Jon Flanagan

[Lecter]

Next season i'd like to see him as the main backup for Johnson and Kelly to be one of the 4 centre backs vying for a starting place.

I have massive reservations about Kelly at centrehalf

Hes not good enough in the air imo

[McDermotX]

I have massive reservations about Kelly at centrehalf

Hes not good enough in the air imo

Something he really needs to work on.......a few teams have targetted diagonal balls to his position for this very reason I think.

[anfieldanfield]

If we've got Kelly and Flanigan as right backs, where does that leave Glen Johnson?

Left back? Squad player?

[RichC]

I think Flanagan will be a squad player for a season or so.

Glen Johnson won't suddenly be dropped back into being a squaddie and he's played left back due to his ability to do and we needed someone in there .

[RedReet]

If we've got Kelly and Flanigan as right backs, where does that leave Glen Johnson?

Left back? Squad player?

I think Johnson will still be first choice RB with Kelly his deputy. Flanagan will just have to bide his time in the reserves for a while.

If Flanagan plays well until the end of the season it would be interesting to see what might happen if a huge bid came in for Johnson. Too big a risk for me though.

[banditos]

I have massive reservations about Kelly at centrehalf

Hes not good enough in the air imo

Really? I get the impression he's quite strong in the air. Don't remember him losing out too often in heading duels.

[red g]

I think Flanagan will be a squad player for a season or so.

Glen Johnson won't suddenly be dropped back into being a squaddie and he's played left back due to his ability to do and we needed someone in there .

would be surprised if he made more than 20 games over next season or 2.

[anfieldanfield]

I think Johnson will still be first choice RB with Kelly his deputy. Flanagan will just have to bide his time in the reserves for a while.

If Flanagan plays well until the end of the season it would be interesting to see what might happen if a huge bid came in for Johnson. Too big a risk for me though.

Maybe.

Johnson can play all over the place, left back, right back, right wing etc, so I don't think there's any point selling him. Plus he's English and doesn't get injured very often, so he should stay.

I think we might sign a left back (Enrique) and Kelly will start off as our right back. Johnson could then operate as our first backup left and right back!! With Flanigan and Aurelio providing squad cover.

[Lecter]

Really? I get the impression he's quite strong in the air. Don't remember him losing out too often in heading duels.

There have been a couple of games when teams targetted him

I think it was the Everton game when they moved Anichebe over and he gave him a torrid time when they played diagonal balls into him

For me its something he definitely needs to work on and I know its something the staff have concerns over

For me Kelly is like Markus Babbel he will be a top top class rightback but like Babbel I think he'll have a few frailties at centrehalf

[Exiled_red]

I think Flanagan will be a squad player for a season or so.

Glen Johnson won't suddenly be dropped back into being a squaddie and he's played left back due to his ability to do and we needed someone in there .

I think Johnson will still be first choice RB with Kelly his deputy. Flanagan will just have to bide his time in the reserves for a while.

If Flanagan plays well until the end of the season it would be interesting to see what might happen if a huge bid came in for Johnson. Too big a risk for me though.

I think that next season will start with a new left back and Johnson as rightback, Kelly will be battling for the right back slot (and provide cover) while I suspect Johnson will provide cover for left back. So for the majority of the season it will be 2 from 3 of Johnson, Kelly and a new Left back.

I hope Flanagan gets more games between now and the end of the season I think next season he will either be back up (3rd choice RB unless we sell someone) or he will be loaned out to hopefully get him a season of first team experience (hopefully in the Premiership - if he has a good end to the season).

[RedReet]

Really? I get the impression he's quite strong in the air. Don't remember him losing out too often in heading duels.

Courtesy of Mostar...

Link

Heading stats in duels.

[Imy]

There have been a couple of games when teams targetted him

I think it was the Everton game when they moved Anichebe over and he gave him a torrid time and played diagonal balls into him

For me its something he definitely needs to work on and I know its something the staff have concerns over

For me Kelly is like Markus Babbel he will be a top top class rightback but like Babbel I think he'll have a few frailties at centrehalf

Anichebe is a dirty get. I'm sure they targeted Kelly not due to any weakness but more to ruffle some feathers..

You're right though he needs to show a bit more strength in the air, he needs to be a bit more nasty, i think with his passing range he could do as well as Agger at centre back.

[Exiled_red]

Really? I get the impression he's quite strong in the air. Don't remember him losing out too often in heading duels.

I think he hasn't looked great in the air at full back, but there is a big difference in the necessary ability to be effective in the air as a centre back compared to a full back. As strikers as usually much better in the air than wingers/wide players

[Craig_H]

gOt a mate that looks much more like Plug/Crouch. Hit with the ladies mind.

'got a mate....' Never begin a sentence like that. For starters, it just sounds so implausible

[banditos]

Courtesy of Mostar...

Link

Heading stats in duels.

Hmm, ok. He's pretty tall for a full back, so I lways got the impression he wins his fair share against his direct opponent, but maybe that changes when he's up against a taller opponent.