Best CB pairing

Nickosaur said:
In my mind Lindelof deserves a run. Bailly has been worse this season, living off the reputation of some good form in his debut season.
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He really hasn't, they've been equally as shit. The only difference is that we know Bailly can be good enough, while Lindelof will never be.
 
Mcking said:
Dunno how reliable, but it seems everyone is just ignoring this post...

Add in the last two games and Lindelof/Smalling increases to 88.9%. But apparently, they'd be exposed if Fellaini doesn't play the holding role. Why?
It has to be noted that defending is a team effort. Because one of the defenders is weak on the air doesn't mean we will concede much.
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Id hazard a guess and says its not reliable at all. Only 40 odd games total there unless im misunderstanding
 
Kostov said:
He really hasn't, they've been equally as shit. The only difference is that we know Bailly can be good enough, while Lindelof will never be.
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Well Bailly was the worst of the two against Brighton and got dropped. Lindelof then proceeded to drop two very solid performances next to Smalling. I don't know how you can say they've been equally shite.
Even Lindelof have been better than Bailly since Lindelof joined.
 
arnie_ni said:
Id hazard a guess and says its not reliable at all. Only 40 odd games total there unless im misunderstanding
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Before the start of this season and as a pair under Mourinho I think.
40 seems the right no to me as Rojo and Blind were not considered.
 
Mcking said:
Well Bailly was the worst of the two against Brighton and got dropped. Lindelof then proceeded to drop two very solid performances next to Smalling. I don't know how you can say they've been equally shite.
Even Lindelof have been better than Bailly since Lindelof joined.
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Was he? Bailly made a stupid mistake with the penalty, yet Lindelof was nowhere near the attacker he was supposed to follow through in the same situation, lost Murray for the first goal and generally was over the place as much as Bailly. He was also dropped and made a disastrous mistake vs Spurs when he came on thanks to an injury, that luckily De Gea masked with a save and most of you forget. He has been his usual crap, just covered up by Smalling and a different MF set up to babysit him.
 
Kostov said:
Was he? Bailly made a stupid mistake with the penalty, yet Lindelof was nowhere near the attacker he was supposed to follow through in the same situation, lost Murray for the first goal and generally was over the place as much as Bailly. He was also dropped and made a disastrous mistake vs Spurs when he came on thanks to an injury, that luckily De Gea masked with a save and most of you forget. He has been his usual crap, just covered up by Smalling and a different MF set up to babysit him.
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Bailly made mistakes in all three Brighton goals. Lindelof was not great, but was no where near as bad as Bailly was.
And I disagree with that bolded part, he's not being crap by any means and Fellaini starting there against Burnley was more tactical than anything and if it hadn't worked against Burnley, he surely wouldn't have been there against Watford.
 
Mcking said:
Bailly made mistakes in all three Brighton goals. Lindelof was not great, but was no where near as bad as Bailly was.
And I disagree with that bolded part, he's not being crap by any means and Fellaini starting there against Burnley was more tactical than anything and if it hadn't worked against Burnley, he surely wouldn't have been there against Watford.
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Bailly made mistakes for all three Brighton goals, so did Lindelof. They were equally as shit, the Ivorian was just brainless in addition, while Lindeof was his usual crap. Against Burnley the only treats we had on goal, were while Lindelof was beaten in the air, the few times he had to defend that is. It worked, but not due to anything particular from Lindelof. As I said in other discussion, put Bailly in there instead of him and we are a better team.
 
Bailly has been much worse than Lindelof, really. Not that Linelof has been very good but still.
 
Keep it as it is, Bailly has the potential but just needs to think a bit more before he goes to ground.

Lindeloff needs a run of games because I think he could be decent, if he doesn't step up then he should be moved on. Jones also, no point keeping him because he's a 5-10 games a season guy these days.
 
Might as well try Smalling and Matic. The latter is useless in midfield so why not try to make use of his height? Also would function as a ball playing CB.
 
Not a clue.

Think it’s as much about getting the midfield right and the team as a whole providing adequate protection.

I don’t trust any of our CB’s when an opposition player is breaking through midfield and running at them.

Somebody has to start doing the dirty stuff in midfield. And surely Fred has something to contribute.
 
Smallling can do it all by himself. Bailly has it in him to be much better. feck the rest they are jokers
 
Jacko21 said:
Not a clue.

Think it’s as much about getting the midfield right and the team as a whole providing adequate protection.

I don’t trust any of our CB’s when an opposition player is breaking through midfield and running at them.

