Ayala and San Jose

[BigChief]

Why Rafa? Why not start with Carra and Kelly? Then to bring on San Jose instead of Kelly, no need. Not really a complaint as I can see Rafa is trying to keep Kelly geared up for right back, but he's such an accomplished and pacy centreback.

I have seen Ayala and San Jose for the reserves last season and we should be looking to move them on so fresh blood can come through. Neither are good enough I'm afraid. Kelly on the other hand should be fast-tracked. We mustn't stunt his growth.

[Lee]

Kelly does seem to be the better centre half out of the three.

Perhaps Rafa is giving them all an opportunity to stake a claim in the pre-season friendlies? I may be wrong but hasn't he started with Carra + San Jose, Carra + Ayala and Carra + Kelly in the last few games?

Or am I talking a load of old pony?

[Rafael Benítez Maudes]

kelly will be our new carra.

[Mattshark]

I feel he is a decent RB but at CB he is no better than Ayala or San Jose, I just think there blinkers to him because he is local.

[BigChief]

That's the problem, I have seen him give Ayala a run out. Started with San Jose twice, but not with Kelly at CB for long enough. Maybe he thinks Kelly doesn't need to prove anything and the other two do.

San Jose and Ayala were at sixes at sevens at times, fair enough in such a game. But Ayala(?) got brushed off the ball twice when clearly in possession against a smaller Rodrigues/Aguero. And San Jose has the same pace as Hyppia with none of the guile. Which leaves us very exposed.

[BigChief]

I feel he is a decent RB but at CB he is no better than Ayala or San Jose, I just think there blinkers to him because he is local.

Have to agree I've seen some things which made me cringe with Kelly at CB. But he is faster than both Ayala and San Jose and is stronger. He also knows how to play the ball out of defence and keep the play ticking along. Ayala and San Jose are, for want of a better word, donkeys in that regard.

[murder_inc]

That's the problem, I have seen him give Ayala a run out. Started with San Jose twice, but not with Kelly at CB for long enough. Maybe he thinks Kelly doesn't need to prove anything and the other two do.

San Jose and Ayala were at sixes at sevens at times, fair enough in such a game. But Ayala(?) got brushed off the ball twice when clearly in possession against a smaller Rodrigues/Aguero. And San Jose has the same pace as Hyppia with none of the guile. Which leaves us very exposed.

Agree 100%.
Think Kelly is gonna be a great player for us. Reminds me a lot of Carra and NO its not "blinkers" coz he's local. He's tall, well built and looks like he has the hunger to become a great defender for us.

[Tee]

Agree 100%.
Think Kelly is gonna be a great player for us. Reminds me a lot of Carra and NO its not "blinkers" coz he's local. He's tall, well built and looks like he has the hunger to become a great defender for us.

[redsarebest]

I cant get the youth cup final nightmare out my head.

Ayala had looked class until that but he was woeful - it was the first time he'd been up against anything like premier league class and he was embarassed. He should have been sent off at least twice in the first leg.

Think San Jose looks solid enough in the reserves and has been OK pre-season. Reckon Rafa cant play him and Kelly at centre back together cos even he can't tell them apart so can't judge them!

[Guest]

San Jose and Ayala aren't bad and they did well second half yesterday. What could you expect from young players playing for the first time against world class players? Both should be persisted with IMO, no need for another centre back.

[DannyMan2006]

San Jose and Ayala aren't bad and they did well second half yesterday. What could you expect from young players playing for the first time against world class players? Both should be persisted with IMO, no need for another centre back.

When a player is good enough he is old enough. Wise words those. But when a young player is not good enough he should not be played in important situations. I agree with most who insist that Kelly should have started with Carragher. He has not been great either but he has been and is better than SJ and Ayala. He out performed both last year and his performances earned him a call up to the England U19 squad, where he is now first choice CB and was a big loss to the squad in the summer.

I can understand Rafa giving Kelly a run out at RB, but Darby when fully fit is a better RB, and more of a natural for that role. The only reasoning I can see is that it has always been Rafas intention to buy a new CB as he has already decided the young lads aren't up to it yet. And he is probably right on what I've seen pre season. So as such played Kelly in a role that he impressed in against Lyn Oslo and a role of understudy to Johnson which looks to be still available.

[Elvis]

One thing that struck me about both these young CBs was their lack of strength. They couldn't shake the stronger forwards (Aguero is bloody strong) off the ball. That's a worry in the EPL where strength is very important. We badly missed Skrtel yesterday.

[BrianF80]

One thing that struck me about both these young CBs was their lack of strength. They couldn't shake the stronger forwards (Aguero is bloody strong) off the ball. That's a worry in the EPL where strength is very important. We badly missed Skrtel yesterday.

And that's the caveat to the "if they are good enough they are old enough" mantra. They need to be physically ready as well as good enough. The reserves game against Bolton last season showed that. They had a hulk of a CF playing and he threw Antwi and San Jose around like they were paper dolls.

Neither Ayala or San Jose are ready to get involved in a physical battle at CH yet. Kelly maybe.

[redstaralex]

Ayala was too weak and too slow yesterday, but what I thought / noticed was that with Carra he wasn't anywhere near as relaxed as he was when playing with SJ, in fact when we had Kelly, SJ, Ayala and Insua as our back line, they all seemed pretty happy and confident, prob cos they've played together a few times so maybe the problem is more a mental one?

[-V-]

They may have been more relaxed because there was nobody there to shout at them for being so sloppy. Reina didn't say much to them probably too afraid of shattering their confidence.