Back Four For The Derby

[Brennan]

To be honest I think we need to try something different to neutralize Suarez, and Alcaraz could be that player. Roberto said that South Americans are used to marking players one on one. It's a big ask, but we haven't been able to contain him in the last couple of derbies with Jags/Distin.

We've drawn the last two and Suarez has only scored one goal, as a result of a free kick. He's not run us ragged.

I really don't think Alcaraz has the pace to deal with Suarez.

 

[SteKelly]

Not sure myself on the Baines/Oviedo situation.
Oviedo didn't do one thing wrong and he got thrown out the team as soon as Baines is back which just makes no sense to me. No competition in the team?

Then he got made to play LW/LM didn't he when Baines came back and didn't play well as thats not his position.

 

[TyphooToffee]

Amidst all the insanity of the window I thought it best to start a thread concerning something other than how fat McGeady is and see what other blues thoughts are in relation to our best back four for the derby providing all defenders are fully fit.

For me I feel the only two definite starters are Coleman and Jagielka, after that I think it could go a couple of ways, although Martinez will likely start with Distin and Baines I'm not so sure that would be wise.
I don't think the derby has ever been particularly successful for either of these two players and whether it be playing the occasion or just letting past mistakes haunt you I feel that this is the side of the pitch the RS will target and expect us to put out.

If fit I would line up with Coleman, Jagielka, Alcaraz, Oviedo. I believe Alcaraz will have had more experience dealing with players of LS style for Paraguay and I feel would not lose his head anytime LS goes anywhere near him this would leave Jags to worry about an effective but fairly one dimensional Sturridge. As for Oviedo I feel with his performances against MU and Arsenal he has shown that he is not fazed by the big games and for me deserves his chance to influence the game.

If we defend well, we win the game.

Thoughts Blues?

I'm inclined to agree with you. Alcaraz is a class act and Bryan fits in well. However, it's pretty obvious Baines will play.

 

[Brennan]

Not sure myself on the Baines/Oviedo situation.
Oviedo didn't do one thing wrong and he got thrown out the team as soon as Baines is back which just makes no sense to me. No competition in the team?

Then he got made to play LW/LM didn't he when Baines came back and didn't play well as thats not his position.

There is competition, Baines wins that competition because he's the better player.

 

[jackyboy]

Hey look it's another one of these threads... *facepalm*

What is "another one of these threads"? Have I upset you or something mate?

 

[rochdaleblue]

We've drawn the last two and Suarez has only scored one goal, as a result of a free kick. He's not run us ragged.

I really don't think Alcaraz has the pace to deal with Suarez.

Well he was banned for the game at anfield last season and scored 2 in the game at Goodson. 3 goals in his last two games against us, whilst maybe not running us ragged is still pretty impressive. You would think distin has the pace to deal with him, but for some reason in derby games, distin is a shadow of his normal self.

 

[SteKelly]

There is competition, Baines wins that competition because he's the better player.

I know that but Oviedo done nothing wrong in all games he played. Scored the winner vs OT and was fine defensively.
Baines walked back in the team.

Shocking if you ask me

Oviedo is not a LM/LW however Martinez and Moyes have played him there

 

[Brennan]

I know that but Oviedo done nothing wrong in all games he played. Scored the winner vs OT and was fine defensively.
Baines walked back in the team.

Shocking if you ask me

Oviedo is not a LM/LW however Martinez and Moyes have played him there

You play your best team.

Baines had done nothing wrong before his injury, surely it would have been unfair for him to lose the place he has earned over the course of several years because of something totally out of his control ?

If Baines had originally been dropped because he was out of form then fair enough, but he wasn't. He's much better than Oviedo and had he not been injured Bryan wouldn't have really had a look in.

 

[maddison]

The interesting thing for me is, we've actually got choices! My brain is still pickled over this, the mere fact we can argue over who our best back four is and pretty much change every player bar Coleman based on opinion is just mind blowing!

 

[toffeejack]

Coleman Jagielka Distin Baines

Nailed on.

if they're all fit, this should be it.

only have to worry about suarez (if he gets the ball from the midfield) imo. Distin always looks a bit iffy up against him if i'm honest, but we need his pace for their long balls over the top.

stones looked uncertain with a couple of balls over the top from norwich yesterday, great prospect, but he'd probably get caught out by that in the derby.

 

[SteKelly]

You play your best team.

you play whoever is in form...

 

[Brennan]

you play whoever is in form...

Baines wasn't dropped because of form, he was injured. He showed against Norwich that he's a better player. That means his 'form' is better than Bryan's.

It's the same reason why Jagielka comes straight back into the team when fit. He's the best centre half we have.

 

[SteKelly]

Baines wasn't dropped because of form, he was injured. He showed against Norwich that he's a better player. That means his 'form' is better than Bryan's.

It's the same reason why Jagielka comes straight back into the team when fit. He's the best centre half we have.

I'm not saying Baines was dropped because form am I

I'm saying Oviedo was dropped when he was in form to let Baines come in. Oviedo done nothing wrong in all the games he played as far as I am aware, I may be wrong though

I know Baines is one of our best players.

There is a big difference between Stones and Jagielka though to be fair. Stones doesn't have experience and all that.

 

[Azzurri]

A boss player in average form is better than a sh*te player in good form. Not that Oviedo's sh*te, like.

I wouldn't play Stones myself. He's gonna be fantastic and looks good at the moment, but he got caught out of position a couple of times by Hooper, Christ knows what Suarez would do.

Distin hasn't exactly looked great in past derbies either.

Alcaraz maybe?

 

[Brennan]

I'm not saying Baines was dropped because form am I

I'm saying Oviedo was dropped when he was in form to let Baines come in. Oviedo done nothing wrong in all the games he played as far as I am aware, I may be wrong though

I know Baines is one of our best players.

There is a big difference between Stones and Jagielka though to be fair. Stones doesn't have experience and all that.

I'd say there's as big a gap between Baines and Oviedo as there is between Stones and Jags mate. Baines is one of the best left backs in the world.

Oviedo was an able deputy but he didn't set the world on fire and his attacking capabilities weren't close to what Baines offers with Pienaar on the left. He did well but he takes his rightful seat on the bench as one of the best players in the world in his position takes his place.

Simple as that, imo. As i say it'd be different if Baines had been dropped because he was playing poorly.