Full backs

[sniffer]

We keep buying all this youg talent from around the world for nearly every position on the pitch. We keep some and loan some all for the future. Why can our scouting network not find young fullbacks as understudies to say Walker and Mendy must we spend massive amounts on four experienced fullbacks ???

[MUS]

Yup

[patrickblue]

We keep buying all this youg talent from around the world for nearly every position on the pitch. We keep some and loan some all for the future. Why can our scouting network not find young fullbacks as understudies to say Walker and Mendy must we spend massive amounts on four experienced fullbacks ???

Agree 100% that's what I would like to see.
Unfortunately, it seems the academy is there to make money, not squad players.

[Beefymcfc]

It's a combination of both. Bring the youth through with any outstanding players making it to the first team, the rest moved on for a profit and excellent prospects elsewhere.

Coming from the CFA will have its advantages.

As a top European club we will always need to buy the best players we can at certain times, this is one of those times where we need a number of players and we cannot rely on young guns to be first picks, it wouldn't be right.

[Mikhail Chigorin]

It's a combination of both. Bring the youth through with any outstanding players making it to the first team, the rest moved on for a profit and excellent prospects elsewhere.

Coming from the CFA will have its advantages.

As a top European club we will always need to buy the best players we can at certain times, this is one of those times where we need a number of players and we cannot rely on young guns to be first picks, it wouldn't be right.

You're absolutely right Beefy.

It's just that, from a fan's perspective, it's so very frustrating, especially when you think of the calibre of player we had to 'suffer' not all that long ago.

[Foreverinbluedreams]

When Alves was on the cards it made sense, a veteran fullback to rotate with a full back in his prime ( Walker) with the former making way for an understudy ( Maffeo) when he came of age.

That looked like a succession plan.

This idea of bringing in two full backs on each side in their prime has me baffled.

[sniffer]

That's my point surely we can find two decent understudies to Walker and Mendy? Without spending a fortune on all four.

[Crossie]

Something I miss from "th'olden days" is a youth player trying to break through, improving game by game, SWP, Micah, Johnson, Ireland, Willo Fl......erm

Something special about feeling that one of your own can make it. Spurs do it, Southampton do it, Liverpool sometimes do it. They haven't had success like we have, maybe that's the reason we don't.

Garcia is obviously one with the potential to do it next, always looks at ease.

[john@staustell]

Something I miss from "th'olden days" is a youth player trying to break through, improving game by game, SWP, Micah, Johnson, Ireland, Willo Fl......erm

Something special about feeling that one of your own can make it. Spurs do it, Southampton do it, Liverpool sometimes do it. They haven't had success like we have, maybe that's the reason we don't.

Garcia is obviously one with the potential to do it next, always looks at ease.

I thought we'd shipped him off somewhere?

It's far, far easier to bring on 'kids' when you aren't near the top of the League, trying to play in the CL and one mistake can cost you dear - it's bad enough with seasoned players!

With the possible, only possible, exception of an injury and habit-free Johnson none of those players above are good enough to play at out level now, possibly not even in the PL now.

Lets face it, we bought Lee, Bell, Summerbee, Marsh, Channon, Watson and a whole load of our former stars. Joe Corrigan was nearly hounded out because of his mistakes as a youngster.


United do it - well, did it until Maureen. But it turned out they were all shit and none of them play for the club now.

[Dubciteh]

Something I miss from "th'olden days" is a youth player trying to break through, improving game by game, SWP, Micah, Johnson, Ireland, Willo Fl......erm

Something special about feeling that one of your own can make it. Spurs do it, Southampton do it, Liverpool sometimes do it. They haven't had success like we have, maybe that's the reason we don't.

Garcia is obviously one with the potential to do it next, always looks at ease.

I thought we'd shipped him off somewhere?

It's far, far easier to bring on 'kids' when you aren't near the top of the League, trying to play in the CL and one mistake can cost you dear - it's bad enough with seasoned players!

With the possible, only possible, exception of an injury and habit-free Johnson none of those players above are good enough to play at out level now, possibly not even in the PL now.

