Luke Thomas ….

It's probably a bit more than that: might as well think of it as an extended trial. If he'd set the world alight, maybe we'd try to sign him.

I don't think anyone really thought we were going for it in January, so it was ultra low risk.
 
Thomas was very poor yesterday. Almost every time he got the ball, he passed it back. We need wing backs to be looking forward, not backwards. And he looked very unfit in the second half. I hope that he doesn’t start on Saturday.
 
We have Engel, Bangura and Coulson under contract for next season.
It was a signal in January that they signed another LB.

I'm not writing Bangura off - we've seen so little of him.
Coulson is useless and Engel is not much better.
Thomas had an ideal opportunity to nail down the LB slot, but he certainly hasn't done that yet.
If Carrick sees more in him than Engel and wants to try him to the season end I am fine with that, as Bangura is not fit, Engel will never be good enough and Coulson is doing well to be in League 1 right now.

We need quality for the first team. We don't have that at LB, at least until I see more of Bangura.
 
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4 left backs put pen to paper this season , 3 signings and 1 contract extension. And not one of them has particularly been up to it. I'd like to see Bangura a bit more first before I completely write him off.

But why was Coulson who had been out on loan for about 2 seasons and not pulled up any trees given a new contract ? He lasted 6 months before being sent on loan again.
 
LB in our team / system is probably hardest position on pitch. Unless McGree is playing they get very little protection. At Southampton Engel was shocking but Greenwood never covered and O’Brian dropped into a back 5 when Southampton had the ball and he failed to help also. Thomas did ok on Monday but I’m not convinced by any of the options. I can see us going for RB and LB in the summer.

UTB.
 
We lost 2 LB’s last season. When coulsen was seen as not up to it. We signed bangura, and then he got injured we loaned Thomas.
Engel and bangura will be enough to be competitive at the top of the championship.
It’s the midfield and attacking options that will make the difference and will be where the investment goes
 
Robbieboro said:
4 left backs put pen to paper this season , 3 signings and 1 contract extension. And not one of them has particularly been up to it. I'd like to see Bangura a bit more first before I completely write him off.

But why was Coulson who had been out on loan for about 2 seasons and not pulled up any trees given a new contract ? He lasted 6 months before being sent on loan again.
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Woodgate will have had a part in this. Carrick hadnt seen much of Coulson but Woodgate loved Coulson.
 
Andybarca said:
We lost 2 LB’s last season. When coulsen was seen as not up to it. We signed bangura, and then he got injured we loaned Thomas.
Engel and bangura will be enough to be competitive at the top of the championship.
It’s the midfield and attacking options that will make the difference and will be where the investment goes
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Exactly my thoughts. The left back has to basically be capable of doing everything in this setup; defend, attack, create... Its a massive task. If people expect us to get someone who is excellent at all that we will need spend about 20+ million.

Engel is a good all rounder who has had a decent first season barring a couple of really poor games. Improving whats around him will bring out the best in him. He's very capable i think. His stats have been really good this season.

Also having a settled back 3 or 4 would really help.
 
People do tend to forget Giles’ defensive frailties when talking about Engel imo. We had a weakness there last season as well. I don’t think Engel is as good going forward but then the attacking players he’s passing it to aren’t as good either.

I think left-back is well down the list of priorities this summer, unless one that’s a huge upgrade on Engel and well within our budget becomes available.
 
viv_andersons_nana said:
People do tend to forget Giles’ defensive frailties when talking about Engel imo. We had a weakness there last season as well. I don’t think Engel is as good going forward but then the attacking players he’s passing it to aren’t as good either.

I think left-back is well down the list of priorities this summer, unless one that’s a huge upgrade on Engel and well within our budget becomes available.
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That we signed a 4th left back in January maybe indicates a LB will not be down the list of priorities.
And I hope it is not.
 
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I feel for the lad because he's become some"fans" rag doll - to be ripped to bits and insulted.

We can knock any of our players over the season, so here are some of the criticisms we've read and heard all season about all of our players. At some stage all players have a poor patch:

Gilbert has made a limited number of starts - though we signed him for four years - his assist on Good Friday was the one which gained us a crucial point at Southampton.

Engel's passing at Southampton was woeful, but overall he has come on, no end, during the season.

Bolaser has been excellent on occasions, then noticeably very poor the next game.

Jones interception and crossing was poor earlier on in the season when he was inconsistent.

Clarke has improved, but his perception and awareness of positioning on his return was very poor.

McNair cant do right for doing wrong.

Jonny has been slow and lost the ball in a number of games earlier on and not up to scratch.

Greenwood has blown hot and cold, though his free-kick against Leicester was spectacular.

Ailing can be a nuisance, but at times has appeared lacklustre, like he's just playing - out his season.

RVDB has shown his nativity at times and hasn't consistently been the reliable player he is becoming.

Djiksteel hasn't performed when given the time, like in previous seasons.

Latte Lath has taken the season to find his feet, but couldn't find the box earlier on.

Finn has scored some vital goals, but doesn't take chances when offered to him.

Forss has been hit-and-miss despite his injuries.

Rogers ball control was poor, but he scored vital goals.

Silvera doesn't perform like a striker because he isn't up to standard.

Crooks missed vital chances and was more likely to put the ball high and wide than in the goal.

Bangura has been inconsistent and hasn't got what it takes.

Hackney cant adapt his game dependent on the different players around him and passing in recent games has been poor.

McGree scores some good goals, but at times his ball play is inconsistent.

O`Brien loses the ball too often, though he can run.

Coburn has been laboured and slow.
 
He's absolutely garbage, one of the worst full backs I've seen at the club for me. Not seen him put one half decent performance in
 
Whatever is his problem, I dont see it being solved in the remaining games, so I wouldnt play him unless we have to.
 
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