Our defence

[Risso]

Unai has said the Premier League remains his main priority ahead of the Champions League. In the Premier League games, including the 'big' games against Arsenal and Spurs etc, Unai has chosen to start with Cash/Konsa over Carlos. Carlos is clearly a back up central defender, one who we were prepared to sell in the summer if the price was right. Carlos is a decent defender most of the time, but one who is prone to making mistakes that lead directly to goals, as he's done already this season.


Emery is playing Carlos in the Champions League games (and the League Cup) as a way of managing the squad, in the competition that is second (and last for the League Cup) on his list of trophies.

Debatable I think, as Cash has been mostly unfit.

Last season, with both fit, Enery picked Carlos in all the toughest Premier League games, suggesting he noticed the fact that we are defensively stronger with him in (and it is a fact). This season he told us he wanted to change to building up in a two rather than a three, sacrificing the greater defensive solidity to be more expressive, which is fair enough, but  he hasn’t been able to do that with Cash injured and not trusting Ned.

I still think he’d have had Carlos in and Konsa at right-back v Bayern, given the evidence from last season. (Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool H&A).

Which bit is debatable? With everybody fit, Unai has chosen Cash at right back, over Konsa at RB and Carlos at centre, in the Premier League, every single time, including the "big" games like Arsenal, Spurs and Man U.

[Percy McCarthy]

Unai has said the Premier League remains his main priority ahead of the Champions League. In the Premier League games, including the 'big' games against Arsenal and Spurs etc, Unai has chosen to start with Cash/Konsa over Carlos. Carlos is clearly a back up central defender, one who we were prepared to sell in the summer if the price was right. Carlos is a decent defender most of the time, but one who is prone to making mistakes that lead directly to goals, as he's done already this season.


Emery is playing Carlos in the Champions League games (and the League Cup) as a way of managing the squad, in the competition that is second (and last for the League Cup) on his list of trophies.

Debatable I think, as Cash has been mostly unfit.

Last season, with both fit, Enery picked Carlos in all the toughest Premier League games, suggesting he noticed the fact that we are defensively stronger with him in (and it is a fact). This season he told us he wanted to change to building up in a two rather than a three, sacrificing the greater defensive solidity to be more expressive, which is fair enough, but  he hasn’t been able to do that with Cash injured and not trusting Ned.

I still think he’d have had Carlos in and Konsa at right-back v Bayern, given the evidence from last season. (Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool H&A).

Which bit is debatable? With everybody fit, Unai has chosen Cash at right back, over Konsa at RB and Carlos at centre, in the Premier League, every single time, including the "big" games like Arsenal, Spurs and Man U.

We don’t really know who he’d pick for what games when some people aren’t fit.

Many posters would prefer a defence which concedes more goals than one that concedes fewer. If that’s debatable, this is.

[eye digress]

Nice postscript. 

[Risso]

We don’t really know who he’d pick for what games when some people aren’t fit.

Many posters are of the opinion that a defence that concedes more goals is better than one that concedes fewer. If that’s debatable, anything is.

We do though when everybody is fit:

West Ham - Cash starting at RB, Carlos on the bench
Arsenal - Cash starting, Carlos on the bench
Leicester (both Cash and Carlos injured)
Everton - Bogarde at RB, Carlos on the bench
Wolves - Carlos starting, Cash injured
Ipswich - Carlos starting, Cash injured
Man Utd - Cash starting, Carlos on the bench
Fulham - Cash starting, Carlos starting as replacement for Konsa
Bournemouth - Cash starting, Carlos on the bench
Tottenham - Cash starting, Carlos on the bench
Liverpool - Carlos starting, Cash injured

So of our 11 league games, every one Cash has been fit for, he's started. Carlos has only started 4 games, where either Cash or Konsa have been injured. He's only come on as a sub in two others.

And never mind what other posters think, we're not important. Emery and his team are of the opinion that in the league, when everybody is fit, Cash starts at right back and Konsa starts at right centre. I hate doing this, but needs must: Fact.

[Sexual Ealing]

Let's split the difference and stick Carlos Cuellar in there.

[Percy McCarthy]

We don’t really know who he’d pick for what games when some people aren’t fit.

Many posters are of the opinion that a defence that concedes more goals is better than one that concedes fewer. If that’s debatable, anything is.

