Carra gets a bad injury?

[New York Red]

Frankly, it would be a disaster for us. Agger has been known to get injured. Sami won't be able to play every game. All of a sudeen the back four looks decidedly shakey.

 

We absolutely should get another central defender to keep us covered. Having Heinze right now would make me feel decidedly less anxious. Arbeloa can play there of course, but he seems to be locking down LB as his own.

 

I'm convinced we can win the league this year based on what I've seen from us and the other contenders so far this season. No doubt in my mind. I'd hate to see that chance slip away because of an injury to someone who we've always seen as being invincible.

[surf]

buy cannavaro

[toshi]

bring back Djimi

[Ethan]

There is enough cover in the club already - we signed 42 young central defenders for Ablett over the summer - I'd be ok with having one of the young'uns like Hobbs step up and fill in.

 

I'm not too worried about cover

[Benitez]

Super Al(varo) will cover centre back and right back, while being first choice left back - nothing to worry about

[Guest sniffer]

Super Al(varo) will cover centre back and right back, while being first choice left back - nothing to worry about

 

Wemight have a chance to find out soon. Hyypia has a broken nose and blurred vision in his left eye and Carra has a suspected broken rib, according to Sky.

[New York Red]

Point taken about all of our young CB's. Now I think of it, there really are loads of them aren't there? For those of you in the know, how would you rate them?

 

I seem to recall someone saying that Miki Roque was excellent and might be able to make the step up.

 

I'd love to have the guts to put Insua in at LB and then move Arbeloa inside, but that would be a hell of a risk.

[CaptainXabi]

Roque and Antwi are on loan.

Huth should not be allowed near a first team game for some time yet.

San Jose just arrived.

Spearing is 4'3".

Hobbs is the only one with any chance of doing a decent job.

Edited August 25, 2007 by CaptainXabi

[Benitez]

Wemight have a chance to find out soon. Hyypia has a broken nose and blurred vision in his left eye and Carra has a suspected broken rib, according to Sky.

 

 

Sami had his nose re-set, I get the feeling he'll be ok for the next league game at least.

 

As for Roque - he's gone on loan.

 

I really can't see any of the 'kids' being an option right now. But Insua is more than capable of being cover for left back as far as I'm concerned. We ain't that badly off.

[kop205]

Point taken about all of our young CB's. Now I think of it, there really are loads of them aren't there? For those of you in the know, how would you rate them?

 

I seem to recall someone saying that Miki Roque was excellent and might be able to make the step up.

 

I'd love to have the guts to put Insua in at LB and then move Arbeloa inside, but that would be a hell of a risk.

 

Roque has gone on loan to Spain for the season - Xerex in the second division I think. No idea what the 'recall' terms are. From what I can gather, he is rated fairly highly though he isn't the biggest.

 

Hobbes played centre mid for the reserves last season and was generally pretty impressive from what I can gather, though i think his long term future is seen as being at centre back.

 

Godwin Antwi is out on loan to Hartlepool for the season and by all accounts is very raw. A big f*****, but rough around the edges.

 

Hopefully neither injury is that long term - with Sami it will depend on the blurred vision a lot more than the broken nose, as that kept Scholes out for months whereas at a push you could play with a broken nose.

 

Carra is a worry as I can't see him going off unless it was a break/crack of one of his ribs and that is something you just can't play with. It just needs rest, though I'm not sure of recovery time.

 

For me it would have to be Arbeloa moving to CB with probably Riise dropping back to left back for the time being. It wouldn't be the time to blood Insua, in my opinion.

[Zoob]

The idea of Hobbes playing centre back for us terrifies me. He might be decent in a few years, but is still learning the game, and throwing him in at the deep end would not do us or him any favours.

 

As said, Insua or Riise could cover left back so Arbeloa could play centre, but Rafa obviously wanted defensive cover, so I wouldn't be too surprised if he tried to get someone in before the deadline.

[Ethan]

Don't see why playing Hobbs would terrify you - people on here rave about the Richards lad at Man city - he came in got his chance and has been brilliant. Our midfield and defence as a unit is much stronger than city's and I have no doubt that we could cope with having to play Hobbs in it and give him a chance to be "decent" now rather than a few years.

[McBain]

If Rafa wanted another defender before today he'll deffo be in the market should Carra be out for a spell

 

Spurs have released Defendi the defender haven't they? Gotta be mint with a name like that. Go get him Rafa!

[_00_deathscar]

Arbeloa to CB (if Sami's injured) with Insua stepping in at left back - chuck the kid into the limelight, he'll do well.

[Stevie H]

carra needs to man up.

[Guest Snorky]

Arbeloa and Agger in the middle concerns me.

[Rimbeux]

Don't see why playing Hobbs would terrify you - people on here rave about the Richards lad at Man city - he came in got his chance and has been brilliant. Our midfield and defence as a unit is much stronger than city's and I have no doubt that we could cope with having to play Hobbs in it and give him a chance to be "decent" now rather than a few years.

 

 

Richards is often described as mature beyond his years for a reason, he's far from your typical 19 yr old. If Hobbs or any of the others was standing out way above every week then...

 

 

 

 

Arbeloa and Agger in the middle concerns me.

 

Both like to be the sweeping player, no one wants to be the man

[alias75]

Could be a blessing in a way, CB is a position we've needed to strengthen. For the time being i wouldn't be too worried with Arbeloa or Sami to partner Agger, with Riise left back with Insua as back up.

 

This may force Rafa's hand to sign someone now rather than wait, could now be the time to sign someone with a real chance of being in the team long term? Curtis Davies is available for around 8 million and the way he handled Henry last seasons showed he can handle this level. Could be a good long term solution.

[galés rojo]

I think Onuoha would be more realistic than Richards. He looks a very good prospect has a lot of pace and can play both center back and right back.

[Stevie H]

what do we think for a broken rib by the way? i've broken one years ago and couldn't play for six weeks, fingers crossed for carra. could just be a crack.

[JonShar]

Could be a blessing in a way

 

Yeah, losing Carra could be a blessing in a way.

[Stevie H]

Could be a blessing in a way

there's no way in any way that ever losing carra for even five minutes is anything other than a f***ing tragedy.

[New York Red]

Watching Chielini play right now. He's back on my radar

 

He looks like a hard b*gger.

 

Anyway, this is a serious concern. I can see Carra being out for a while with a busted rib.

[Guest Ant]

Arbeloa and Agger in the middle concerns me.

 

What Doesn't Concern you?

[Rahul]

Watching Chielini play right now. He's back on my radar

 

He looks like a hard b*gger.

 

Anyway, this is a serious concern. I can see Carra being out for a while with a busted rib.

Lets wait to see what the diagnosis is first before panicking yeah? Might just be bruised or whatever. No need to panic and start talking about new signings just yet...