[Albion] If Dunk is fit, would you start him?

[OzMike]

Straight back in for the first 45mins.

 

[Mackenzie]

Igor has done well, I’d keep him in the team. it’s good that we’ve got competition for places.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

I could be wrong, but I feel now is the time to start making the break. It will take time but it has to start somewhere.....

His last game was literally Newcastle away. Did you come out of that game thinking 'yeah, time to start making the break from Dunk?'

 

[SeagullsoverLondon]

And Wolves?
Liverpool?

I was being a bit flippant, but it is impossible to know what might have happened if Dunk had played against Wolves or Liverpool or come to that City. Would he have stopped Salah cutting in from the left? Who knows? Would he have called some attackers back v Wolves? Maybe.
But I think we now have players who can take responsibility off of him (Welbeck in particular, has I think shown great leadership, against City, and also v Spurs).
I am sure Dunky will be back, but suspect it will be from the bench this week, hopefully coming on at 3-0 up to see out the game.

 

[Super Steve Earle]

I was being a bit flippant, but it is impossible to know what might have happened if Dunk had played against Wolves or Liverpool or come to that City. Would he have stopped Salah cutting in from the left? Who knows? Would he have called some attackers back v Wolves? Maybe.
But I think we now have players who can take responsibility off of him (Welbeck in particular, has I think shown great leadership, against City, and also v Spurs).
I am sure Dunky will be back, but suspect it will be from the bench this week, hopefully coming on at 3-0 up to see out the game.

 

[Super Steve Earle]

IMHO Igor showed great leadership against Citeh to boss the defence and give JP the freedom to play.

 

[Eeyore]

Abso-bloody-lutely. I am shocked - SHOCKED - by the result of this poll..

Two-thirds of you would drop our captain and greatest ever player just because he got a minor calf strain a few weeks ago.

I am staggered by you lot

I think being our captain and greatest ever player is not a criteria for match selection. Team selection is based on present moment context rather than history and status. I'd be reluctant to make a change.

 

[dwayne]

Think this poll would have been a lot different if we had not beat city. Since Igor has come in we have lost 2 , drawn 1 that felt like a defeat and beat city. And Igor and hecke let haaland squeeze inbetween them for the goal.

The defence was a bit of a mess at times for Liverpool and wolves at home.

Dunk has to come in.....

 

[TottonSeagull]

If fit (and none of know if he is 100%) and we are playing in the middle of a storm, i want Dunky in the middle of our back 4.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

I was being a bit flippant, but it is impossible to know what might have happened if Dunk had played against Wolves or Liverpool or come to that City. Would he have stopped Salah cutting in from the left? Who knows? Would he have called some attackers back v Wolves? Maybe.
But I think we now have players who can take responsibility off of him (Welbeck in particular, has I think shown great leadership, against City, and also v Spurs).
I am sure Dunky will be back, but suspect it will be from the bench this week, hopefully coming on at 3-0 up to see out the game.

All true, but almost certainly he wouldn’t have been making an ill-judged attempt to win the ball vs Liverpool on the halfway line and leave Pervis in a 1v1.
But it’s not individual errors, it’s more about leading and ensuring the defensive shape is maintained, which without him it hasn’t been. See City’s first goal. Liverpool’s 15 minutes of pressure, which Welbeck has limited influence over as a lone forward and Wolves…..l mean that was ridiculous, even the first goal from the corner…. All poor.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

His last game was literally Newcastle away. Did you come out of that game thinking 'yeah, time to start making the break from Dunk?'

Exactly, under significant pressure in the first half, but we limited them to few chances and we attacked the ball, remembering JPvH came on at the very end.

 

[eastterracemike]

Igor at LB is an absolute no no for me. He isn't mobile enough and gets football vertigo when he goes over the halfway line. I'd imagine he's at best 4th choice given we've had Pervis, Ferdi and Hinsh play there so far this season in any case. I also think Mitoma drops off massively when Igor is at LB as the overlapping runs aren't there to create chaos.

He has, however, been very very good at CB. I'd keep him there tomorrow. Dunk only just back and a bit unfair to drop him after the city game where I thought he had a good game (albeit viewed on a Spanish telly)

THIS in spades. Igors's positional sense at left back is dire.

 

[chickens]

THIS in spades. Igors's positional sense at left back is dire.

Agree. He’s developed into a great left-sided CB, but hasn’t convinced at LB.

It doesn’t mean he can’t develop further, but I’d have low confidence until I’d seen a couple of solid consecutive performances there.

 

[Poskettspurpose]

His last game was literally Newcastle away. Did you come out of that game thinking 'yeah, time to start making the break from Dunk?'

No, but we know how old he is and for all his qualities and experience he's got his limitations as clearly seen last season. Coupled with the fact that I think Igor has, by and large, stepped up to fill his position. I'm merely suggesting it may be time for some succession planning...?

 

[dazzer6666]

No, but we know how old he is and for all his qualities and experience he's got his limitations as clearly seen last season. Coupled with the fact that I think Igor has, by and large, stepped up to fill his position. I'm merely suggesting it may be time for some succession planning...?

We’re not that badly off in the medium term. Maybe need a signing to plug a potential gap until McConville is ready (not sure how close he is to ‘PL ready’ but he’s already a full international), and Simmonds seems to be on such a trajectory at the moment that he’ll possibly be out on loan as early as next season to prepare him for the first team squad

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

No, but we know how old he is and for all his qualities and experience he's got his limitations as clearly seen last season. Coupled with the fact that I think Igor has, by and large, stepped up to fill his position. I'm merely suggesting it may be time for some succession planning...?

I guess, you can think that, for me Lewis Dunk is going to retire from the heart of our defence with the captain's armband on, and that's a good 4 or 5 seasons away

 

[borat]

There is a winning momentum in the team and the defence has been solid so doesn't seem necessary to change it up.

Its good to have the competition for places where no one is assured a place (although I suspect Dunk will go straight back in when fit)

A wider concern is our lack of cover at CB generally. Its an area we need to look at over the next transfer windows.

 

[Han Solo]

There is a winning momentum in the team and the defence has been solid so doesn't seem necessary to change it up.

Its good to have the competition for places where no one is assured a place (although I suspect Dunk will go straight back in when fit)

A wider concern is our lack of cover at CB generally. Its an area we need to look at over the next transfer windows.

We have Dunk, Van Hecke, Webster, Igor and Veltman. Not likely we're ever going to have more depth in the role.

 

[borat]

We have Dunk, Van Hecke, Webster, Igor and Veltman. Not likely we're ever going to have more depth in the role.

Its not numbers, its quality and future proofing. Dunk is probably in the twilight years and isnt going to get faster. Veltman is also too slow to play regularly as a CB and much as I like him I dont believe Webster is good enough for this current team.

 

[Alba Badger]

The more i see Igor the more i like. Luton away is still fresh in my mind... so he still has work to do.