We Need Two Full Backs

Cathy Ferguson said:
I wonder which position Dorgu will occupy? Diouf seems a bit too similar to him.
Click to expand...

I think Dorgu will end up covering a range of positions. If he’d have been fit in the past few months I’m sure he would have provided some cover for Shaw at LV at various times, as well as featuring at LW. There’s been plenty of times where we could have done with some fresh legs coming in for Shaw. And I can also see him filling in for any injury issues on the right flank as and when it’s needed.
 
I think Dalot and Shaw is good enough. Dalot is a bit underrated imo. Also Maz is the perfect backup as he can play both positions. We have other areas to splash the cash. We need to CM's and a CB
 
Andersonson said:
I think Dalot and Shaw is good enough. Dalot is a bit underrated imo. Also Maz is the perfect backup as he can play both positions. We have other areas to splash the cash. We need to CM's and a CB
Click to expand...

Disagree, it would make such a difference to our overall play if we had a LB that had the legs to get up and down and offer a proper overlap. I think we’d get more out of Cunha that way too.
 
Zumbi said:
Disagree, it would make such a difference to our overall play if we had a LB that had the legs to get up and down and offer a proper overlap. I think we’d get more out of Cunha that way too.
Click to expand...
I think Shaw has been very stable and very good in defence. When Dorgu is fit he can get some rest as well. Casemiro is leaving, so we need CM's and Licha and De Ligt is always injured.
 
Andersonson said:
I think Shaw has been very stable and very good in defence. When Dorgu is fit he can get some rest as well. Casemiro is leaving, so we need CM's and Licha and De Ligt is always injured.
Click to expand...

Yeah but we’re going to be playing nearly double the number of games next season with Europe. Trying to reply on Shaw to play two games a week in the PL and CL is a disaster waiting to happen.

As good as he can be, we are so short of any attacking thrust on the left when Shaw is at LB. He just doesn’t have the legs to get up and down as much as a modern LB should be.

Everyone agrees CM is the priority, but a new LB is pretty close behind.
 
Zumbi said:
Yeah but we’re going to be playing nearly double the number of games next season with Europe. Trying to reply on Shaw to play two games a week in the PL and CL is a disaster waiting to happen.

As good as he can be, we are so short of any attacking thrust on the left when Shaw is at LB. He just doesn’t have the legs to get up and down as much as a modern LB should be.

Everyone agrees CM is the priority, but a new LB is pretty close behind.
Click to expand...
Shaw and Dorgu will compete on that LB position, and I'm hoping Amass can be a 3rd choice to cover for injuries too. Add a winger to improve the attack and bring more dribbling/creativity IMO.
 
bosnian_red said:
Shaw and Dorgu will compete on that LB position, and I'm hoping Amass can be a 3rd choice to cover for injuries too. Add a winger to improve the attack and bring more dribbling/creativity IMO.
Click to expand...

Depends where we see Dorgu playing most of his games. If it's LB then get a LW, if it's LW then get a LB (although I still expect Dorgu to cover multiple positions depending on injuries and availability). Either way we clearly need something extra on our left flank if we want to compete on multiple fronts next year.
 
I actually agree with the title of the thread. We do need upgrading on both sides. Not the most pressing concern but its more urgent than most would think. I’m a fan of Dalot, Maz, Shaw and Dorgu (who is the only one who I actually think could turn into a WC fullback), but we do need more quality here. A top quality starting RB and someone to provide competition at LB.
 
Zumbi said:
Depends where we see Dorgu playing most of his games. If it's LB then get a LW, if it's LW then get a LB (although I still expect Dorgu to cover multiple positions depending on injuries and availability). Either way we clearly need something extra on our left flank if we want to compete on multiple fronts next year.
Click to expand...
Yeah. I think at LW he's just generally not talented/creative enough for him to be a game changer there. His skillset just suits being a left back better but agree that he'll fill in from time to time further up.

We spent a lot on our attack of course but I think it's still lacking a high quality winger to compete with (or surpass) Cunha and Amad, as we basically only have them there with Mbeumo more a striker option than an actual winger IMO. To really reach a higher level we also just need a truly world class attacker in that front 3, and we don't have that ahead of Bruno so far.
 
I like Dalot and he has predictably done a lot better since he's been moved back to RB, his natural position.

Maybe Dorgu needs some more support on the LW to cover for injuries, but other than that, we need to target central midfield above all else with Case leaving.

