Arbeloa cannot simultaneously cover 3 defensive positions

[publiusscipio]

Arbeloa is a versatile defender, but he was originally brought in to compete with the excellent Finnan for Right Back. When Finnan is fit he will be first choice and I hope Finnan continues to be fit; however, if not, Arbeloa can cover. Who else in our squad can play at the minimum acceptable level as a right back apart from these two? The only one i can think of is Gerrard who can of course play anywhere, but Gerrard should of course be in midfield, and would only play right back in a real emergency. Then there is the weakness of depth that we have in the centre of defence. Carragher and Agger are, like Finnan, excellent and clearly our first choice partnership there, but looking beyond them and to the idea of 2 players for each position then we see that Hyypia alone is cover. Paletta and Roque I expect are not up to the level required right now, and are loaned to the Argentinian and Spanish leagues respectively. Other than them we have Hobbs and San Jose, both young and unproven. Are either of these two capable of covering Carra and Agger alongside Hyypia? Some might say lets draft in Arbeloa as he can play central defender. This is the same Arbeloa who is covering Finnan in our squad! On the other side of defence Arbeloa has started the season as our left back with Riise pushing into left midfield as Babel is being eased into the season and Kewell and Aurelio are injured. Arbeloa may not have been asked to play left back if Heinze had signed, however, Kewell who with the best will in the world has a worrying injury record and cannot pragmatically be relied upon in a squad for the whole season, so Riise may be asked to play the left midfield position more often. Aurelio when he comes back doesn't have the defensive ability of Arbeloa and may be second fiddle to Arbeloa.

Is it wise that Arbeloa is simultaneously our cover for 3 positions? Should we succeed in purchasing a left back before the deadline and either purchase a central defender in the next few days or one of the 2 young lads at the club make a hefty step up in class (which I see as highly unlikely) we will cover these positions, if not then we could be stretched too much as the season goes on.

[Dhav]

I have to say the idea of him playing at left back does make me somewhat uneasy, although I must admit slightly less uneasy than the idea of Riise playing there.

Not much more to add than that I'm afraid

[Parr_Zee]

Who else in our squad can play at the minimum acceptable level as a right back apart from these two? The only one i can think of is Gerrard

Carragher can play there as well. If we were in a crisis where Finnan and Arbeloa were injured, Carra would shift out there, and Sami to come into Central Defence.

[bobbyfallon]

I have to say the idea of him playing at left back does make me somewhat uneasy, although I must admit slightly less uneasy than the idea of Riise playing there.

Not much more to add than that I'm afraid

he has done pretty good so far imo

[Dhav]

he has done pretty good so far imo

Agreed.

I guess I'm just being a bit snobby really in that I prefer to see specialist players playing in their preferred positions rather than versatile players playing there.

Same with Babel reallly, I hope he settles into a preferred position rather than having him constantly playing different positions, eg one match on the left, one on the right, one up front etc.

[publiusscipio]

Carragher can play there as well. If we were in a crisis where Finnan and Arbeloa were injured, Carra would shift out there, and Sami to come into Central Defence.

I take your point that Carra could shift out to right back, and Sami to come into Central Defence, but with Carra, Agger and Sami all on the pitch together and No quality back up to them for central defence , then if one of the three became injured then we'd be in trouble. I still contend our squad is too thin in defensive positions.

[sean_lfc]

I fully agree. We definitely should get another CB/LB in. I can just see it coming, we've been extremely lucky the past few years with defensive injuries and I can just see us trying to get to January without problems and BAM something will happen to someone it shouldn't happen to and we'd be ****ed and might even have to wait another year to pip the title. This season NOTHING should be left to chance and considering how Rafa seems to really mean business I couldn't imagine him not having forged a plan B in regards to the Heinze matter.

[Dhav]

I still contend our squad is too thin in defensive positions.

It is, hence the pursuit of Heinze. I assume the idea was for Palletta to provide cover while he was developing, but he's shown he's not up to the task and has been laoned out. Which leaves us short of cover.


Hopefully either Rafa has an alternative to Heinze in mind or we're just going to have to hope we stay injury free until January.

