The Centre Back conundrum

[Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man 3,805]

As we all know, we're going to be without Zimmermann and Klose for a long period of time and that leaves us with limited options. Godfrey's position in the team is now absolutely untouchable but there is a big question mark as to who else plays.

Amadou was fantastic against Man City and I'm sure a lot of us were thinking that it would be Amadou and Godfrey for the foreseeable future as Hanley hasn't convinced in the early part of the season. But Amadou didn't have a great time of it against Burnley and the idea of Hanley has been floated again.

Amadou and Hanley are clearly completely different types of centre back. Amadou is mobile and has technical ability, but isn't the biggest and won't dominate aerially. It's also not his natural position. Hanley lacks mobility and technique at this level but he's physically imposing and strong in the air. If we could combine the strengths of both of them we'd have a top class centre back, but as great as Webber is, he hasn't quite advanced to this level of genius just yet.

A settled defence is generally preferable, but there's also the argument that we can adopt a 'horses for courses' approach. Against teams who keep the ball on the ground and have quicker attackers, we use Amadou. Against physical teams who put crosses into the box, we use Hanley.

That probably leaves us with the following options as a mid-term solution:

OPTION ONE: Allow Amadou and Godfrey to form a partnership at centre back, with Leitner and McLean in midfield whilst we await the returns of Trybull, Vrancic and now (more than likely) Tettey.

OPTION TWO: Allow Hanley and Godfrey to form a partnership at centre back, with Amadou moving into the position we signed him for alongside somebody else, which would probably be Leitner.

OPTION THREE: Horses for courses. Godfrey is the mainstay and we play one of Amadou or Hanley depending on the threat the opposition poses.

OPTION FOUR: Something else. That could be trying somebody different at centre back, three at the back, not playing Godfrey or anything else.

Thoughts?

[Jim Smith 2,317]

I think it depends who we are playing. After Man City I can understand sticking with Amadou and against the faster more mobile sides I would stick with that but I must confess that when Tettey had to go off on Saturday I was a little surprised he didn't bring Hanley on and put Amadou into midfield as if there is one team/strike force in the premier league that Hanley may be suited to playing against then its Burnley. I suppose Tettey's availability for the next few games will also be relevant as Farke will need to decide if he thinks having Amadou in the midfield is more important than at the back. 

[lake district canary 4,531]

Amadou made one mistake against Burnley - a misplaced pass, but the rest of his game was good - and he is quite physical too.  I see no reason to change him and Godfrey as a centre pairing.

However, if injuries force the issue, you could see Amadou in for Tettey (if unavailable) and Hanley back in - and that may take us through the next few games.

[Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man 3,805]

10 minutes ago, lake district canary said:

Amadou made one mistake against Burnley - a misplaced pass, but the rest of his game was good - and he is quite physical too.  

I don't know, he was caught under a long ball in the second half which allowed one of the Burnley strikers in (I forget which one) and he ended up bundling him over on the edge of the area, risking a second yellow. He could've got booked later on for another late challenge.

He's physical in the sense that he's strong and quite quick, but he isn't the tallest for a centre back, and when he comes up against strikers like Barnes and Wood, I wouldn't back him in a physical battle.

For these reasons, I think he's fine as a centre back against teams who don't have big strikers but maybe not against teams who play a targetman or, like Burnley, two.

I'd personally prefer to see him play in midfield more often than centre back, but his versatility is useful.

[Nuff Said 5,111]

I’d like to see how well it works with Amadou alongside Leitner with Hanley and Godfrey at CB. A bit more protection for our defence, and the creativity of Leitner to keep us on the front foot. Then once one of them is back, swap Hanley out for Zimbo or Klose, assuming Grant hasn’t grown into the role by then.

[wcorkcanary 4,334]

10 minutes ago, Nuff Said said:

I’d like to see how well it works with Amadou alongside Leitner with Hanley and Godfrey at CB. A bit more protection for our defence, and the creativity of Leitner to keep us on the front foot. Then once one of them is back, swap Hanley out for Zimbo or Klose, assuming Grant hasn’t grown into the role by then.

Sounds reasonable enough.

[ged in the onion bag 855]

Afraid Hanley is not the answer as he's proved already.... if we are forced to move Amadou into Midfield (and its likely we do need that extra insurance - especially away), then worth a try with Byram alongside Godfrey when Aarons returns.    He's more mobile, anticipates well and might just take to it..... worth a try. 

[ZLF 273]

Hanley does seem to have a flat footed mistake a game in him at the moment but his performance have not been that bad.  Facing Benteke should suit him;   and as our 5th choice CB remains better than most of the options we had last  time we were in the prem.

 

Having Amadou protecting the back four seems eminently sensible to me.    Kenny is not that type of player to partner Leitner, and given TT and ATs absence,  we are painfully short of options.  Mario may train this week but its likely to be a week too soon for a start.   

 

Amadou starting as DCM and Hanley at CB should give us a more physical presence overall and a little extra aerial strength at corners etc.   

 

 

 

[Jim Smith 2,317]

Villa have been playing with a big lump up front. Palace not so sure as sometimes they play Benteke and others they play Ayou. Either way it might be that these are a couple of games where Hanley is a bit less out of his comfort zone than say against Chelsea, Liverpol or Man City. 

[Branston Pickle 3,651]

Your take is very different from others, LDC - Amadou isn’t a ‘seasoned’ cb and there are times when he’ll be less suited to the role; playing the likes of Burnley was probably one such occasion.  

[daisy 138]

Hanley and Amadou will both start Saturday. Amadou in midfield and Hanley at the back. Hanley will have had an extra weeks training to get match fit and a specialised centre back is what we need to accompany Godfrey, he may not be everyone`s favourite but he`s our captain and a decent centre half who deserves a little bit more support and respect from a few people on here. Don`t forget his first game back from a very long layoff, which led to some criticism, was against the European champions. Let`s give him a chance.

[All the Germans 1,075]

10 hours ago, Jim Smith said:

I think it depends who we are playing. After Man City I can understand sticking with Amadou and against the faster more mobile sides I would stick with that but I must confess that when Tettey had to go off on Saturday I was a little surprised he didn't bring Hanley on and put Amadou into midfield as if there is one team/strike force in the premier league that Hanley may be suited to playing against then its Burnley. I suppose Tettey's availability for the next few games will also be relevant as Farke will need to decide if he thinks having Amadou in the midfield is more important than at the back. 

Agreed. Make the decision based upon the opposition and their specific strengths. I am not a Hanley fan at this level, but against a big lump, he can be effective. 

[Capt. Pants 4,221]

It's quite an easy one for me, Amadou is needed in midfield, which means Hanley in as well. To go to Palace away without a ball winning midfielder would be almost suicidal. We need to pick up some points against Palace and Villa and we'll strength in midfield. Let's not write Hanley off too early either.

[The Bristol Nest 513]

Two centre backs available should mean that they play. Amadou is needed in his position .

[Petriix 2,834]

With Amadou in midfield we would have the flexibility to seamlessly switch to a 3511 formation or to bring on a midfielder when one of our remaining centre backs inevitably gets injured midway through the first half.