Our defence in general

[Hodgson for Chelsea]

When Roy Evans left, we knew the attacking side of our game needed no work. McManaman Fowler Redknapp et al were always going to score us goals and create chances.

 

Houllier took over and made sure we had a defence that compared to anyone anywhere. I remember going to watch us play against Roma at home the treble season and watching Henchoz keep Batistuta in his pocket the entire game.

 

This season you can argue that GH's defence has been replaced entirely:

 

Carra Hyypia Henchoz Risse (or variations of these four)

 

with

 

Johnson Skrtel Agger Insua (" " " " ")

 

....and quite frankly we all know which of those two options we'd take.

 

So how do we fix it?

 

Do we move Johnson to right wing? Drop Insua or let him develop? Is Carra too old to be a regular? Has Skrtel ever been the same player since colliding with Carra against Spurs? Do we bring in a young up and coming player to steady the ship or an experienced player (like Hyypia was last season) to put pressure on the existing defenders? Was it simply bad luck through injuries? Why were we so poor on set pieces early on in the season? Was it the loss of Sami and Arbeloa or the loss of Alonso that harmed our defence (because we all know Reina has just had the season of his life)?

 

So I ask "How do we fix it"?

[John am Rhein]

get better players

[Hodgson for Chelsea]

Johnson was a better player than Arbeloa supposedly though...

[Redkop]

TBH it would be guessing... other more important matters to reconcile first.

[John am Rhein]

Johnson was a better player than Arbeloa supposedly though...

 

I wouldn't say so, although he has a lot of fans

 

Wrong type of player, above all

[Knox_Harrington]

So I ask "How do we fix it"?

One boss centre half, one solid left back.

[Mikey]

One boss centre half, one solid left back.

What about the Wigan LB Fig??? plays CB for his country and LB for his club.

 

We definitely need at least one new first choice defender as we are so rocky at the back it's a joke. We need pace back there as well and the firswt poster to say pace isn't important can f*** right off.

[Benzo-13]

Sell Skrtel.

Promote Ayala to fourth choice.

Recall Mikel San Jose - who can also play left back.

 

Use what Skrtel's money is about on left back like Gentner or another footballing Aurelio type out there.

Edited May 8, 2010 by Benzo-13

[Molby]

Sell Skrtel.

Promote Ayala to fourth choice.

Recall Mikel San Jose - who can also play left back.

 

Use what Skrtel's money is about on left back like Gentner or another footballing Aurelio type out there.

 

 

but those 2 kids have mostly looked s****

 

I'd be wondering if Kelly can become a good CB

 

not that I give a flying f*** about any of this at the moment

[Epic Swindle]

I don't think there's major concerns in the centre that 2 good defensive full backs wouldn't sort out. Johnson is still a useful option but his defending is always a potential weak link. Ayala could do with more playing time as I believe he'll be a top international defender that lad.

[Benzo-13]

but those 2 kids have mostly looked s****

 

I'd be wondering if Kelly can become a good CB

 

not that I give a flying f*** about any of this at the moment

Oh yeah, forgot about Kelly. He'll do too.

 

San Jose done well in Spain this season.

[Sion]

but those 2 kids have mostly looked s****

 

 

Clueless

 

San Jose has been Bilbao's best defender since January

 

He might turn out not to be good enough, but he's certain not 'looked s****'

[Knox_Harrington]

Sell Skrtel.

Promote Ayala to fourth choice.

Recall Mikel San Jose - who can also play left back.

 

Use what Skrtel's money is about on left back like Gentner or another footballing Aurelio type out there.

Still need a new centre half. A boss centre half is the priority. Being able to defend ten yards higher at home and twenty yards higher away would change everything for us.

[yellow jumper]

I don't think there's major concerns in the centre that 2 good defensive full backs wouldn't sort out.

 

insua's not ready and left back needs sorting. johnson prone to an occasional error, but nowhere near as bad as you're making out. there isn't a top side in europe that doesn't play without a least one forward thinking full back.

[Knox_Harrington]

insua's not ready and left back needs sorting. johnson prone to an occasional error, but nowhere near as bad as you're making out. there isn't a top side in europe that doesn't play without a least one forward thinking full back.

Absolutely no doubt at all about that. Quite right. Part of the break of lines. Similarly more often than not every top side in Europe plays with three centre mids.

[Metro]

When Roy Evans left, we knew the attacking side of our game needed no work. McManaman Fowler Redknapp et al were always going to score us goals and create chances.

 

Houllier took over and made sure we had a defence that compared to anyone anywhere. I remember going to watch us play against Roma at home the treble season and watching Henchoz keep Batistuta in his pocket the entire game.

 

This season you can argue that GH's defence has been replaced entirely:

 

Carra Hyypia Henchoz Risse (or variations of these four)

 

with

 

Johnson Skrtel Agger Insua (" " " " ")

 

....and quite frankly we all know which of those two options we'd take.

 

So how do we fix it?

 

Do we move Johnson to right wing? Drop Insua or let him develop? Is Carra too old to be a regular? Has Skrtel ever been the same player since colliding with Carra against Spurs? Do we bring in a young up and coming player to steady the ship or an experienced player (like Hyypia was last season) to put pressure on the existing defenders? Was it simply bad luck through injuries? Why were we so poor on set pieces early on in the season? Was it the loss of Sami and Arbeloa or the loss of Alonso that harmed our defence (because we all know Reina has just had the season of his life)?

 

So I ask "How do we fix it"?

 

Get two new fullbacks?

[Knox_Harrington]

Sell Skrtel.

Promote Ayala to fourth choice.

Recall Mikel San Jose - who can also play left back.

The Greek as third choice isn't an option. We can't get out with him playing. He's fine as fourth choice. Unless Ayala can play week in, week out he'd be better where he is for one more season before taking the fourth place in the squad.

[Guest PaulMcC]

Get a quick centre back who's class in teh air.

 

And hope we can have more settled back 4.

[Knox_Harrington]

Get a quick centre back who's class in teh air.

 

And hope we can have more settled back 4.

This is it. A dominant centre half who can play with Carragher or Agger and gets us out is the answer. At centre back we need Rio Ferdinand of 2002. If we get him and as we have Johnson at right back, at left back we only need Herman Hreiddsson of 2002. A big lad who knows the position. There must be one of them going cheap.

[Molby]

Clueless

 

San Jose has been Bilbao's best defender since January

 

He might turn out not to be good enough, but he's certain not 'looked s****'

 

they've both looked s*** for us

 

end of

 

but I really don't care so if you want, I'll give you a walkover on this one

[Benzo-13]

A Gary Cahill fits the bill but what price is he??

[lfc003]

A Gary Cahill fits the bill but what price is he??

 

Isn't better than Skrtel and would cost at least £15 million, No thanks.

[John am Rhein]

Get two new fullbacks?

 

would be good, but there's very few decent ones about

 

playing CBs at full-back is an option worth exploring

[muleskinner]

they've both looked s*** for us

 

end of

 

but I really don't care so if you want, I'll give you a walkover on this one

 

Has San Jose played in our 1st team?

[Benzo-13]

Isn't better than Skrtel and would cost at least £15 million, No thanks.

Can head which is a big plus.