[Albion] Who is the weakest of our 3 centre backs ?

[Stat Brother]

I think this will be very interesting. Ostigard feels like he's the closest, and he certainly has the confidence for it. Van Hecke seems one step behind and may be better suited to a Championship loan. Roberts is an undoubted talent (and his dad reckons he should be in the 1st team already) but similarly, I think he needs a Championship loan.

If White does go, we'll only have Dunk, Webster, Veltman, Burn, Clarke, Duffy, Ostigard, van Hecke and Roberts. I smell another 2 or 3 centre back signings in the summer to keep our head above water!

I still have a mental image of Clipperty earlier this season, head in hands, phoning around Planet Soccerball desperate for a stylish centre back.
Only to to get the same answer:-

"No sorry Clip's he's actually on the books at Brighton".

 

[blue-shifted]

The other reason why this is a bollocks poll. is that it ignores that Veltman is primarily a centre back. We've been playing him out of position. He'd be loads better in a back 3.

It will be very interesting who misses out if we start the season with Dunk, Webster, White, Veltman, Burn, Lamptey and March all fit.

The way I see it. We'll mostly play 3-4-3 with wing backs

Dunk starts every game when fit

March starts every game At LWB when fit.

Lamptey starts most games at RWB when fit, but occasionally Veltman covers him

White and Veltman are facing off for the RCB position. Veltman will just about get more game time

Webster and Burn are fighting for the LCB position. Burn will win that battle more often than many on here think.

White will cover midfield positions in some games.

I also think it likely that we'll look to find LWB cover, so there's another one to incorporate

Ostigard and Clarke nowhere. Karbownik nowhere still.

Anyway you cut it, there are brutal selection battles. People who deserve to play won't be ..... if we don't get another load of injuries to our few wide players

 

[HastingsSeagull]

First World Problems but White compared to the other two for sure. The waistcoat is only thinking about the future and flexibility, plus pundits all watched him in the Champ with Leeds then not so much with us in the Prem. Classic!

 

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

The other reason why this is a bollocks poll. is that it ignores that Veltman is primarily a centre back. We've been playing him out of position. He'd be loads better in a back 3.

It will be very interesting who misses out if we start the season with Dunk, Webster, White, Veltman, Burn, Lamptey and March all fit.

The way I see it. We'll mostly play 3-4-3 with wing backs

Dunk starts every game when fit

March starts every game At LWB when fit.

Lamptey starts most games at RWB when fit, but occasionally Veltman covers him

White and Veltman are facing off for the RCB position. Veltman will just about get more game time

Webster and Burn are fighting for the LCB position. Burn will win that battle more often than many on here think.

White will cover midfield positions in some games.

I also think it likely that we'll look to find LWB cover, so there's another one to incorporate

Ostigard and Clarke nowhere. Karbownik nowhere still.

Anyway you cut it, there are brutal selection battles. People who deserve to play won't be ..... if we don't get another load of injuries to our few wide players

Can’t see that happening at all. White is one off the hottest properties in football, he’s also clocked up more minutes for us than any other player this season. I can’t imagine a scenario where he’s going to be facing reduced playing time.

 

[blue-shifted]

Can’t see that happening at all. White is one off the hottest properties in football, he’s also clocked up more minutes for us than any other player this season. I can’t imagine a scenario where he’s going to be facing reduced playing time.

You may be right. Difficult to see quite a few of them be dropped, but 1 (at least) will have to be ... if all fit.

Very tough decisions to be made

 

[Wellesley]

Webster's fairly frequent passing to the opposition in dangerous areas worries me a little, so I'd put him third. He is excellent otherwise, though I'm not sure he is as good as Veltman and maybe even Burn. All five are very good in my opinion.

 

[vagabond]

I think this will be very interesting. Ostigard feels like he's the closest, and he certainly has the confidence for it. Van Hecke seems one step behind and may be better suited to a Championship loan. Roberts is an undoubted talent (and his dad reckons he should be in the 1st team already) but similarly, I think he needs a Championship loan.

If White does go, we'll only have Dunk, Webster, Veltman, Burn, Clarke, Duffy, Ostigard, van Hecke and Roberts. I smell another 2 or 3 centre back signings in the summer to keep our head above water!

You’re missing a few from the u23’s, Lars Dendoncker as well who got a bit of fanfare in some parts when we signed him.

 

[blue-shifted]

Webster's fairly frequent passing to the opposition in dangerous areas worries me a little, so I'd put him third. He is excellent otherwise, though I'm not sure he is as good as Veltman and maybe even Burn. All five are excellent in my opinion.

I kind of agree. When all at their best Webby is as good as anyone we have. Though I also think he's the one most prone to troughs of indifferent form. To me, he may struggle to get in next season. Which is crazy I know

 

[JBizzle]

I kind of agree. When all at their best Webby is as good as anyone we have. Though I also think he's the one most prone to troughs of indifferent form. To me, he may struggle to get in next season. Which is crazy I know

I get that, but he's 3.5 years younger than Dunk and is improving every season. I also think that he's the "model" Potter defender, which may well guarantee him a place when fit

 

[blue-shifted]

I get that, but he's 3.5 years younger than Dunk and is improving every season. I also think that he's the "model" Potter defender, which may well guarantee him a place when fit

Yeh this is the trouble.

You say who you feel may be left out and people, quite reasonably, state why i'm wrong and they should be playing.

I should say these are highly marginal calls. I really rate Webby. I just have a feeling that once Veltman gets a bit of time at right centre back, he's going to go to the top of the pecking order and someone, who has played very well will miss out. Possibly Webby or White. Probably not Dunk.

I'm not counting Burn out from getting serious game time. GP seriously rates him, but i'm not sure who this would be for.

The saving grace is we probably won't get everyone fit at once, so these ridiculous calls won't ever have to be made.

 

[BLOCK F]

I've never in my life supported a team where our third best centre back gets selected for England (and rightly so)

For someone who worshipped Alex Dawson, Eddie Spearitt and Stuart Henderson (who never gets a mention but I'm glad to see he's still going) it takes a little bit of getting used to

I can always remember Stewart Henderson’s tough thighs.They were like the proverbial tree trunks.

 

[Perkino]

When the season began with White, Dunk & Webster playing as a 3 it was clear that White's decision making was an issue but it soon became apparent that he adapted quickly. With Ryan in goal I recall plenty of scenarios where Dunk made more errors than White & Webster but Sanchez's involvement has allowed Dunk a different freedom and actually facilitates White & Webster playing with a license to roam more than before. Oddly the CB who fills me with the most confidence is Veltman who has been superb in almost every performance.

Considering the set up has been 3 Cb's in 30+ games I'm surprised we were happy to have such a limited stock of defenders within the squad. There have been several games in the last 3 months where we had no defensive cover on the bench at all which is something I'd expect to be addressed for next season