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Defence looking a bit more healthy..

Discussion in 'Celtic Chat' started by The Thumb, Aug 28, 2019.

Discuss Defence looking a bit more healthy.. in the Celtic Chat area at TalkCeltic.net.

  1. paulie walnuts Moderator Moderator Gold Member

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    Significantly worse than last season. Can’t believe folk are happy now that we’ve got a loan of one of Stoke’s reserves.
     
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  2. Mr Shelby Moderator Moderator Gold Member

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    Ajer is better than Benkovic, Julien needs time to prove he is better than Boyata (i dont think it's out if the question), Lustig is done and we were all moaning about him, and Tierney well, he was always going to be hard to replace.

    For what its worth I still feel we need another CB to compete. I dont trust Simunovic.
     
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  3. honda Gold Member Gold Member

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    A decent euro team can shred any good defence on there day. I say let's just score more than them. * this defence stuff :56:
     
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  4. Peej Gold Member Gold Member

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    Defensively, we are worse than last season.

    Lost Tierney and Izzy - gained mbombo.

    Lost lustig, toljan, Gamboa - gained elhamed and Bauer (complete gamble).

    Lost benkovic, boyata, compper - gained Julien.

    We are a quality left back, quality centre back and a prayer the right back works out before we even match what we had last season - and last season needed work done on it.

    Sent from my F8331 using Tapatalk
     
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  5. Britwell bhoy Gold Member Gold Member

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    Ajer and Benkovic are on par with each other ( wish we could afford Benkovic that would be my ideal partnership for years to come ) agree with Lustig but Boyata and KT in my opinion are stronger than the 2 we have so i do think it was stronger last season
     
  6. Seán Mac D Gold Member Gold Member

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    Last season's first-choice back 5:

    Bain
    Lustig Boyata Benkovic Tierney


    This season's first-choice back 5 (as it stands):

    Forster
    Elhamed Ajer Julien Bolingoli

    Last season's looks stronger to me, although I think that's in part down to their experience both at the club and playing with each other. Man-for-man I don't think there's too much between them but as a unit I would trust last season's far more. It's down to poor planning that we've seen an entire starting defence leave in the same transfer window.​
     
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  7. PaulM1888 Moderator Moderator Gold Member

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    I think a lot of it depends on Jullien. Forster is an improvement on Bain, Elhamed looks like an improvement on last seasons Mika already and you'd take Ajer over Boyata all day long.

    Jullien is still an unknown quantity so can't really compare him to Benkovic and of course we're never going to find an improvement or even same level left back than the 25 million quid one we just sold so that'll take time but the LHS has been a downgrade no matter how you chalk it up.
     
  8. Westlondonscot Gold Member Gold Member

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    People talk about replacing Benkovic, but the same people moan about loans
     
  9. Seán Mac D Gold Member Gold Member

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    Those 2 things aren't mutually exclusive though. The loan market is good to bring in a player of quality that we otherwise wouldn't be able to afford eg. a Benkovic or to have a first look at a player before we make a big financial commitment eg. an Edouard.

    However we're far too reliant on loans, to the point that it's now stifling our development as a team as there's no continuity. The players that have been playing for the last 6-18 months leave and we're left playing the players that were overlooked for the loanees in our biggest games of the season.

    I think we're now at 17 loans in the last 4 seasons. For a club that is reliant on income from player sales that's not good business. It's proof that our recruitment is failing.

    Clubs of a similar ilk to us like Ajax and Salzburg who play in smaller leagues, develop players and have similar incomes are nowhere near as reliant on loans. In that same 4 years Ajax have had 3 loans. Salzburg have had 2. That's down to their vastly superior youth development and scouting networks.
     
  10. Belgian_lad

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    Only KT will be missed. Boyata * us with AeK and wanting to go, was always a bombscare. Benko has huge potential, but very much injury prone last season. Lustig, love the man, but last year he was found out time after time by his opponents.

    In my opinion, if i take our games against AIK and Hearts as the benchmark, our defence will be solid. Maybe not spectacular, but plain solid. After Cluj at least they showed resilience and bounced back. Which counts for something in my opinion!

    Bauer Elhamed > lustig gamboa
    Ajer, Julien, Bitton, Jozo = Ajer, Boyata, Benko, Jozo
    Bolongoli + x < KT

    Dont forget Forster is the defo an upgrade behind our defence!

    But tonight and Sunday are the two games that really count for me. On Sunday it would be more fair to make a solid assesment.
     
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  11. Liam Scales Gold Member Gold Member

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    And everycunt seems to be forgetting about Fraser Forster, rather than Bain or Gordon.
     
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  12. paulie walnuts Moderator Moderator Gold Member

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    It’s part of the reason why people moan about loans. Anyone half decent tends not to stick around after the loan period.
     
  13. Moore Brendan Rodgers OUT Gold Member

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    Glad that after the shock of reading this thread title that most of you are in here slating the idea that our defense is healthier.... ITS DRASTIC

    New LB & CB needed and even then it might only be on par with last season..
     
    Last edited: Aug 29, 2019
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  14. M 67

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    Elhamed Ajer Jullien Mbombo

    Lustig Boyata Benkovic KT

    Outwith the left back position, I’m probably happier with the new back 4. And, as you said, we would never get someone of KT’s quality immediately.

    Sadly though, I think it’ll be Jozo and Bitton as backup only. It *should* be enough though!
     
  15. Britwell bhoy Gold Member Gold Member

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    AIK and Hearts offered nothing going forward so i wouldnt put those games down as benchmarks but as you say tonight and sunday will be the test
     
  16. Belgian_lad

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    Indeed, those are maybe two of our most important games of the season. So i am curious how Julien and Bolongoli and Elhamed(is he fit?) will do. Till then i am 50/50.
     
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  17. Britwell bhoy Gold Member Gold Member

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    I think everyone is fit except Jozzo and Rogic mate . I think we will get a good result tonight and if there are no injuries i think we have enough attacking wise to beat the huns
     
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  18. ArturBorucCSC

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    Forster behind them is an upgrade for sure, it's who's playing in front of them that might be a problem. If Brown is our main DM for the season, we will have defensive problems.
     
  19. wulliebad

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    Healthy defence does not lose 4 goals at home.
     
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  20. CheGuevara

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    The current defence isn't the one that played in that game.