This is how we will stop leaking goals

[sandman]

http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Team-news/20 ... for-return

Fact!!

[mr_nool]

http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Team-news/2009/November/Onuoha-ready-for-return

Fact!!

Great news! I don't think he will come in an be a saviour, but he's been badly missed and will give us more options and will also enhance the copetition for a spot in the starting eleven.

[Original Dub]

The problem is mate, the answer always lies with the guy who isn't playing...

Onouha looked good in a bad defence last season, just like Dunne did for years and years before him, yet we shipped Dunne out and he's now half of one of the most impressive central defensive partnerships in the whole league.

Onouha could end up being a quality player and I really hope he does, but I don't think he's better than Kolo Toure and Jolean Lescott... that said, he's DEFINITELY better than Kompany and we need competition there badly.

[Socrates]

The problem is mate, the answer always lies with the guy who isn't playing...

Onouha looked good in a bad defence last season, just like Dunne did for years and years before him, yet we shipped Dunne out and he's now half of one of the most impressive central defensive partnerships in the whole league.

Onouha could end up being a quality player and I really hope he does, but I don't think he's better than Kolo Toure and Jolean Lescott... that said, he's DEFINITELY better than Kompany and we need competition there badly.

He's not as good on the ball as Toure or Lescott but he has all the attributes requited to be the "solid" half of a good defensive partnership with either of those 2!

[Mike J]

id shift lescott to left back and get steady neddy back in the centre!

[mcfc1632]

The problem is mate, the answer always lies with the guy who isn't playing...

Onouha looked good in a bad defence last season, just like Dunne did for years and years before him, yet we shipped Dunne out and he's now half of one of the most impressive central defensive partnerships in the whole league.

Onouha could end up being a quality player and I really hope he does, but I don't think he's better than Kolo Toure and Jolean Lescott... that said, he's DEFINITELY better than Kompany and we need competition there badly.

He's not as good on the ball as Toure or Lescott but he has all the attributes requited to be the "solid" half of a good defensive partnership with either of those 2!

I am a big fan - but he is what he is - a really good back up to have available in the squad to back up both CHs.

He has a big future but he is definitely not ready yet - and the game we are moving towards requires the ball played on the ground more - he has been Dunne's understudy!!

Good to have him back - but I agree lets not start getting ahead

[sandman]

The problem is mate, the answer always lies with the guy who isn't playing...

Onouha looked good in a bad defence last season, just like Dunne did for years and years before him, yet we shipped Dunne out and he's now half of one of the most impressive central defensive partnerships in the whole league.

Onouha could end up being a quality player and I really hope he does, but I don't think he's better than Kolo Toure and Jolean Lescott... that said, he's DEFINITELY better than Kompany and we need competition there badly.

He's not as good on the ball as Toure or Lescott but he has all the attributes requited to be the "solid" half of a good defensive partnership with either of those 2!

I personally would like to see the Partnership of Onouha and Toure, I have no beef with Lescott, I always admired his ability at Everton, but the partnership just isnt working yet and Onouha has the brain to sort out the lack of common sense being displayed.

Future skipper for me.

[Original Dub]

The problem is mate, the answer always lies with the guy who isn't playing...

Onouha looked good in a bad defence last season, just like Dunne did for years and years before him, yet we shipped Dunne out and he's now half of one of the most impressive central defensive partnerships in the whole league.

Onouha could end up being a quality player and I really hope he does, but I don't think he's better than Kolo Toure and Jolean Lescott... that said, he's DEFINITELY better than Kompany and we need competition there badly.

He's not as good on the ball as Toure or Lescott but he has all the attributes requited to be the "solid" half of a good defensive partnership with either of those 2!

Yeah you could be right, I do get the feeling that Lescott and Toure might be too similar in their approch to defending, albeit Toure is currently making a slightly better job of it.

I would be interested to try Lescott at left back and Onouha with Toure but constantly moving the defence around may not help overall and Toure and Lescott should have enough between them to FORM a great partnership.

I really believe its harder to form a solid defensive partnership than anywhere else on the park and it will take a while regardless of who we put in there.

I just hope it happens soon because even if they improve 50%, we'll finish top four IMO.

[kinkylola]

i'd much prefer kompo to lescott right now, hands down no contest.

