If you cast your mind back to last season our first choice full backs were Chilwell and Ricardo. After Chilwell departed for Chelsea and Ricardo sustained his long term injury there was some uncertainty about how we’d cope in the new season.
First Castagne arrived and excelled in his early games. The narrative then was that we couldn’t wait for a time when RP would be fit and we’d see the two of them.
Instead Castagne got injured and this gave chances to the likes of Thomas and Fuchs. Justin has been an ever present in the Premier League and his performances just keep improving. He was brilliant against Brighton.
It seems now that if Ricardo and Castagne are ever fit at the same time that it would be pretty harsh on Justin to leave him out. We also need to find games to continue to develop Thomas. Fuchs still provides reliable back up and that’s not even mentioning Albrighton who has provided cover in a back five.
So, from a position of weakness, it suddenly looks like a position of strength - injuries permitting. All this with the best part of £50m in the bank from the sale of Chilwell.
We’ve come a little way since Joe Matlock was touted as a great prospect
Full Backs
posted on 14/12/20
Will the money be spent though?
posted on 14/12/20
I know he was excellent last night down the Right, mainly because of the lack of defense that side for Brighton but I actually prefer Justin down the left.
He seems to be more solid down the left while still looking good going forward.
posted on 14/12/20
Nice problem to have once they are all fit.
posted on 14/12/20
comment by HB Fash - Never doubted Stevie G as manager (U21935)
posted 1 hour, 20 minutes ago
Will the money be spent though?
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Well, I guess, technically it was.
Castagne was a direct replacement and I doubt we’d have spent £30m on a teenaged CB without the Chilwell money
posted on 14/12/20
I did see the lack of left footed fullbacks as an issue until Justin proved he can play anywhere, and Thomas had a game to suggest he’s more than ready to fill in if he’s needed.
I also like Justin on the left, and we have no idea whether Castagne will be as effective on the left or not.
So I agree with Joby (obvs) in that we are rich in talent at full back both in first choice and two able back ups.
The question I’m left with is this - if Pereira and Castagne are fully fit, can you honestly drop Justin?
I guess we won’t have to worry as he’ll be covering as a centre back and right winger by then no doubt!
posted on 14/12/20
comment by Nuneaton_fox (U7936)
posted 1 hour, 7 minutes ago
Nice problem to have once they are all fit.
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To answer this directly, we sold Chilwell and we now have a much stronger team, and a better left back.
So yes.
posted on 14/12/20
Sorry to triple bomb this thread, but I didn’t think this worthy of a new article so I thought I’d say it here. How impressive and professional in Albrighton.
How many managers have come in, dropped him thinking “I can do better than that” and then ending up having him as pretty much a fundamental part of the first team.
Every. Single. One.
Every year the fans write him off and think “why are we not playing X, Y, Z ahead of him”, yet time and time again he gives us 7 out of 10.
He also seems to give Rodgers the flexibility to change formation in game.
Well done Marc.
posted on 14/12/20
I see Rodgers has been complimenting Albrighton's work-rate, which is something that manager after manager has found they can come back to and rely upon.
posted on 15/12/20
We were all moaning about the 5 at the back recently and the reason Rodgers wasn’t playing 4 is that at the back end of the last season without Ricardo and chilwell we were terrible.
He had to change it as no faith in the defence - hasn’t really gone back to it because Castangne has been injured as well however it now looks like Justin looking the business and once castangne comes back think we will see 4 all the time
posted on 15/12/20
We can the ease Ricardo back and if he’s fully fit sorry Justin will be on the bench