We do though when everybody is fit:

West Ham - Cash starting at RB, Carlos on the bench
Arsenal - Cash starting, Carlos on the bench
Leicester (both Cash and Carlos injured)
Everton - Bogarde at RB, Carlos on the bench
Wolves - Carlos starting, Cash injured
Ipswich - Carlos starting, Cash injured
Man Utd - Cash starting, Carlos on the bench
Fulham - Cash starting, Carlos starting as replacement for Konsa
Bournemouth - Cash starting, Carlos on the bench
Tottenham - Cash starting, Carlos on the bench
Liverpool - Carlos starting, Cash injured

So of our 11 league games, every one Cash has been fit for, he's started. Carlos has only started 4 games, where either Cash or Konsa have been injured. He's only come on as a sub in two others.

And never mind what other posters think, we're not important. Emery and his team are of the opinion that in the league, when everybody is fit, Cash starts at right back and Konsa starts at right centre. I hate doing this, but needs must: Fact.

Explains why we’ve only got clean sheets in the CL and v Ten Hag’s goal-shy Manure team.

[Risso]

Mate, I'm only presenting the facts such as they are. Whatever you think, Emery doesn't appear to agree, so take it up with him. To be honest, apart from a handful of games, the whole defence has been atrocious for the best part of a year, whoever has played, it just looks like a fundamental weakness on Emery's part at this stage. It's gone on for ages, and he's seemingly unable to sort it.

[PeterWithe]

I really think that the big miss defensively has been Kamara,  his defensive positioning is superb, as is his cover of whichever of the full backs has moved forward. Its his absence which has led to us looking less than sound at the back.

[Risso]

I really think that the big miss defensively has been Kamara,  his defensive positioning is superb, as is his cover of whichever of the full backs has moved forward. Its his absence which has led to us looking less than sound at the back.

True, but we should have been able to tighten things up, we knew he was going to be out for the best part of a year. I also think Bailey's dismal form has been a part this season. He's not acting as an outlet, so we stay under pressure for longer, and he's also not getting the ball to Watkins, which is another out ball we're missing out on.

[Demitri_C]

What potential issues would we have if we played torres and mings as left sided defenders? I mean defensively we alreafy look a shamble could it really be that bad trying it?

That would be great if it worked. I love what Pau brings to our game, but IMO he needs a strong defensive partner. Same with Konsa. Fantastic one v one defender, and brilliant alongside Mings, but his partnership with Pau is weak. Only the Mings/Konsa partnership have so far proved over a extended period that they are strong enough to play with two traditionally progressive full-backs outside them, and even they were defensively stronger with Ashley Young playing conservatively.

For the record, I think Carlos/Pau would potentially be similarly porous, maybe even more so, were it not for the fact that they’ve nearly always got as good a defender as Konsa shutting down the right side.

It’s all about who compliments each other.

On paper  mings and pau would be a perfect combo as mings has the defensive qualities that pau lacks and vice versa. Its just a shame they both play on the left side. I wouldn't want to go 3 cbs  though.

I agree with you konsa mings is the best combo but the way we play dont see unai leaving pau out.

I wouldnt have minded if unai went konsa- mings for cup game vs palace and had carlos for the league game with pau.

Id like to see how mings and pau would compliment each other in a game.  I have a feeling it would work against the lesser sides

[Risso]

Surely lots of teams play with two right-footed centre backs, due to the fact that only 10% of the population are left handed/footed?

[PeterWithe]

Another point is that Pau, Digne and Konsa seem to be the best players at holding the offside line which seems very important to UE.

[teamvillage]

Surely lots of teams play with two right-footed centre backs, due to the fact that only 10% of the population are left handed/footed?

Yes, but lots of right-footed centre backs have grown up being able to play on the left side, for the same reason.

[Risso]

I know that Tyrone's right leg is only for standing on, but surely if any left footed defender could cope with playing on the right, it's Torres? He's so good on the ball, surely that's the major requirement if you're playing slightly out of position? He can leave all the dirty tackling to Mings.

[LeeB]

Mate, I'm only presenting the facts such as they are. Whatever you think, Emery doesn't appear to agree, so take it up with him. To be honest, apart from a handful of games, the whole defence has been atrocious for the best part of a year, whoever has played, it just looks like a fundamental weakness on Emery's part at this stage. It's gone on for ages, and he's seemingly unable to sort it.

It's a bit odd as well as that backline was solid as a rock before the turn of this year, the offside trap was so effective and well drilled it was unreal.