Our fullbacks

[AFII]

I have said the whole season that our fullbacks isn't overlapping enough. I even started a thread about it.

The strange thing is that we are playing a system in which the fullbacks should overlap to help out on the wings.

Our wide players cuts inside and leaves the open space for our fullbacks to attack in. Well, our fullbacks more or less don't do that for some reason.

[Harv]

One player i have been quite impressed with is young Alan Hutton from Rangers.

He has looked a quality RB each time ive seen him play. He's tall, strong, quick, and likes to get forward from what ive seen.

Any of the Scottish lads have any more views on him

[red g]

One player i have been quite impressed with is young Alan Hutton from Rangers.

He has looked a quality RB each time ive seen him play. He's tall, strong, quick, and likes to get forward from what ive seen.

Any of the Scottish lads have any more views on him

not sure if i will get blasted for this as i havent seen that much of him. But Lee Naylor has always looked a great player when i have seen him. Dont know how old he is though

[-V-]

Alan Hutton is better off at Ranger at the moment. He has made serious progress over the last few months. He was nothing decent last season. Seems to be coming on fast though. Maybe in a couple of years he might be a very good player. Best place for him to develop is under Walter Smith for a while yet.

As for our full backs, i agree about Riise. Alvaro is much better. Apart from at the Nou Camp Riise hasnt put in a good shift for a long while. He looks half the player he was when he arrived. Still a decent squad player though.

Cant understand the criticism Finnan gets though. He is a solid defender and one of our most important players. Didnt we have the best defensive record in the Prem last year? Finnan is key to that. He is good going forward too. Lay off the lad, quality player

[Parm]

Still, Finnan is a good player, just suffering the effects of aging a little, he was involved in our first goal quite well I think. Riise is just ****e altogether and has been for some time. It's sad to say.

lovely bit of skill by finnan to set up that goal yesterday.
But I do agree, our Fullbacks are somewhat conservative to say the least. If we could get some more expansive fb then things would look up. I do think if he could stay fit Aureillio would be superb for us. As for Riise, well as I said yesterday, he's done a lot for us in the past, but those days are gone and we dont even see the blockbuster goals from him anymore.

[AFII]

lovely bit of skill by finnan to set up that goal yesterday.
But I do agree, our Fullbacks are somewhat conservative to say the least. If we could get some more expansive fb then things would look up. I do think if he could stay fit Aureillio would be superb for us. As for Riise, well as I said yesterday, he's done a lot for us in the past, but those days are gone and we dont even see the blockbuster goals from him anymore.

Rafa is working to solve that problem. He has tried to sign a right wing back for years. First Alves and then Cicinho.

I wouldn't be surprised if he will try again for Alves either in January or in the summer. Rafinha is another option.

[Parm]

Rafa is working to solve that problem. He has tried to sign a right wing back for years. First Alves and then Cicinho.

I wouldn't be surprised if he will try again for Alves either in January or in the summer. Rafinha is another option.

I know fella, Rafa knows our FB arent quite up to the requisite level, but has been priced out for someone like Alves. I do hope we can someone in Jan.

[Griswald]

Tell me if I'm wrong or not, but this is a thread about our "fullbacks" and Aurelio's name hasn't been mentioned once. Is he still in the injury bay? What's the score? A fully fit Aurelio would be a nice solution to the left-back slot problem. Before he got injured last season he was showing signs of promise.

[red g]

Tell me if I'm wrong or not, but this is a thread about our "fullbacks" and Aurelio's name hasn't been mentioned once. Is he still in the injury bay? What's the score? A fully fit Aurelio would be a nice solution to the left-back slot problem. Before he got injured last season he was showing signs of promise.

fully fit and aurelio.....aint going to happen mate. Think he jas averaged 10 games a season throughout his career. it must be something to do with lefties.

[dww]

For the first time in ages I feel the need to defend Finnan, normally the internet is awash with Finnan is the greatest RB in the world type posts and I'm not sure he has been performing that much worse of late.

I'm not of the opinion that he is a world beater but he is certainly one of the best rightbacks in the PL. He has limitations in teh air and in terms of bursting past the midfield but he is a good tackler, solid positionally and his possession passing is decent and his crossing, particularly from deep is a real asset at times.

Riise is increasingly showing his limitations but I can't help feeling that a good part of the problem is that Carra and Hyypia are looking tired and putting extra strain on the fullbacks.

It's not an original thing to say but missing out on Heinze has been a big loss for us. While I rate Aurelio there was never a chance we could rely on him being fit and Arbeloa is a tidy player but much more suited to the right.

[Imy]

For the first time in ages I feel the need to defend Finnan, normally the internet is awash with Finnan is the greatest RB in the world type posts and I'm not sure he has been performing that much worse of late.

I'm not of the opinion that he is a world beater but he is certainly one of the best rightbacks in the PL. He has limitations in teh air and in terms of bursting past the midfield but he is a good tackler, solid positionally and his possession passing is decent and his crossing, particularly from deep is a real asset at times.

Riise is increasingly showing his limitations but I can't help feeling that a good part of the problem is that Carra and Hyypia are looking tired and putting extra strain on the fullbacks.

It's not an original thing to say but missing out on Heinze has been a big loss for us. While I rate Aurelio there was never a chance we could rely on him being fit and Arbeloa is a tidy player but much more suited to the right.

The problem Finnan is encountering is that directly in front of him is the donkey Kuyt or Voronin, they are leaving him overly exposed and they provide little attacking/creativity wise, he is therefore having to most of the defending and provide an outlet down the right for attacks.

[peekay]

There is no way Rafa will play two attacking fullbacks. He will never let our central defenders be isolated in that manner against counter attacks. So one of the full backs should be a pretty good defender, who is comfortable on the ball, bit conservative going forward, can cross if need be and make constructive contributions whenever he ventures forwards. Finnan fits that profile perfectly.

I like Riisse as a squad player and his versatility. But for the first team, I would like him replaced with a left sided Dani Alves.

[AFII]

Finnan is probably our best crosser. Sometimes I think that Rafa should play Arbeloa as right back with Finnan as our right midfielder but that would mean that we must have a few players in the box and that isn't likely to happen sometime soon.

[Jan-Erik]

what a poor poor excuse for a footballer Riise is

Seriously apart from a superb goal every 30 games or so what exactly does he offer us.

I'll tell you, sweet. ****. all!

He cant pass to save himself, he cant run with the ball, he cant cross, all he can do is hold possession, turn around and play it of his opponent for a throw in. He is not good enough!

In Rafa's system we need 2 fullbacks like Arsenal have, they bomb forward, they overlap, creating space, and they have pace.

Having Riise, and to a lesser extent Finnan will not win us the league. They are both too slow at moving the ball. While Finnan is sound as a pound defensively, and can put a decent ball in....its far to infrequent for my liking, he is far to defense minded.

If only we had of got Dani Alves when we had the chance

I couldnt agree more. We need modern fullbacks with pace who can cross the ball. But we also need two quality wingers. We have none...

[Jan-Erik]

Finnan is probably our best crosser. Sometimes I think that Rafa should play Arbeloa as right back with Finnan as our right midfielder but that would mean that we must have a few players in the box and that isn't likely to happen sometime soon.

If Finnan is our best choise as right winger then we are ****ed...