2nd missing piece of the puzzle - Central defender

[kingjulian]

i don't know anything about this lad, but his wiki says he is 5'11. I'm not sure he can cut it as a Centre Back in England. He might do well in spain...

 

[doctor_mac]

It would be good to get a CB with pace and aerial power. Part of the reason the Scum have never really needed an out and out destructive CM is that their CBs are good enough not to need that protection. I'd love us to have CBs that good, but they don't come cheap.

 

[Delinquent]

[quote author=Asbo link=topic=44019.msg1277178#msg1277178 date=1296735288]
We are looking for a Strong tall, quick CB, who is good at reading the game, and is good at heading the ball.

Thats Kelly all over.
[/quote]

Kelly is strong in the air, but not dominant in the way that Sami was/is. And he's been doing brilliantly where he is so there's no need to change it. Besides, it's a massive bonus having full-backs who are able to help out the centre-backs with aerial threats. That's part of the reason we looked so solid with Arbeloa and Riise, and so exposed with Johnson and Insua.

I'm all for promoting the youth but I don't see a player like Sami lower down the order. I think we'll need to recruit - I'm not totally convinced about Mertesacker but if he's available I guess he'd be an option. Otherwise plucking another Sami from obscurity for peanuts would be great.