Leandro Bacuna - Sold

[brontebilly]

What a contrast the skill and attitude of this number 7 to the previous one.

Big time. Though I note he seems to have rediscovered his scoring touch. Still his efforts at stopping Rooney's header a few weeks back show he is as gutless as ever.

Would prefer to see Bacuna stay at right back but suspect he will have to be thrown into midfield because of our problems there.

[Dante Lavelli]

Would prefer to see Bacuna stay at right back but suspect he will have to be thrown into midfield because of our problems there.

Also because we now we have a good right back in Lowton too, so the risk v reward of moving Bacuna is in our favour.

[brontebilly]

Would prefer to see Bacuna stay at right back but suspect he will have to be thrown into midfield because of our problems there.

Also because we know we have a good right back in Lowton too, so the risk v reward of moving Bacuna is in our favour.

I would say Lowton is a good footballer but a poor defender. We miss him more going forward when he isnt playing that at the back. I think Bacuna's influence in 3 of the 4 clean sheets can be underestimated (he was crap at left back v West Ham). He didnt give Redmond a sniff of it v Norwich, nor Bellamy v Cardiff, cant remember who Hull had up against him.

Can only remember one mistake from Bacuna so far that has cost us, he was one of a few players culpable in Lukaku's goal. Going forward he probably isnt as effective as Lowton yet but still gets in good positions and creates chances when he does. Cant remember if it was v Spurs or Everton where he was wide open for a tap in but Benteke went alone and missed.

[eastie]

I would rather have Lowton  in the team than kea.

Bacuna add something to our midfield which is too static with kea , Lowton is a decent enough right back who could work well in tandem with bacuna on the right.

[Dante Lavelli]

I would rather have Lowton  in the team than kea.

Bacuna add something to our midfield which is too static with kea , Lowton is a decent enough right back who could work well in tandem with bacuna on the right.

I think as a combination the two of them could be awesome.  They compliment each other in many ways.
My biggest concern would be having Bacuna in the KEA/Sylla role (I'm not sure he has the strength/height for the middle - although hopefully he would mirror delph who is a similar build/athlete).  Therefore I'd prefer that he takes the Weimann role for the immediate future and see how he adapts.

[SamTheMouse]

Bacuna is a more effective all-round player than Lowton because he's faster, and pace is everything in English football. It means he can get back and clean up when he makes a mistake.

Having said that, Lowton is by some distance the best crosser of the ball we have at the club. I'd almost be inclined to play Bacuna at right back, Lowton in front of him, and have them overlap.

[supertom]

Bacuna is a more effective all-round player than Lowton because he's faster, and pace is everything in English football. It means he can get back and clean up when he makes a mistake.

Having said that, Lowton is by some distance the best crosser of the ball we have at the club. I'd almost be inclined to play Bacuna at right back, Lowton in front of him, and have them overlap.

I'd be tempted with this. I think not only is Lowton our best crosser he's actually one of our better footballers. He's comfortable on the ball, quite clever and reads the game well. I think he'd make a better midfielder than KEA to be honest, and Westy isn't pulling up trees at the moment either.
I'd have no problems playing Lowts slightly advanced of Bacuna, because it would allow Lowton not to have to worry quite as much defensively, where positionally he's still suspect. I think like Barry he could make the step into midfield.

[eamonn]

It would be nice if Bacuna and Lowton could emulate the telepathy Baines and Pienaar have got going for Everton on their left side.

[Dante Lavelli]

Does Lowton have any experience playing in midfield?

[garyshawsknee]

It sounds like a good idea playing Lowton further up the field, but one of the reasons he gets in good positions for crossing is the fact that he runs from deep to deliver them,so if he's already advanced i dont think he'd get the same amount of room. If he's playing behind Bacuna he would get this, plus Bacuna has the speed and brains to cover Lowton runs, something worth looking at i think.

[ozzjim]

I think them overlapping and interchanging is the best approach. Lowton always crosses best from deeper too, so moving him forward might nullify that.

But they should, in theory, make a very, very effective pairing down the right hand side.

[peter w]

When the ball hits the net
From a free-kick you can bet
its bacuna


nah, that's shit.

[Chipsticks]

I think them overlapping and interchanging is the best approach. Lowton always crosses best from deeper too, so moving him forward might nullify that.

But they should, in theory, make a very, very effective pairing down the right hand side.

I wouldn't mind seeing Bacuna playing in a CAM type role, his creativity and flair is everything we've been missing in recent weeks, and when he got into those central positions against Cardiff, the game changed and we got our two goals. Keep Lowton at Right Back, and keep the 4-3-3 system, with Bacuna playing ahead of Delph and Sylla.

[not3bad]

I think them overlapping and interchanging is the best approach. Lowton always crosses best from deeper too, so moving him forward might nullify that.

But they should, in theory, make a very, very effective pairing down the right hand side.

I wouldn't mind seeing Bacuna playing in a CAM type role, his creativity and flair is everything we've been missing in recent weeks, and when he got into those central positions against Cardiff, the game changed and we got our two goals. Keep Lowton at Right Back, and keep the 4-3-3 system, with Bacuna playing ahead of Delph and Sylla.

Bacuna's pass success rate against Cardiff was 67%.  That's not CAM material.

[peter w]

That includes crosses though.