This could work in Maresca's weird setup too:

On paper:

James-Colwill-Rüdiger-Cucurella

Which in possession is:

James-Colwill-Rüdiger

With Cucurella 'inverting' into midfield.

Pushes everyone into their specialist role: James as RCB, Colwill as CCB, Rüdiger as LCB and Cucurella as far away from the defence as possible.

Could do way worse than Rudiger, but think the time for him to "lead" our youngsters and stead the ship was back then when he left us for Madrid. Don't think he's at that Thiago Silva level either to warrant coming back at this point and would rather we stick with the plan and go for someone like Murillo, Huijsen or Branthwaite, young but somewhat proven in PL.

On 08/05/2025 at 16:27, nonotnowjim said:

Would take him back in a heartbeat. Even after he ditched us and left us in the lurch.... How old is he?

32

23 hours ago, PhilH930 said:

Didn’t he look great in a back 3 but always a little loose in a back 2? I guess with kit inverted full back situation we often have a 3, or a 2.

Anyway, a great defender, but keep moving forward and don’t go back.

That was Christensen.

On 08/05/2025 at 16:27, nonotnowjim said:

Would take him back in a heartbeat. Even after he ditched us and left us in the lurch.... How old is he?

bo**ocks. Contract was running out and the sanctions banned contract negotiations.

I am already searching for my old Rudi’s profile picture