Tyrone Mings

[Mister E]

If these are your criticisms of Konsa at right back, that he doesn't best a man and cross enough, then, no, you don't get the asymmetric set up. He plays similar passes to the centre backs, which are meant to be progressive when the moment presents itself. He's really, really not meant to be playing as Cafu, and it's amazing how stubborn some are in refusing to understand this!
To say 'the shape is all wrong' and is 'like Man Utd with Wan Bissaka' is just the same thing. You refuse to understand the system. The shuffling over to make a three at the back while the left back goes forward is to help keep numbers up in midfield, as otherwise a midfield two is liable to be overwhelmed in this day and age. It's about patience in possession which is about options on the ball in midfield. And it's got us fourth.

Agreed, and I'd add (as others have said above) that the move to 3 at the back when in possession is massively dependent on having the right midfield three: Kamara makes it all tick, with Luiz backing him up when necessary. This season we've suffered from Moreno's absence and drop-off in form. The biggest challenge for next season is to reduce goals conceded: the stat they showed during the Liverpool games - which said we'd conceded 6 goals at VP before Christmas and 20 since - was a real shock to me and coincides with Kamara's absence.
I wonder whether the need for a dynamic midfield has led to some rumours about Gallagher coming to Villa - the all-action, never-tiring player able to cover the back three when required ... just a thought.

[ASHTONVILLA]

Gallagher would be a good signing, still need a backup for Kamara though.

Mings being available next season will without doubt strengthen us. He is a better option than either Lenglet or Carlos. I am less concerned about the effect of the injury on Mings than Buendia, given Mings has had the same injury before and recovered well.

[chrisw1]

I never said he's never had a bad game - just that he's not meant to play like Cafu. He's not a defensive full back in possession , his job is to literally stay back most of the time. Maybe go and watch the Man City game again pal.

Just because his first job is likely to be defending, it doesn't mean that it wouldn't be helpful to have a full-back who can also carry the ball and be a threat.

Look at Ben White and Kyle Walker pal.

[Risso]

It's very hard to look at one player or position in isolation, as a lot depends on who else is playing and the level of injuries etc. As an example, the results and defensive displays with Kamara fit were much better than after he was injured.

But even allowing for that, here are some Premier League games stats.

Cash played 19 games at right back. Of those: W12, D2, L5. Points per game - 2.0
Konsa played 18 games at centre back. Of those: W11, D2, L5. Points per game - 1.94
Konsa played 17 games at right back. Of those: W7, D6, L4. Points per game - 1.58

Now you can prove anything with stats, and as I said a lot depends on things like the games Kamara was fit for. But the stats do chime with what I feel I saw, that our best defence this season was a back four of Cash, Konsa, Torres and Digne. Most of the games above had Cash and Konsa playing next to each other, and the average points total of 2 (or as close as to as makes no difference) was better than our overall record by quite a way.

[Ads]

Ah Ben White, the day glow fucker who climbed into Zaniolo's pocket and was never seen again.

[chrisw1]

Ah Ben White, the day glow fucker who climbed into Zaniolo's pocket and was never seen again.

You think Konsa is a better right back then?  You don't think Ben White has had a good season?

[Ads]

The extent of my concern for Ben White extends to his awful performance against us and you bringing him up reminded me.

I'd like Kyle Walker at right back. I don't particularly care for playing centre halves out of position as a default, which Arteta does and Emery does not.

[chrisw1]

The extent of my concern for Ben White extends to his awful performance against us and you bringing him up reminded me.

I'd like Kyle Walker at right back. I don't particularly care for playing centre halves out of position as a default, which Arteta does and Emery does not.

You see that's funny, because I think Ben White has been one of the best right backs in the league this season and would fit almost perfectly into the role that you have described Konsa should be playing,, but with that little bit more ability going forward.  Almost as if you can have a defensively minded fullback who can contribute going forward when needed. 

edit - apologies ADS, it was Monty who I was having that discussion with.

[Sexual Ealing]

The heart of the problem here is that Cash isn't good enough for where we now are.

[ASHTONVILLA]

The heart of the problem here is that Cash isn't good enough for where we now are.

He must be - him and Konsa. With one of them playing right back they got us to where we are now.

Good enough for where we want to be? No, right back is our second most weak spot after DM (until Kamara returns).

Even if we sign another player I'd keep Cash though, how many teams have a second choice right back better than him? Not many.

Seeing as Emery prefers to be more defensive at right back, I'd be tempted to bid for Wan-Bissaka.

[Risso]

The heart of the problem here is that Cash isn't good enough for where we now are.

He is though, when he's played at right back in a settled defence. The last third of the season or so, most players have seen their form drop, quite drastically in some cases, due to injuries and Emery having to make do and mend. If you were going purely off this later period, then you'd be thinking that Torres and Luiz weren't good enough either, because they've been nowhere near their best either.

[Sexual Ealing]

Cash hasn't been good enough for ages though. He's a mid-table player at best.

[Ads]

Yeah I agree with that. It's not that Cash cannot be improved upon, but we've had no credible defensive midfielder since February and you can tell. If there wasn't so much swash to our buckle going forwards, things would have been ropey.

[dicedlam]

The heart of the problem here is that Cash isn't good enough for where we now are.

He is though, when he's played at right back in a settled defence. The last third of the season or so, most players have seen their form drop, quite drastically in some cases, due to injuries and Emery having to make do and mend. If you were going purely off this later period, then you'd be thinking that Torres and Luiz weren't good enough either, because they've been nowhere near their best either.

Tend to agree about Cash. When played in a settled back four he has performed well. I just hope Unai doesn't think that Konsa is the solution to the full back position for next season.

[chrisw1]

Cash hasn't been good enough for ages though. He's a mid-table player at best.

In fairness he's turned a few games for us this season.  But yes, he could be improved.