1.) 13 Mar 2019
13 Mar 2019 08:52:54
Thanks Ed001. Umtiti another example of Barca's recent poor transfer policy do you think?

{Ed001's Note - for me, yes. Though I think you need a defender like him alongside a ball player, Barca seem to have forgotten that and just want an entire team that will pass the ball around at the back. Probably why they are not as good as they were. Passing for passing's sake.}

2.) 13 Mar 2019
13 Mar 2019 09:54:38
Interesting that Ed because I've never really paid attention to him tbh. Thank you mate.

{Ed001's Note - welcome mate.}

3.) 13 Mar 2019
13 Mar 2019 12:08:29
Would you have him at Liverpool Ed?

{Ed001's Note - he suffers a few too many injuries for my liking.}

4.) 13 Mar 2019
13 Mar 2019 17:38:57
A fully fit Umtiti is one of the best defenders in the world but he is not on the level of Varane imo
At liverpool he would be first choice alongside Virgil for most poeple but for me I am just a massive Joe Gomez fan.

5.) 13 Mar 2019
13 Mar 2019 17:54:16
I really like Umtiti (fitness concerns aside) and was surprised to see Lenglet replace him in the first team. Barcelona don't seem to be striking much of a balance within their Defence, for every Pique you need a Puyol.

Also surprised to see how little they've used Vidal this season (even if his legs have gone a little) one of the best midfielders of the last decade and I still think he has a lot to offer.

6.) 13 Mar 2019
13 Mar 2019 19:29:47
Known Umtiti since his debut season for Lyon (came in before Lacazette) and he is indeed a natural defender. He has all the qualities that Ed01 alluded. Why? Cos you need that to be able to play in the ultra-physical French League. Passing out the back is not what teams do overall in that league.

Umtiti got shifted to LB for a season or so so as to accommodate another CB which helped him hone his ability to defend in wide areas. And that is why he is very good in one v one situations. Now he may not fit the way Barcelona play with building from the back however, he forms a good partnership with Varane who is able to do that and then some.

Like the Pique/ Pujol partnership, you don't need to have great ability to be a good defender. Varane made Umtiti look good at the WC cos he could make up for Umtiti's weaknesses, just like VVD makes Lovs look great and how Lovren made IMO, Vida look good at the WC.