He’s so fudgeing unbelievably good. Watch one match and you’ll fall in love
How do you feel about him at RB? We just have to get him involved somehow and then move him in to CB when Boxall retires or slows? Or it’s somewhat counter productive?
Agree with YH, and with your latter query - I don't see any benefit in playing him at RB, either for his development or for the team. I personally think he's a nailed-on starter alongside Boxall in the left CB slot where he's been playing for Reading, but I totally understand if others think that's premature
Strong head on his shoulders so acclimatisation to high-level international footy shouldn't be a long process - the decline of Smith and Tuiloma and the stagnation of Pijnaker provide prime opportunities for this. Surman's right there, too, waiting in the wings - their future partnership is a thing of beauty in theory
I can’t understand in games where we wanted to test ourselves against good opposition we played Pijnaker and Smith. And didn’t look at other RB candidates. This is when our best team should be strengthening their connections. And not really being able to attack down one side makes us predictable and puts a load on the rest of the formation.
Smith and Pijnaker played okay, but training etc is where you get a look at players. The charitable interpretation is that Bazeley doesn’t know his best team yet. But I really wanted us to treat that pseudo- tournament with much more intent, not a get out of it without too much damage type situation.