This article might be premature but i will put the question out there any way.
Unlike most I had always like smalling and with lindeloff being the best cb last season i could only imagine maguire joining would relegate smalling to the bench if not losing him.This is one reason I did not want maguire even though I knew he was better (only slightly imo) than what we had. The other reason being the price.
The 3rd reason was Tuanzebe. Watching Tuanzebe I feel he is qualiy and has the air of rio ferdinand about him. My only questions marks was his relative inexperience and his aerial ability. Having watched the last few games, I have seen lindeloff make a number of mistakes 2 of which were aerial duels he lost leading to goals.
This inevitably raises the question in my mind, what exactly is lindeloff better thanTuanzebe at? I understand he was a better ball playing defender than smalling and we live in a world where this is now valued more than the basic defending abilities.
Tuanzebe?
posted on 1/9/19
comment by manusince52 (U9692)
posted 8 minutes ago
If ever fit Jones is decent in the air.
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He's a bit hit and miss for me... But he always challenges and gets against the attacker
posted on 1/9/19
Shugs
I think Lindelof generally does a lot of things well. Though his distribution in the last couple of weeks had really taken a nosedive. But his biggest weakness will always be the physical battles. Last season we hardly ever won a header in our own box. Maguire has certainly helped in that regard, but it just highlights Libdelof's weakness in that area even moreso now
posted on 1/9/19
comment by merrysupersteve - Jose'd he wouldn't be our Special One? (U1132)
posted 13 minutes ago
Shugs
I think Lindelof generally does a lot of things well. Though his distribution in the last couple of weeks had really taken a nosedive. But his biggest weakness will always be the physical battles. Last season we hardly ever won a header in our own box. Maguire has certainly helped in that regard, but it just highlights Libdelof's weakness in that area even moreso now
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I've never been that taken with him tbh... He absolutely improved in the middle of last season but I thought the praise dished out at times was a bit ott.
I think he lacks a bit of awareness with high balls... Ball watches a bit... Like the header against Palace i mean, he wasn't attacking the ball, almost like he hadn't clocked the attacker coming
Set pieces... He gets bumped about, ends up with his man goal side
There's been a few suggestions of him playing as DM from some on here... I don't think he's ever done so but he's solid enough defensively on the ground and decent on the ball... Wouldn't mind seeing it in a league cup or europa.... Not likely to happen but sure
posted on 1/9/19
I've heard wise suggestions. Tbh holding midfielders and centre backs do have a lot of similar attributes, and I often think that guys who play in the holding position are ball playing centre backs who lack the physicality to perform that role
posted on 1/9/19
*worse suggestions
posted on 1/9/19
Three at the back (with Maguire and Lindelof taking turns to step out) could be a way to go if we're sticking with the two in midfield.Play Tuanzebe with the two and then we may see a bit more of Pogba in an attacking sense. Wouldn't be averse to see Dalot at LB in that scenario either.
posted on 1/9/19
comment by Diafol Coch 77 - A Reputable Poster (U2462)
posted 1 hour, 3 minutes ago
Three at the back (with Maguire and Lindelof taking turns to step out) could be a way to go if we're sticking with the two in midfield.Play Tuanzebe with the two and then we may see a bit more of Pogba in an attacking sense. Wouldn't be averse to see Dalot at LB in that scenario either.
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It would also mean Rashford and Martial could play as a pair. Hard to fit in James though, and 10 would still be a problem position.
About Lindelof at CB - I see CB and DM as quite different personally. The areas in which you’re likely to receive the ball means being very comfortable in possession, while you also need to have 360 awareness in terms of passing options. I see it as quite a skilled role. As a fairly basic example, I used to fill in at CB in a team of players better than I was, but I’d have been completely out of my depth at DM - the guys who played there were so good with the ball.
I don’t think Lindelof is calm enough to play there, if nothing else.
posted on 2/9/19
comment by Clockwork Red (U4892)
posted 4 hours, 55 minutes ago
comment by Diafol Coch 77 - A Reputable Poster (U2462)
posted 1 hour, 3 minutes ago
Three at the back (with Maguire and Lindelof taking turns to step out) could be a way to go if we're sticking with the two in midfield.Play Tuanzebe with the two and then we may see a bit more of Pogba in an attacking sense. Wouldn't be averse to see Dalot at LB in that scenario either.
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It would also mean Rashford and Martial could play as a pair. Hard to fit in James though, and 10 would still be a problem position.
About Lindelof at CB - I see CB and DM as quite different personally. The areas in which you’re likely to receive the ball means being very comfortable in possession, while you also need to have 360 awareness in terms of passing options. I see it as quite a skilled role. As a fairly basic example, I used to fill in at CB in a team of players better than I was, but I’d have been completely out of my depth at DM - the guys who played there were so good with the ball.
I don’t think Lindelof is calm enough to play there, if nothing else.
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you are absolutely correct.
one of the finest ball playing cbs i have ever seen is rio and I distinctly remember him having a nightmare when fergie tried to play him as cdm vs Blackburn back in 2006
posted on 2/9/19
I think it depends what kind of DM you are looking for. If it someone to break up the play and give it to the attackers then there are a lot of similarities in CBs and DMs. Personally prefer a deep lying play maker a la Carrick. Not only gets the ball to attackers but gets it to them in good positions. Feel that's the type we need
posted on 2/9/19
comment by Shugs (U14253)
posted 19 hours, 45 minutes ago
comment by manusince52 (U9692)
posted 8 minutes ago
If ever fit Jones is decent in the air.
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He's a bit hit and miss for me... But he always challenges and gets against the attacker
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This is what I expected Lindelof to do. Even if you cannot challenge for the ball, do not allow a clean header.