2024/25 Vitalii Mykolenko

[West Side Charlie]

Played well today but I'm not sure he's the answer. I think he's lucky in a sense that we need to fill other positions before LB.
He's average, we need quality if we are to progress.

 

[Papa Shango]

…so you agree, we need a better option.

It’s a hugely important area we have to exploit, Mykolenko is a man-marker but we want better than ‘adequate’, look at the goal the Villa LB scored tonight, a player keeping Digne out of the side.

Technically we need better options all over the pitch.

I'm more concerned about the right side to be honest. O'Brien aint playing there forever.

Adequate is fine if you have a proper squad. Not everyone is going to be a world beater. get a more attacking left back in by all means. In an ideal world you get one who can play both ways but they seem to be quite rare these days.

 

[Amokachi1995]

I thought he was good today. Still need another left back for competition.

 

[Daveysgingerlovechild]

…we just need better.

I've no problem with keeping Myko. I've a problem with just Myko and Young or Patterson as the back up. An upgrade would be good, naturally. But one left back is just silly.

 

[Daveysgingerlovechild]

Technically we need better options all over the pitch.

I'm more concerned about the right side to be honest. O'Brien aint playing there forever.

Adequate is fine if you have a proper squad. Not everyone is going to be a world beater. get a more attacking left back in by all means. In an ideal world you get one who can play both ways but they seem to be quite rare these days.

Yes, one questionable Scottish full back and two veterans as the 'options' ain't really the best look.

 

[MaximusEvertonius]

Yes, one questionable Scottish full back and two veterans as the 'options' ain't really the best look.

Agree with that, mate. One that’s 40 years old and the other who’s pushing 40 and has trouble staying fit isn’t a great position to be in.

 

[brownmola]

Thought he was excellent today. Really good defensively and whipped in a few nice crosses to the back post. He is Moyes' Hibbert. Now we just need to find a Coleman at the other FB spot to provide a little more attacking to balance things out a little.

 

[Zatara]

For me, he needs to show this delivery more. If he doesn't, we would be well served by a pacier option that can interplay and get forward. Myko is for starters a bit too left footed and often struggles to beat his man. If and only if his crossing improves dramatically (maybe we saw a glimpse of it today) we definitely need to be looking for another. We need depth regardless. He can't be the only one.

I'd sign a young LB to develop....

Or go for:

LB: Mykolenko
LCB: Branthwaite
RCB: Tarkowski
RB: New Signing

LB/LCB: New Signing
RB/RCB: O'Brien

A small group of 6 players with 2 new signings. I'd be more inclined to sign players for the youth teams to develop than add more defenders.

 

[Eggs]

I'd sign a young LB to develop....

Or go for:

LB: Mykolenko
LCB: Branthwaite
RCB: Tarkowski
RB: New Signing

LB/LCB: New Signing
RB/RCB: O'Brien

A small group of 6 players with 2 new signings. I'd be more inclined to sign players for the youth teams to develop than add more defenders.

….great idea, buy youth players and develop them into first teamers. It’s so easy to do, it’s a wonder nobody else has ever thought of that , you’d think we’d have been trying to do that for years.

 

[edge]

Played really well.
Does generally does the defensive side of things well,
Need someone to put pressure on him.

 

[SuperKev91]

I'd sign a young LB to develop....

Or go for:

LB: Mykolenko
LCB: Branthwaite
RCB: Tarkowski
RB: New Signing

LB/LCB: New Signing
RB/RCB: O'Brien

A small group of 6 players with 2 new signings. I'd be more inclined to sign players for the youth teams to develop than add more defenders.

6 players to cover a back four for an entire season?!

What happens when inevitably your first choice cb (tarkowski) is injured and your right back has a knock?

 

[Zatara]

6 players to cover a back four for an entire season?!

What happens when inevitably your first choice cb (tarkowski) is injured and your right back has a knock?

You play the LCB/LB & OBrien + promote the players from the u21 side (that you have spent decent money on) to the bench.

Whens the last time we spent money on defenders for the u21s?

 

[SuperKev91]

You play the LCB/LB & OBrien + promote the players from the u21 side (that you have spent decent money on) to the bench.

Whens the last time we spent money on defenders for the u21s?

I think the more pressing concern has been the actual first team.

And it was last summer, we signed a lad from Burton Albion if you missed it. Tamen, looks a prospect too.

But no u21s we are signing are going to be trusted with long term absences in the first team. I can’t stress enough how much this isn’t actually football manager Zat.

 

[Zatara]

I think the more pressing concern has been the actual first team.

And it was last summer, we signed a lad from Burton Albion if you missed it. Tamen, looks a prospect too.

But no u21s we are signing are going to be trusted with long term absences in the first team. I can’t stress enough how much this isn’t actually football manager Zat.

How much was the Tamen fee? I dont see it as being the "decent" amount i referenced.

I believe it was nominal and undisclosed where as im talking about investing several million per player in the u21s that are able to rotate into the first team before long

 

[SuperKev91]

How much was the Tamen fee? I dont see it as being the "decent" amount i referenced.

I believe it was nominal and undisclosed where as im talking about investing several million per player in the u21s that are able to rotate into the first team before long

Mate you’re entirely missing the point that we’ve barely had several million to spend on first teamers.

We’re not Chelsea, and this isn’t football manager. We’ll have about 12 contracted first team players as it is.

The model you’re suggesting isn’t a terrible one, but I’d suggest reading the room. There’s absolutely no way we have 6 first team defenders and trust kids to cover injuries.

We’re trying to move away from the plughole not deeper into the spin.