Alex Charlton says…
This has to be the toughest choice for Régis Le Bris because collectively, I think defence is our strongest position in terms of depth — which is funny considering how concerned I was about it during the summer.
Of course, it depends on what formation we play. Against the stronger teams, a back five is working wonders and we should continue to adopt this. However, I think we should go to a back four against other teams, which will give us stronger options in attacking areas.
In a back four, I’d go with Nordi Mukiele, Dan Ballard, Omar Alderete and Reinildo.
I hate how that means Trai Hume and Lutsharel Geertruida would have to settle for the bench, but it just shows how strong we are. Ballard has been sensational at the back and going forward, and I love how Le Bris is allowing him to get forward on occasions. Of course, it depends on who’s fit as we’ve seen this season how rare it is to have all options available. Strength in depth is key!
As for a back five, I’d have to go Trai Hume, Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete and Reinildo.
Nothing on Geertruida here — he’s just unfortunate that everyone is playing so well. Equally, he could slot in nicely in midfield if needs be. It’s a nice problem for us to have, and I back Le Bris with whoever he picks.
John Wilson says…
We’ve got options for sure, and there’s the caveat of which formation to opt for.
The truth is that Régis Le Bris will be looking at it as horses for courses. He has his finishing players and his starters. Sometimes it’ll be whoever has the shirt; it’s theirs to lose, and will it be four at the back or five?
I’m prevaricating of course, because it’s like choosing your favourite child, but on several occasions this season, we’ve asked “How’s Omar Alderete going to get back into the team?” or “How’s Dan Ballard going to get back into the team?” A deep squad is needed in the Premier League and we’re building towards that, but we’re certainly not there yet.
I’ve a strong suspicion that we’ve recently moved to a back five to be able to incorporate more of our top defenders.
When Habib Diarra returns, that could be harder to do, so I’m going to choose the more difficult option and go for a back four — which is generally Le Bris’ preferred formation. If that means someone dropping deeper from midfield during the game, that’s a different question, but my go-to back four would be Nordi Mukiele, Dan Ballard, Omar Alderete and Reinildo.
Trai Hume would miss out, and Lutsharel Geertruida would either fight for a midfield birth or drop into a five. I don’t like the term “dropped” any more, as this is a squad game and I love Hume. He’s just less of a Rolls Royce than Mukiele. That’s the only way I can put it.
All these answers could be shot down — and with good reason — but with my arm up my back, that’s my preferred lineup in a back four, which gives us a more solid midfield and better chances to defend further up the pitch.
Malc Dugdale says…
This is a great problem to have and with our next two matches being against Fulham and Bournemouth, I think we may choose a back four rather than a five — at least for our first game back.
That said, it could be either. The boss may want to optimise manpower in the middle and in attack, at least for these two games, so one defender may miss out.
We have Liverpool, Manchester City and the Mags after those two, so optimising points and retaining momentum will be the order of the day — especially at Fulham, who’ve lost four of their last five games and haven’t scored more than one goal at home or away since mid-September, when they beat Brentford 3-1.
Dan Ballard is the second name on the team sheet after the skipper just now and deservedly so, so let’s not pretend his spot is up for grabs.
I don’t think we’ll change what’s worked recently, so I’d expect Nordi Mukiele or Lutsharel Geertruida to partner him, as both have played very well in the absence of others. Speaking of options, if Omar Alderete is back, he may go into a centre back pairing of a four instead of both of the aforementioned players, such is the huge competition we have across our rearguard. He too is an absolute baller and the depth we have is ridiculous.
Reinildo picks himself at left back for me, with his form both at the back and up front (despite his silly red card), so in my view, the only debate is at right back.
With the way Ballard is playing now, there’s a strong argument to put Hume at right back, carrying on Trai’s partnership with his Northern Irish teammate, but Mukiele is a massive player and is contributing in every single game — including with the odd goal.
Maybe I would start with Reinildo, Alderete/Mukiele (depending on fitness), Ballard and Hume, or maybe we’ll stick with a back five to fit both Hume and Mukiele in. It would be a shame to drop Geertruida as he’s got better and better, but someone has to be a “finisher” and he’ll know this isn’t down to his graft and contribution.
The injury toll from international games may be a factor, so I’ll have everything crossed for the coming internationals and for the physio to have no new patients, and hopefully we’re spoilt for both choice and points when the Lads run out at The Cottage later in November.
Mark Wood says…
There are two problems that spring to my mind — the first of which is if you play a four or a five at the back.
My own choice is a four but as evidenced recently, there’ll be games where we go for a five. From a purely selfish perspective of not leaving out defenders who don’t really deserve to be dropped, five would be better but with the setup of the whole team in mind, four is my first option.
That brings me to the next problem of who you’d leave out, because on the performances in the first eleven matches, none of the main contenders deserve a place on the bench.
For me, there are three you couldn’t drop because of the levels they’ve played at this season: Dan Ballard, Nordi Mukiele and Reinildo.
Reinildo has made the left back spot his own despite a daft sending off against Aston Villa. Ballard has been a nightmare for the opposition at both ends of the pitch and in my opinion, Mukiele has been our most consistent defender.
The remaining spot in my preferred choice of four is in central defence alongside Ballard, and is a straight choice between Omar Alderete and Lutsharel Geertruida, and my pick is Alderete…just. I think he’s been a strong and classy presence in our backline, but it’s a hard call when I think of Geertruida’s contribution in the few games he’s played.
The media grudgingly described his ball to Brian Brobbey at Stamford Bridge as a “hopeful punt” but I’ll say it again: he looked up and saw Brobbey’s run, and in my opinion he planted the ball exactly where wanted it to go, so its a really hard call between the two of them.
This means that Mukiele goes to right back ahead of Trai Hume because I can’t drop Mukiele. There’s just no way — and apologies to Trai, who’s started every game.
Those who’ve been left out wouldn’t been benched for long, as in the games where we prefer to start with a five would mean either Hume — with Mukiele going to the middle — or Alderete would come in, and as we’ve seen in just eleven games so far this season, all of the above have started matches and had plenty of game time.
It reflects just how strong our squad is that on the evidence so far, there are no weak pieces amongst them.
