about what happens if Trippier were to get a lengthy injury. Kraft Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonas Posted June 16, 2023 Share Posted June 16, 2023 (edited) 45 minutes ago, NobbySolano said: WTF is the fascination with hating on Dan Burn? I'm not saying he will be in the UCL team if the season but he is hardly the liability you all make him to be. He was key part of the best defense in the league. When we started giving up goals towards the end it was almost never on his side or his fault. Out of all the positions we can improve or add quality, it's not even top 3. Or maybe 3rd. I would rather add depth in a lot of other spots than spend capital at LB There's always got to be someone for some folk. Its part of a football fans existence to be miserable and when things are going well some cant let it go entirely. Edited June 16, 2023 by Jonas Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nemtizz Posted June 16, 2023 Share Posted June 16, 2023 Despite how good he's been the fact he has almost zero threat going forward was and is an issue. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaqen Posted June 16, 2023 Share Posted June 16, 2023 He's slow and poor on the ball. We made it work but it was never going to be a long term solution. I don't think defensively we'd get miles stronger replacing him but we definitely would give team a lot more to think about when defending against us and be more balanced. Think it would do Trippier some good as well not having to be the one fullback bombing up and down the wing constantly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanj Posted June 16, 2023 Share Posted June 16, 2023 Our entire attack isn’t really designed to have him cross or attack. When he does it’s fucking bloody awkward and randomly effective. He’s def needing to be upgraded, ideally you find another really strong defensive player who’s just obviously better going forward. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted June 16, 2023 Share Posted June 16, 2023 Burn’s been good and the unit has been excellent (and well protected from the front). But I don’t think there’s any doubt Burn will be upgraded very soon. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
toon25 Posted June 16, 2023 Share Posted June 16, 2023 42 minutes ago, McCormick said: His lack of pace as an lb is always a worry but he’s usually very good defensively. We also have a perfectly fine alternative in Targett. I’m more worried about what happens if Trippier were to get a lengthy injury. Absolutely agree with this, like. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deuce Posted June 16, 2023 Share Posted June 16, 2023 The utility of playing Burn at LB is that it allows us to play a back 3 when Trips pushes up to essentially play RM. I don’t know if that’s by design…does Howe truly want one “CB in FB’s clothing”, while the other FB joins the attack? Or is it to make the most of the players that we have? With relatively unlimited resources, how would Howe have us set up? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NWMag Posted June 16, 2023 Share Posted June 16, 2023 2 minutes ago, Deuce said: The utility of playing Burn at LB is that it allows us to play a back 3 when Trips pushes up to essentially play RM. I don’t know if that’s by design…does Howe truly want one “CB in FB’s clothing”, while the other FB joins the attack? Or is it to make the most of the players that we have? With relatively unlimited resources, how would Howe have us set up? Maybe an out and out DM to sit in between the two CBS, and both FBs pushing forward? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
r0cafella Posted June 16, 2023 Share Posted June 16, 2023 According to Ornstein Chelsea are also in for all of the midfielders we’ve been linked with Hope we don’t end up missing out on all the actual good ones and left with Mctominay Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
timeEd32 Posted June 17, 2023 Share Posted June 17, 2023 2 hours ago, toon25 said: Absolutely agree with this, like. Same. We have too many holes to fill to deal with this, but one of the most obvious ways we could regress next season is an injury to Trippier. We were incredibly fortunate to get 46 games and almost 4,000 minutes from him. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledGeordie Posted June 17, 2023 Share Posted June 17, 2023 (edited) 7 hours ago, Shak said: It depends on Howe how feels about Targett, for me. Burn did a commendable job at LB given his skillset but I wouldn't say he was good by any means. The fact that Targett didn't manage to take the job back doesn't fill me with confidence about him going forward. If it was just a fitness thing or aversion to changing something that was working and Howe likes Targett... I'd be OK with no big name LB signing. A young player that can backup Targett (with Burn being the emergency LB option) would be the minimum though, can't go into next season with Burn and Targett the only left footed defenders in the squad. I think a new attacking LB is crucial to developing our play to help break teams down at home against a defensive set up and to improve our options in the champions league. Dan Burn has been excellent for us from a defensive point of view but I just don’t see him as the answer moving forwards. I think we need someone linking up on that left side note and providing more of an attacking threat. The team and our style of play will improve and bringing in a left back will be part of that I think. I agree though it’ll be interesting to see what Howe does with Targett moving forwards. I thought he would become the back up left back behind a new signing (occasional league games, cup matches etc) but his lack of game time the season just gone makes you wonder what Howe thinks of him moving forwards. That said he was injured for a fair chunk so that’s probably had an impact. We do need numbers for a sways though with so many games. Edited June 17, 2023 by ExiledGeordie Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geordie_once_removed Posted June 17, 2023 Share Posted June 17, 2023 A new LB is 3 or 4th on the priority list for me. My order is CM, RW/RWF, then RCB or LB. I love Burn but when you look at the stats playing him makes us a bit one dimensional and places a lot on Trippier not getting injured. If you have someone with more attacking treat down that side, with Trippier fit you can vary how you attack more. If Trippier gets injured then you can play a similar way to this year but switch the focus to the left. We also arguably have out best attackers on the left and this could help us get more out of them. Finally we could in some games switch to a back 3 with attacking wing backs. It just gives us a lot more options. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cronky Posted June 17, 2023 Share Posted June 17, 2023 If we were to only sign two players, I wouldn't want them both to be in midfield. A good left back would make a big difference. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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