Just realised during the game yesterday, that yet again, we are playing the ‘fill in’ game at Right Back, after letting Melchiot go, last year. We did a similar thing when Baines went, when we used Kilbane at left back, until we sort of ‘got lucky’ with Maynor Figueroa coming in, though he was supposedly only brought over as company for Palacios.
Gohouri is NOT a right back, and never will be. Why do we always get rid of a player, and then just use anybody to try and fill the role? I’d sooner see us buy a lower division player who actually plays the position, rather than use a makeshift. He was torn a new ar*ehole yesterday, and that was without Giggs getting on the pitch.
And it doesn’t say much for Martinez’s rating of Ronnie Stam, does it, when he picks Gohouri over him.
Personally think Boyce is one of the most natural defenders we have. He also looks to fire in some dangerous balls across when getting chance. Should be a regular.
I always argue that a squad should have at least 2 players capable of challenging each other for each space – so 2 right backs, 2 left backs, 4 centre halves etc..
bearing that in mind right back is one where I think latics fulfill that brief in Boyce & Ronnie Stam. Quite why he insists on playing Gohouri there is beyond me when Stam is fit
Its left back where there is the issue & I think its criminal to only have 1 player in the squad (allegedly) capable of playing in that position. It means that no matter how bad he plays Figueroa knows that its pretty much certain that he’s gonna get picked for the next game &, knowingly or not, it makes them lazy & their form suffers. Figueroa’s deteriorating performances over the last 2 seasons are a good example of that
I always argue that a squad should have at least 2 players capable of challenging each other for each space – so 2 right backs, 2 left backs, 4 centre halves etc..
bearing that in mind right back is one where I think latics fulfill that brief in Boyce & Ronnie Stam. Quite why he insists on playing Gohouri there is beyond me when Stam is fit
Its left back where there is the issue & I think its criminal to only have 1 player in the squad (allegedly) capable of playing in that position. It means that no matter how bad he plays Figueroa knows that its pretty much certain that he’s gonna get picked for the next game &, knowingly or not, it makes them lazy & their form suffers. Figueroa’s deteriorating performances over the last 2 seasons are a good example of that
Good idea, in theory, and one I totally agree with.
But with our strict financial constraints and budgets, we’ve never had that big a squad in the Premiership, and have always had a very stretched squad. In many ways, we’ve done well to last as long as we have, when you consider the strength in depth we have NOT had over the past few seasons.
It’s all caught up with us this season, though. Too many cheap signings and ‘make do’ additions. Was always going to catch up with us, eventually.
It is perfectly possible to have 2 players competing for each position even with Latics budget & financial constraints
I’m not expecting em all to be as good as Pele but latics have the numbers in the squad to match that theory its just that we’re overloaded in certain positions & bare in others