Dossena -v- Arbeloa

[carheex]

But the thread's question specifically mentions cover for left-back. Arbeloa has played there about 5 times.

Does it?

[Shaggy]

but given Fabio's injury, we will have to keep one as cover, make a choice

[Cormack74]

Watching Arbeloa yesterday I think he's gone backwards for the last 6 months. He was badly at fault for the first SA goal and generally looked half asleep.

His team mates must have been of the same opinion because 80% per cent of the passes went down the left flank rather than the right.

Not sure Dossena is going to be a world beater but with a run of games IMO he'll reach a level some way beyond Arby's capabilities.

[Exiled_red]

Cough Cough! Can't Carra play at RB too? He does an ok job as far as im concerned. So if GJ ever needs a rest Carra can slot in for him, giving Squirtl and Dagger more chance to gel at CB.

Hence Arby is surplus.

Well Id rather keep him, but if he wants to leave we are gonna be fine without him.

Keep Dossena rather than Arby. Give him a chance.

Carragher could cover both right back and left back but it seems he doesn't want to play there (for whatever reason - think back to middlesborough).

Personally I would like us to have two players for every position, if we sell Dossena we have Insua and Aurelio at left back (plus Arbeloa who has played a handful of games there), and if we sell Arbeloa we have only Johnson at right back. Carra can cover both positions but it seems he doesn't want to, and we have Darby who has no experience.

While the question seeming refers to left back only I think we need to consider the squad as a whole and it seems a little silly to me to have 3 left backs but only one right back. So based solely on that I'd keep Arbeloa ahead of Dossena, obviously the contract situations may have and effect on the decision too...

[Exiled_red]

Watching Arbeloa yesterday I think he's gone backwards for the last 6 months. He was badly at fault for the first SA goal and generally looked half asleep.

His team mates must have been of the same opinion because 80% per cent of the passes went down the left flank rather than the right.

Not sure Dossena is going to be a world beater but with a run of games IMO he'll reach a level some way beyond Arby's capabilities.

I think that's a little harsh, while he was at fault for the goal yesterday he generally had a good season

[Cormack74]

I think that's a little harsh, while he was at fault for the goal yesterday he generally had a good season

I don't think the second half of the season showed him at his best. I'm not sure if his confidence slipped but he seemed to have more dolly day dream moments the longer the campaign went on.

[Exiled_red]

I don't think the second half of the season showed him at his best. I'm not sure if his confidence slipped but he seemed to have more dolly day dream moments the longer the campaign went on.

Fair enough he probably was better in the first half of the season than the second half, but he wasn't that bad. Also we don't know the reasons for that, it could be a fitness/tiredness issue. The left backs were rotated through out the season, whereas the right back wasn't, if Arbeloa was fit he played. This is perhaps another reason to try and keep Arbeloa, so we can rotate him with Johnson to keep both fresh.

[DannyMan2006]

Arbeloa should be kept as he is now our second best right back. The fact he provides cover at LB is an added bonus. If he doesn't sign a new deal then we obviously need to let him go.

Either case sell Dossena as he has proved he is not good enough at LB in the premier league. The improvement he showed last season was when he was played at LW.

If both go buy a LB.

[billy_mac]

Neither are good enough for me. Cash in if at all possible.

[Exiled_red]

Arbeloa should be kept as he is now our second best right back. The fact he provides cover at LB is an added bonus. If he doesn't sign a new deal then we obviously need to let him go.

Either case sell Dossena as he has proved he is not good enough at LB in the premier league. The improvement he showed last season was when he was played at LW.

If both go buy a LB.

Who would you have as cover for right back? Darby?

[Ryan_Derrick]

But the thread's question specifically mentions cover for left-back. Arbeloa has played there about 5 times.

Yeah but 2 of those 5 times (including hos debut) he had Messi in his pocket!!

[DannyMan2006]

Who would you have as cover for right back? Darby?

Degen and Darby.

Degen is unlikely to be so unlucky with injuries this year and was initially brought in (IMO) to replace Arbeloa at RB. Lot of criticism on here but no one has really seen him play. The only worry is that he could be another Aurelio, which is why we are lucky to have an excellent prospect in Darby at RB.

[Exiled_red]

Degen and Darby.

Degen is unlikely to be so unlucky with injuries this year and was initially brought in (IMO) to replace Arbeloa at RB. Lot of criticism on here but no one has really seen him play. The only worry is that he could be another Aurelio, which is why we are lucky to have an excellent prospect in Darby at RB.

I'd completely forgotten about Degan

[-V-]

It doesnt really matter. Arbeloa quite clearly wants to return to spain and to madrid so its time to move him on and recoup a decent fee for him

[Mostar]

Degen and Darby.

Degen is unlikely to be so unlucky with injuries this year and was initially brought in (IMO) to replace Arbeloa at RB. Lot of criticism on here but no one has really seen him play. The only worry is that he could be another Aurelio, which is why we are lucky to have an excellent prospect in Darby at RB.

Given our high aspiration this year I personally don't believe neither Degen nor Darby would be good replacements for GJ in case of injury. We need players that can step up instantly and have an immediate impact and relying on those two would be imo too risky.

As much as selling Arby now would be a good money move imo we have to keep him unless he is very adamant on leaving.