10 Feb 2018 08:18:20
I read Shappy's article with interest and agree in the main. However I think there is one area where Shappy didn't feel we needed to strengthen, centre of defence. Shappy suggests we don't need anyone, yet I feel the spine of the team isn't there yet. I feel we miss command and power at the back, a Vidic. A Vidic because we have other players who can play alongside such a player, Bailly, even Tuanzebe if he develops.

A few weeks ago people were talking about Harry Maguire, I wondered if he would cope with smarter clever forwards but the more I see the more I think he may be someone who could command our defence. Rumours are just that but I think we need a commanding central defender and Maguire is that plus English. Interesting.

1.) 10 Feb 2018
10 Feb 2018 09:15:36
We have many options at the back but short of qualities.

2.) 10 Feb 2018
10 Feb 2018 10:49:56
I agree that there is a shortage of top level quality in our defence. Bailly I'm very happy with. Jones if he can stay fit has been excellent this season and Lindelof if he can adapt has excellent ball playing qualities. Then Tuanzebe looks a fantastic prospect.

The real reason I'm not too sure about buying another centre back is I just don't think there are many out there at the moment that are a massive improvement on what we have.

Who is there out there at the moment who is fit to lace Vidic's boots? I don't see them, I see potential, but we have potential, why spend 50-60m on another potential player when we have several in there with that?

I think our efforts are better focused on areas we need to improve where there are actual players we could sign to improve us.

3.) 10 Feb 2018
10 Feb 2018 11:06:31
Red Man - All our CB's appear to be injury prone so I agree we have lacked that consistent presence at the back. I have been very impressed with Bailly since he signed and I think Jones, Rojo, Smalling and even Blind have all played well in spells. We don't really know what Lindelof is capable of yet and I have high hopes for Tuanzebe.

I don't think this is not a priority area and I think the midfield and full back areas need strengthening first.

I would only sign another CB if one become available that was significantly better than what we already have. In my opinion I'm not sure Harry Maguire falls into that category unfortunately.

4.) 10 Feb 2018
10 Feb 2018 11:30:48
Agree Shappy and Danny. We could do with a quality cb addition but there is a shortage of quality and it is not a priority as we need a midfielder and full back more. I would have loved Laporte he would have complimented bailly’s combative style really well. Apart from that it’s varane and Umtiti but I would rather see us blood Tuanzebe in and give Lindelof a proper opportunity because his ball playing ability is very good.

5.) 10 Feb 2018
10 Feb 2018 12:15:05
Rather than bringing in more CBs, I think it's more important that we move on a couple so that the good young players we have can get game time and experience.

If we want better players from the potential we have, the only way they will improve is with game time.

I think if we move on Blind and Smalling we will have a decent pool of players to choose from who are all better than those two.

6.) 10 Feb 2018
10 Feb 2018 13:29:47
Could we move for Alderweireld? Don't think he has signed a new deal at Spurs yet and his current one runs out in 18 months. Obviously very unlikely but for me he is one of the best CB's in the world now.

If it was up to me, next season we would have Bailly, Lindelof, Tuanzebe, a new top quality CB and one of Blind or Rojo as our CB options (probably Rojo) . Jones has been good when fit but I feel like we have been saying that for 5 years. He doesn't stay fit and hasn't shown any sign that will change. Smalling is the player in the squad who can't do anything right imo. I think every fan of every team has a player in their team's they just have no confidence in. Smalling is that for me. Zero ability with the ball, pulls shirts more than any other defender in the league and has mistakes in him.

7.) 10 Feb 2018
10 Feb 2018 13:47:29
I don't see us going for a cb in the summer we have more than enough all ready.

8.) 10 Feb 2018
10 Feb 2018 14:47:45
Smalling has been playing very well recently. I think Jose trusts him because of his height. As a back up CB I think he is okay.

If Bailly had been fit all season I think we would have looked far better at the back. I also like Rojo this season and agree that Lindelof needs time to adapt - he is very rash in the challenge, but also very cultured with the ball.

Clearly Aldevereld would be a step up, but I'm not certain Umtiti is guaranteed to come in and be an instant success.

9.) 10 Feb 2018
10 Feb 2018 15:52:58
I don't think there is any point in having talented young players at the club only to bring in new players which block their progression. If you have the younger players with potential then you have to play them to assess whether they are likely to realise the potential and then develop them into a first team regular, or you decide that they will never be good enough and move them on.

Otherwise, they just hang about not going anywhere and it's no good for their career and it's no good for us because they haven't got any experience to draw upon when they might be needed to play. You might as well bring in benchwarmers who at least have experience.

As for Smalling, he's a liability because he is so uncomfortable on the ball. Teams are now starting to target him by pressing. I think we have better.