Re: Jose Enrique - 'Done Deal' says Thommo
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=44896.msg1377199#msg1377199 date=1312962253]
[quote author=Pesam link=topic=44896.msg1377197#msg1377197 date=1312962065]
[quote author=Hansern link=topic=44896.msg1377189#msg1377189 date=1312961096]
[quote author=ILD link=topic=44896.msg1377169#msg1377169 date=1312948645]
Nothing to do with this debate whatsoever as Im not arsed about Enrique really to be honest but Hansern is a fine poster.
[/quote]
Thank you Dave, thats very nice to hear.
Pesam;
I'm convinced he's the best option available and a great purchase for 6 mill £.
He was poor in his first season, but improved greatly in the Championship and last year he was one of the best full backs in the league and therefor I'm convinced he can push further on if he's signed. He's got great pace and will fit in very nicely in a pass and move team.
The reason I've been spending a lot of time posting in this thread the last few days has more to do with Ryans arguments ;D
[/quote]
Fair enough, I way away last week so missed most of your debate with Ryan and can't be bothered looking back at it - although I'm sure it was entertaining 🙂
Neil, Arbeloa might be excellent now but he wasn't for us although he was good. I'd be pleasantly surprised if Enrique is as good a left back for us as Arbeloa was at right back i.e. consistently good.
[/quote]
I meant for us, not real madrid. I absolutely loved the guy. so enrique could come in and do a consistent (but not spectacular) and he'd improve us.
[/quote]
Not he wouldn't!!
That's where this whole LB clamouring desperation crumbles. I have no problem with us signing a new LB - so long as it doesn't impede our attempts to sign players in the positions we really need. We've been struggling in the air at the back for a couple of seasons - no surprises there when we've just lost one of the great arial commanders after 10 years service. The surprise comes when we don't address the issue. The stupefying amazement comes when people start claiming another position in the backline is the priority.
We finished last season with a strong performer at LB. Is he everybody's ideal image of a champion LB? Of course not. Neither is Lahm. Are there better LB's out there? Of course there are. But just because there are better LB's out there doesn't mean the position must be filled at all costs. Enrique, when I've seen him, has been a pretty fair player. Nice pass, reasonable pace, iffy positioning, solid enough tackle. The question is, does he provide a lot more than what we finished last season with? The answer is no. In which case we're paying out 6m for a player who might offer a little improvement on what we've currently got. That's not the way we're going to bridge the gulf between us and the title.
Meanwhile we have a number of commanding CB's around who would be significant improvements on what we put out on the pitch last season. They could address an area where we've been giving goals away like candy for a couple of seasons. That's where our priorities have to be. By all means sign another LB - sign two of them and add another midfielder; we won't care so long as we get the centre of defense sorted out.
My position would probably change if we had someone like Evra available for the LB spot. But while he's good Enrique is no Evra and nothing suggests he ever will be. We need to get the fatal problems in our team worked out; then we can start on the cosmetic surgery with what's left over.