[JohnDoe]

We do need another player of the Heinze type, I wouldn't complain if Rafa pulls off another "Arbeloa" signing to sort out the lack of cover in CB/LB.

[dom9]

Not sure why averybody wants a LB.

Aurelio will be fit again soon. Riise is playing LM because Kewell is injured too.

They will both be fit soon so we'll be adequately covered.

[Kenneth]

Not sure why averybody wants a LB.

Aurelio will be fit again soon. Riise is playing LM because Kewell is injured too.

They will both be fit soon so we'll be adequately covered.

Indeed. And if we don't even rely on youth/reserves as back ups to back ups, what are they for?

[ELNINO 9]

the transfer window is not shut yet. plus we have an array of defensive cover in aureillo insua riise arebola finnan hyypia paletta agger carragher and alot of youth team players

[paulcooper4]

We dont need no-one. We have the best defence in europe IMO and our back-up is **** hot too.

[anfieldanfield]

We dont need no-one. We have the best defence in europe IMO and our back-up is **** hot too.

Agree 100%.

We've got a small army of left backs, four center backs and at least two players capable of filling the right back position.

We're sorted.

**** Heinze and move on lads.

[publiusscipio]

Not sure why averybody wants a LB.

Aurelio will be fit again soon. Riise is playing LM because Kewell is injured too.

They will both be fit soon so we'll be adequately covered.

Indeed. And if we don't even rely on youth/reserves as back ups to back ups, what are they for?

the transfer window is not shut yet. plus we have an array of defensive cover in aureillo insua riise arebola finnan hyypia paletta agger carragher and alot of youth team players

We dont need no-one. We have the best defence in europe IMO and our back-up is **** hot too.

Agree 100%.

We've got a small army of left backs, four center backs and at least two players capable of filling the right back position.

We're sorted.

**** Heinze and move on lads.

I have concerns over left back, and If Riise is to be asked to balance the midfield defensively from the left when Gerrard plays centre midfield then we are left with Aurelio primarily as our only proven left back on those occasions. Arbeloa can cover there but at the expense of covering right back, 'robbing Peter to pay paul'. Insua; he may be a revelation, but practically speaking I wouldn't put too much hope with him this season. However, despite misgivings we may get by at left back and I accept that other members here see the left back situation differently to myself.

Central defence is more worrying. Carra and Agger are a top quality first choice pairing but we only have Hyypia as proven quality cover for them. Arbeloa is cover for Finnan and putting him here is again 'robbing Peter to pay paul'. Paletta was shown not to be ready, if he ever will be and is on loan, Roque is also on loan, Antwi is currently injured but again is unproven. This list of unproven young central defenders goes on, we have Hobbs and San Jose. This array of defensive cover, and the many young players we have that has been mentioned falls short in my eyes if those players DO NOT have the requisite quality.

In Central Midfield we have 5 players for 2 positions: Gerrard, Alonso, Sissoko, Mascherano and Leiva(unproven in the prem, but as one of 5 rather than 1 of 4 that is less of a problem) for the centre who give us the quantity and the quality. For the flanks not including the unproven Leto, or even Riise who is primarily a left back we have 4 players in Pennant (RM) Kewell (LM) Benayoun (either flank) Babel (either flank), and of course as mentioned earlier Gerrard can play RM if Rafa wants that. With such attention to quality and quantity in Midfield, why not take an equally thorough look at our options in defence?

Right Back: Finnan, Arbeloa

Centre back: Carra, Agger, Hyppia, ?????? (Arbeloa can cover here in an emergency, but that exposes right back if Finnan gets injured) *PALETTA, ROQUE, ANTWI, SAN JOSE, HOBBS (All unproven at premiership level. Do we want to risk any of these players if we are especially unlucky with injuries in the centre of defence?)

Left Back: Riise, Aurelio (Currently Arbeloa is covering here as Riise is at LM but Riise and Aurelio may be enough together to allow Arbeloa to cover Finnan principally and only cover left back in an emergency) *INSUA(Unproven and young)