I think it’s on par. Only difference is Katic is young and Balogun has a burst to get himself out of trouble.
I wouldn’t disagree too much with this, but Balogun is significantly better on the ball too which helps us - I also do think he’s a better defender just now.
Yes good shout Grigo. Man U’s link up with Royal Antwerp in the past is a good example. A few in here who’ve done fairly well at a good level:
www.planetfootball.com
Our very own Lee Bardsley from memory!.Yes good shout Grigo. Man U’s link up with Royal Antwerp in the past is a good example. A few in here who’ve done fairly well at a good level:
Where are they now? The 29 players Man Utd loaned to Royal Antwerp - Planet Football
Manchester United sent a host of young players on loan to Royal Antwerp during a productive partnership between the two clubs.
And Phil Martin
I’m not sure he’s even the gaffers 5th choice to be honest!.
Yes good shout Grigo. Man U’s link up with Royal Antwerp in the past is a good example. A few in here who’ve done fairly well at a good level:
Where are they now? The 29 players Man Utd loaned to Royal Antwerp - Planet Football
Manchester United sent a host of young players on loan to Royal Antwerp during a productive partnership between the two clubs.
Of course.
He definitely has room for improvement. A lot of our fans seem to have a blindspot for him because he thunders into tackles and puts his head in anywhere.
I'm not keen on terms like 4th choice; there will be players the manager will pick, I get that, but Katic has been more than an afterthought to Gerrard at times. Losing Katic last season presented us with a problem at the time, and that was for a reason.
I know. And Phil Bardsley, infamous for going through Buffel in training then being dropped by Le Guen.
I actually agree to an extent, but it’s still clear who the better defenders are.
Of course Grigo, but you have to compare in a sense that one player is clearly better than the other at this particular point in the time.
We did well offset Katic's injury. You make some good points, and I agree that Goldson/Helander is the best pairing. What has been good is that we have done well with CBs mainly.
Yes mate, I actually liked Simpson when he was younger too and can see why Gerrard likes him because how comfortable he is on the ball.
There was only 1 young Scottish full back that stood out looking destined for the VERY top, in the last Rangers v Hibs game and he belonged to us.
It's interesting to see this aspect of what constitutes a Gerrard type player, a key attribute being good on the ball, regardless of position; that more than anything is making us a very good team.
Crazy you say that about Balogun and positioning because his pace is a great attribute that covers that anyway, he's maybe been our best signing in needing zero bedding in period. Cruised most games and stood up to every physical test thrown at him. Something Goldson, Helander, Simpson and Katic took time to get up to speed with.
I actually don't think Katic lacks pace all that much, he isn't exactly lightning quick like Balogun or to a lesser extent Edmundson is, but he I wouldn't class him as slow. For me he needs to work on mistiming headers and diving in way too early, having a good distribution is obviously very helpful but it isn't as if Helander is spraying 50 yard passes every game either, as long as he can retain possession it's not an issue really.
Certainly Won't take as long for the big teams to come sniffing if we make the CL over the next couple of years, £25m could finance our transfer dealings for a good few windows
Ffs the guy has been excellent for us especially as a free. What did you expect Maldini
Was thinking the same, away games in Europe and at Parkhead he's been immense at times. We sit a tiny bit deeper and he can go and attack the ball and be like a rash marking the CF Cuellar style. Home games, his concentration, positioning and definitely distribution can be noticeable
Because we just have enough every season.
But he does have pace, so therefore has never played League 1. You could focus on the attributes players do possess, like pace! And appreciate why they have played games in the Bundesliga, EPL and Championship. Helander has ZERO pace but has played in Serie A and is now a league title winner going in as 1 of Sweden's first choice defenders in a major Championship. It's horses for courses and we have 2 lovely options for Goldson. You can't tell me Helander looks like he is £3.5m better than Balogun
He's in his 30s and could lose that yard he has very suddenly. Helander looks way more than 3.5 million better than Balogun for me.
He has been solid and a pretty dependable deputy but i agree with you.
That's what a goal against the scum does. I do think had he not get injured whether he would still be here or not as he was down the pecking order before we stopped playing. Was really poor at St Johnstone cost us 2 goals that day then Killie he went for a header he was never going to win (he had done same at Tynecastle earlier on in the season) and we got beat. That's why I think a loan move is best for him go out and continue his development then see where we are after that but moving forward I'm not sure about his future.
Also for someone his age and experience to dive in like he does is criminal imo.
Maybe not for us but the huge lad at Standard Liege Bokadi stood out as someone that could be a rough diamond, played CB and midfield. As you say could put his foot in and wasn't scared of physicality, similar to the Dutch you fully expect a Belgian based player to have good technique as a given also
Could you imagine how fast he was at 27 and say at a Bologna type side like Helander, be paying similar if not more money for him.
