Tyrone Mings

[Dave]

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.

I'd be aiming for a brilliant new right-back this summer, keeping Cash for squad purposes, give Nedeljkovic another season on loan, bring him back to compete with BNRB and move Cash on next summer.

[Sexual Ealing]

Emery clearly feels that Konsa's better than him defensively (which he obviously is), and as an attacking force, well, Cash is good at getting forward but he's a nightmare at being forward. He appears to treat his final delivery with a 'just happy to be here, this is a shot to nothing' approach. It does my head in.

[Monty]

I like Cash but his technique really isn't Champions League, and he gets caught not stepping out for the offside far too often. Doesn't really have the tools for the shuffling-over job either.

Ben White does indeed do the Konsa thing but better, with the addendum that Arsenal's system is a bit different to ours in the midfield (and they have Declan Rice). Walker isn't the same kind of player. Like, at all.

[Risso]

I like Cash but his technique really isn't Champions League, and he gets caught not stepping out for the offside far too often. Doesn't really have the tools for the shuffling-over job either.

Ben White does indeed do the Konsa thing but better, with the addendum that Arsenal's system is a bit different to ours in the midfield (and they have Declan Rice). Walker isn't the same kind of player. Like, at all.

The huge difference is that Rice was fit all season, and started 37 league games. Had that been the case with Kamara, I'm fairly certain we wouldn't be having this conversation.

The fact is that in the 12 games since Kamara was injured that Konsa played at right back, we only won four of them, and conceded 22 goals. Until then we were going along nicely at 2 points a game, with Cash playing a big part at right back.

[Monty]

With Konsa playing a big part too though! Like that's quite a bit of rhetorical smoke there mate! Besides I think Percy already crunched the numbers on this.

I absolutely agree that the injury to Kamara was the biggest problem here though. Like virtually every top team (never get tired of saying that) our game relies on the midfield. When Cash played he would get forward more and Kamara would step back to make the three that way, while with Konsa shuffling Kamara stays a bit more advanced. Manfully though McGinn tried, we don't really have another player who can do that.

[chrisw1]

I like Cash but his technique really isn't Champions League, and he gets caught not stepping out for the offside far too often. Doesn't really have the tools for the shuffling-over job either.

Ben White does indeed do the Konsa thing but better, with the addendum that Arsenal's system is a bit different to ours in the midfield (and they have Declan Rice). Walker isn't the same kind of player. Like, at all.

The point re Walker is he is superb defensively but also going forward.  He's also a capable centre half.  So he certainly could do the job that Emery wants in our system without the limitations going forward of someone like Konsa.

[Monty]

If we could sign Walker, who is, let's be honest, a bit of a freak-show talent, that would be great. But there's this idea going round that Konsa's been terrible in that position, that it's inexplicable why Unai plays him there, like it's MON with Cuellar, which I just think is miles from the truth.

[Risso]

With Konsa playing a big part too though! Like that's quite a bit of rhetorical smoke there mate! Besides I think Percy already crunched the numbers on this.

I've already said that on the previous page, ie our best defence is Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne. That's one of the issues with Konsa at right back, it means we have to play Carlos in his position, who is nowhere near as good as Ezri.


"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."

[Monty]

With Konsa playing a big part too though! Like that's quite a bit of rhetorical smoke there mate! Besides I think Percy already crunched the numbers on this.

I've already said that our best defence is Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne. That's one of the issues with Konsa at right back, it means we have to play Carlos in his position, who is nowhere near as good as Ezri.

I agree re Carlos, one great game followed by four remarkably bad ones every time. But with Tyrone back (back on topic - Footy would be happy) I think that changes the dynamic considerably.

[Drummond]

I think there's an argument that Konsa at right back provides cover for Kamara being out. It's weaker than Kamara being there because of all the dropping back he does, but is more solid than Cash being there on his own.

[ASHTONVILLA]

I agree with Risso that our best available back four this season has been Digne, Torres, Konsa, Cash

Last season it was Moreno, Mings, Konsa, Cash

Having Torres and Mings compete to partner Konsa rather than Torres and Lenglet will make us hugely stronger next season. Lenglet has been an underwhelming loan signing (in fairness he was signed at very short notice and had good pedigree).

We need better competion for Konsa than Carlos or chambers next. That is higher priority than replacing Cash, as part of the problem with Konsa playing right back is who replaces him at centre back.

[Risso]

I agree re Carlos, one great game followed by four remarkably bad ones every time. But with Tyrone back (back on topic - Footy would be happy) I think that changes the dynamic considerably.

Absolutely. I'm not completely sold on Cash, but I do think he gets an unnecessarily hard time sometimes. He played a big part in our phenomenal first half of the season, despite sometimes being used on the right of midfield where he's noticeably not as good. If we can replace him with better, then great, but that goes for every single other player to be honest. His main weakness is his final attacking ball, but when he's at right back behind a fully fit and firing Bailey that's not so much of an issue. Other than that I like his speed and tenacity and as the stats I posted suggest, he's usually got a great understanding with Konsa.

[LeeB]

I think all of our other first choice players are capable of being outstanding to the point of match winning bar Cash, which is why he looks a bit out of place.

[Risso]

I think all of our other first choice players are capable of being outstanding to the point of match winning bar Cash, which is why he looks a bit out of place.

Not sure that's especially fair mate. It's rare for a defender to have the sort of effect on a game that they get MOTM. Take the Brighton home match, Cash was superb that day and Brighton's best and most dangerous player Mitoma was marked out of the game almost completely by Cash, who also chipped in with an assist. But it's obviously and rightly Ollie's hat trick that took all the headlines.

[Drummond]

Cash scored the winner against Middlesbrough in the Cup and two against Burnley to give us the win.

He's made some important clearances and tackles too.