Lets face it, we bought Lee, Bell, Summerbee, Marsh, Channon, Watson and a whole load of our former stars. Joe Corrigan was nearly hounded out because of his mistakes as a youngster.


United do it - well, did it until Maureen. But it turned out they were all shit and none of them play for the club now.

Garica gone to Girona, dissapointing as we are light in that position imo.

I disagree on Johnson btw, he wouldnt get near the team. A young Micah or SWP would though. SWP as a right wing back for us in his prime would be great. Micah should be hitting his peak now and would be a great addition to our squad, his pace alone would get us out of a tonne of trouble. Such a pity how it went for him.

[Mikhail Chigorin]

Something I miss from "th'olden days" is a youth player trying to break through, improving game by game, SWP, Micah, Johnson, Ireland, Willo Fl......erm

Something special about feeling that one of your own can make it. Spurs do it, Southampton do it, Liverpool sometimes do it. They haven't had success like we have, maybe that's the reason we don't.

Garcia is obviously one with the potential to do it next, always looks at ease.

I thought we'd shipped him off somewhere?

It's far, far easier to bring on 'kids' when you aren't near the top of the League, trying to play in the CL and one mistake can cost you dear - it's bad enough with seasoned players!

With the possible, only possible, exception of an injury and habit-free Johnson none of those players above are good enough to play at out level now, possibly not even in the PL now.

Lets face it, we bought Lee, Bell, Summerbee, Marsh, Channon, Watson and a whole load of our former stars. Joe Corrigan was nearly hounded out because of his mistakes as a youngster.


United do it - well, did it until Maureen. But it turned out they were all shit and none of them play for the club now.

Even in those days John, we still 'produced' the likes of Tommy Booth, Tony Towers, Willie Donachie, Gary Owen and others to supplement those purchases so, whatever the era, it's always possible.

In this day and age, it might be harder, but it's always got to be possible.

[PeterParker]

So Walker, Mendy and Danilo. One more to go.

Bertrand?

[kennyboy]

So Walker, Mendy and Danilo. One more to go.

Bertrand?

Walker and Mendy will prob play alot, Danilo can cover both sides.
Cant see Pep go after another, Fern1 can allso play the role.

[Sideshow Bob]

part I don't get is why 3 out of of 4 of these FBs (if we get Bertrand) are basically the same age, 26/27. that means we'll need to replace the lot at the same time in 4-5 yrs. again. and we'll get fucked on fees. again.

[johnny crossan]

So Walker, Mendy and Danilo. One more to go.

Bertrand?

Walker and Mendy will prob play alot, Danilo can cover both sides.
Cant see Pep go after another, Fern1 can also play the role.

As could been seen many times last season and once more against Rashford in the week, Fern is a full back of last resort
We also miss him in midfield and are currently without effective cover in his role there.

[Grandad Rosler]

part I don't get is why 3 out of of 4 of these FBs (if we get Bertrand) are basically the same age, 26/27. that means we'll need to replace the lot at the same time in 4-5 yrs. again. and we'll get fucked on fees. again.

Surely it's a rotation thing? If we want to push on every front, in every competition then every 11 we put out has to be a starting 11. For that you need first team players rotating in.

Don't get me wrong I believe we should be blooding the youngsters more as well but assuming thats our game plan.

[PeterParker]

So Walker, Mendy and Danilo. One more to go.

Bertrand?

Walker and Mendy will prob play alot, Danilo can cover both sides.
Cant see Pep go after another, Fern1 can allso play the role.

I think playing Danilo on the left would be a mistake. Our defence experiments last season were a fiasco, with Kolarov as a CB and Fern as a RB.

[Justified logic]

So what happens when a couple of them are injured/suspended? When all three are injured/suspended? Do we have any promising youths that we could call upon?

[johnny crossan]

So what happens when a couple of them are injured/suspended? When all three are injured/suspended? Do we have any promising youths that we could call upon?

Those questions have such obvious answers as to be not worth asking.

[nottsblue]

Unsavoury rumours still persist over Oxlade-Chamberlain. If true and let's hope they are nothing but the usual bullshit, may he be seen as a wing back rather than the midfielder he currently is?