What is it with Rafa and full backs?

[Skillz]

I'm pretty sure Dossena and Degen are much better players than they've shown thus far otherwise they wouldn't have been signed.

It's easy to slag them off but we're still only 3 months into a new season.

Well said Matt.

I think this will be a stick repeatedly used to bash rafa with going forward. Understandably so IMO.

subtle correction.

We needed another striker capable of working with Torres and help replace him when he is unavailable. Keane fits that bill IMO and time will tell if it is a good move. Worth remembering that although it apparantly isn't working we are right in the mix.

[Nicey]

I'm pretty sure Dossena and Degen are much better players than they've shown thus far otherwise they wouldn't have been signed.

It's easy to slag them off but we're still only 3 months into a new season.

Spot on ... bunch of planks

[Tee]

Spot on ... bunch of planks

You might want to change you sig fairly soon.

[Nicey]

Haha .. the thought has past my mind ... but for ****s sake mate ... Degen has hardly played at all, Dosser is settling in and Arebeloa and Aurellio have been very very good for us. If our full backs were that **** why the **** is our defence so ****ing solid .

No No you are all ****ing planks . except you .. obviously your back on the free basing

[DannyMan2006]

You might want to change you sig fairly soon.

Mine is still there too................

[Tee]

Haha .. the thought has past my mind ... but for ****s sake mate ... Degen has hardly played at all, Dosser is settling in and Arebeloa and Aurellio have been very very good for us. If our full backs were that **** why the **** is our defence so ****ing solid .

No No you are all ****ing planks . except you .. obviously your back on the free basing

Fair enough mate. I just know Dossena is not up to it in this league - it is just so darn obvious!! Although that is just my opinion!!

Degen should be better IMO and I will not write him off just yet, but if we had paid money for him I would be very worried.

[Tee]

Mine is still there too................

Let us know when it comes off.

[Craig_H]

This "Rafa doesn't do full backs" is a new line taken by the media, trying to impose a pattern and so get a theme for an argument/article.

Top players in whatever position are few and far between and that's why they tend to cost a lot of money - so far Dossena is the only one who cost a biggish fee and not only is it too soon to judge him (tempting though it is after last night) but he also didn't cost as much as some. Rafa can spot a good full back - he was after Alves and everyone knows he's a pretty good player (and apparently all his crosses are 100% accurate ). The problem is we haven't been able to afford players of that calibre.

I've never ever heard the media make that point, or an issue out of it.

[Neil Young]

I've never ever heard the media make that point, or an issue out of it.

link

[Craig_H]

Ah ok, so there's one example.

[Neil Young]

Ah ok, so there's one example.

I've heard it talked about in passing on Sky too. No doubt they'd picked it up from The Times or wherever The Times got the idea from.

This is how myths get spread. Someone, usually a journalist or a pundit, picks up on something and magnifies it for the sake of a headline and then others pick up on it, amplify it and before you know it it's conventional wisdom.

We've seen it before with zonal marking, "Fergie's mind games", etc. There may be an element of truth in these things but still they're largely bollocks.

[Tatterdemalion]

you mean this one

I think he meant this one

[MrsB]

Fascinating.

[dww]

This "Rafa doesn't do full backs" is a new line taken by the media, trying to impose a pattern and so get a theme for an argument/article.

Top players in whatever position are few and far between and that's why they tend to cost a lot of money - so far Dossena is the only one who cost a biggish fee and not only is it too soon to judge him (tempting though it is after last night) but he also didn't cost as much as some. Rafa can spot a good full back - he was after Alves and everyone knows he's a pretty good player (and apparently all his crosses are 100% accurate ). The problem is we haven't been able to afford players of that calibre.

I think a good comparison is how much Chelsea have shelled out on fullbacks over the Mourinho years. I would say that top class fullbacks are incredibly rare. For several years recently none of the top four have had a pair of genuine top class fullbacks fit and in the team on a regular basis.

I'd say for the money paid Arbeloa and Aurelio represent exceptional value.

I feel sorry for Dossena as he is yet to have a run with the same CBs and DMs. Under our general team layout I really think what is important is the back 6 (5 possibly when Gerrard plays CM) and all players need to know how to play as a unit to be comfortable as individuals. CBs have the easiest role as the core of their job is always defensive whereas everyone else has to look to be covering someone and attacking. I'd say that Evra at United is the player to compare him to - despite world class talent he didn't shine for a while and genuinely struggled until he settled into the system.

In future I think that we should look to get fullbacks from the reserves as unless we are willing to shell out top dollar on the likes of Alves we are unlikely to get ready made players at fullback.

[Joe King]

I certainly believe Arsenal, if though they have the capabilities of capitulating in defence have the best full backs in the Premiership in Clichy and Sagna. They both have pace, energy, stamina, delivery and weren't too much in price too. Sagna cost something like £5.5m whilst Clichy was signed for tuppence.

In comparison, our fullbacks are possibly the cheapest out of the top four. Arbeloa was something like £2m and Aurelio was free so reasonable value for money. I simply feel even though Arbeloa is very good going forward, he doesn't have the delivery to put into the box. Took his goal very well on Saturday, mind.