Never a better opportunity to stay up this season.

[ksrclaret]

Because I've seen Charlie Taylor perform IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE as an integral part of a damn good back four.

It's all very well cruising along in the Championship with your fancy on loan Chelsea full back bullying weak opposition but now we're back with the big boys give me Charlie Taylor all day long.

Kompany won't use him a left back unless desperate. We don't play to hit the channels anymore. Taylor did at times perform very well defensively but in the season we went down was bloody woeful.

Left back is an issue and needs sorting.

[claretspice]

As it stands, he's our best option at left back, and his one footedness is less of an issue if he's asked to hold the line or tuck into a back 3, rather then step into midfield (all of which is more likely if we have a double pivot, which again seems likely).

However, the more you want to play out from the back, the more his limitations in possession are a problem.

[RVclaret]

As it stands, he's our best option at left back, and his one footedness is less of an issue if he's asked to hold the line or tuck into a back 3, rather then step into midfield (all of which is more likely if we have a double pivot, which again seems likely).

However, the more you want to play out from the back, the more his limitations in possession are a problem.

Reckon Roberts will be preferred, did well against Mainz

[Pickles]

Kompany said last summer something along the lines of Taylor isn't a modern left back, and his attributes are more suited to a modern centre half. It's a redundant debate. We all know he'll only play left back if there's no other choice because watching us play for one second tells you Taylor doesn't have what is required to play left back consistently for Kompany.

[equinox]

He played centre half because we had Maatsen at left back, well guess what? We don't have Maatsen anymore.

If Vinny can find a better left back before Friday then he's done well but it will cost us north of 15m

[Pickles]

He played centre half because we had Maatsen at left back, well guess what? We don't have Maatsen anymore.

Taylor was at the club when Kompany arrived. Maatsen wasn't. Kompany almost immediately identified Taylor's limitations, brought in Maatsen who plays left back how Kompany wants/needs, and Taylor's barely played at left back since because he's just not up to it. It's not a debate, it's not opinions. That's just how it is.

[ksrclaret]

Kompany chose to play Vitinho at left back over Taylor on multiple occasions last season. He's chosen to experiment with Al Dakhil and then Roberts in pre season over Taylor this summer. We've been linked heavily with Maatsen again and other left backs now it appears he's unavailable.

Taylor may well start against City, I'd certainly start him there, but if he's our regular left back into September something has gone wrong.

[equinox]

Yes Maatsen is/was better than Taylor but he plays for Chelsea

[claretspice]

Reckon Roberts will be preferred, did well against Mainz

Perhaps so, but my own view is that Taylor would provide a better option, not least because if Roberts is playing left back, he's not playing right back.

The role will be different this season, for two simple reasons. Firstly we are going to have less of the ball, so the emphasis on manipulating deep lying defences by overloading in midfield is likely to be lessened. And secondly, I think we'll play with 2 holding players more to protect us against counter attacks. When we did that, Maatsen stepped inside less and played wing back more. Those reasons together suggest your left back is going to step into those tight half back areas in possession less and so Taylor's weakness less likely to be exposed.

All that being said, I thought 2 months ago we would bring in 2 left backs this summer and that Taylor would depart, and that still seems quite plausible to me. He's clearly not as good in possession, nor as quick, as Kompany would ideally like.

[Bosscat]

Reckon Roberts will be preferred, did well against Mainz

Could be ... Trippier often plays for England as a pseudo "left back"

[equinox]

Taylor may well start against City, I'd certainly start him there, but if he's our regular left back into September something has gone wrong.

FFS what has happened to some of you?

[ksrclaret]

FFS what has happened to some of you?

Seats facing football pitches

[Pickles]

I do wonder sometimes if people watch us play.

[equinox]

I do wonder sometimes if people watch us play.

Lame and boring.

[Roosterbooster]

Forest aside, August and September looks really tough. But that gives us time to recruit and sus the system before we start playing the really important games every other week

I think its fair to say we are possibly weaker than last season atm
But I cant see Kompany allowing that to be the case for long
We brought in ALOT of very good players after the season started last season
And I think that will make us comfortably better than 3 other teams this season

That being said, you could argue that Southampton's starting XI on Fridat was much stronger than our starting XI against Huddersfield last year. And they went down very easily. So we have to be very, very careful

[equinox]

Forest aside, August and September looks really tough. But that gives us time to recruit and sus the system before we start playing the really important games every other week

I think its fair to say we are possibly weaker than last season atm
But I cant see Kompany allowing that to be the case for long
We brought in ALOT of very good players after the season started last season
And I think that will make us comfortably better than 3 other teams this season

That being said, you could argue that Southampton's starting XI on Fridat was much stronger than our starting XI against Huddersfield last year. And they went down very easily. So we have to be very, very careful

For God's sake, how do you people cope in the real world, with real problems?

[ksrclaret]

For God's sake, how do you people cope in the real world, with real problems?

You’re the only one struggling to maintain an even temperament on this thread. Lighten up a bit fella.

It’s just opinions

[Roosterbooster]

For God's sake, how do you people cope in the real world, with real problems?

I tend to not worry about other people's opinions too much

[EarbyClaret]

Assuming we don't bring in a LB who's ready to slot straight into the starting line-up I'd hope Taylor plays against City

However, the evidence shows us VK isn't keen - I think he'll consider his options are:

Roberts - with O'Shea at RB
Al-Dakhil - with O'Shea at CB
Vitinho

Based on pre-season he might even select Dodgson ahead of Taylor

[KlyBfc]

Barnes has been upgraded quite significantly with one of Europe’s most talented young strikers.

Harwood-Bellis was great but young and O’Shea looks just as good if not better.

Tella has been upgraded to Redmond and (possibly) Daramy.

Maatsen the only one there we’ve not replaced yet.

You can argue about the individuals (for what it’s worth THB in my opinion is better the O’Shea and Tella and Barnes are very different in their roles to their replacements) but my point remains this side is a changed massively from our successful one last year and it will this take a number of games to get going, find our best side and be cohesive.

[ArmchairDetective]

Wolves in talks with their manager to terminate his contract. They may well get their next appointment right and flourish, but terminating your manager's contract four days before the season kicks off is hardly a good sign. Could be heading for disaster...