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Thread: Left back options

  1. #1
    International jon1959's Avatar
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    Left back options

    Joe Bennett is out for the season but posting positive messages and thanking fans for well wishes.

    Joel Bagan has obviously got the shirt for the rest of the season.

    But what are the options if Bagan has to be replaced for any reason? WOL have done a fair job of thinking aloud here:

    https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/...rogue-19961957

    1. Bagan

    2. Brown

    3. Osei-Tutu

    4. Hoilett

    5. Ralls

  2. #2

    Re: Left back options

    in the current formation I think hoilett could do ok.
    also maybe Dan Martin or Roland idowu came on there recently I think (although very much more attacking than defensive) could be given the chance to step up

  3. #3

    Re: Left back options

    I remember hoilett doing well when played 3 at the back and 5 in midfield v wolves a few years ago. That was when he was in better form.

    Mick speaks well of bagan and did well against derby

  4. #4

    Re: Left back options

    Quote Originally Posted by mazadona10 View Post
    I remember hoilett doing well when played 3 at the back and 5 in midfield v wolves a few years ago. That was when he was in better form.

    Mick speaks well of bagan and did well against derby
    Agreed, I think he could do a job if asked.

    Although great chance for Bagan

  5. #5

    Re: Left back options

    Brown is the obvious choice as he played in that position for some of the time he was at Livingston. I think Bacuna has filled in there on occasion too and not done to badly for us.

  6. #6

    Re: Left back options

    Quote Originally Posted by cardiff55 View Post
    Brown is the obvious choice as he played in that position for some of the time he was at Livingston. I think Bacuna has filled in there on occasion too and not done to badly for us.
    Did he play as a wing back or a left back there though?

  7. #7

    Re: Left back options

    I'm sure Dan Martin is thrilled to find out that, after two and a half years here, he's not even in the top 5 left backs at the club, even though we're now playing a system that's made for him and Bennett and Cunningham aren't blocking his way. I get the impression, from the way he has handled Bacuna, that McCarthy would rather have specialist full backs in that position than converted wingers or midfielders. Time will tell.

    I don't see Brown as a wing-back but, again, we'll have to wait and see. I know he hasn't played for a while but I thought he looked a bit clumsy and agricultural at centre back for the under-23s on Monday but that may have just been an act to impress McCarthy and Connor.

  8. #8

    Re: Left back options

    Ng is comfortable on his left foot so would provide better cover than a lot of the players listed

    Is Brown a wing back? On the limited occasions I've seen him pay he doesn't strike me as one. I imagine Dan Martin is quite easily ahead of Hoilett, Bacuna and Ralls in McCarthy's thinking, but WOL just don't know who he is

  9. #9

    Re: Left back options

    Quote Originally Posted by Loramski View Post
    I'm sure Dan Martin is thrilled to find out that, after two and a half years here, he's not even in the top 5 left backs at the club, even though we're now playing a system that's made for him and Bennett and Cunningham aren't blocking his way. I get the impression, from the way he has handled Bacuna, that McCarthy would rather have specialist full backs in that position than converted wingers or midfielders. Time will tell.

    I don't see Brown as a wing-back but, again, we'll have to wait and see. I know he hasn't played for a while but I thought he looked a bit clumsy and agricultural at centre back for the under-23s on Monday but that may have just been an act to impress McCarthy and Connor.


    You cant say that . This is the second coming .

    Didnt Brown do very well at Liivngston ?

  10. #10

    Re: Left back options

    Quote Originally Posted by Jimmy the Jock View Post


    You cant say that . This is the second coming .

    Didnt Brown do very well at Liivngston ?
    From what I read they were positive about his time there, and his most recent loan spell was most successful, but "very well" might be pushing it.

  11. #11

    Re: Left back options

    I wonder what Martin John is up to these days? This could be his moment to shine!

  12. #12

    Re: Left back options

    Quote Originally Posted by surge View Post
    From what I read they were positive about his time there, and his most recent loan spell was most successful, but "very well" might be pushing it.
    He took a bit of time to establish himself this time round but he seemed to be on a good run by the end. The Livingston manager was full of praise for him when he left there.

    https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/...hails-23417239

    I only really saw him as a centre half and didn't feel he looked that comfortable going forward. I know he has played at left back up there but I'm not sure if he's done it as a wing back or not. Martin is a natural wing back but is just coming back from an injury so McCarthy may not have had much chance to assess him yet. Brown would be a more natural choice on the bench as he can cover at centre back too, it'll be interesting to see how this plays out.

  13. #13

    Re: Left back options

    Hoilett worth a punt as he ages I guess .

    Brown appears to be a centre back .

