09 May 2024 19:58:20
With Thiago Silva leaving, and Chalobah possibly up for sale, we still have 4 first team CBs (Fofana, Disasi, Colwill, Badiashile), as well as Gilchrist and Humphreys coming back from loan.
Ed002, are any of our remaining centre backs looking to leave this summer, or have interest from elsewhere?
{Ed002's Note - There is interest in the CBs and Chelsea are looking to replace Silva.}
09 May 2024 21:42:44
I hope we bring back Guéhi, and also keep Chalobah. If any of the current CB's was to be sold its got to be Badiashile, Chalobah offers utility in other positions as does Disasi.
I think Guéhi and Colwill could be a great partnership moving forward. If we can get a solid experienced keeper behind them as well, the defence in my opinion would be good to go.
10 May 2024 08:04:15
Thanks Ed for the quick reply.
IMO, if we buy a new first team CB, and Thiago and Trevoh (or A N Other) leave, then we've still got 5 players for 2 positions, which is one too many. I can see though why we might be hedging our bets on Fofana getting fit again - he's a quality player, I hope we can ease him back in without any more setbacks.
11 May 2024 06:47:56
Personally I would sell fofana but his injuries will hinder his sale.
I also don't think guehi and colwill partnership is good enough to help us return to the top.
We must sign at least two cb of different experiences and quality different from what we already have.
Maybe I see it differently when we say replace silva. I think we talk about experience and defending brains.
Though controversial, I wouldn't mind bringing rudigar back like the silva signing in the first place. Defence must be solid to act as a platform for other areas to perform as well. Like a foundation imo.
11 May 2024 10:08:21
Guéhi would be an excellent signing but I just can’t see that happening unless we sell Colwill or BB.
11 May 2024 13:52:51
We need an experienced CB. We need to replace Thiago Silva not just on the pitch, but on the training ground. We need a grown-up – a player older than 25. Game management has been our biggest problem all season. We need a leader in a key position. Our young CBs are still developing. But who is this player? Who are the contenders here? Please NOT Harry Maguire.
11 May 2024 14:39:18
celery, I’m not convinced about age being a criteria as a leader. I think JT was only 21/ 22 and Lamps wasn’t much older. Looking back we had the likes of Wilkins who was about 19 when he became skipper and chopper was about the same age.
Some players are just leaders/ influencers regardless of age.
12 May 2024 15:15:46
I agree Tom. But our current CB lads are NOT that. Levi Colwill, for instance, is a decent player but he is not ready to be that CB leader. I think we need to look at the transfer market. I also wonder if Wes Fofana will ever make a comeback or his careeer might be sadly over?
12 May 2024 18:23:04
I think Chalaboa would relish the responsibility and playing next to James would help.
13 May 2024 09:27:32
I agree that Chalaboa looks the best bet in this respect but Colwill could well get there too. How about a pairing of TC as right CB and LC as left CB?
But back up obviously needed. Age may not be a quality required for leadership but surely it is considerable experience and learning the trade ideally alongside a consistent CB partner that leads to being a great defender.
After all JT may have been a born leader but I reckon he learnt a lot about both this plus CB skills from who he fdirst played with in first team namely the brilliant world cup winning Marcel Desaillythe then Chelsera captain? He did so for almost 100 games, then played alongside the also excellent William Gallas.
Later there was the wonderful Carvalho if then the tad more erratic but brilliant on their day Alex and David Luiz (who to my mind played esp. well in big games for CFC but could lose focus in lesser ones) .
Fofana is very talented and with more composure could be excellent. But I think it may have been Ed001 who emphasised WF positional errors - mainly rushing out of position and his co-defender/ s exposed? - and there is his apppalling injry problems.
Not sure what to make of BB or Disasi who have had both good games and poor ones. BB did look v good at start, then drradful after injury, then a couple of good games recently. Probably would need to play alongside seasoned defender like most CBs should ideally do to improve.
NO No No to Harry McGuire!