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Full-back condundrum

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rurikbird

rurikbird

Part of the Furniture
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So now that Robertson is here, we have lots of cover for both full-back positions. Here's a depth chart, the way I see it:

Right-back:
  1. Clyne (balanced)
  2. Alexander-Arnold (attacking)
  3. Flanagan, Gomez, Randall
  4. Milner, if needed and if there is a good option at LB
Left-back:
  1. Milner (balanced)
  2. Robertson (attacking)
  3. Moreno (will probably be sold)
  4. Clyne, Flanagan, Alexander-Arnold or Gomez playing on "unnatural" flank
  5. Klavan (defensive)
So we have lots and lots of options, but it's not at all clear yet which ones are actually good. Is Flanagan back for real or is this pre-season his last few days with the team? Will Joe Gomez stay or go on loan? How quickly will Robertson adapt? I'm not sure if Klopp already made those decisions or he's waiting to see how things develop in the pre-season before culling the FB ranks before the season. Who do you think will make the team from options 3-5?
 
Gomez looked bloody fast in yesterday's game. It would be very interesting to see the results from our 100 and 200 metre sprint tests.

Although Rodger's played him at fullback I was never comfortable with the idea long term. He's a little bit like Micah Richards who could have been a great CB if given the correct coaching and opportunities. Perhaps he didn't have the qualities for Cb but in the end Micah became a very limited full back that provided nothing going forward (apart from corners). Gomez isn't a full back and trying to shoehorn him in there is going to backfire long term.
 
gareth_thomas said:
Gomez looked bloody fast in yesterday's game. It would be very interesting to see the results from our 100 and 200 metre sprint tests.

Although Rodger's played him at fullback I was never comfortable with the idea long term. He's a little bit like Micah Richards who could have been a great CB if given the correct coaching and opportunities. Perhaps he didn't have the qualities for Cb but in the end Micah became a very limited full back that provided nothing going forward (apart from corners). Gomez isn't a full back and trying to shoehorn him in there is going to backfire long term.
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Hmm, I don't know, I think the reason Micah Richards didn't become a great CB is simply because he didn't have qualities like concentration and reading of the game that's required of a great CB. Honestly I think it's a myth that players get "ruined" by being played in a "wrong" position – like when many people here thought Rodgers was "ruining" Markovic by playing him at wing-back. Now we know (I hope) that position wasn't the problem...

Specifically where it comes to FB to CB issue, there are plenty of examples where time as a full-back actually aided the development of top-class CBs. Sergio Ramos. Jerome Boateng. Carragher. MALDINI. I like how Gomez looked at RB too, I would have no issue at playing him there (or at LB where Rodgers played him), but if he's not going to be a starter, it might be better for his development to go on loan. That would be my only concern.
 
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I think we look ok at full back. I dont recall having seen Robertson at all, but hopefully he is a better back up than Moreno

Does this signify that perhaps Milner will play the holding midfield role this season?

We no longer have a DM at the club, I know hes played it in the past for City and been well recieved there.
 
I think the only reason Flanno is still around is because Clyne is injured and possibly the lack of offers as well.
Moreno is there for the same reason, we only have Milner playing in that position at the moment. I predict a few more moves before we go to Germany.
 
Since Klopp is giving him time it may be that we sees Gomez as adding depth, not only to the FB slots but also to CB where we are particularly weak at the moment.

I'll be very surprised if Flanagan, Randall and Moreno aren't sold. Leaving us with :

LB. 1. Milner, 2. Robertson (maybe more balanced than you think and could end up as the starter by the end of the season), 3. Gomez, 4. Klavan 5. Clyne
RB. 1. Clyne (I'd call him defensive as although he often gets up into the top half it's once in a blue moon he makes anything happen), 2. AA (could end up as the starter by the end of the season), 3. Gomez
 
Regarding Gomez, I thought the consensus is that he stays until we sign VVD, in which case he's heading out on loan.
 
The weakest part of our team and squad for sure. I'm not convinced any of them are particularly good though I haven't seen much of Robertson and TAA is still young so could get better.
No opposition will be worried by any of our full backs defensively or offensively at the moment. The money looks to be going on other parts of the team at the moment so well just have to make do.
 
AA looks like he could be something special... there's no way Klopp would sign another right back as It would essentially force one of our most promising youngsters out of the club.

We have to be courageous and give opportunities to these lads or what's the point in having an academy
 
I would have preferred a more established left back as we were crying out for that in a lot of games last season.
 
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