Central Defence

[ENIAM NAM]

I think Hughes has got some decisions to make in this position. Who would be your best pairing assuming everyone is fit.

Toure
Lescott
Kompany
Onouha

I would like to see Kompany and Toure. I don't think Lescott has looked good enough since he joined. Maybe the whole drawn out transfer affected him.

[Scatman]

his first choice is blatantly going to be the bloke he paid £20M for and the new captain, so he probably doesn't have too much of a decision to make at all.

[Dubciteh]

his first choice is blatantly going to be the bloke he paid £20M for and the new captain, so he probably doesn't have too much of a decision to make at all.

yep thats pretty much it, its when one isnt fit that the dilema starts...

[mcfc1632]

Toure is certain and I would still want to see Lescott bed in

[Somerset Blue]

Toure is certain and I would still want to see Lescott bed in

How long do you think Lescott will get? Wonder if/when Ned will be challenging for his place. Think Toure is solid and, as said above, as captain will be a definite pick if fit.

[Beeks]

How long do you think Lescott will get?

Longer than some on here are giving him

[Hazy]

Nobody, has looked solid for me Lescott looks imo no better than Dunne and defo not worth the money on what I have seen,Toure, is a good defender, no more, Richards, looks fit and strong,little else for me has changed there, for the dough spent I hope we are just short of time spent playing together. None of them are great on the ball and look like they need a partner, Vinny IMO will be the best of the lot at C/Half.

[sandman]

Toure / Lescott

Bench: Ned (though I have a feeling he will prove his value to the first team soon enough)

[Scatman]

Toure / Lescott

Bench: Ned (though I have a feeling he will prove his value to the first team soon enough)

There's a right back place up for grabs

[Beeks]

Lescott looks imo no better than Dunne and defo not worth the money on what I have seen

Because 8 matches is plenty enough to make an honest judgement

*rolls eyes*

[trout man]

Lescott looks imo no better than Dunne and defo not worth the money on what I have seen

Because 8 matches is plenty enough to make an honest judgement

*rolls eyes*

I can understand that a player takes time to adjust to new systems and new players and I feel that Lescott will become everything that is expected from him, but I also agree that there is little difference in ability between Lescott and Dunne and so far this season Dunne is playing better and scoring goals. Still bitter about what happened to Dunne and dont really understand what went on behind the scenes but c'est la vie, got to move on, despite for me one of the only major negative events to have happened at City in the last 6 months.

[Beeks]

Lescott looks imo no better than Dunne and defo not worth the money on what I have seen

Because 8 matches is plenty enough to make an honest judgement

*rolls eyes*

I can understand that a player takes time to adjust to new systems and new players and I feel that Lescott will become everything that is expected from him, but I also agree that there is little difference in ability between Lescott and Dunne and so far this season Dunne is playing better and scoring goals. Still bitter about what happened to Dunne and dont really understand what went on behind the scenes but c'est la vie, got to move on, despite for me one of the only major negative events to have happened at City in the last 6 months.

As most on here know I was and still am a MASSIVE fan of Dunney however to make him comparable to Lescott is ridiculous i'm sorry

Lescott is faster...more confident...a better tackler of the ball...has better positional sense and is far better in the air (Despite Dunney scoring a couple recently)

He is also younger and will get a lot better

Believe me I have a few Everton friends who were gutted to see him go

If...or should I say when...he starts reproducing the form he showed there in a sky blue shirt you will laugh at that comparison yourself

[sky_blue_stew]

Let's not jump on the form-bandwagon to hastily, it's probably best to assess the Dunne-Lescott replacement at the end of the season. We've all seen Dunne's inconsistency in recent years, right now he's showing his ofrm of old but it's only if he sustains it we can really say letting him go was a mistake. I certainly wouldn't have been confident with him remaining a first choice centre back this year - his mistakes could make the difference between breaking the top 4 and narrowly missing.

