Ball playing CB`s who is also dominant in the air.

[Tom R]

If realistic I'd buy Cahill and Shawcross. And would then choose between them 2 and Carra. All the rest should be fucked off - inc Agger.

 

This is teh correct answer.

 

Shawcross number 1 target for me. Plus A N Other, of which Cahill would definitely do.

 

No way we'd land them both though. Too many other clubs will be in for them as well I rekcon.

[Guest PurpleNose]

Pique does both.

 

Can we have Pique please.

[stringvest]

This is teh correct answer.

 

Shawcross number 1 target for me. Plus A N Other, of which Cahill would definitely do.

 

No way we'd land them both though. Too many other clubs will be in for them as well I rekcon.

 

Oh I don't know Tom. The other clubs won't be able to offer what we can. A rest on European nights.

[ritchie]

I don't give a fuck if a defender is a "ball playing" defender, whatever the fuck taht means, and I'm totally sick of hearing about it.

 

teh best defenders are exactly that; THE BEST DEFENDERS.

 

I don't want a defender who can dribble like Suarez and defend like Carragher c.2005, I just want a defender who can fucking DEFEND like Carragher c.2005!

 

There's only ever been one, I repeat, ONE defender who has ever really had both abilities: Alan Hansen.

 

Stop chasing the dream. It doesn't exist.

 

A good football team starts out from the back.

 

If we're happy to just have Carragher and Skrtel, or whoever, to keep launching the ball 80 yards to Andy Carroll and just be the second coming of Joe Royle's Everton, or the old Wimbledon, then so be it. As long as they can defend, then who cares?

 

But if we've got money to spend in the summer, and a playing budget of over £100m per year in wages again next season, then there's no excuse for having a back four that can't play the ball out, and a midfield that can't feed the forwards.

[Guest PurpleNose]

A good football team starts out from the back.

 

If we're happy to just have Carragher and Skrtel, or whoever, to keep launching the ball 80 yards to Andy Carroll and just be the second coming of Joe Royle's Everton, or the old Wimbledon, then so be it. As long as they can defend, then who cares?

 

But if we've got money to spend in the summer, and a playing budget of over £100m per year in wages again next season, then there's no excuse for having a back four that can't play the ball out, and a midfield that can't feed the forwards.

 

The best teams have one of each.

[Joso]

I don't give a fuck if a defender is a "ball playing" defender, whatever the fuck taht means, and I'm totally sick of hearing about it.

 

teh best defenders are exactly that; THE BEST DEFENDERS.

 

I don't want a defender who can dribble like Suarez and defend like Carragher c.2005, I just want a defender who can fucking DEFEND like Carragher c.2005!

 

There's only ever been one, I repeat, ONE defender who has ever really had both abilities: Alan Hansen.

 

Stop chasing the dream. It doesn't exist.

 

I think what everyone wants is a Pique type defender. Great defender who is great on the ball. We just have to find our Pique.

[Tom R]

Pique is about as close as it gets, I'll give you that.

 

Other than him, there is NOBODY.

 

I'll take two top class defenders in the middle and leave the "ball playing" to the fullbacks and the mdfield.

 

People are becoming obsessed with this "footballing defender" bullshit.

When you strive for that, all you end up with 99 times out of a 100 is crappy half-breeds who are only ever half decent at either - see; just about every fullback we've had for the last 10 years.

[Guest PurpleNose]

No-one would give a shit about whether our fullbacks could attack if the wide midfielders actually could.

[The Woolster]

I've said it before but I think Hangeland is the perfect signing for us. I think one of only 2 or 3 strikers capable of beating him in the air we already own, is capable on the ground, and is experienced. I actually think he is the right age for us as well, as we have got 3 or 4 youngsters who could go on to play CB, but aren't ready yet, so he would be the perfect transistion player until they are ready in 3 or 4 years.

 

If we were to pay big money for Cahill for instance, it would be very difficult for more than one of Kelly, Wilson, Ayala or Wisdom to break through at CB, and would probably end up having to sell 1 or 2 of them for relatively cheap as they would want to get playing time. If we go for Hangeland, he would be cheaper now, and gives 2 of those 4 the chance to make the position their own as Carra will be gone, Agger will be in a wheel chair, and Skrtl will have brain damage from mistiming headers, and would probably increase all of their values as well as they would all be more likely to have playing time to show their worth.

