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I've just noticed we only have six defenders 11:14 - Sep 2 with 3491 viewscarlo88

in our full squad. Are any of our midfielders able to play in defence, has Matusiwa ever played there?
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I've just noticed we only have six defenders on 11:32 - Sep 2 with 2767 viewshomer_123

Scherpen is an option there.

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I've just noticed we only have six defenders on 11:32 - Sep 2 with 2756 viewsChris_ITFC

7.

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I've just noticed we only have six defenders on 12:07 - Sep 2 with 2621 viewsGuthrum

As Chris_ITFC says, it's seven. Which is the same number we had last season* and didn't run out.





* Exchanging Baggott, who made no League appearances, with (technically midfielder) Johnson's couple of games at FB.

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I've just noticed we only have six defenders on 12:14 - Sep 2 with 2568 viewsSwansea_Blue

I've just noticed we only have six defenders on 12:07 - Sep 2 by Guthrum

As Chris_ITFC says, it's seven. Which is the same number we had last season* and didn't run out.





* Exchanging Baggott, who made no League appearances, with (technically midfielder) Johnson's couple of games at FB.


It’s the quality issue as much as the numbers. Furlong obviously not preferred to a makeshift RB in O’Shea (not that he’s terrible there, but he’s better in the middle). Big question marks over Kipre at this level too. And then a 20 year old who’s untested in the PL that we’re hoping will simultaneously be our right back and answer to left back cover.

It looks a bit light to me now compared to the rest of the squad (that’s partly us being a victim of our own success getting the likes of Enciso and Palacios in).

We’ll see in time of course.

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I've just noticed we only have six defenders on 12:23 - Sep 2 with 2512 viewsblueislander

That’s it.Let’s find as many negatives as possible.
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I've just noticed we only have six defenders on 12:32 - Sep 2 with 2431 viewsTheGentlemanViking

I guess it's more about who can cover which positions rather than a specific number. 7 doesn't sound like much but it does give us at least 3 options for each position.

RB - Dara, Furlong, Ouattara
CB - Diop, Greaves, Dara, Kipre
LB - Davis, Greaves, Ouattara

Obviously if injuries and suspensions rack up we'll have to get creative, but that's a struggle most teams would face, I can't see that many PL teams carry many more than 7 defenders in their squad.
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I've just noticed we only have six defenders on 12:48 - Sep 2 with 2344 viewsVic

Leif, Kippers, Dara, Greavesie, Diop, Furlong, Ouatarra

We only need four at any one time. Should be OK with those shouldn't we?

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I've just noticed we only have six defenders on 12:52 - Sep 2 with 2317 viewsGuthrum

I've just noticed we only have six defenders on 12:14 - Sep 2 by Swansea_Blue

It’s the quality issue as much as the numbers. Furlong obviously not preferred to a makeshift RB in O’Shea (not that he’s terrible there, but he’s better in the middle). Big question marks over Kipre at this level too. And then a 20 year old who’s untested in the PL that we’re hoping will simultaneously be our right back and answer to left back cover.

It looks a bit light to me now compared to the rest of the squad (that’s partly us being a victim of our own success getting the likes of Enciso and Palacios in).

We’ll see in time of course.


I tend to think that the use of O'Shea at RB (where he does also play for Ireland) is as much about shoehorning our Captain into the formation as it is strictly on capability.

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I've just noticed we only have six defenders on 12:58 - Sep 2 with 2275 viewsGuthrum

I've just noticed we only have six defenders on 12:48 - Sep 2 by Vic

Leif, Kippers, Dara, Greavesie, Diop, Furlong, Ouatarra

We only need four at any one time. Should be OK with those shouldn't we?


Problem is people fear we will have three or four simultaneous injures in the back-line and they are terrified about Cedric Kipre (despite some good performances last season).

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I've just noticed we only have six defenders on 13:20 - Sep 2 with 2132 viewstractor_lady

I stand to be corrected, but I do believe that Azor can play right back
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I've just noticed we only have six defenders on 13:20 - Sep 2 with 2134 viewsAlberto_the_frog

I've just noticed we only have six defenders on 12:32 - Sep 2 by TheGentlemanViking

I guess it's more about who can cover which positions rather than a specific number. 7 doesn't sound like much but it does give us at least 3 options for each position.

