Will we sign another center back?

[Guest Anders Honoré]

those four or five options were surely for the one centreback he said he has wanted to buy all along.

 

we have a fair few youngsters as well.

 

And I can well leave with Traore as four choice. he's a better centreback than leftback anyway. I'll take him over Cygan any day of the week. And let's not forget roque, antwin, hobbes et al.

 

ManU probably has more cover. That doesn't mean we need more. I think we're well stocked now.

[Guest westang]

those four or five options were surely for the one centreback he said he has wanted to buy all along.

 

we have a fair few youngsters as well.

 

And I can well leave with Traore as four choice. he's a better centreback than leftback anyway. I'll take him over Cygan any day of the week. And let's not forget roque, antwin, hobbes et al.

 

ManU probably has more cover. That doesn't mean we need more. I think we're well stocked now.

 

As a centre back, Traore's positional sense is awful. Our offside traps almost got punished for a couple of times when he was in our defence -- he is always 2 to 3 yards behind the defence line.

[mercury]

As a centre back, Traore's positional sense is awful. Our offside traps almost got punished for a couple of times when he was in our defence -- he is always 2 to 3 yards behind the defence line.

 

1. mmm, he has not played enough at centre back to make a sweeping judgement on his position sense or his ability there.

 

2. as for offside, our back four has yet to perfect it. There were only a handful of games where the back four move in total unison. Finnan is the best out of the whole back line on the offside trap. I can't remember him being caught behind once. Carra and Hyypia have been caught a number of times. Certainly our left back is the least consistent with Riise, as usual, the best out of the lot. This might have something to do with LB being the only position rotated this season.

[Swagger]

A well-informed member on Koptalk claims that once the Agger deal will be done and dusted, the club will enter negotiations with Anderlecht for Kompany.

 

If true, and should we land him, we shall have two of Europe's most promising CBs.

[DecidedByPoll]

Personally, I'd like to see someone come in on loan. Carra's on 4 yellows in the Champs league and that's one minor misjudgement or a bad refereeing decision away from missing a major game. I would not want to go into the next round of the champs league with Traore at Centre half or any of the young players you've mentioned.

 

I tell you what, this guy talks b******s. Carra's only got 1 yellow. Completely misinformed.

[Walrus]

WTF just happened there?

[RP]

A well-informed member on Koptalk

 

 

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[Stevie H]

A well-informed member on Koptalk claims that once the Agger deal will be done and dusted, the club will enter negotiations with Anderlecht for Kompany.

 

If true, and should we land him, we shall have two of Europe's most promising CBs.

[Gomez]

As a centre back, Traore's positional sense is awful. Our offside traps almost got punished for a couple of times when he was in our defence -- he is always 2 to 3 yards behind the defence line.

 

Traore has had some fantastic games at CB, most notable when he stood in for Henchoz a couple of years back. Would be interestng to see what Rafa could do with him if he played there for a while. Doesn't look like we'll see that though.

 

Fair point on his positional sense, but he can learn that with experience. Carragher managed it, his positional sense was aweful when GH first played him at CB back in 98/99, but you can't argue now.

[Eiler99]

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I was wondering where Rashid went.

[Guest Red & Green]

As a centre back, Traore's positional sense is awful. Our offside traps almost got punished for a couple of times when he was in our defence -- he is always 2 to 3 yards behind the defence line.

 

 

This is not a Traore bashing thread but there is no way I'd want him playing centre back for us. If he's to play at all then it has to be at left back where his long legged tackling and speed might help against a quick winger. For someone who's 6 3 or 6 4 he's very poor in the air, he lacks agression, his distribution isn't good (worse than Samis anyhow), he's also clumsy, nervous in possession and prone to errors. ( And I said this wasn't a Traore bashing thread )

 

Not exactly the traits of a quality centre back. I always hoped he'd progress, get more confidence and start looking like a quality player but now that he's 25 I don't see it happening. Mind you Rafa gave him a 4 year deal last year so maybe the caterpillar might turn into a butterfly yet!!

 

As for Roque, Hobbs, Antwin. I think they're still a bit away from the first team level, maybe in 12 months or so one of them might have pushed on a bit more.

 

Don't think Whitbread or Medjani will make it with us though (based on nothing more than a hunch!)

 

My guess would still be that we'll bring in another centre back and let Traore go. If we got 2 million for Djimi I'd be more than happy.

[PhilM]

A well-informed member on Koptalk claims that once the Agger deal will be done and dusted, the club will enter negotiations with Anderlecht for Kompany.

 

If true, and should we land him, we shall have two of Europe's most promising CBs.

 

He's not well informed, he puts stuff that he's read off other sites and says that "his source" told him.

[Wardy]

A well-informed member on Koptalk

 

Surely that's an Oxymoron?

[DonRafa]

Surely that's an Oxymoron?

 

 

 

Who's this Oxy Moran? Is he any good? Can he shut?

I wonder if he's any relation to Ronnie Moran? That'd be

[Guest westang]

This is not a Traore bashing thread but there is no way I'd want him playing centre back for us. If he's to play at all then it has to be at left back where his long legged tackling and speed might help against a quick winger. For someone who's 6 3 or 6 4 he's very poor in the air, he lacks agression, his distribution isn't good (worse than Samis anyhow), he's also clumsy, nervous in possession and prone to errors. ( And I said this wasn't a Traore bashing thread )

 

Not exactly the traits of a quality centre back. I always hoped he'd progress, get more confidence and start looking like a quality player but now that he's 25 I don't see it happening. Mind you Rafa gave him a 4 year deal last year so maybe the caterpillar might turn into a butterfly yet!!

 

As for Roque, Hobbs, Antwin. I think they're still a bit away from the first team level, maybe in 12 months or so one of them might have pushed on a bit more.

 

Don't think Whitbread or Medjani will make it with us though (based on nothing more than a hunch!)

 

My guess would still be that we'll bring in another centre back and let Traore go. If we got 2 million for Djimi I'd be more than happy.

 

exactly what i've been thinking about. adding to your points is that once he makes a mistake early in the game you can tell he is going to get caught, sooner rather than later -- he is not someone who can serve as the last shield and protect the goal, not yet.

 

so back to the original discussion: do we need another cover for centre back? i'd say yes. but if the question is: do we need to break the bank and spend on another centre back in jan? my answer is not so certain. and although it is a good idea we all know that it is very difficult to loan a quality defender...

[Maldini]

Rumour that we may be interested in Juanito from Betis...

He's a good player, very good on the ball, a bit small though, Crouch gave him an awful time in the away game.