2025/26 Jarrad Branthwaite

[cronullasharks]

Harry & Martin?

Anyway, I can't see the resemblance re Branthwaite. But there is a 'six degrees' at work here. Neil Morrissey who replaced Enfield was Amanda Holden's bit on the side. And she's a blue with a very perky exterior.

Sorry, that was their character names on Men Behaving Badly. I dunno, always thought there was a resemblance.

What a magnificent player though

 

[Swagger]

I guess Tuchel just feels like they're overstocked with centre halves. Somehow Stones, who never plays, is ahead of Branthwaite, as is Quansah who is now at 6th in the Bundesliga Leverkusen. Guehi is an automatic pick, and Chalobah has been in the squad for quite a while now too. Konza is another automatic pick (although I don't rate him, looking at it objectively he's been a mainstay in Villa's defence and they're having a great season), so that's 5 centre halves already. Dan Burn (lol) has been in the squad a while too, which makes 6.

Then Branthwaite has been out for 6 months, so would need to be proving himself over a period before coming back into contention.

IMO he should definitely be in there over Quansah and Burn at a bare minimum. And he's clearly a better defender now than Stones is, who is past his best and backup at City. Better than Chalobah too. And Konza.

Haha.

I disagree regarding Stones in that he has been outstanding for England over the past 4 tournaments. He has a lot of credit in the bank and brings a load of tournament experience. There's an argument that along with Pickford, he has been England's best player over the past 10 years with Kyle Walker just behind them. He hardly played any football in the months leading up to the last Euros yet he was still fantastic for Englang in the tournament. I would take him if he's fit and available. Guehi is an automatic choice as you state. Konza has been excellent for England - arguably better than Guehi in recent international games. I agree that for whatever reason he hasn't always excelled at Villa but he has been excellent for England perhaps because he's playing with better players.

I would go with the following five centre backs:

Guehi
Stones
Konza
Branthwaite
Maguire

Maguire has objectively been very good for Manchester United this season and he has played a big part in their upturn of form. I have no idea why Dan Burn has been getting in the squad. He's slow, awkward in possession and gets caught out positionally. If Tuchel wants an experience centre back who can head the ball then go with Maguire.

Quansah is currently playing in a farmers league and was deemed only good enough to play in about 5 league games for Liverpool last season. Chalobah is part of a Chelsea defence that has had far too many clown show moments this season. Admittedly, it has mostly on the keeper but he has also been shown up on a fair few occasions.

Branthwaite is exceptional and arguably when all English centre backs are fully fit he is the best as he is able to command his box aerially which Guehi struggles to do. As someone else commented, he's like JT with wheels.

 

[GoldenToffee]

I disagree regarding Stones in that he has been outstanding for England over the past 4 tournaments. He has a lot of credit in the bank and brings a load of tournament experience. There's an argument that along with Pickford, he has been England's best player over the past 10 years with Kyle Walker just behind them. He hardly played any football in the months leading up to the last Euros yet he was still fantastic for Englang in the tournament. I would take him if he's fit and available. Guehi is an automatic choice as you state. Konza has been excellent for England - arguably better than Guehi in recent international games. I agree that for whatever reason he hasn't always excelled at Villa but he has been excellent for England perhaps because he's playing with better players.

I would go with the following five centre backs:

Guehi
Stones
Konza
Branthwaite
Maguire

Maguire has objectively been very good for Manchester United this season and he has played a big part in their upturn of form. I have no idea why Dan Burn has been getting in the squad. He's slow, awkward in possession and gets caught out positionally. If Tuchel wants an experience centre back who can head the ball then go with Maguire.

Quansah is currently playing in a farmers league and was deemed only good enough to play in about 5 league games for Liverpool last season. Chalobah is part of a Chelsea defence that has had far too many clown show moments this season. Admittedly, it has mostly on the keeper but he has also been shown up on a fair few occasions.