 

So rather than his age going against the 'Moneyball' principles that I 've seen people say when he's been mentioned, he is actually a perfect Moneyball signing due to the talented young players that we have coming up through the ranks.

 

EDIT: See some people have mentioned similar points whilst I was in a meeting between starting and finishing my post, but I'm posting any way.

[Kevin D]

Ricardo Carvalho.

[Megadrive Man]

Per Mertesacker!!!!

 

I've rated him for many years. Its seems almost certain that he will leave Werder Bremen this summer, as he only has 12 months left on his contract.

 

In my opinion we have never replaced Sami Hyypia properly, and Mertesacker is for me, the best possible replacement.

[ritchie]

The best teams have one of each.

 

As do we when Agger's in the team - as our results with him playing, and without him playing, this season show.

 

But the lad is becoming more and more of an unreliable crock, so we need someone else we can rely on to play alongside, say, Carragher or Skrtel at least in his absence because as a partnership they're just not good enough.

[Guest PurpleNose]

As do we when Agger's in the team - as our results with him playing, and without him playing, this season show.

 

But the lad is becoming more and more of an unreliable crock, so we need someone else we can rely on to play alongside, say, Carragher or Skrtel at least in his absence because as a partnership they're just not good enough.

 

I'm in total agreement. I don't like any of our centreback partnerships unless Agger is playing.

 

It just leads to us bypassing the midfield.

[beejay]

Haangeland is a very good shout actually, even more so because we have a great prospect coming through the ranks in Andre Wisdom and some experienced heads around him would help him to emerge in the next couple of years.

 

I like Ayala as well, in my opinion he is a much better defender than either Kyrgiakos or Wilson - strong in the air and capable with the ball at his feet.

 

Sell the Greek and Skretl, loan Wilson and buy Haangeland & Phil Jones to compete with Carra, Agger, Ayala & Wisdom.

[Christian]

Agger just cannot be relied upon at all. Along with the obvious dross, Joe Cole and Agger should be the 2 "bigger" names to offload asap.

[Warwick Hunt]

Subotic and Hummels. 2 young promising centre halves who know where the net is too. Dortmunds defence has been stingy all season so they can obviously defend.

[silverlining]

I'm in total agreement. I don't like any of our centreback partnerships unless Agger is playing.

 

It just leads to us bypassing the midfield.

 

Yeah, and who would want to bypass a midfield with Lucas and Spearing in it?

 

APART FROM EVERYONE.

[Guest PurpleNose]

Yeah, and who would want to bypass a midfield with Lucas and Spearing in it?

 

APART FROM EVERYONE.

 

It worked well I thought.

[Tom R]

No-one would give a shit about whether our fullbacks could attack if the wide midfielders actually could.

 

BING!

[billybonzo]

Robert Huth, at least then we can pretend the opposition fans are shouting his name when the inevitable happens.

[silverlining]

It worked well I thought.

 

And what difference would the defence passing to Lucas have made?

 

They'd just have got it back about 5 seconds later.

[Guest PurpleNose]

And what difference would the defence passing to Lucas have made?

 

They'd just have got it back about 5 seconds later.

 

Oh no. They'd have to do two passes sometimes.

[dave u]

Agree with Christian. I'd take Cahill and a Shawcross/Dann/Roger Johnson etc and then get shut of Agger, Skrtel and Kygriakos.

 

That's three solid centre halves to choose from, with Wilson, Kelly, Ayala or whoever as the number four.

[Xherdan]

Skrtel is working his way back to form. I will reserve judgement until the end of the season on that one. Agger and The Greek should be moved on. Its a real pity for Agger as he is a quality CB but, a quality CB made of glass.

[Hades]

I don't see the problem with keeping Agger unless someone offers crazy money eg. 15M+.

 

Spurs and ManU seem to do alright with Ferdinand and King on the books.

 

Of all our crocks, he still offers the most value.