RWB Cover.. The Elephant in the room

Really would like to see McLaughlin get a few minutes in the league, even just to see if he could cut it at this level.

FA Cup in January perhaps?

Kelly has had a small injury lapse and is now back in training so that's why he hasn't been involved in the last couple of games. Have to say I think we're pretty good at RB so it's not an issue for me, any certainly I wouldn't go anywhere near Micah Richards.

but dont you think Wisdom will go out on loan otherwise he would have not played two players out of postion (sterling, Henderson) if he had trust in Wisdom. And as for Kelly I had massive high hopes for him but he just seems to get injured alot which i hope is not a trend

with the current formation, wingers can play as RWB as long as they defend when needed. It's the manager's role to see if he prefers a winger or a fullback to play there.

1) Henderson can play at rwb just not to an impeccable standard but he can't be expected to do so.
2) You mention not wanting to play people out of position then you bring Ilori into the argument. Granted you didn't say he should play there but you didn't say he shouldn't either.
3) Johnson has never been great at defending even in his Chelsea days. I remember watching him play for Chelsea in a certain game and I thought to myself I'm so glad he doesn't play for us.
4) In a 3-5-2 formation he wouldn't have to perform to the highest of standards defensively because we would have 3 centre backs covering him.

I disagree, I don't think Henderson can play at RWB, he doesn't offer much in his natural position never mind RWB.

Also it's a different situation with Ilori, he isn't even playing so playing him out of position wouldn't mean nothing. Besides we have a sh*t load of CBs anyway. In other areas, for example center midfield it would be stupid to play Henderson out of position i.e. RWB because we lack in the middle of the park.

Agree on Johnson, he will thrive in the current 3-5-2 formation and it will be interesting to see how he does when he comes back. But in a normal back 4, Johnson's a no no for me.

I think we're short of 3 key signings, and RB is one of them. We need a RB that can attack and defend, and is capable of playing as a wingback. Johnson's great at attacking but he's awful at defending, he has been since he's been here. I like Kelly but I'd rather he be used as a CB, still see him as Carragher's replacement given time, got great potential I think. Completely against Henderson, Sterling or even Moses being used at RWB, none of them can play there. Why play players out of position and give ourselves more problems when we can simply sign a RB. Problem is finding a quality player that has all the attributes we need. And tbh I haven't seen Ilori enough to decide whether he'd be good enough to cover at RWB, the Prem is a whole different level to the reserves.

Well said. Kelly should be moved into the centre. While playing 3 CBs it's a perfect opportunity to ease him in there. A top RB and also a top LB along with a CM/DM and an AM is what we need. If we are going back to 1 at the top then another wide forward is needed.

I think Ricahrds would be a great signing as hes powerfull and if injury free could replace johnson. the problem is his injury record, as for Kelly i'm suprised he never played against Palace which makes you think A. he's still got a niggle, B. BR doesnt rate him. C. he doesnt want him to play RB.

If he's not on the bench or feautre in the next 2-3 games then my guess would be he will go out on loan to a championship side to get match sharpness ready for next season .

Barcelona right-back Martin Montoya will reportedly sign a pre-contract agreement with Liverpool in January ahead of a summer move.

Montoya is behind Dani Alves in the Barcelona pecking order and has been unable to force his way into the starting line-up at Camp Nou and Brendan Rodgers is ready to make a move .

The 22-year-old is out of contract at the end of the campaign and, as such, is allowed to speak to any interested parties in the January transfer window.

Montoya has also been linked with a move to the Bundesliga, with both Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich said to be keen, but reports in the German press claim the Anfield side are leading the race for his signature.

If Barcelona offer the player a new deal and he decides to move on regardless whoever secures his signature will be required to pay compensation to the La Liga champions as he is under the age of 24.

Yes... RWB cover is clearly the "elephant in the room."

It's not Lucas or Gerrard.  No, not at all.  It's definitely right wing back. 

I feel awkward just thinking about it.   

Yeah I don't understand anything about your post Fed.

We have Johnson, Kelly can play there too. Henderson has done a job there, so has Sterling.

We probably need a right back in an ideal world but its not a priority. 

Yeah I don't understand anything about your post Fed.

We have Johnson, Kelly can play there too. Henderson has done a job there, so has Sterling.

We probably need a right back in an ideal world but its not a priority.

I just dont think BR see's Kelly as his replacement RWB if he did he would surely be on the bench alot more and would have started against Palace. Hes had some game time for U21 and has been training so surly it must come down to BR not rating as highly as we all do. I like Kelly but think injuries may have ruiend his chances of replaceing Johnson when he goes. Instead BR has played a slight Sterling who to be fair to Sterling hes' not a RWB hes an attacking winger, and as for Henderson he's our new Kuyt utility who can play anywhere.

