[Baggiebob(BBB)]

None of our centre defenders have much pace Drewks. It’s only our left backs that do. Personally I don’t mind us defending deep, it does the job and stops pace in behind exposing Bartley and Hegazi. The issue with defending deep comes after winning the ball. Under Pulis it would be hoof or a couple of rushed passes and then hoof. The team needs to learn to keep their composure and pass their way out from the back with movement from the midfielders to create passing lanes to bring the ball forward. Hopefully Graeme Jones can help with that.

Regarding playing with a back 3, I said the other day I’d only like to see us play it in a fluid system. So in possession Dawson tucks in from right back whilst Gibbs or Townsend moves high up the pitch from left back to left wing. Then out of possession Gibbs or Townsend drops back to left back and the three centre backs all move across to the right to create a normal back four. That would mean Phillips not having to defend as a full back, where he’ll struggle, whilst being able to attack like a wing-back/winger when we have possession. Belgium did something similar against Brazil (opposite side though) so Graeme Jones again could point Big Dave in that direction if we have no right back.

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Nyom has now departed.

https://www.wba.co.uk/news/2018/august/n...loan-move/

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Schalke have signed left back Hamza Mendyl from Lille. That means Gibbs won’t be going there.

 If Nyom - slow coach - has departed, then they must have lined up a replacement - I hope!

[Beefy 1965]

Regarding Gibbs Josh , Portugal media are reporting he is going over there ,loan to £5 million move ...

?? | Kieran Gibbs is said to be in advanced talks over a surprise move to Portugal. #wba https://t.co/2dYfQeogjB https://t.co/RyjJS0ZCL7

[Blue Baggie]

LB position can be covered by 2 or 3 other players - it's not so much an issue as RB
Only Dawson can cover RB - time to bring 2 in

[WBA-Josh]

Regarding Gibbs Josh , Portugal media are reporting he is going over there ,loan to £5 million move ...

?? | Kieran Gibbs is said to be in advanced talks over a surprise move to Portugal. #wba https://t.co/2dYfQeogjB https://t.co/RyjJS0ZCL7

That’s an interesting link. I’m surprised that Gibbs never had much English interest, it’s mainly been foreign. Good luck to him at Sporting if it happens because they’ve had a crazy summer with lots of their top players leaving after the fans attacked them at the training ground.

If he goes then I’d like to see Brunt move back left back as cover/competition for Townsend with Field coming into centre midfield to partner Livermore.

[Salopbaggie]

I hate seeing Brunt at left back, my heart would not take another season of it. . For all of his loyal service to the club the only thing which keeps his place for me, is his dead ball and crossing ability, gone have the days when he would take on a player.

[Worldclassalbion]

Whoa hang on re Gibbs. Yes we have players who can cover there but we have been doing that for years. We finally get a proper left back who is quite a good player and we get another LB as competition for him.

SO WHY are we even contemplating selling Gibbs?? It’s Stupid as it only leaves us with one proper LB in Townsend. Stupid decisions being made on a regular basis, we are going backwards after the crushing blow of Relegation. DM needs to be stronger in his views and not let this incompetent board steam roller him. FFS bring Jeremy Peace and Dan Ashworth back because this current lot are inadequate at best.

[bomberbrown1968]

Whoa hang on re Gibbs. Yes we have players who can cover there but we have been doing that for years. We finally get a proper left back who is quite a good player and we get another LB as competition for him.

SO WHY are we even contemplating selling Gibbs??  It’s Stupid as it only leaves us with one proper LB in Townsend. Stupid decisions being made on a regular basis, we are going backwards after the crushing blow of Relegation. DM needs to be stronger in his views and not let this incompetent board steam roller him. FFS bring Jeremy Peace and Dan Ashworth back because this current lot are inadequate at best.

Spot on Worldclass, mend and make do is what we've done for full backs for too long, Gibbs was brought in as a specialist left back and now we're letting him go, while right full back is still up in the air.

Batson & Statham anyone?

[drewks]

We've all got to assume that getting rid of the likes of Gibbs is a cost cutting move to get the higher wages earners off the books.
The biggest false economy, surely? How can we expect to compete and get back to the top level if we sell all the best players?
If it's obvious to all of US, what the fek is going on??

[Slick_Footwork]

Just back from holiday, did manage to catch Forest match but missed the others.

Really can't get my head around the transfer window and squad. Our squad looks absolutely decimated already so not sure how we are sanctioning more departures. I really hope we have good loans planned because we have absolutely no cover for injuries at the moment.

Regarding Nyom, he's a liability, so glad he's gone in that respect. However, this surely means Dawson must play and we have someone lined up as cover. I can only hope.

As for Gibbs, I'd be disappointed if he went BUT i thought he was sh*te against Forest. I definitely think Brunt, if he plays, must be at left back as he doesn't have the legs for the middle of the park. So maybe if Gibbs goes and it frees up some cash for a quality loan to permanent deal for someone in the middle of the park, maybe it could benefit the team.

It all seems a bit of a mess this summer, so I guess we just need to sit tight until the European and loan windows close. I don't think we are the only team suffering either.

[Baggiebob(BBB)]

How can we put Brunt in at l/b as suggested? I've never seen him tackle anyone - well not full on - so speedy r/wingers will show him the ball and flash past him - creating scoring chances for the op team. Keep Gibbs and find a right back.