    Best option , we back and give Bagan time to develop .

  14. #14

    Re: Left back options

    Quote Originally Posted by Rjk View Post
    Did he play as a wing back or a left back there though?
    I saw him in a televised game against Celtic (I think). he was playing left back but not sure if it was lb or wing back. He alternated between centre back and on the left for Livingston. His only game for us was at left back but he looked very much like a centre back playing out of position. Mind you, he can bomb forward and score a goal too.

  15. #15

    Re: Left back options

    Bagan should be given time and allowed to develop.

    I’d like to see brown given a chance at CB but I guess the games are too tight at the moment. Brown on the left , Morrison / Flint in the middle and Nelson on the right had a nice balance about it.

    I got a feeling it will be Ralls and bagan being used on the left of the midfield 4.

    Something rings a bell about ralls being used at full back in the past ?

  16. #16
    International jon1959's Avatar
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    Re: Left back options

    Quote Originally Posted by Fine Lines View Post
    Bagan should be given time and allowed to develop.

    I’d like to see brown given a chance at CB but I guess the games are too tight at the moment. Brown on the left , Morrison / Flint in the middle and Nelson on the right had a nice balance about it.

    I got a feeling it will be Ralls and bagan being used on the left of the midfield 4.

    Something rings a bell about ralls being used at full back in the past ?

    There was one season when Ralls was used as an emergency left back, and Gunnarsson stepped in as an emergency right back.

    They did OK as in-game cover - but just OK.

    Maybe 5 or 6 years ago?

  17. #17

    Re: Left back options

    Quote Originally Posted by jon1959 View Post
    There was one season when Ralls was used as an emergency left back, and Gunnarsson stepped in as an emergency right back.

    They did OK as in-game cover - but just OK.

    Maybe 5 or 6 years ago?
    Yeah that’s about it. I think the roll he would be playing now on the left of a midfield 4 is slightly different to left back though.

  18. #18

    Re: Left back options

    Quote Originally Posted by Loramski View Post
    He took a bit of time to establish himself this time round but he seemed to be on a good run by the end. The Livingston manager was full of praise for him when he left there.

    https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/...hails-23417239

    I only really saw him as a centre half and didn't feel he looked that comfortable going forward. I know he has played at left back up there but I'm not sure if he's done it as a wing back or not. Martin is a natural wing back but is just coming back from an injury so McCarthy may not have had much chance to assess him yet. Brown would be a more natural choice on the bench as he can cover at centre back too, it'll be interesting to see how this plays out.
    personally in this kind of formation I would much prefer to see a converted winger as wing back than a converted centre back.
    the formation is set up to give overloads in attacking wide positions, if you're getting an agricultural centre back on the ball in dangerous areas you're probably not making the most of it.

    I haven't seen that much of Dan Martin, but in one game before his injury I thought he was excellent. came on for Greg Cunningham at half time and showed a lot more attacking intent than Cunningham had

  19. #19

    Re: Left back options

    Quote Originally Posted by Rjk View Post
    personally in this kind of formation I would much prefer to see a converted winger as wing back than a converted centre back.
    the formation is set up to give overloads in attacking wide positions, if you're getting an agricultural centre back on the ball in dangerous areas you're probably not making the most of it.

    I haven't seen that much of Dan Martin, but in one game before his injury I thought he was excellent. came on for Greg Cunningham at half time and showed a lot more attacking intent than Cunningham had
    That's how he rolls. Not exactly Warnock's idea of a full back and I assume he started packing his bags when he heard McCarthy was coming in but the move to a back five could be a godsend for him. I take your point about converted wingers but, for all his attacking flair, I think Martin will have to show he can defend first and foremost here. I can't vouch for his ability in that department but the fact that he's still here after three years suggests he's got something going for him. David Hughes was talking well of him in the commentary on Monday.

    The time I saw him he was going 'oh f**k' when the ball wasn't reaching him after a lung busting run up the touchline, made me laugh. It didn't stop him making that run over and over again though which will be a useful attitude if our centre halves and midfielders are trying to find him with cross field balls. It's Bagan's position for now, and the best of luck to him, but it'll be interesting to see what the back-up plan is.

  20. #20

    Re: Left back options

    I don't think MM and TC will be shoehorning players into positions they are not suited to.

    Glen did a great job of outlining some options but I believe that the position is Bagans unless he gets injured or needs resting or not performing. If that happens I imagine MM would prefer to use a specialist left back / wing back and for that he will need to look at the U23s.

  21. #21

    Re: Left back options

    who jinxed it

  22. #22

    Re: Left back options

    And so it came to pass... Brown on for Bagan.

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