I don't think Dalot's ever going to be absolute top level but with our luck with injuries it helps having someone like him who stays fit, and who also gives his all.
 
ManhattanRed said:
I actually agree with the title of the thread. We do need upgrading on both sides. Not the most pressing concern but its more urgent than most would think. I’m a fan of Dalot, Maz, Shaw and Dorgu (who is the only one who I actually think could turn into a WC fullback), but we do need more quality here. A top quality starting RB and someone to provide competition at LB.
Click to expand...
Feels like we are prioritising LB this summer, however ideally sign someone who can play both sides
 
Cathy Ferguson said:
I wonder which position Dorgu will occupy? Diouf seems a bit too similar to him.
Click to expand...
I see Dorgu as a Park type. A versatile, almost defensive forward. Will start the big away games to double up on players like Semenyo.

Diouf looks more like full back. Doesn’t look as quick as Dorgu, but broader of shoulder. They’d be some combo of physicality on the left flank if paired together.
 
I agree we need a refresh of our fullbacks, at a minimum we need a new LB this summer as there is zero guarantee that Shaw replicates his fitness next year. I do see Dorgu as the long-term option there despite conflicting opinions on here after his short spell doing well further forward.

If West Ham go down then Diouf has to be high up on our list as he has a fantastic cross and has the physicality for the prem. If not, I'd be quite intrigued by David Raum if we could convince him to leave Leipzig and the other name mentioned earlier this year was Nathanial Brown, although he would be a more expensive option I would think. One of those 3 and I'd be happy.

RB feels more complicated. Personally if we receive a bid for Mazraoui this summer for say £15m then I'd consider it. He's solid and has provided some great performances over the past couple years but has been slightly off it this season.

Kayode is my dream signing for this long-term but he'll likely be a £50m investment, which I don't see us doing this summer based on other burning priorities. What we might be more tempted to do is invest in a more versatile RB/CB hybrid to provide a different option at RB and cover at CB (like a Ben White). We've been linked with Pierre Kalulu at Juventus over the past few months, who would tick this box and for a RB/CB hybrid actually has a really good cross on him. At the right price (eg. £35-40m) combined with the sales of Mazraoui, I think this could be a decent investment and would provide some security if De Ligt has another troubling season plus potentially allow us to loan out Yoro for a year.

I'd then target Kayode as Dalot's replacement the following summer, but if bids go in for him this summer we may have to act sooner.
 
We need a LB much more than we need a RB. Realistically we are not going to bring every position up to the highest level this summer, considering how much attention the midfield needs.

Dalot and Mazraoui are not a disaster for RB. Could be better, but given the choice there are at least five players I’d sign before a RB.
 
We absolutely need a new left back, especially as Shaw will be back injured when there's no world cup or euros at the end of the season to motivate him.
 
Shaw has been good quality when fit, but is beginning to be slower and needs to be replaced long term.
Dalot is a great squad player (think Phil Neville) but we need an upgrade. Not sure at about Mazraoui, I don't feel like he has had enough of a run in the team to form a good opinion.

Aside from the midfielder and another striker, left full back is the next on the upgrade list for sure.
 
We need a LB for sure. No way we can count on Shaw for next season, especially with European football. He also does not get forward close to enough (though he seemed to somehow get that going vs Chelsea)

As for RB, I'd rather spend money on other positions. Dalot frustrates me but he has been better of late and between him and Maz we are serviceable over there.
 
andersj said:
Apparantly we are signing one. Really hope it will be David Raum.
Click to expand...
Feels like the reason Whitwell hasn't got any names yet is due to prioritising midfield signings first. My number one target although unrealistic is Hall, so Diouf from West Ham might be more gettable. I don't know enough about Raum to comment on his suitability.
 
Dorgu’s injury really came at the worst time. Would’ve been nice to have an answer to whether he works as a LB in this team before the summer.
 
Silas said:
Dorgu’s injury really came at the worst time. Would’ve been nice to have an answer to whether he works as a LB in this team before the summer.
Click to expand...
Well he might be involved for last 4 games
 
I cannot believe that we'll go into another season with Dalot as the first XI right back.

I really hope someone makes a bid for him in the summer.
 
Brentford's fullbacks look much better than ours... would take Kayode over Dalot in a heartbeat
 
Kayode is incredible frankly. Never noticed him until now. Such a willing runner.
 
