29 Jun 2014 12:20:57
Centre back is our most pressing need now, all great teams are built on an organised well drilled defence. You build from the back, and its important to get the right players in asap so they can start to build and understanding and create that strong unit mentality.

Its important to know what we need, its easy to get pulled into the idea that we need a big name. I'm not saying that the right player isn't an established name, but we need to consider the most important defender we have signed in the last 15 years was Vidic, who was not a big name when we signed him.

We need to rebuld the heart of our defence, so its important to know what is needed in a great defensive partnership. Some people say you need someone quick and someone strong, but in truth isn't it better if both your centre backs are strong and quick?

What is needed in any partnership is understanding, when it comes to the centre of defence in any situation one defender attacks the ball and attempts to win the ball or slow the opposition down and force them wide so as to buy time for other players to get back and defend. While one defender does that the other stays back to mark the space. So one goes to the ball and the other marks the space behind. If you want to see what happens when this organisation doesn't happen then just re-watch the Spain vs Holland game from the start of the world cup. There was no communication between Ramos and Pique so despite them both being top defenders they were exposed time and time again with either both going for the same ball or both dropping back and inviting Holland onto them.

In a defensive partnership you need one dominant and one submissive centre back, by that I mean one person who will take charge and organise the defence and the other willing to listen and follow out those orders.

We have three talented centre backs but none of them are leaders, Evans has the potential to be but I fear playing along side Rio and Vidic for so long has made him supress that part of his game. If he can rediscover that side of his game then maybe he could take up that role. But that's a dangerous gamble to take. We need a plan B as well.

Thats why we need to look for a centre back who is an excellent reader of the game and someone who will take responsibilty and control of the situation to organise our defence through clear and precise communication. That is the most important thing, and that is far more important than signing a big name.

1.) 29 Jun 2014
Your completely wrong and unpatriotic Shappy. We already have three centre backs and that's more than enough for any club, and if we sign a new defender it will only block Smalling and Jones's progression. You're trying to encourage foreign defenders to come over here and take hard working English defenders' jobs. Shame on you, if I had my way you'd be sent to the gallows.

2.) 29 Jun 2014
Shappy your usual common sense insights, however you failed to make any of your usual recommendations.

3.) 29 Jun 2014
Good post. Just wondering how would your pick be shappy?

4.) 29 Jun 2014
29 Jun 2014 15:42:46
Oh Danny, let it go. Yesterday's banter was entertaining but I have no desire to dominate another thread with our difference of opinion.

I know it might be difficult given your obvious difficulties reading and comprehending what I said, but how about reading my posts properly before going off on one (again). You are simply selecting certain points to support your point of view while neglecting others that give a more balanced perspective. Also, happy to tutor you to help you brush up on your literacy (you clearly need it).

They say sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, so take a bow Danny.

5.) 29 Jun 2014
29 Jun 2014 16:09:09
Danny we could well sign an English CB, I hear Titus Bramble is available. Lol.

I haven't given any recommendations as its very hard to pick up who is the the vocal defender when watching football on a screen. The camera tends to follow the ball, which means these conversations tend to happen off camera. So its very hard to pick out who is the commanding CB without actually being in the stadium.

For example if you watch United on TV you will see Rio shouting at his team mates, but this is only after a mistake has been made, if his reading of the game had been better he could have read the situation and communicated it to his team mates before it became a goal scoring chance rather than after the event. So unless you were in the stadium it might look like Rio is a good communicator, which he isn't. So as my job doesn't allow to jet across the globe to watch many matches a week it is very hard distinguishing who to move for in this situation.

One thing I will say is that you do see Diego Godin shouting and organising his team mates alot, so to me that would suggest that he is the leader in AM defence and not Miranda. But as I said without actually being at a game to watch them I couldn't be 100% sure.