I'm very happy to have neddie back as I think he's a quality player, and as evidenced last season, hughes will actually play him. I hope he can come back in and give lescott some time on the bench because he he really needs to have a good think about what he's been doing on the pitch and what he needs to do.

[Original Dub]

i'd much prefer kompo to lescott right now, hands down no contest.

I'm very happy to have neddie back as I think he's a quality player, and as evidenced last season, hughes will actually play him. I hope he can come back in and give lescott some time on the bench because he he really needs to have a good think about what he's been doing on the pitch and what he needs to do.

I don't understand how you say its 'no contest' between Kompany and Lescott? Kompany has only ever had one good game as centre half in the premier league. One. Lescott has had bag loads and I think he will come good... as Socs said, maybe Toure and Lescott arent' the perfect match... but Kompany hardly looked good when he stepped in mate.

Its another case of looking for the solution outside those who are playing at the minute. The solution IMO lies with the ones who are IMO.

[kinkylola]

i said kompo instead of lescott RIGHT NOW ... because as I mentioned lescott needs a sit down and a long hard think. Saying Kompo has only ever had 1 good game for us is hyperbole, but I understand where you're coming from. But he does have experience in the prem and I like the way he plays with the ball at his feet. I also would prefer ned to lescott right now, but ned is coming back from a long layoff and needs to be worked back in. I think kolo and lescott are definitely our main pair, but again, lescott needs a sit, that is obvious to me.

[Socrates]

O'Dub - Hope I'm wrong but I don't think either Toure or Lescott are themselves solid enough to form a solid partnership together! Either could be part of a solid partnership with a more solid partner.

kinky lola - Bridge needs to sit down. Lescott just needs to move to left back!

[kinkylola]

Don't agree re: Bridge. Before the burnley game he had been playing very well and was drawing most of the plaudits from people.

Lescott is all over the place right now and at this point he is his own worst enemy. Total lack of confidence which leads to school boy errors. That's what I see right now. Maybe bridge was guilty of that this past game, and if that's so than maybe he does need a sit. Isn't that why we have sylvinho? We need to be more ruthless with our team selection.

[Original Dub]

i said kompo instead of lescott RIGHT NOW ... because as I mentioned lescott needs a sit down and a long hard think. Saying Kompo has only ever had 1 good game for us is hyperbole, but I understand where you're coming from. But he does have experience in the prem and I like the way he plays with the ball at his feet. I also would prefer ned to lescott right now, but ned is coming back from a long layoff and needs to be worked back in. I think kolo and lescott are definitely our main pair, but again, lescott needs a sit, that is obvious to me.

Hold on there mate, I never said he had one good game for us. I never exaggerate or sensationalise purely to get my point across. But I have seen Kompany have one good game in the premier league WHILST playing as CENTRE HALF.

TBH I thought he looked anything but a centre half in ALL of his other premier league games that he played in that position... yet some would have me believe that he is a quality centre half... better than Richie Dunne... what a load of pure bollox that was.

[Fish111]

id shift lescott to left back and get steady neddy back in the centre!

Great shout that.

[Wooders]

id shift lescott to left back and get steady neddy back in the centre!

I'd be tempted to try this as well

[kinkylola]

my only point is that lescott needs a sit. I also mentioned that I would prefer ned, but he's coming back from injury and needs time to work in.

Lescott is a good center half, but he's on terrible form at the moment and looks the be completely devoid of confidence. To me he needs a sit. he needs to get his head right.

[Colin the King]

While Ned lacks a decent passing range, he's intelligent positionally, a brilliant tackler and gobbles everything in the air without fuss. His introduction to the side around January last season played a big part in us conceding fewer goals. He was always a brighter talent than Micah but got injured at a crucial stage and Micah took full advantage. I really do believe if he had no injury problems, Ned would be one of the first names on our team sheet and quite possibly in the England setup. He's just a brilliant, brilliant centre back.

[The Original Special One]

Lets not 'do a Micah Richards' with Nedum.
The most important thing right now is for Hughes and his coaching staf to get the players, particularly our full backs and two central midfield players, straight regarding their defensive responsibilities and the need to show more awareness

[Bluez]

Having the same back four for 2 games in a row would probably help