Guest Brian M Posted August 25, 2007 Posted August 25, 2007 "But the door is open for a player to leave. I want my squad to be just a little bit shorter, from 27 to 26. I think it is obvious that our squad is very balanced and we have two players for every position but, at this moment, at right-back we have Belletti, Glen Johnson, Paulo Ferreira and Diarra, who is 50% a right-back. Every player likes to play so, if someone shows a real interest in one of them and they also show an interest in leaving, we can be open to that." Jose's words... PS: interesting to note the order JM spoke about his right back options. "...at right-back we have Belletti, Glen Johnson, Paulo Ferreira and Diarra". Which, I'm guessing, is his subconscious telling us the order he plans to play them if they all stay...
BlueBosnian Posted August 25, 2007 Posted August 25, 2007 Both Johnson and Diarra. Fereirra can be used as back up for now.
mad_mac Posted August 25, 2007 Posted August 25, 2007 How about Paulo in as right back, with Beletti as cover for him? Anyway, I don't think Jose seems to have a great deal of faith in Johnson. Gave him a couple of games, and then before you could say "Paulo Ferreira" he was back to playing Essien there. I wonder, too, how long Essien will enjoy being played out of position? Anyway, I digress, to me I think Arsenal have shown interest in Diarra, and if we were to let them make an offer I truly hope that we don't take it. Diarra looks promising, and the "junior makelele" should remain in our ranks to take over from maka when he's done in a year. A loan spell for Diarra (although not to le arse) or an outright sale of Johno would be my guesses. Paulo is to versatile, and one of Jose's Porto proteges, to be sold now. I, and many others, cna not fathom what caused Jose to fall out of favour with Paulo so quickly; however, I don't think that means he wants him out of the team. Another point I feel pretinent to this discussion is the Boulahrouz deal. His loan to Sevilla seemed to be a "sweetner" for the move to Chelsea for Allves. However, as this Dani saga drags on, and the now finalized signing on Beletti I can no longer see what that was all about. I doubt a loan spell at Seville will make him, suddenly, a great player that we will be salavating to get back next season; why not just sell him outright? And now, all this talk of Belletti being bought to then send to Seville so we can get alves????I doubt it. Looks like our RB is set right now, but who will make it their position is still debatable. To me, it will be one of Beletti, Paulo, or Diarra...so long johno. But, I fully expect Essien to be there more than 50% of the time Scott
BlueBeard Posted August 25, 2007 Posted August 25, 2007 If any of them have to go, then I hope it's Ferreira who moves on. Glen is good going forward, and is better at CB then PF if such an emergency arises again. I think Diarra looked great at RB last year, a bit raw, but definitely worth keeping - he's one for the future, let's just hope it's at the Bridge.
just Posted August 25, 2007 Posted August 25, 2007 I think Diarra looked great at RB last year, a bit raw, but definitely worth keeping - he's one for the future, let's just hope it's at the Bridge. 100% agree with that. It would be a mistake to off load Diarra.
Guest Brian M Posted August 25, 2007 Posted August 25, 2007 I think Diarra looked great at RB last year, a bit raw, but definitely worth keeping - he's one for the future, let's just hope it's at the Bridge. 100% agree with that. It would be a mistake to off load Diarra. Add my 100% to that. Diarra seems the natural replacement of Maka. Who, let's face it, can't go on for ever. And Mik is a different type of player and still has major question marks about the mental side of his game. I don't rate GJ and Paulo seems to have long since forgotten what it was that made him want to perform at the highest level, so I'm not too fussed which of them goes. As, to be honest, I'd rather have Ben or Diarra at right back than either of them.
TomP Posted August 27, 2007 Posted August 27, 2007 I think that the correct mix for the position is to have one attacking right back (Belletti), one defensive right back (Ferreira) and one youngster (Diarra or Johnson). So if we are going to sell, it is going to be a straight choice between Johnson and Diarra. I'm not sure who it will be out of those two. I think that Jose has a bit more faith in Diarra, but Diarra has been a lot more mouthy about wanting to leave - something Johnson never has been. If it were up to me, I would send them both out on loan for the season. In Bellitti and Ferriera, we have two dependable, experienced right backs, with emergency cover in Essien and Ben Haim in the unlikely event of both of them being unavailable.
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