As for Lescott, this must be the toughest period of his career, and its real make or break now as to whether he can sort his character out sooner rather than later. I expect him to hit top form eventually - the race for him is doing so before we bring in someone else who will provide severe competition. I hope Hughes can get the best out of him, he is a decent player and can hopefully become more consistant than Dunne over time.

[sandman]

Toure / Lescott

Bench: Ned (though I have a feeling he will prove his value to the first team soon enough)

There's a right back place up for grabs

I reckon Zabaleta is potentially ideal, I know I may be in the minority there..

[Original Dub]

The main problem we've had for some time in defence is continuity. Dunne was the only ever-present defender for any real run of games and most of the time he was outstanding from all of the other defenders. I would have liked to see how he got on with a reliable partner in the centre over a good run of games. I believe our defence would have been more solid so far had it been Dunne and Toure for the last 5 games.

That's not because I feel Dunne is definitely a better defender than Lescott. I'm actually not sure who is the better, but I do know that Dunne has an excellent understanding with Given and has bundles of experience both at club level and international level. He is a hoofer of the ball, but so is Lescott so far. He's great in the air - Lescott seems pretty good too. I feel Lescott's passing is marginally better, but Dunne's blocking and positional sense to me seems superior to Lescott's.

All in all, so far it doesn't look like we've improved at the back. It seems to me that Toure has been better than Dunne and Lescott has been worse... Villa at the moment have the meanest defence in the premier league and have played some seriously gifted attacking sides that include Chelsea, City and Liverpool.

Sure, people will say Dunne is in great form but he'll make mistakes soon. Of course he fucking will. As will every defender. But he has some real quality beside him in that defensive unit and he hasn't had that here for quite a few years.

Maybe Lescott will prove to be better than Dunne and I hope to God he does, but I'll still stick by what I said at the time - I think the best thing for us as a club was to hang onto Dunne for one more season, while the likes of Lescott bedded in.

Now we have an injury prone young CB in Ned, Kompany who I've only ever seen have one good game in that position for us and the two first choicers, Toure and Lescott.

Was the 5m for Dunne really that needed?

[Sister of fu]

I can recall a certain Vidic at United being pretty poor when he first went there but he is now one of the better defenders in the prem. I know Lescott had the prem experience that Vidic did not have prior to his move but I have ever confidence he will come good.

[Beeks]

You are all saying

'Our Defence hasn't improved'

Yet we have made the best start to a Premier leauge campaign since...well...ever...and to be fair have only leaked worrying goals against the rags...by the time Arsenal racked 2 it was all over.

I hardly think it's time to hit the panic button just yet...

Regardless of MHs class premiership proven players WE STILL NEED TIME TO GEL

Anyone can see we are not firing on full cylinders yet...just wish you lot would be a little more patient (Our good start doesn't lie) before you start banging on about who's shit and needs to give way and/or be shipped out

You are sounding like a bunch of rag fans

[Sister of fu]

Was the 5m for Dunne really that needed?[/quote]


No, but he did not want to stay and sit on the bench hence the move to Villa.

[Hazy]

Lescott looks imo no better than Dunne and defo not worth the money on what I have seen

Because 8 matches is plenty enough to make an honest judgement

*rolls eyes*

As I said time might be the problem ! they are getting used to each other in the Prem, IMO they all look like players who need a partner, at the mo Dunne and Lescott look no better than each other and as for 22 mill no sorrry never worth it, that said I am fully aware we had to pay top dollar, you can resume rolling your eyes you clown.

[ENIAM NAM]

Anyone can see we are not firing on full cylinders yet...just wish you lot would be a little more patient (Our good start doesn't lie) before you start banging on about who's shit and needs to give way and/or be shipped out

I don't think the OP was a sign of impatience. We now have a squad where we can rotate to get the best performance out of everyone. Players coming in know they have to perform at their best to keep their place. If it is a foregone conclusion that Toure and Lescott will start every game unless injured, where does that leave Onouha/Kompany?

On the other hand, I understand Original Dubs comments about the defence needing stability and a good understanding of each other.

Difficult choices for the manager. It would actually say a lot about him if he paid £20m+ for Lescott and then left him out!