Right Back at ya.

[Modo]

He can defend. He's been dribbled past as many times in 4 years as Trent has in 1.

its a weaker league

 

[Fabio]

Tbh I don't see what the issue is. From what I've seen Frimpong is pretty much Bradley but quicker, and maybe slightly worse defensively

 

[Hansern]

its a weaker league

He can still defend. The other narrative created is BS in all honesty.
There are other valid factors that can be discussed like suitability for RB after playing RM and how the team will need to be set up with potentially two attacking full backs. But defending isn't one of them.

 

[tombrown]

I wonder…. Pure speculation - after we had this with Trent for years, may as well have it with Bradley.

Is there a case to be made for Bradley playing in midfield, in the Gravy role - we’ve seen Bradley drop into midfield, he’s capable defensively, can burst past opppsition players and has a good range of passing.

That way signing Frimpong & Vanderson would make sense.

Also… Bradley does have a build more akin to a certain gold coloured protocol droid!!!

Also… Bradley’s wiki page looks like @Holle has been editing it!!!


View attachment 4016

Two months ahead of you ...

I was listening to Momo's favourite podcast who just did a documentary about Conor Bradley (don't worry Momo, none of the presenters are on it, its just audio from the people interviewed). Anyway, one of his youth coaches said he could play in many positions, including as an attacking midfielder.

So I think we should open the debate - shoudl the Tayto Warrior move into midfield? I mean we have form here, after all Stevie started off as right back.

Ready, steady, go ....

 

[Brizzle]

Won’t matter if he can’t defend if he’s pushing back our opponents’ LB and LW and forcing them to defend.

LFG

 

[Squiggles]

Poor the Bradley

I guess, but he hasn't played anywhere close to a full season for us and I'd also like the option of some defensive soldity when he's injured and just in general. Maybe a crash course in defending in a 4 for Frimpong will be sufficient but let's see. I think it will be important to get him signed by the first day of preseason and getting to work with him anyway. The release clause should make that reasonably straight forward.

! The good thing about Frimpong is it someone gets by him nobody in the PL has the pace to get away from him so he'll be able to get back and make himself a nuisance, but whether he has an idea of the intricacies of defending, body positioning, scanning, tracking, engaging, etc, and everything else, we will here to wait and see.

We'll probably only sign one of them and it'll figure itself out, but I will feel a bit for Konate. He surely would have felt his job could only get easier

 

[Fabio]

I think next season we might pivot to more of a double pivot with gravy/stiller & Mac/Jones. Jones at the weekend was very deep and both our fbs were powering forwards a lot. Kerkez and Frimpong/Bradley could stretch the absolute fuck out of teams, especially with gakpo/Diaz and Salah cutting inside more

 

[StevieM]

I think next season we might pivot to more of a double pivot with gravy/stiller & Mac/Jones. Jones at the weekend was very deep and both our fbs were powering forwards a lot. Kerkez and Frimpong/Bradley could stretch the absolute fuck out of teams, especially with gakpo/Diaz and Salah cutting inside more

I think that’s the tactical flexibility that Slot liked so that his team has different ways to attack teams and find a way to win.

If opposition floods the centre, then we attack out wide - double up out wide and we smash through the centre.

We already have wide players that can come inside - if we have a good technical CF that can drop deep as well as sit on the shoulder of their CBs in a high line.

Lots of options.

 

[bluebell]

If Slot keeps JoGo and Steph, then you have two more defensive minded options at RB. The issue with JoGo is he might not be here next year as its been touted he wants a change

 

[rurikbird]

I’m with everyone here - my original preference would have been a defensive monster at RB, probably because we’ve all been somewhat traumatized by us being targeted down that side for so many years. However, I currently know of no outstanding candidate in that mould and can definitely see the virtue in signing someone like Frimpong. Let’s hope that Dani Alves comparison will prove apt - that was the one full-back I really wish we’d signed.

One other thing to consider, while @Bradley is still at times quite naive defensively, he does remind me of Robertson in that he seems to be the type who WANTS to be a good defender and has the character and determination to eventually become one. And if his primary competition happens to be an ultra attack-minded full-back, then I can see Bradley really focusing on this aspect of his game in order to give Slot something different he can choose depending on the game and the opponent - because surely he can’t be faster or more creative than Frimpong.

 

[bluebell]

I’m with everyone here - my original preference would have been a defensive monster at RB, probably because we’ve all been somewhat traumatized by us being targeted down that side for so many years. However, I currently know of no outstanding candidate in that mould and can definitely see the virtue in signing someone like Frimpong. Let’s hope that Dani Alves comparison will prove apt - that was the one full-back I really wish we’d signed.

One other thing to consider, while @Bradley is still at times quite naive defensively, he does remind me of Robertson in that he seems to be the type who WANTS to be a good defender and has the character and determination to eventually become one. And if his primary competition is an ultra attack-minded full-back, then I can see Bradley really focusing on this aspect of his game in order to give Slot something different he can choose depending on the game and the opponent - because surely he can’t be faster or more creative than Frimpong.

You know we are waiting for you to create the thread, normally you don't wait this long to create threads on players that are this strongly linked

 

[tomasjj]

Kounde would have been nice

 

[rurikbird]

Kounde would have been nice

Yes, but unattainable I think.

 

[rurikbird]

You know we are waiting for you to create the thread, normally you don't wait this long to create threads on players that are this strongly linked

I’m not always one who creates threads for incomings - pretty sure someone else did Virgil’s and that was a banger.

 

[Hyena]

I think next season we might pivot to more of a double pivot with gravy/WHARTON & Mac/Jones. Jones at the weekend was very deep and both our fbs were powering forwards a lot. Kerkez and Frimpong/Bradley could stretch the absolute fuck out of teams, especially with WIRTZ/RODRYGO and Salah/CHERKI cutting inside more

Amended for realism. We are owned by FSG after all.

 

[Hansern]

I don't want to spend 80 mill on Wharton. The jury is still out on Cherki.

 

[Fabio]

If cherki is available for a reasonable fee (like Frimpong was), then I think it would make a lot of sense. Especially if the plan is to get rid of Elliott and chiesa

 

[mom]

I’d love Chiesa to stay but the way he’s been barely played this since surely means he’s off.

 

[Hansern]

Lutsharel Geertruida is one alternative to Frimpong. Could make sense if we sign Kerkez as well.
But not sure how good he is in all honesty.

 

[Fabio]

It's weird how we're advertising we're looking at backup options, when I was told repeatedly that we only went for first choices when we missed out on targets and didn't get alternatives

 

[Hansern]

It's weird how we're advertising we're looking at backup options, when I was told repeatedly that we only went for first choices when we missed out on targets and didn't get alternatives

We’ve been known to do this though. Negotiate with several and then push the button on the one we want. It’s what all clubs do.

 

[Fabio]

We’ve been known to do this though. Negotiate with several and then push the button on the one we want. It’s what all clubs do.

I agree, but it's just funny how when Bellingham wasn't available it was "no other midfielder", same as tchouameni. At the time it was "well if he's the one we want then why would we have backups"

Because all clubs have backups. As that's sensible business

 

[Modo]

View: https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/1km8vtw/jeremie_frimpong_does_the_start_bench_and_sell/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x&utm_name=mweb3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

I'm starting to like this guy more and more...
Defending is overrated anyways.