RB - Dara, Furlong, Ouattara
CB - Diop, Greaves, Dara, Kipre
LB - Davis, Greaves, Ouattara

Obviously if injuries and suspensions rack up we'll have to get creative, but that's a struggle most teams would face, I can't see that many PL teams carry many more than 7 defenders in their squad.


I'd have preferred another one, or even two, but "it is what it is". I think a problem is that Greaves is our only left footed CB and hasn't filled me with confidence, although rather unfortunate on Sunday.

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I've just noticed we only have six defenders on 14:01 - Sep 2 with 1991 views_CliveBaker_

7 which is probably 1 short if you’re talking 2 for each position.

We do have versatility though. Davis, Ouattara and Greaves as LB options. Greaves, Kipre, O’Shea & Diop as central options and O’Shea, Furlong & Ouattara RB.

Similar to last season really, albeit would have liked 1 more.

I think the biggest question is less about quantity and more about quality, but that’s true of every promoted side ever.
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I've just noticed we only have six defenders on 14:01 - Sep 2 with 1989 viewsDJR

Stuart Watson says we did look at people but thinks we might have run out of money to get an improvement on what we already have given we didn't offload people like Philogene.
[Post edited 2 Sep 14:03]
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I've just noticed we only have six defenders on 14:22 - Sep 2 with 1899 viewsSwansea_Blue

I've just noticed we only have six defenders on 12:52 - Sep 2 by Guthrum

I tend to think that the use of O'Shea at RB (where he does also play for Ireland) is as much about shoehorning our Captain into the formation as it is strictly on capability.


As far as I’m aware his RB credentials for Ireland seem to be overplayed. In the last two qualifying campaigns at least he’s been one of 3 CBs alongside Collins and O’Brien. He has played a few games there in the past, so maybe that’s where this is coming from. He’s played a few games for us at RB now as well but I still wouldn’t say that makes him a natural choice for RB.

He doesn’t play like a right back. He’s not as energetic covering as much ground and struggles against pace. He’s better in the centre for us imo. He’d be ideal in a 3 if GON went that way.

My feeling is that although he can do a job at RB he’s is better at CB, and we’d be better with a natural athletic fullback.

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I've just noticed we only have six defenders on 14:28 - Sep 2 with 1868 viewshomer_123

I've just noticed we only have six defenders on 14:22 - Sep 2 by Swansea_Blue

As far as I’m aware his RB credentials for Ireland seem to be overplayed. In the last two qualifying campaigns at least he’s been one of 3 CBs alongside Collins and O’Brien. He has played a few games there in the past, so maybe that’s where this is coming from. He’s played a few games for us at RB now as well but I still wouldn’t say that makes him a natural choice for RB.

He doesn’t play like a right back. He’s not as energetic covering as much ground and struggles against pace. He’s better in the centre for us imo. He’d be ideal in a 3 if GON went that way.

My feeling is that although he can do a job at RB he’s is better at CB, and we’d be better with a natural athletic fullback.


I stated after the first game of the season that he's no Prem RB, though I can see why GON is playing him there.

Against better wingers he is going to really struggle.

https://www.twtd.co.uk/forum/6

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I've just noticed we only have six defenders on 14:35 - Sep 2 with 1841 viewsGuthrum

I've just noticed we only have six defenders on 14:28 - Sep 2 by homer_123

I stated after the first game of the season that he's no Prem RB, though I can see why GON is playing him there.

Against better wingers he is going to really struggle.

https://www.twtd.co.uk/forum/6


Tho for all that concern, Rashford - one of the best wide-men in the world - wasn't exactly runniong riot on Sunday. Most of ManU's joy came through the middle or from diagonal balls out to Mbuemo.

That was helped by Fatawu's harrying further up the pitch, but that is indicative of the layered defence Town are operating this season.

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I've just noticed we only have six defenders on 14:52 - Sep 2 with 1731 viewshomer_123

I've just noticed we only have six defenders on 14:35 - Sep 2 by Guthrum

Tho for all that concern, Rashford - one of the best wide-men in the world - wasn't exactly runniong riot on Sunday. Most of ManU's joy came through the middle or from diagonal balls out to Mbuemo.

That was helped by Fatawu's harrying further up the pitch, but that is indicative of the layered defence Town are operating this season.


