Would anybody else feel more confident with Bailly and Smalling at CB with Lindelof as a DMF?
Lindelof has improved dramatically with his tackling and interceptions but I still wince whenever a ball is played over the top. He’s not the tallest of defenders and doesn’t win that many headers. I also think he can be twisted easily by skifull players when he’s the last man. The way Kane made space in front of him to shoot at De Gea (save with legs) was way to easy.
Ole pretty much knows his starting eleven now but would he be missing a trick by not play Lindelof in front of the back four? Would this give our forward players including Herrera even more licence to be adventurous?
......................De Gea
........Young...Bailly....Smalling...Shaw
......................Lindelof
...............Herrera........Pogba
.........Lingard.....Rashford.....Martial
In my opinion that looks like a stable foundation to build an attack on. Ole definitely needs to improve how vulnerable we are defensively when we have players up the pitch if no new signings come in this window.
Smalling, Bailly and Lindelof
posted on 13/1/19
Baily for me is a more dominant although rash cb, Baily just needs to play with a cooler head for me to trust him, but is he capable of this?
I trust smallings as a defender, but he is useless on the ball. I will prefer he wasn't useless on the ball but I feel the teams tactics can either expose or hid his weakness.
There are many aspect of lindeloffs game that do not feel me with confidence apart from his quality on the ball. I hope he develops into a top player I will be happy to see in the starting 11 against a top team but I honestly do not see how this can happen.
posted on 13/1/19
comment by rosso is facking happy (U17054)
posted 15 minutes ago
Nope.
Matic is a careful, experienced, tactically-savvy and dependable specialist DM, currently performing well.
Why throw in a player who doesn't have experience in the role, and is steadily improving in his own position?
When Smalling is ready, we should be back to a Smalling-Lindelof partnership.
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You have a point with most of what you said but I disgree with your opinion of Lindelof.
He is improving but only certain aspects of his game, he can be beaten in the air and with skill with some ease. Even Atsu didn’t have much trouble doing that away at Newcastle and Kane left him for dead today as well.
I must admit that he has improved considerably positionally, he’s a neat and tidy passer and his tackles and interceptions seem cleaner and more precise.
posted on 13/1/19
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 13/1/19
If Ole stays,where will Fred stand? I think Ole would want to to keep Herrera, and Ole seems to like him in terms of starting regularly. Is there a place for Fred in the squad considering he cost 50m?
posted on 13/1/19
comment by United we win (U19958)
posted 1 minute ago
Being 24 Lindelof will improve
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I am sure he will but cb is one postion I don't think you improve in technically. Cbs tend to improve more tactically and mentally imo.
My concern is that his base tecnical defensive ability is subpar. Pace, Tackling, marking, heading, strength are subpar imo.
posted on 14/1/19
We need an experienced leader at the back who is top top defender. That's holding us back. I'd buy Toby in the summer. Bailly and Lindelof do have time to develop and would be a decent partner and learn from Toby. But we need to sell some CBs too. Rojo needs to go. Then Jones or Smalling.
Smalling is the best defender, but like John Terry (who was a top defender), he may not work in the new set up. If he can't improve on that, he may be the one to go before Jones.
posted on 14/1/19
I'll be happier when Smalling is back in defence. Lindelof has done a good job. Playing him and Jones together is an accident waiting to happen.
Think we also need to invest in a Left Back. Shaw is not up to scratch
posted on 14/1/19
We'll probably have to get a whole new back line in
posted on 14/1/19
I was saying to my son mid way thru the second half that we were really missing Smalling. He might not be the most skillful defender but he sticks to forwards like glue and gives them a something to think about.
posted on 14/1/19
We can spend £500k a week on Sanchez wages but cant buyer a mobile defensive midfielder? or a decent right winger. or an attacking left back?