Our full backs

Duffman said:
If your wide midfield players simply don’t track back and think about defending now and again the full backs, as they are time and time again, are being left completely exposed. You could stick Trippier, Kyle Walker, TAA - whoever you like at full back for the Boro - they can’t do it on their own and even they would struggle playing behind these two.
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Well Jones never stops covering for whoever is at right back. 5 midfielders should be able to offer more protection especially when one of them isn't expected to offer anything going forwards.
 
I think one problem we have is CM not being mobile enough to shift across and close down space when defending.

O’Brien is a big miss. Our best combination is Hackney and Barlaser. Howson unfortunately has slowed down and should be used sparingly. I’m not slagging him off because he’s been a good servant for the club and still good for the squad.
 
If Dijksteel can't get into this side by January with Smith out injured then we've got to be signing a specialist right back surely.

If Carrick never fancied him we should've brought one in the summer anyway. Hopefully it is just a match fitness thing.
 
dibble said:
Must be something with Dijksteel several managers have been reluctant to play him much.
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Warnock and Wilder loved him, playing as one of three CB's.

I think he's looked better playing at CB as part of a 3 than he has playing RB, but the last few games, VDB has looked like what he is, a CB being asked to play RB. Think it's time to give Djiksteel a run of games.
 
VDB has looked vulnerable every time I've watched him in the flesh. He was caught out of position for their first yesterday and his defending for the second was, well, unfortunate is the best way to put it. But I accept that he is young and being played out of position. I'd love to see Dijksteel back at RB. His link up play with Crooks and Jones is excellent, and he can defend solidly.
 
borolad259 said:
VDB has looked vulnerable every time I've watched him in the flesh. He was caught out of position for their first yesterday and his defending for the second was, well, unfortunate is the best way to put it. But I accept that he is young and being played out of position. I'd love to see Dijksteel back at RB. His link up play with Crooks and Jones is excellent, and he can defend solidly.
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His struggles to even take a throw in properly worry me.
 
We raved about Giles but give Engel stick. Engel hasn't got Giles pace but he's creating chances every game, if Archer and Akpom we're putting them away would he be viewed differently?

Neither are particularly good against direct wingers but how many times do you see Engel having to split two attackers due to lack of support in numerous directions?

RvdB is a young centre back playing as a full back. I remember a young Mowbray being asked to do the same and looking like a fish out of water.
 
Corcaigh_the_Cat said:
We raved about Giles but give Engel stick. Engel hasn't got Giles pace but he's creating chances every game, if Archer and Akpom we're putting them away would he be viewed differently?

Neither are particularly good against direct wingers but how many times do you see Engel having to split two attackers due to lack of support in numerous directions?

RvdB is a young centre back playing as a full back. I remember a young Mowbray being asked to do the same and looking like a fish out of water.
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Engel gets stick from folks who don't really understand football.
 
fmttmadmin said:
Thought Lukas Engel was outstanding to be honest. Cannot believe how he has turned it around. Yesterday he offered himself wide, upfront throughout and was strong in the tackle defending.
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really watch Engel for the first Plymouth goal. He has done ok but many flaws in all of our back 4 which is why we wont get out of this division anytime soon
 
Ref Engel

I thought Engel defended well, except for their third goal where he went all out for the clearance header and missed the ball.

Lovely cross for Coburn's first.

He seems to be getting better and better, which is very promisong and alos seems mentally tough for a young player.

Ref VDB

Hopefully it was a learning experience at Plymouth.

Considering his young age and level of experience he has started his Boro career well.
 
The 2 FBs on the bench are only viable options until they get a start and make an inevitable mistake then the bed setters will be all over them like a rash…

I don’t think VDB had a particularly good game but he wasn’t supported in defence by jones for their first goal..

Engle had a relatively good game and ran him self into the ground this needed swapping..

We could’ve been better collectively in defence but Fry had a good game…
 
xxlshirts_fit_all said:
The 2 FBs on the bench are only viable options until they get a start and make an inevitable mistake then the bed setters will be all over them like a rash…

I don’t think VDB had a particularly good game but he wasn’t supported in defence by jones for their first goal..

Engle had a relatively good game and ran him self into the ground this needed swapping..

We could’ve been better collectively in defence but Fry had a good game…
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Fry has been pretty solid so far. Really good.
 
Pretty much all their attacks came down our flanks, especially the first half. Engel looked vunerable when stuck one on one but generally stuck to his task ok. At fault for the last goal but helped setup our first, didn't do that much going forward apart from that, but he was generally ok overall not great but ok. RVB had a nightmare. First 2 goals were primarily his fault. First one he got sucked in field when he had no need to. The 2nd was just horrible. He offers pretty much nothing going forward. He may be a decent centre back but he is no full back.
 
I doubt very much Djksteel would be any worse than defending than Van but it’s fair to say he’s probably better at going forward. Tough call on both sets of fullbacks as they’re probably both still on the learning curve (Van, Engel, Bangura and perhaps even Djksteel)
 
i dont think carrick rayes dijksteel which personally i find suprising as he is the best right back we have,de berg is a natural centrehalf,and still very unsure of engel so far
 
I think Engel is pretty decent in the final third. He will rack up a few assists and get a couple himself if he remains first choice. He does lack defensively but, as previously mentioned, our full backs are exposed alarmingly often.
 
I’m not sure everyone is giving enough credit to their player who scored the second goal. It was caused by a brilliant strike, not a defensive blunder.
 
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