24 - Thomas Vermaelen

[tacticvarium]

The idea of sigining a 5th CB from the outside is unrealistic and unnecessary.
Our current situation is just a rare case of bad luck and 4th & 5th CB positions should be generally given to our youth players since CBs don't require frequent rotation unlike other positions.

 

[soul24rage]

5th CB... name one for any big club playing 4 at the back.. No such thing man

Problem being even a 4th CB is that you barely ever even get on the bench, even when fit. Only low end Copa rounds. Zero match continuity guarantee which is utterly paramount for defenders. Either get a vet who knows his shit, won't do something a rookie would, knows the club and is willing to gel the locker room, or a young-un under 24 if your CBs are 30+ who will always be motivated to push his mates and get his time in scarce fixtures. Look among big teams anywhere outside of English league (who have more fixtures and mildly larger squads in general) and you'll struggle to find 4th CB who isn't an afterthought.

Agreed with you and tacticvarium. I don't think a lot of big clubs have 4 solid experienced CBs let alone 5 and it's just bad luck that 2 of them are injured. At least we have 2 CBs who are fit in Lenglet and Pique (who's solid enough if he get his head straight and plays with a RB who compliments him like Semedo).

 

[khaled_a_d]

The idea of sigining a 5th CB from the outside is unrealistic and unnecessary.
Our current situation is just a rare case of bad luck and 4th & 5th CB positions should be generally given to our youth players since CBs don't require frequent rotation unlike other positions.

You always need a 5th CB actually, that is necessary, and it isn't that rare at all for us, even when Bartra was 5th CB he was used due to injuries. Especially when you have an injury prone player like Vermaelen
Thing is, it doesn't have to be 5 pure CBs in the 1st team, it can be a promising/good CB from B team or a 1st team team player whose 2nd position is CB. Now we have neither. In other word 5 players who can play CB.

 

[xXKonan]

The one CB I'm curious to watch from the B team is Araujo the Uruguayan CB who we brought in. But due to him not having his work permit being done yet he hasn't been able to play and that alone makes it too early for him to be used for the first team.

The rest of the CBs for the B team isn't exactly great if we go by Preseason.

 

[Porque]

The 5th CB is Busquets. He is poor there but it is the Barcelona way for years.

Yaya Toure, Mascherano, Alex Song (doh!) And going back even further Philip Cocu have all been midfielders moved to CB as 5th or so option.

We also played Sylvinho there in past years.

I think Semedo can be fine there too so lets see if that becomes an option when Sergi Roberto is back.

4 CB options is fine. You have an A pairing and a B pairing. Then when needed the B options at CB L/R can rotate in when needed.

 

[Slevinn]

Even Adriano played there.

 

[Barcilliant]

The 5th CB is Busquets. He is poor there but it is the Barcelona way for years.

Yaya Toure, Mascherano, Alex Song (doh!) And going back even further Philip Cocu have all been midfielders moved to CB as 5th or so option.

We also played Sylvinho there in past years.

I think Semedo can be fine there too so lets see if that becomes an option when Sergi Roberto is back.

4 CB options is fine. You have an A pairing and a B pairing. Then when needed the B options at CB L/R can rotate in when needed.

I am pretty sure Vidal played cb for 3 matches with Juve. Conte heaped praise on him for his performances there.

 

[Messigician]

Wtf is wrong with him

 

[Raketa10]

Umtiti will likely have surgery and will be out for four more months as the treatment on his knee isn't working.

Source?

 

[soul24rage]

[tw]1051777263824441345[/tw]

 

[khaled_a_d]

Why would a player like Vermaelen continue to play with NT anyway? he is almost 33, he already played couple of world cups and played in Euro as well. He isn't a starter and struggling for match fitness with his club

 

[soul24rage]

Why would a player like Vermaelen continue to play with NT anyway? he is almost 33, he already played couple of world cups and played in Rueo as well. He isn't a starter and struggling for match fitness with his club

Since he's not getting match fitness with us, might as well get match fitness from NT and be ready whenever Barca needs him

 

[Raketa10]

Since he's not getting match fitness with us, might as well get injured playing for NT and won't be ready when Barca needs him

Fixed that for you!

 

[soul24rage]

Fixed that for you!

haha that's the risk however

 

[D10S_JC]

Can't believe Barca's still not get rid of him. Three out of four CB are left-foot, two out of them are injury prone.
Pretty non-sense combination.