Our centre backs for 2015-2016

[Indacupfortottenham]

to play alongside or instead of dier?

Both.

 

[Indacupfortottenham]

If we were to change to 433, we wouldn't need any signings. None at all. All the roles are covered in the present senior and/or junior squad.

Personally I think we need to strengthen the spine of the team, regardless of the system we use.

 

[DaSpurs]

He suffers a bit from having snapped 2 players' legs in half.

Yeah he's a brutish ****, there's no denying that, but we could do with some more nastiness, leadership, and resolve; and ultimately I don't think he's a poor defender. Furthermore, Shawcross hasn't been delivering crippling injuries in years, so it's possible he's a) matured and b) improved the timing of his tackles such that it isn't as much of a problem.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Personally I think we need to strengthen the spine of the team, regardless of the system we use.

Not necessarily.
A CM 3 would offer far more protection to the defence, and they would also divide the CM tasks among them far more effectively than Mason/Bentaleb do. That would instantly address loads of the issue we see today. A more protected defence would bring out the best in all of them, and the defensive shortcomings would be drastically reduced.

Ironically, I'm not Mason's biggest fan, but in a CM 3, I would include him easily. But also Dembele, Capoue, Paulinho, Stambouli and even Eriksen could easily fill roles in CM 3.

Further up the pitch, you'd have a really decent attacking 3, with acceptable understudies. Soldado would easily fit in as Kane's back up in 433, and Lamela, Townsend, Chadli & Eriksen would alternate as the wide forwards. A possible strengthening could be a new and shiny wide forward, otherwise we are generally set for a new season, if reassembling a 433-team based on present senior and junior players.

 

[Rout-Ledge]

Dier
Wimmer
Vertonghen
Fazio

Sell Kaboul, Chiriches.

I agree that Fazio will have a better season next year. He's looked more secure recently.

 

[prawnsandwich]

Yeah he's a brutish ****, there's no denying that, but we could do with some more nastiness, leadership, and resolve; and ultimately I don't think he's a poor defender. Furthermore, Shawcross hasn't been delivering crippling injuries in years, so it's possible he's a) matured and b) improved the timing of his tackles such that it isn't as much of a problem.

That Jack the Ripper don't 'ardly kill nobody these days.

 

[Indacupfortottenham]

Not necessarily.
A CM 3 would offer far more protection to the defence, and they would also divide the CM tasks among them far more effectively. than Mason/Bentaleb do. That would instantly address loads of the issue we see today. A more protected defence would bring out the best in all of them, and the defensive shortcomings would be drastically reduces.

Ironically, I'm not Mason's biggest fan, but in a CM 3, I would include him easily. But also Dembele, Capoue, Paulinho, Stambouli and even Eriksen could easily fill roles in CM 3.

Further up the pitch, you'd have a really decent attacking 3, with acceptable understudies. Soldado would easily fit in as Kane's back up in 433, and Lamela, Townsend, Chadli & Eriksen would alternate as the wide forwards. A possible strengthening could be a new and shiny wide forward, otherwise we are generally set for a new season, if reassembling a team based on present senior and junior players.

You make some good points, but I would part with a few of the players you mentioned if it meant improving the first 11. Our squad is bloated and we lack a bit of grit and leadership I think - just look at the average age of that Juve squad compared to ours!
Getting rid of 6 or 7 and bringing in an experienced, quality centre half and central midfielder is what I hope happens, a wing forward would be a bonus, but I'm not that fussed, as you say we already have some good options and I'm keen to see Pritchard get a chance.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

You make some good points, but I would part with a few of the players you mentioned if it meant improving the first 11. Our squad is bloated and we lack a bit of grit and leadership I think - just look at the average age of that Juve squad compared to ours!
Getting rid of 6 or 7 and bringing in an experienced, quality centre half and central midfielder is what I hope happens, a wing forward would be a bonus, but I'm not that fussed, as you say we already have some good options and I'm keen to see Pritchard get a chance.

All of what you are saying is mandatory for our present system, but not even vital if switching to 433, which would never happen under the present coach thus...
Our squad is made for 433, it's like toast & jam, I don't know, fruit & cake (fruitcake, get it?), sex & boobs. That sort of match.

 

[Sp3akerboxxx]

Vertonghen
Alderweild
Dier
Wimmer
Moreno

 

[spurs9]

Something like this i like 3 at the back (that's what she said)

Attacking

Hugo

Dier ---------------------- Davies

Verts


Walker -----------------(Defensive Mid)-------------------- Rose


Defending

Hugo

Dier --- (DM) --- Verts --- Davies
Walker------------------------------------- Rose​

Something like that

I don't think 3 CB's works in the PL. Man Utd moved away from it, as have Liverpool now and the only team I can think of that have persisted ate in the relegation zone (Hull).

 

[eddiev14]

These are the 1st team squad CBs:

4 KABOUL Younes
5 VERTONGHEN Jan
6 CHIRICHES Vlad
15 DIER Eric
21 FAZIO Federico


Khumalo is leaving in the summer.

