McLaughlin?

[Keith]

Could McLaughlin play on the right side of a back three?

Leigh................................Cooney
....Gibson...O'Connor....McLaughlin....

[Little Shrimp]

I think that would possibly be a disaster. We're already soft enough in the air at the back as it is

Would have to be Mensah if Wootton and Delaney are both out next week.

[Andy D]

i thought that, like Gibson he looks strong enough in the tackle to play there.

[Keith]

i thought that, like Gibson he looks strong enough in the tackle to play there.

That's how I was thinking, mirror image.

I think that would possibly be a disaster. We're already soft enough in the air at the back as it is

So we wouldn't get any worse but may have more bite generally? Not many crosses from Gibson's side of the pitch. And Cooney is better getting forward, so we may actually get some decent crosses in to the box?

[Andy D]

i thought that, like Gibson he looks strong enough in the tackle to play there.

That's how I was thinking, mirror image.

I think that would possibly be a disaster. We're already soft enough in the air at the back as it is

So we wouldn't get any worse but may have more bite generally? Not many crosses from Gibson's side of the pitch. And Cooney is better getting forward, so we may actually get some decent crosses in to the box?

might happen now with Delaney and Wootten going off with injuries.

[Little Shrimp]

i thought that, like Gibson he looks strong enough in the tackle to play there.

That's how I was thinking, mirror image.

I think that would possibly be a disaster. We're already soft enough in the air at the back as it is

So we wouldn't get any worse but may have more bite generally? Not many crosses from Gibson's side of the pitch. And Cooney is better getting forward, so we may actually get some decent crosses in to the box?

No, just because we're a bit soft in the air doesn't mean we can't get worse! If we were to put a right back in there, it would have to be Cooney ahead of McLaughlin. Much better defensively McLaughlin, who himself swings in a better cross so would make sense to keep him at wing back. He was seen as a much more attacking full back when at Rochdale.

But I'm not convinced either would be a particularly good idea at RCB - would probably be Mensah at CB for me with O'Connor at RCB, or go to a back four maybe with Gibson in the centre?

[Andy D]

look how Kyle Walker shifts roles for Man City and England playing as a RCB, Luke Shaw for Man Utd and Cresswell for West Ham do it very well at LCB and non of them are known for their arial ability.

[Little Shrimp]

look how Kyle Walker shifts roles for Man City and England playing as a RCB, Luke Shaw for Man Utd and Cresswell for West Ham do it very well at LCB and non of them are known for their arial ability.

So let's pick this apart.

Walker is actually half decent in the air. He also has a very valuable quality that England's centre backs lack - blistering recovery pace. Shaw is a pretty big unit and physically strong. Cresswell I haven't watched as much of if I'm honest.

The main point though is that pretty much all the time, they are playing at centre back alongside two natural centre backs. Walker plays with Stones and Maguire in a back three for England, and Shaw plays with Maguire and Lindelof for United when they go to a back three. Pretty sure Cresswell was alongside two centre backs as well in Dawson and Ogbonna (I think) last season. When Gibson plays at centre back, it's generally alongside two natural centre backs - Wootton and AOC yesterday. Cooney-AOC-Gibson would only be one natural centre back there in the middle, which feels a bit risky. Especially considering how frail we've been defensively.

Another key point - they're all playing at international/Premier League level. Where ball playing ability etc is a more important asset for a defender than at the level we're at, where physicality and aerial ability comes in handy more frequently. If we were controlling possession etc more than we currently do, then maybe it's something worth considering? But given how things currently are, I'm not sure it would be a good idea.

[Keith]

Could McLaughlin play on the right side of a back three?

Leigh................................Cooney
....Gibson...O'Connor....McLaughlin....

Working well against Fleetwood so far. If Stephen Robinson needs any more advice, just PM me!

[Andy D]

Could McLaughlin play on the right side of a back three?

Leigh................................Cooney
....Gibson...O'Connor....McLaughlin....

Working well against Fleetwood so far. If Stephen Robinson needs any more advice, just PM me!

Yes, worked well, best defence I have seen us play all season, Mclaughlin made some good interceptions.

[Freez]

He did well, as did Gibbo and Ockers.

[sandgrown]

Gibbo MOM for me followed by O'Connor

[Keith]

Gibbo MOM for me followed by O'Connor

I had them the opposite way around, but yes.