The reason i think we need a RWB is to cover johnson and push him for his place like Kelly did when we played a back 4, Kelly is great at boming up the wing but doesnt have that cutting edge of beating a man and getting a shot off. So i think we need another quality RWB if we are to continue with this formation to push Johnson and eventually replace when he decides he wants a to move on. Wisdom still to young and is a CB by trade and i think will be loaned out and Kolo is a ledge but at CB now RWB

Yes... RWB cover is clearly the "elephant in the room."

It's not Lucas or Gerrard.  No, not at all.  It's definitely right wing back. 

I feel awkward just thinking about it.   

Well we've played to players out of position and we are all crying for johnson to come back which clearly indicates that we all feel we dont have a one for one swap for johnson as its clearly not Kelly, Wisdom, Henderson or sterling who in their own right are good players but Sterling is a winger, Henderson a versitile mid, Wisdom a better CB than RB and Kelly injury prown but better as conventional RB supplying crosses not beating players and getting shots off at goal.

We are light of proper quality depth in a few positions at this point, and RWB/RB is one of them.  Kelly has been perpetually injured, and given the way BR likes attacking fullbacks it seems like his future could be at CB rather than at RB.  Wisdom is another promising player, but I think he is more a CB than a RB.  If we bring in a new backup RB to provide a like-for-like replacement/competition for Johno at RB/RWB then we would be able to send Andre out on loan so he can continue to develop at CB. 

If we persist with the current 3-4-1-2 formation then we also seem to be light of top quality depth at GK, CDM, CAM, and ST.  Also LB if Cissokho leaves after his loan deal expires.

Well it was good to see BR now having some faith in Kelly all be it the game was won but he got a run out, fingers crossed it was precaution and Johnson is ok for Arsenal away but I think Glenn will get taken off a few more games this season for Kelly so that his injuries are managed correctly, and if Kelly can put his injuires behind him we have a bright future. Still think we will look at that position in Jan and the summer.

I think the gooner game has shown yet again the lack of cover at RWB, nothing against Flanno as he was bar far not the worst player on the pitch and didnt do much wrong; but he is NOT direct competition at RWB.
He's a RB by trade as he dont offer anything going forward, thats because hes a defensive RB nothing more. Kell for some reason must be injured or not fully fit, will this lad ever be fully fit. So for me a RWB and a creative midfileder are top targers this next window.

I think the gooner game has shown yet again the lack of cover at RWB, nothing against Flanno as he was bar far not the worst player on the pitch and didnt do much wrong; but he is NOT direct competition at RWB.
He's a RB by trade as he dont offer anything going forward, thats because hes a defensive RB nothing more. Kell for some reason must be injured or not fully fit, will this lad ever be fully fit. So for me a RWB and a creative midfileder are top targers this next window.

if RB/RWB is the elephant in the room then midfield must be the brontosaurus in the toilet !

if RB/RWB is the elephant in the room then midfield must be the brontosaurus in the toilet !

haha good point!!! lets hope both areas are sorted out in the Jan window or ASAP in the summer before all players meet up for the world cup

I'd say the most suitable candidate at the club at the minute barring Johnson is probably Mclaughlin.

But the lads barely 18, Rodgers obviously doesn't rate Kelly (Either that or he's still not fit), Flannagan, for as well as he did at the weekend, I highly doubt will ever make it at the top level and the litmus tests with Henderson/Sterling at RWB havent produced much joy.

Barring the sudden breakthrough of Mclaughlin this season I'd like to see us enter the market for decent cover in January or change the system when Johnson isn't fit.

There's no point deploying a system that requires your Wing Backs to be two of your strongest players on the pitch, when at the weekend ours were our weakest.

Just off the title of the thread, I thought we were interested in Lescott to play full back.

I doubt very much that BR regards RWB/RB a priority come January, we have adequate cover there to carry us thru to next summer IMO,

It's in midfield we need to address and January cannot come round quick enough for me,
It's well documented that we are seriously lacking in this department and if FSG have the ambition they say they have BR should expect a sh*t load of cash to buy his targets,

I believe we have reached a junction in the tenure of our owners where it's now time to put up or sell up, BR has built up a side that can compete with our rivals and in particular for a CL spot which in their own words is a must,

So John , having seen your baby win the baseball thingy, wouldn't it be great if your other venture, if you can remember who we are, could qualify for our goal of CL football next season,

Brendan would I believe bring that CL spot if proper investment is made in the Jan window, I have no idea who he has on his radar but I'm sure they will be paramount for the second half of this season,

So over to you FSG , have you really got the ambition you say you have ?

I guess we will all find out in about 11 weeks time, KERCHING!!


YNWA

If we buy a RB before address the centre mid Brendan really has lost the plot.

For the record I don't think he has and can only see any player bought here in the summer and if McLaughlin progresses as he should do then we might not need to spend at all.