Somebody has to start doing the dirty stuff in midfield. And surely Fred has something to contribute.
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This. Honestly, that first goal with the amount of space in the midfield was just horrendous. I’d give Smalling and Matic a try but if we still have the majority of these centre backs next season then god help us. Having a fit and in form Herrera back as a number 6 could help I think.

Btw when is Rojo back?
 
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Is it just me or would blind have emerged as the perfect partner now. If we’re accepting that we’re vulnerable anyway but trying to have a better ball player blind would have been ideal. He actually had some very good games at cb beside smalling too. I’d genuinely consider just using Matic there until lindelof or Bailly are ready again. They look liable to let in a goal every game at the moment. So let Matic pay there and focus on our strengths
 
Are we EVER going to sort out the defence? We look like conceding goals every game, and could easily have been four down at half-time yesterday. It's incredible to see a Mourinho team defending as we are. What the **** is going on back there?
 
Mctominay and pogba with valencia and young on the rear flanks. They basically create a second midfield in defense
 
We didn't play from the back, we weren't organized and that game was all about grit. Our problem in the first half was once again the ineptitude of our midfield and the fact that our initial organization relies on containing pressure from midfield to defense which we are totally unable to do. We create our problems with these tactical choices. Our strength is to attack with violence, put pressure on the opponents make them doubt that they can cope and therefore retreat deep in their camp.
 
Smalling and Jones are the best two, but Jones makes crucial mistakes at crucial times. So, Smalling and Lindelof.
 
JPRouve said:
We didn't play from the back, we weren't organized and that game was all about grit. Our problem in the first half was once again the ineptitude of our midfield and the fact that our initial organization relies on containing pressure from midfield to defense which we are totally unable to do. We create our problems with these tactical choices. Our strength is to attack with violence, put pressure on the opponents make them doubt that they can cope and therefore retreat deep in their camp.
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We did that few times this season and opponents were on back foot, shame we never played like that again.
 
It's probably still Smalling and Jones sadly. Maybe try Matic there and see what happens, he's horrendous in the middle this season so why not. Bailly has been terrible this season, he's a headless chicken, no better than Jones at the moment, even Lindelof looks more assured than him, and he too should be nowhere near our starting lineup.
 
Jacko21 said:
Not a clue.

Think it’s as much about getting the midfield right and the team as a whole providing adequate protection.

I don’t trust any of our CB’s when an opposition player is breaking through midfield and running at them.

Somebody has to start doing the dirty stuff in midfield. And surely Fred has something to contribute.
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I agree matic gives the defense no protection whatsoever just look at the first goal
 
Jones and Smalling would be the best pairing now, but I do hope we bring in 2 new CB's in January.
 
I would still stick with Bailly and Smalling I think we need to look at dropping matic and putting someone else as DM.
 
We need to move Smalling back to the right sided centre back position. He's our best defender and he plays better there than on the left.

For the left sided CB we may as well try Matic there. The opposition have been running circles around him in midfield this season.
 
At the moment its looking like Pogba and Matic.

It has to be be Smalling +1 for now simply because he's the only one who can keep his head together. Without a leader the others are just too unreliable. If we can find a leader in defence in January/summer then Bailly is probably the one to play next to them.
 
There’s no a best cb pairing

They are terrible in any composition

Mediocre players, all of them are championship material or worse
 
Neither of our 5 defenders should be in this club so best pair and second best pair are somewhere far far away, in some other clubs.
 
I think we should seriously consider the WM (3223) formation with our current players. We weren't far off that last night. Pogba seem to excel in that Halfback role to. That would mean no pair though, just 1 CB, and I feel like Smalling would actually be good in that role. Don't see it happening though, but would be fun to watch that front 5 with Pogba (and Matic) dictating it from the back.
 
::sonny:: said:
There’s no a best cb pairing

They are terrible in any composition

Mediocre players, all of them are championship material or worse
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I actually tried to argue with this post because I found it hyperbolic. But you’re actually right, I can’t think of many Premier League teams our central defenders get into.
 
Smalling and Bailly with Fellaini in front is the best for now. And if we want to attack more put Fellaini next to Smalling. Matic isn't protecting the defence and is out of form.
 
I think our early season defending shows why Jose played Smalling/Jones so much last season whenever they were fit. While neither of them are absolutely world class and have the occasional brain fart in them (Jones more than Smalling), they never seem to look so overwhelmed as Lindelof and Bailly look whenever they are put under pressure or make a mistake. The latter two just seem to completely lose their heads after they make a mistake.

But there's really no doubt we need 2 high quality CBs as soon as possible.
 
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