Bastian said:
I cannot believe that we'll go into another season with Dalot as the first XI right back.

I really hope someone makes a bid for him in the summer.
Click to expand...
There are just bigger issues.
CM 1
CM 2
CB
Wing
LB
Then RB...

Dalots problem is he's pretty much "decent" and capped at that. He does dumb things, he has good moments, he's always fit and has been here for a long time. I'd suspect he'd improve when other areas are strengthened, but he'll eventually need improving too.
 
Eh. Kayode looks a bit janky in the final third to me. Looks great in the middle though.

Both him and Harry Potter look better than our duo in general though. Both are so far up the field on a lot of their attacks
 
bosnian_red said:
There are just bigger issues.
CM 1
CM 2
CB
Wing
LB
Then RB...

Dalots problem is he's pretty much "decent" and capped at that. He does dumb things, he has good moments, he's always fit and has been here for a long time. I'd suspect he'd improve when other areas are strengthened, but he'll eventually need improving too.
Click to expand...

Honestly, as much fun as it would be to get a new wide attacker, I'd put a genuine first XI RB ahead of him for the overall balance of the team.
 
Bastian said:
Honestly, as much fun as it would be to get a new wide attacker, I'd put a genuine first XI RB ahead of him for the overall balance of the team.
Click to expand...
I think for pure depth, we have 4 attackers for the front 3 and we'll have 55-60 games next season. We have 2 right backs so don't need more numbers. First priority has to be fix numbers where we just lack them, and then 2nd priority is replace what we have with better quality.
 
bosnian_red said:
There are just bigger issues.
CM 1
CM 2
CB
Wing
LB
Then RB...

Dalots problem is he's pretty much "decent" and capped at that. He does dumb things, he has good moments, he's always fit and has been here for a long time. I'd suspect he'd improve when other areas are strengthened, but he'll eventually need improving too.
Click to expand...
CB should be at the bottom of that pile
 
bosnian_red said:
I think for pure depth, we have 4 attackers for the front 3 and we'll have 55-60 games next season. We have 2 right backs so don't need more numbers. First priority has to be fix numbers where we just lack them, and then 2nd priority is replace what we have with better quality.
Click to expand...

I think there are certain positions that are so effective for the team overall. All of a sudden having a competent right back is one of those. Obviously having legs in midfield (without compromising on technical level) is #1. Same with a reliable top centre back.

I really do hope they are gauging interest in players that are not good enough, not just Ugarte and Zirkzee.
 
bosnian_red said:
There are just bigger issues.
CM 1
CM 2
CB
Wing
LB
Then RB...

Dalots problem is he's pretty much "decent" and capped at that. He does dumb things, he has good moments, he's always fit and has been here for a long time. I'd suspect he'd improve when other areas are strengthened, but he'll eventually need improving too.
Click to expand...
He’s also a really popular player in the dressing room. That’s more important than fans realise.
 
JJ12 said:
CB should be at the bottom of that pile
Click to expand...
Bottom? Maguire is 33 and has injury issues, de ligt we don't know when he'll play again or if he will just struggle with fitness forever, Martinez has his problems with quality and is always injured, Yoro and Heaven aren't ready to be regulars. We have 5 players which on the surface is fine, but most of them you can't trust their fitness and the quality isn't there. I would put it 2nd behind CM and it has the biggest impact on how we can play. Rip it all up and start over like we're doing at CM.
 
IrwinwasbetterthanCarlos said:
He’s also a really popular player in the dressing room. That’s more important than fans realise.
Click to expand...

I think having a better player will be popular in the dressing room when it starts getting better performances and results. I would absolutely not carry average players because they're popular.
 
We need a left back just as much as we need a right back, we need young athletic fullbacks who can run up and down the field. Today's Brentford game is showing it with Shaw and dalot looking slow and tired af. Kayode looks like the workhorse that we need on the right, also Collins (cb) looks pretty solid, I'm impressed with these two.
 
Last edited:
Bastian said:
I think having a better player will be popular in the dressing room when it starts getting better performances and results. I would absolutely not carry average players because they're popular.
Click to expand...
Dalot’s problem is that he’s a classic, hard working, versatile squad player in the mould of O’Shea or P. Neville, but he’s been an automatic starter for years. If we could sign a proper first choice (summer 27, other priorities this time) then he’d be fine as a backup.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.