10 Aug 2024 16:07:29
Any likelihood of Ferdi becoming a RED Ed? Or does that hinge on players leaving?

{Ed002's Note - He would not be first choice - but a viable option.}


1.) 10 Aug 2024
10 Aug 2024 18:43:03
Would start him at RB instead of Dalot.


2.) 11 Aug 2024
10 Aug 2024 18:08:27
Who's first option at lb ed? Wasn't expecting much though mazraoui would be used to cover LB and RB.

Saw on the Chelsea site you said we were interested in chilwell but he would probably be expensive and is very injury prone.

{Ed002's Note - I dpon't know who the "first choice" is.}


3.) 11 Aug 2024
11 Aug 2024 07:32:31
Cheers for the response Ed. Thought his versatility might put him further up the pecking order.


4.) 11 Aug 2024
11 Aug 2024 09:34:13
Why get a LB if we have 2 already. Ok injury issues last year but seems pointless buying a 3rd LB juwt in case they both get injured again. Only makes sense if shaw or malacia gets sold. Funds are needed to be spent on midfield not LB.


5.) 11 Aug 2024
11 Aug 2024 10:38:45
Scuba,

Because both of them are already injured, Malacia is unlikely to even come back the player he was.


6.) 11 Aug 2024
11 Aug 2024 11:39:20
Fullback is the one area of the pitch that looks like it needs seriously addressing but is unlikely to have much happen this summer.

Shaw if fit and playing is good enough, but his injury record is very poor and is unlikely to improve as he approaches 30.

AWB will be sold.

Malacia looked promising without really putting down a marker before his injury. Solid squad option if this injury is the outlier and not the norm.

Dalot showed that he has the potential and ability to be first choice at RB last season. With a better set up, players and some consistency in team selection he should improve further this season.

Finally we have young Harry Amass, he looked shaky in his first game on the tour but grew into the side and it was surprising that he didn't even make the bench for the community shield.

Right back seems the easiest area to address, sell AWB and bring in a solid squad option. Ideally maybe a younger player with potential who could seriously challenge Dalot in a season or two.

Left back is a little trickier to solve. Ultimately we need to move on Shaw who is getting older and will likely start to decline and replace him with a genuine first choice option. However, selling Shaw will be difficult with his contract not due to expire until 2027.

While you'd then keep Malacia and Amass as the understudy/ back up option.

Ultimately you probably want a new LB and Amass as the two options. Yet charting a pathway to that will be difficult due to the contract that Shaw is on (3 more years on a big wage) and the injury record of both Shaw and Malacia.

The realistic solution looks like trying to give Amass game time this season to see where he's at and if he can make a jump towards more regular first team football sooner rather than later. Remembering that he's only 17 years old.

You then need to sell one of Shaw or Malacia next summer and replace them with a genuine first choice option. With the other staying at back up. Most likely Malacia due to Shaw's big contract.
While we would then need to decide what to do with Amass. Does he stay as third choice knowing that the back up Shaw/ Malacia is injury prone. Or does he go out on loan to play regular football to further his development.

This is where the club might have to take short term pain for long term gain. Let Amass go on loan to push his development but leave us potentially short at LB.

Having a a flexible squad will be the solution to this problem. Having players like Martinez who could cover at LB or Dalot or the new RB.

Currently I really like the look of Rayan Aït-Nouri at Wolves who's really started to live up to his early promise, while Milos Kerkez had a quietly great season at Bournemouth and if he continues to develop at the same rate this season he might be a very good option. Also both have EPL experience, which lessens their likelihood of completely flopping.

It looks the RB we will sign will be Mazraoui, who on paper looks a perfect fit. Great on the ball, tactically flexible, can play either RB and LB and has proven himself good enough at the highest level. The problem is his horrendous injury record (almost identical to Shaw's in terms of the number of games he's missed over the past 5 years) .

If his injury issues continue it might be difficult to let Amass go on loan next season if the back ups at full back are Shaw and Mazraoui.

Yet it is what it is. Maybe Amass can make a jump forward in his development this season and be ready for regular football next season, with him staying as the understudy and Shaw being the third choice option and back up for LCB.

Ultimately I think the solution will require us having more flexibility in our squad by recruiting players who are comfortable at least in playing another position/ role in the side.


7.) 11 Aug 2024
11 Aug 2024 11:41:52
Because Shaw is not even very good when fit and malacia has been out for over a year and may not come back at the level he was which was questionable in the 1st place.
Shaw has been here about 10 years and has imo consistently under delivered for a variety of reasons. The primary one being he never fulfilled his potential.
Replacing the full backs on both sides for me is every bit a big a priority as replacing the cbs.


8.) 11 Aug 2024
11 Aug 2024 14:43:03
Would have thought Fernandez be a decent shout at left back but he got sold to Benfica.


9.) 11 Aug 2024
11 Aug 2024 15:27:46
I don’t think Shaw ever fully recovered, mentally, from his leg break.


10.) 11 Aug 2024
11 Aug 2024 15:43:45
IM7, supposedly to make way for Amass who is highly rated within the club.


11.) 11 Aug 2024
11 Aug 2024 18:58:21
Shaw is not very good? ?.


12.) 11 Aug 2024
11 Aug 2024 19:14:26
No Patrick I don't think he did.