baldricks_cunning_plan wrote:bigmick wrote:Listen Baldydon't be daft. Last season we ended up having to play Martin Skyrtel at right back because we had no credible cover. We had to play Javier masherano at right back ditto, we had Fabio Aurelio playing in central midfield, and more than once we had Dirk Kuyt up front
. Nobody is saying either that the squad is sh!t, the team is sh!t, or that we need World Class players in every position. What some people are saying is that the cover needs to be credible.
Now in terms of centre back cover, it isn't credible becasue it doesn't exist. We only have three recognised centre backs, albeit one of them being Carragher who as you said yesterday is in your opinion the best centre half in the Premiership. I'm not saying we should go out and buy the second best centre half in the Premiership (Rio Ferdinand maybe
As I pointed out yesterday Skrtel (still not Skrytel) and Mascherano (still has a C in it which is why Masherano is incorrect) played at right back when a) Arbeloa was injured. b) Degen was injured. c) Darby was injured. d) Carragher refused to play there. What would you suggest the manager did in that situation? Would you have asked Sammy Lee to kit up? Would you have moved Torres to right back?
Aurelio into the centre of midfield. I imagine you mean the Portsmouth game in which Aurelio was named man of the match, but what a silly move that was. This despite Aurelio playing in the middle of the park on numerous occasions for Rafa at Valencia.
Kuyt playing up front. Well what a silly thing to do, playing a forward up front. Shock horror, call the press quickly. And judging by your recent remarks about not rating Ngog or Babel too highly, who would you have played up front? Would you have again asked Sammy Lee to kit up or would it have Pellegrino's time this time out? Would you have thrown Torres up front while the lad was injured? Would you have kept the prolific Robbie Keane and asked him to do a job he couldn't?
Even with all of these problems we still scored more than any other side last year, we lost less than anybody else last year, we had the best goal difference in the league. So again just because we have to mess about with our formation we suddenly have a poor squad?
Well for your information, Wayne Rooney was played on the left wing plenty of times last year despite United having this fantastic squad. Anelka was used as a left winger in Chelsea's all mighty squad. Essien has been used as a right back for Chelsea as has Hargreaves at United. John O'Shea has played here, there and everywhere in these fantastic squads.
When injuries hit, which for us they did last year, you have to move players around. It wasn't because of lack of quality or depth in the squad because if it was United and Chelsea wouldn't be poncing around with their sides would they? Considering the injuries we had last year, we done more than well enough.
isnt that the reason we're calling for new players to come in
... so we wouldnt have to resort to playing X at RB or CM or whatever... Fact is, we lost the league last season because we lost Torres and Gerrard to injuries for a big part of the season.. Add some other factors to that like the Keane thing (job he couldnt do ?! and Kuyt the forward shock horror ?! get real !), negative tactics..etc etc and its obvious we need better players who would be ready to come on and consistently make a difference when our starting players are unavailable...