Branthwaite is exceptional and arguably when all English centre backs are fully fit he is the best as he is able to command his box aerially which Guehi struggles to do. As someone else commented, he's like JT with wheels.

Can't disagree with any of that.

Excellent post.

 

[Marcus Kendall]

I disagree regarding Stones in that he has been outstanding for England over the past 4 tournaments. He has a lot of credit in the bank and brings a load of tournament experience. There's an argument that along with Pickford, he has been England's best player over the past 10 years with Kyle Walker just behind them. He hardly played any football in the months leading up to the last Euros yet he was still fantastic for Englang in the tournament. I would take him if he's fit and available. Guehi is an automatic choice as you state. Konza has been excellent for England - arguably better than Guehi in recent international games. I agree that for whatever reason he hasn't always excelled at Villa but he has been excellent for England perhaps because he's playing with better players.

I would go with the following five centre backs:

Guehi
Stones
Konza
Branthwaite
Maguire

Maguire has objectively been very good for Manchester United this season and he has played a big part in their upturn of form. I have no idea why Dan Burn has been getting in the squad. He's slow, awkward in possession and gets caught out positionally. If Tuchel wants an experience centre back who can head the ball then go with Maguire.

Quansah is currently playing in a farmers league and was deemed only good enough to play in about 5 league games for Liverpool last season. Chalobah is part of a Chelsea defence that has had far too many clown show moments this season. Admittedly, it has mostly on the keeper but he has also been shown up on a fair few occasions.

Branthwaite is exceptional and arguably when all English centre backs are fully fit he is the best as he is able to command his box aerially which Guehi struggles to do. As someone else commented, he's like JT with wheels.

Quansah is very impressive so he should be in the England squad, I know he's ex RS but he's got all the attributes needed to go far in the game

 

[windymiller]

The one positive of Moyes playing Branthwaite at left back is that he won't be going to the World Cup. Everyone who plays in that massively bloated tournament with games being played in 35 degree heat is going to be absolutely knackered at the start of next season. I hope none of our players get selected, NEA.

 

[Neiler]

Just makes everyone around him better, Myko looked a real full back in Sat with him back in the team.

 

[JobForTheMoyes]

The one positive of Moyes playing Branthwaite at left back is that he won't be going to the World Cup. Everyone who plays in that massively bloated tournament with games being played in 35 degree heat is going to be absolutely knackered at the start of next season. I hope none of our players get selected, NEA.

I wonder if part of the rationale was match fitness? While the centre is fine, having to run up and down the left will have really worked his lungs.

 

[witchdoc187]

What a player he is

 

[witchdoc187]

Reminds me of when we had stones and he just oozed class

 

[hetion]

The one positive of Moyes playing Branthwaite at left back is that he won't be going to the World Cup. Everyone who plays in that massively bloated tournament with games being played in 35 degree heat is going to be absolutely knackered at the start of next season. I hope none of our players get selected, NEA.

Lol same genuinely. And if you win the thing you have to shake hands and pose for photos with Trump. Grim. Rather they have the summer off and a proper pre-season than take part in that mess.

 

[maccavennie]

Solid game

 

[Rodebaard]

Going to struggle to keep him in the summer I think. Clear to see for anyone with eyes that he makes us more solid and gets us up the pitch with some speed and positive passing

 

[hallamblue]

I can see Chelsea putting in a bid, or offering Delap as a makeweight. We really need to keep him though, he's one of only 2 players we have who could play for a top 4 team.

 

[chicoazul]

I think him missing half the season works in Everton’s favour in keeping him. And if they do and manage to keep Ndiaye suitors at bay then next season Everton will have a really good chance to go and do something worthwhile in the league, which they’ll probably spew but it’s nice to be hopeful.

 

[Micky_T]

I can see Chelsea putting in a bid, or offering Delap as a makeweight. We really need to keep him though, he's one of only 2 players we have who could play for a top 4 team.

I'm assuming Ndaiye is the other one which means you think Pickford could never play for a top 4 side. Or is it the other way round?