Huth Out

Why are we not getting linked with right backs?

Is Amartey our cover 😳

Bad news Hith being out but I guess it means a Maguire Morgan starting line up for the new season. We've not gained any pace 😂

I agree with Mersey and not just because he's the most astute and knowledgeable individual on here.

I'd like to see us sign a more attack minded Right Back. I think Simpson has been great, but I think other alternatives would give us flexibility of formation - particularly 4-2-3-1.

If Simpson's back up is Amartey and Maguire (who can allegedly play there) then it will always be a fairly flat back four.

I'm still hoping for another centre back. Evans rumour is still out there and there have been nods to Smalling and Robertson. But think the right back position is dependant on Mahrez situation - he goes and we can invest in a more attack minded right back, he stays and you'd want Simpson behind him who was one of best players last season and can cover for Mahrez. Another centre back opens up 3 at the back and Albrighton as a wing back.

Only 3 weeks this Friday...i would like whoever's coming and whoever's going to be done and dusted by then. Last thing we need is Mahrez to be in limbo and us not get the strength in with the dough behind us..

He will be a loss, particularly with the difficult fixture list at the start of the campaign.

I still struggle to have much faith in Benalouane though, particularly up against the better attackers in the division. It's Morgan and Maguire out of that list, no doubt about it.

Lets see what defence Shakey picks tomorrow against West Brom ( live on Sky at 10.30).

My guess is Simmo, Wes, Harry Mac and Christian F,
particularly as Chillwell is behind the others in training.

Bit concerned about Huth missing as the defence looked a bit porous at the end of last season without him. Also would be concerned defensively with Allbrighton at right back. Seem to remember Claudio trying this last season against Chelsea (tinkering ?)
and their left back took us apart.

Also will Riyad start tomorrow. Shakey says hes had no bids and Mahrez is looking good in training and is part of the squad.

SSN say their sources say ( mind you that might as well be ketchup or daddies) that Roma have had a 20 million bid for Mahrez rejected. Perhaps when Shakey
said he had received no bids he meant serious ones.

Bring on the Baggies tomorrow

UTF

"Lets see what defence Shakey picks tomorrow against West Brom ( live on Sky at 10.30)."
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I'm not sure I like the words "Shakey" and "defence" in the same sentence.


"Also would be concerned defensively with Allbrighton at right back. Seem to remember Claudio trying this last season against Chelsea (tinkering ?)"
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Didn't most sides that Claudio put out last season struggle? I'm also not sure what 1 experimental line up, by a struggling team, against the best team in the country really told us - although it did look awful on the day - what it told me was that Fuchs isn't a centre back (in a 3 or a 4). The three/five at the back served us well at the end of 2014/15 - however, I'm not necessarily advocating it as the right formation.

3-5-2 has a role when you have wingers that can defend and cross the ball, you're trying to be defensively solid, and you want to get 2 strikers in the team, and have a striker that is willing to get in the box to cause damage.

That could be a good solution to get Slimani and Vardy up top. However I would suggest it is plan B, as I wouldn't say the players naturally fit in to it like we did during our great escape.

Putting Ulloa on with Slim and going direct when chasing a game is an interesting one. It worked well when we tried it against Madrid (albeit as valid a sample as the Chelsea debacle!).

So it's likely we'll be operating with a back 4 and with that in mind, Benalouane isn't good enough and neither is Amartey.

We need cover!!

Replacement for one Robert in:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40652822