14 Jul 2018 09:36:12
Morning Ed1. Lots of talk of goalies and lots of excitement about our attacking options, but in regard to our back 4, do you reckon the plan will be Robbo, Trent, VVD and Lovren as the starters (if fit) for the coming season? Do you think Matip will be preferred option over Lovren now fit? , or Clyne over Trent? Gomez? Paper talk about Vida etc, but do you reckon we'll stick with the group we have at the back? Also, do you see any young players overtaking the likes of Klavan in the pecking order? Be interested to know your thoughts. Have a good weekend mate.

{Ed001's Note - I expect the back four to be pretty much the same as much as possible now. Lovren, VVD, Robertson and Trent have earned their places.}

1.) 14 Jul 2018
14 Jul 2018 09:42:48
Vida is paper talk and no CB will be coming in if no CB's are leaving. As for the starting back 4, it picks itself at this point as Ed alluded to.

2.) 14 Jul 2018
14 Jul 2018 09:56:01
The main thing I hope for in regards to our defence is seeing more of Gomez at CB, I hope he can rotate with Lovren. I think Gomez will end up been our solid CB for years to come, I hope so anyway. The rest is fine for me, Robbo, VVD and TAA have proved to really impress. Lovren is a great defender on his day, I personally don't think we need any reinforcements for the defence, certainly not this transfer window.

3.) 14 Jul 2018
14 Jul 2018 10:05:06
I'm a bit surprised we haven't tried to replace Matip or Klavan if I'm honest but I guess we have had a decent window so far. Who knows? Ps I can't see Gomez getting many games at CB this season. For me he needs to focus on staying fit and still getting games at right back.

4.) 14 Jul 2018
14 Jul 2018 11:00:59
The CB I would love to see come to us is Alderweireld. Even though I agree the back 4 is not where I would choose to spend money this window, sometimes when great players come up, you make room.

5.) 14 Jul 2018
14 Jul 2018 11:23:18
Matip and Klavan are good enough as back ups. I ask myself, are they as good as Cahill, Lindelof, Holding, Stones, D. Sanchez etc. The answer is yes for me.

6.) 14 Jul 2018
14 Jul 2018 11:40:43
I disagree MK, Klavans is good enough but I think Matip is not, he seems for a big guy to get bullied off the ball too easily, he offered little to no support to his fullback, I don't remember him having a great performance if I'm honest. I was impressed by Klavan when he played and would have him and Gomez as back up if the club decided no new CBs were coming.

7.) 14 Jul 2018
14 Jul 2018 12:16:55
I think Matip is average. But I think so are the back up options at other clubs. The difference has always been the quality of the first picks. Bailly, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Azpilicueta, Kompany etc. We've had the likes of Skrtel and Sakho who were back up quality. Now we've signed Virgil, and Lovren has improved, I think we have as good a centre back partnership as anyone other than Spurs. And they may well lose Toby before August is here.

8.) 14 Jul 2018
14 Jul 2018 12:23:19
Does anyone think Matip can be turned into a decent player? He’s built like a specimen with obvious ability but just seems laboured in everything he does. Apart from bringing the ball out when nobody is pressing him.

9.) 14 Jul 2018
14 Jul 2018 13:34:22
How would vida get a game?

The three back up cbs are pretty good for back up. Klavan totally won me over last season and matip, although too lazy to play a full season can be useful to help defend leads and fill in when needed.

I put Klavan above matip in the pecking order now. He really did impress me last season. Highly professional as a sub, came in when needed and clearly worked hard in training to improve such.

10.) 14 Jul 2018
14 Jul 2018 13:35:00
I don't see too much wrong with our first pick back 4 to be honest. Van Dijk undoubtedly made an improvement when he signed, it's about consolidating on that now with playing time together. Especially if they have someone like Fabinho giving them some protection. Klavan is solid backup, and as others have said Matip does sometimes look to struggle with the physical side of the Premiership.
Any concerns would be the drop off in quality between Mad Dog and Moreno. I actually like Moreno, but I'm not blind to the gulf between him and Mad Dog.

11.) 14 Jul 2018
14 Jul 2018 14:20:19
Klavan put in some good performances last season. Showed he could adapt to the Engkish game.

12.) 14 Jul 2018
14 Jul 2018 18:58:07
Matip seems scared to head the ball and likes to let it bounce behind him.

This is a huge technical flaw 🤝.

13.) 14 Jul 2018
14 Jul 2018 19:04:30
Matip is the worst senior CB at the club. I say senior cos Gomez is yet to prove that he can hack it at that position. Klavan is more than a solid backup option. I remember that it was he and Lovren that formed the CB partnership that got us 18 games unbeaten after the Spurs debacle so there is your proof right there. Did I also mention that Klavan scored the winning goal at Burnley with Lovs offering the assist? . Matip is injury prone, lacks physical presence despite being the tallest player on the field all the time (6ft 5'), poor in the tackle and is not aggressive enough. He should be the one to leave instead of Klavan.

14.) 14 Jul 2018
14 Jul 2018 22:21:56
Nice one broker. Klavan was good wasn't he. Rarely put a foot wrong.