I think Dier is the only one guaranteed to be here next season.
ITK says Wimmer has signed and Toby is a rumour.

Are there any other CBs we could sign?

What is the possibility of Dominic Ball or any of the youth players being ready for the squad?

Assuming Wimmer comes in I'd say we need one CB. Someone top drawer who is doing it in a good league.

My preference would be either Howedes or Moreno (with Moreno more realistic).

However there are a couple of really interesting alternative options in La Liga. I personally like Fontas (former Barca youth CB doing well at Celta Vigo) and Inigo Martinez at Real Sociedad. Both are the right age, too (circa 25 yrs old).

So we'd end up with:

New CB
Vertonghen
Dier
Wimmer

Would definitely sell Fazio and Chiriches. I don't rate either of them.

 

[fridgemagnet]

I don't think 3 CB's works in the PL. Man Utd moved away from it, as have Liverpool now and the only team I can think of that have persisted ate in the relegation zone (Hull).

I respect your onion and you probably speak sense, Leicester used it to great affect recently we were really lucky twice against them IMHO

 

[Mouse!]

I respect your onion and you probably speak sense, Leicester used it to great affect recently we were really lucky twice against them IMHO

It'd make a good pre-season experiment and I do think in can work in some cases, but Walker is far too poor going forward to be an effective wing-back. Dier and Rose's crosses put him to shame.

 

[spurs9]

I respect your onion and you probably speak sense, Leicester used it to great affect recently we were really lucky twice against them IMHO

True, they are on a great run.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Instead of Wimmer, or maybe in addition to, Brighton's Lewis Dunk could be interesting. Quite tall, arial power, has visited the national U-teams, he can play both LCB & RCB equally well and he would cost so little that it would be beyond worth it.

Instead of Alderweireld, we could be looking at Veltman. A bit shorter than Alderweireld, but he can also play LCB & RCB equally well. He uses the same agent as Corluka & Lovren, so I suppose both Pochettino & Levy has good connections.

Lastly, I reiterate that I think Micah Richards has never been better (all though he may be looking for a team who will use him as their #1 RB).

Shoot, I completely forgot about Fabian Schär. Obviously one of my preferred additions, even if he is a bit unconvinced about joining us, according to rumours.

I suppose in an ideal world, I'd go for Vertonghen, Dier, Dunk, Richards & Schär for our CBs next season. I'd want 5, because we've seen how it is necessary to have CBs who can cover on R/LB, too. Thus the group of 5 CBs would be an integral part of a defence of 9 players. I think these 5 players bring together everything we need. Players who can fill one or both of L/RCB, arial power, experience, home grown players, hopes for the future, cheap gambles, speed, smartness etc etc etc. The 3 new guys would cost next to nothing, 2 are free agents and 1 is completely unheard of outside the championship. I'd love it!

 

[southlondonyiddo]

Dier looks a better right back than central defender. Still pretty young and inexperienced but I fear he's not a 'natural defender’

Verts is a great footballer but doesn't really want to defend

Fazio is pretty good in the air most of the time but poor on the ground

When players run at our defence at pace we look disasterous

None of them have great pace/strength or agility like Rsol and Ledley

None of them read the game or have the hearts of lions like Terry or Adams

We are in trouble at the back unless they get a huge amount of help from their midfield and or we stop playing that high line

Liked the look of the lad Cameron Carter-Vickers?? who played in those youth cup semi finals. Cleared everything on his own for about 20mins in one of the games and looked a proper defender that attacked the ball and did well positionally too

 

[eddiev14]

Dier looks a better right back than central defender. Still pretty young and inexperienced but I fear he's not a 'natural defender’

Verts is a great footballer but doesn't really want to defend

Fazio is pretty good in the air most of the time but poor on the ground

When players run at our defence at pace we look disasterous

None of them have great pace/strength or agility like Rsol and Ledley

None of them read the game or have the hearts of lions like Terry or Adams

We are in trouble at the back unless they get a huge amount of help from their midfield and or we stop playing that high line

Liked the look of the lad Cameron Carter-Vickers?? who played in those youth cup semi finals. Cleared everything on his own for about 20mins in one of the games and looked a proper defender that attacked the ball and did well positionally too

Generally agree with your post but regarding Dier I'd say he's a promising young CB who looks extremely uncomfortable at RB.

 

[tiger666]

I know this isn't the point of this thread but I would love to go all out and spend big-ish money on John Stones.

But anyway:

Verts
Dier
Fazio
Wimmer
Alderwiereld (sp)

Should be decent enough.

We can't get Toby Alderweireld, our fans can't even spell Eriksen.

 

[Insomnia]

I'd like a jewish centre half, he wouldn't give the ball away for a start

 

[Greenspur]

I like Toby.

Play him with Jan with Dier and Fazio as back-up.

Not that it matters - our system offers zero protection to the back four from midfield, and so no matter who we buy/play, we will continue to concede hatfuls of goals until we change the system.

4-3-3 with a proper DM please.

I couldn't agree more.