Erik Sviatchenko

He was shocking today. I love the big guy but he's not a patch on VVD

 

Big boots to fill.Virgil is a world class player.One of the best deals we have made in recent history,when he signed from Groningen .

 

I don't think he's comfortable in left sided centre back, only has been when next to Toure and that's since he's class. Worst performance by him yet but still a big player for us, after conceding 7 goals the defence and goalkeeper were always going to be low on confidence.

 

I have to laugh when I come on here and see some of the posts regarding this guy, he's too short and way too slow to be a world class centre half, I know people will mention baresi, Maldivian and other great centre halves that weren't tall or fast but Sviachenko is not anywhere near that standard.
Maldini ( stupid predictive text)

 

Dreadful today...

 

I don't think he's ever been as good as folk have made out

 

I think height definitely helps as a CB, but 6'1" is hardly short at all. Would agree he does lack pace big time though .

 

To be fair VVD had some poor games for us too.

 

He's always been consistently decent tho but with very few if any motm performances couple that with how he took to the support from day 1 and vice versa he was always going to be a tiny bit over rated but he's still been good overall.

 

Worst game he's had here, think the penalty incident rattled him.

 

I think the barca game rattled him

 

His form is a worry, not anywhere near as commanding as we expect..

 

Looked like that good player that turns up mwi to fives, tries to tackle when he it's not on, got distracted when he should be tackling and keeps trying to do fancies.

Bad day at the office for the big man.

 

Not trying to over think this or blow 2-3 iffy games out of proportion, but just a thought. Toure is brought in and is instantly a rock, and the unquestioned leader of the backline. Could him being the commanding presence at the back be throwing Erik off his game a bit? With Erik not being "the guy" like he was last season, could he be overthinking it a bit or over playing it now? Thats what he's looked like to me this season, just looking to do too much. Nonetheless, he will recover, thought he was good for the most part against Barca.

 

Don't think he is that good a player as some do. Decentish and does give 100% but he is nothing special or outstanding prospect like Victor or the Dutchman obviously were.
he is no where near their class.

Our defence is has been so shyte prior to Toure, he was a standout reliable only compared to Efe

 

He's been shaky for a few games now imo.

Simunovic has a definite chance of ousting him of his place beside Kolo.

 

Shaky for a few games? Can't remember anyone saying he was shaky before today.

He had a bad game albeit much like others today, nowhere near as bad as people are saying.

 

Today was his only shaky game Wanyama has been on the drink