I'd argue that Rashford is far from the player he once was.

Doku vs DOS makes me very, very nervous, for example.

I'm not saying he can't play there - he clearly can. But your point about him being shoe horned in, is very much on point.

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I've just noticed we only have six defenders on 14:54 - Sep 2 with 1719 viewsNedPlimpton

I've just noticed we only have six defenders on 14:22 - Sep 2 by Swansea_Blue

As far as I’m aware his RB credentials for Ireland seem to be overplayed. In the last two qualifying campaigns at least he’s been one of 3 CBs alongside Collins and O’Brien. He has played a few games there in the past, so maybe that’s where this is coming from. He’s played a few games for us at RB now as well but I still wouldn’t say that makes him a natural choice for RB.

He doesn’t play like a right back. He’s not as energetic covering as much ground and struggles against pace. He’s better in the centre for us imo. He’d be ideal in a 3 if GON went that way.

My feeling is that although he can do a job at RB he’s is better at CB, and we’d be better with a natural athletic fullback.


Yeah, i've never understood some people on here saying that he plays RB for Ireland. He really doesn't. Certainly not with any degree of regularity
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I've just noticed we only have six defenders on 15:03 - Sep 2 with 1668 viewsBseaBlue

I've just noticed we only have six defenders on 14:52 - Sep 2 by homer_123

I'd argue that Rashford is far from the player he once was.

Doku vs DOS makes me very, very nervous, for example.

I'm not saying he can't play there - he clearly can. But your point about him being shoe horned in, is very much on point.


He does that thing where he backs off players and points which you can't really get away with at Full Back. He done it against United if I remember rightly and Rashford crossed it in and they scored.

Hopefully Outarra will come in at Right back and DOS can get back to centre half.
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I've just noticed we only have six defenders on 15:22 - Sep 2 with 1557 viewsVic

I've just noticed we only have six defenders on 12:58 - Sep 2 by Guthrum

Problem is people fear we will have three or four simultaneous injures in the back-line and they are terrified about Cedric Kipre (despite some good performances last season).


To lose 3 or 4 at the same time is in reality so unlikely - but in theory it could happen I guess! I'm sure that the powers that be have a contingency plan for if we did get an injury crisis. perhaps they know that Luis or Azor someone can play at the back in emergency.

Bottom line is that we were never going to fill every squad place with prem ready players. In my view we've a pretty good job. £195m - never, ever in my lifetime did i think we'd spend a fraction of that money. We must have spent more in the last two years that the entire history of the club.

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I've just noticed we only have six defenders on 15:30 - Sep 2 with 1520 viewsE_I_E_I_E_I_O

I find it strange how many on here are completely forgetting ouatarra is a 18M player who played mainly as full back for strasbourg.
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I've just noticed we only have six defenders on 15:43 - Sep 2 with 1439 viewsCastroSito

I've just noticed we only have six defenders on 13:20 - Sep 2 by tractor_lady

I stand to be corrected, but I do believe that Azor can play right back


I'd be very surprised if he, Taylor, Luis or... anyone with a sniff of defensive play about them couldn't 'do a job' for us there.
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I've just noticed we only have six defenders on 16:19 - Sep 2 with 1340 viewsLibero

Azor and Palacios have played right back before- other than that, I think that’s all our options, bar U21 players.
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I've just noticed we only have six defenders on 16:22 - Sep 2 with 1334 viewsLuciBlue

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I've just noticed we only have six defenders on 16:29 - Sep 2 with 1294 viewsChurchman

I've just noticed we only have six defenders on 15:22 - Sep 2 by Vic

To lose 3 or 4 at the same time is in reality so unlikely - but in theory it could happen I guess! I'm sure that the powers that be have a contingency plan for if we did get an injury crisis. perhaps they know that Luis or Azor someone can play at the back in emergency.

Bottom line is that we were never going to fill every squad place with prem ready players. In my view we've a pretty good job. £195m - never, ever in my lifetime did i think we'd spend a fraction of that money. We must have spent more in the last two years that the entire history of the club.


We have done our best to improve the spine of the team, particularly midfield and forwards. You can only do so much.

We have enough defenders and if there is a problem there’s always January to resolve it.
[Post edited 2 Sep 16:30]
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