[Archived] No Right-back

[Plastic Head]

So Emerton an Ooijer are out tonight so who will be right-back?

This position has been a source of goals for our opponents all season. A big mis-calculation by Hughes to go into the season without a regular right full back.

Emerton never looked good defensively last season and has been cruelly exposed this year. Ooijer is too slow to turn and poor going forward.

Before we think of midfield or Roberts replacement we need a right-back.

Anybody any ideas?

I'll start with Brede Hangeland of FC Copenhagen.

[1864roverite]

Reid can play right back

[modes98]

Emerton has been fantastic at right back and did that role in holland so i'd call him a regular right back.

There is also young Tony Kane and the axe has played there but he looks dodgy, doesn't really make a change to normal though.

[Cocker]

zurab?

[herbergeehh]

I'll start with Brede Hangeland of FC Copenhagen.

Haha. Hangeland can't play right back at all, we could might as well put Santa Cruz there. A good player in the centre of the defense though.

[John]

I always wanted a specialist right-back to come in the summer. As much as I like Emerton because of the energy/running he gives to the side, he is not a good defender and too often he gets caught out. Either by giving away penalties, positionally or marking at set pieces/general play.

However, when you do not have that much money to spend, right back is not a position which can be deemed a priority for us. With Emerton, Ooijer, Zurab and Reid (at a push) there is probably enough cover.

[philipl]

We have Northern Ireland's right back on our books.

Tony Kane to make debut?- Belfast Telegraph

[John]

Read that earlier about Kane.

Could be risky, but then again could he do any worse considering our recent defensive performances.

Hughes may well go for the tryed and tested (Zurab).

I read one paper this morning saying the Axe would start at right back!!

[joey_big_nose]

Read that earlier about Kane.

Could be risky, but then again could he do any worse considering our recent defensive performances.

Hughes may well go for the tryed and tested (Zurab).

I read one paper this morning saying the Axe would start at right back!!

Actually quite possible. Or Samba. Or Zurab.

I would like to see Kane too as it would be something different. But I have no idea what his form is like so not really in much of a position to make judgement.

[Darth Paul]

Tony Kane is either good enough or he isn't so why not give him a try tonight rather than play someone out of position, which is the sort of daft thing Steve McLaren used to do for England when his favourites weren't available.

Im not saying that our kids are at the level that Arsenals are, but sometimes you have to give people a go...

[krislu]

Hangeland at right back? You do not know much about this player do you. I'm pretty sure Hangeland would make the worst possible right back you could imagine....

[LeftWinger]

Hangeland at right back? You do not know much about this player do you. I'm pretty sure Hangeland would make the worst possible right back you could imagine....

Well some have suggested Mokoena at right-back so he would have competition for that dubious honour!

[Lathund]

I always wanted a specialist right-back to come in the summer.

So did I. Considering our resources it wouldn't necessarily have to be someone who would replace Emerton, but simply having a specialist right back that could allow Emerton to deputise in midfield when needed, or to give him a rest now and then, without having to play someone out of position there would be very useful. A right back who's better than even a good centre half in that position isn't really all that expensive. Wouldn't even need to be someone great at going forward, solid defensively and some limited attacking ability that would at least force the opposing winger to keep him in mind would be all that's needed. I mean the way it is now our first choice right back is also our first backup at right midfield, while our second choice RB is our first backup at centre half. It's good in that when everyone is fit it leaves us with a squad with plenty of options without having to pay too many players, but when we get some injuries or suspensions it puts us in a tricky situation. Such as if Samba, Emerton and Ooijer were all to be out at the same time.

However if Kane can be that player then that's even better.

[b12_simon]

zurab?

Zurab would get my vote.

[Eddie]

I'd like to see Kane given a chance. We really need a specialist right-back and this is a good opportunity to blood a youngster. Zurab would do the job, but personally I'd like to see him replace Nelsen at centre-back for the time being. I'm not someone who believes in throwing the youngsters in, but this would seem like a good game to try one of them out.

[Anti-Dingle-Brigade]

How about:

Warnock - Nelsen - Zurab - Samba

Samba would be good defensively and he isn't half bad at getting forwards. He would probably leave Nelsen exposed though, who he has been carrying for most of the season.

[Eddie]

Samba is pretty poor at getting forward. He's ok at charging past a forward and stretching his legs a bit, but once he gets into the other half and is faced with different options and players who actually know how to defend he has no idea what to do.

[thecomebackid]

We have Northern Ireland's right back on our books.

Tony Kane to make debut?- Belfast Telegraph

Tony Kane debut would be welcome. As an alternative however, Steven Reid would be a decent stop-gap. Didn't he used to play on the wing for Millwall?

[philipl]

Tony Kane debut would be welcome. As an alternative however, Steven Reid would be a decent stop-gap. Didn't he used to play on the wing for Millwall?

Now that is an interesting thought.

When we signed Reid he was playing left wing and scoring spectacular goals by bursting infield and launching right footed howitzers.

[Mr. E]

Admittedly I don't think I've ever seen Kane play, but we should be giving the youth players a chance whenever the opportunity presents itself.

[Exiled_Rover]

What a superb thread, especially now considering Reid defended like a schoolboy for their first goal.

[Alex Rover]

30 mins through the Arsenal match and crikey! Let's never and I mean never play Reid at right-back ever again

[G Somerset Rover]

Lets be honest judging our last 5-6 games we need a whole new flipping defence. Error after error. Not just from a couple of men either.

[Guest WestSussexTombo]

Sorry, but why wasnt Zurab given the shout for right back? He is used to playing there and if Sparky is going to offer him a new contract then we might as well play him when Ooijer and Emerton are out...

My only guess is Sparky decided that he needed Dunn and Savage in midfield and that Reid needed the full match fitness wise.

Dont understand the logic personally, but in Hughes we trust...

[Lathund]

One simple reason for playing Kane/Zurab/Any defender there ahead of Reid; Defenders are used to the offside trap, midfielders aren't. It's not easy to execute it well, and a midfielder returning from a long injury layoff isn't exactly going to do too well there is he?