06 Jun 2024 09:36:12
The Bayern ch I refer to yesterday is Luca Denk.
06 Jun 2024 10:05:59
Is this a loan John?
06 Jun 2024 10:27:49
Interesting that we are in talks with this young CB from Bayern, who is 21, and the Milan 20 year old CB. You presume both are being signed as projects who will be part of the squad. Both aren’t the tallest. I think they are just under 6 foot, which is a concern for any CB in Scotland, let’s be honest.
06 Jun 2024 10:31:07
John, what age is he?
06 Jun 2024 10:33:11
Posted that earlier asking you John, thought he was mentioned yesterday.
06 Jun 2024 10:48:16
Both look to be mobile, pacey and capable of stepping in to midfield.
Have a feeling we'll see a very high defensive line next season - which is something PC tried to play at times last season, but we couldn't sustain due to injuries.
06 Jun 2024 10:53:52
It was Luka Jovic that was mentioned yesterday. Thought it was Denk. that's why I asked you earlier John, apologies bud.
06 Jun 2024 11:09:44
I too am a little concerned Chasni with what you have pointed out. All the CB’s we have been linked with so far are a bit on the short side. These two younger ones, the Chilean guy, all only 6foot, even Cordoba was only 6ft 1.
It seems quite obvious from our lack of goals from set plays and from our conceding from corners that we need some big dominant CB’s, especially for playing in the league (if not so much Europe).
It’s no surprise that our defensive record was the best when we had the likes of Goldson, Helander, Katic and then Balagon in the back line, all between 6,2 and 6,5. Currently neither Soutar or Davies are much over 6ft so if Goldson does go and we bring in someone else at around 6ft we are going to be really lacking in height and a physical presence at the back.
I know nowadays the trend is to have ‘ball playing’ CB’s, but first and foremost they need to be able to defend, and to do that in Scotland you need to be able to cope with the physical presence of the hammer throwing forwards most of the smaller teams have.
06 Jun 2024 11:16:38
Franco Baresi was 5ft 8 and he did ok ?.
06 Jun 2024 11:45:11
Carles Puyol was a giant of a player and was 5ft 9.
06 Jun 2024 11:45:44
Pep said martinez from man utd is one of the best cb in the world, he's about 5.6/ 7.
06 Jun 2024 11:48:07
Let’s talk about Cannavaro yeh?
06 Jun 2024 11:48:25
Gers78, I get your concern but if we want to be aggressive in our style of play you need CB's who can play and are mobile, there are not many tall cb's who are mobile and can play who are in our price budget. We also have a keeper who is good and claiming crosses so it does in a way address that.
06 Jun 2024 11:52:36
NRD, Sahara not really a comparison though. I’m referring to Scottish football. I just said their height is a concern. Nothing about ability.
06 Jun 2024 11:58:06
Young blue, you may be right, however let’s remember how many times we all complained about having zero threat from the literally hundreds of corners we got over the past season and also the number of terrible goals conceded from set plays. All mainly because we had no one who could actually win a header in either box?.
06 Jun 2024 12:00:32
You won’t get a more aggressive CB than Martinez and he’s the height of nonsense.
06 Jun 2024 12:03:31
Chasni I agree. We need height and need to be able to cope with the hammer throwers of the SPL.
06 Jun 2024 12:03:41
@Gers78
“I know nowadays the trend is to have ‘ball playing’ CB’s, but first and foremost they need to be able to defend, and to do that in Scotland you need to be able to cope with the physical presence of the hammer throwing forwards most of the smaller teams have. ”
Ever heard of a guy called Shane Duffy? Solid at defending but useless with the ball at his feet? Any CB playing for Rangers and Celtic MUST be able to play football or they are useless.
06 Jun 2024 12:05:37
6ft not an issue it’s how u jump. I’ve seen 6-4 ch can’t get off ground
I was told we were looking at loan,
06 Jun 2024 12:11:46
“I’ve seen 6-4 ch can’t get off ground” - Kyle Lafferty springs instantly to mind.
06 Jun 2024 12:20:13
Denk just over 6ft.
06 Jun 2024 12:24:46
Laffery 6ft 4 but 5ft when he jumps, the old boy at Ibrox used to always say that to me.
06 Jun 2024 12:26:32
Everyone’s naming top class CB who played at the highest of levels. We all know Scotland is a physical league. Long balls, long throws. Playing for free kicks so they can lump it into the box. It’s an issue we know we have, not being able to deal with those balls into the box. Of course it comes down to how good they are in the air in terms of dealing with those situations.
My concern is fair. Clearly they have potential.
06 Jun 2024 13:23:55
@Chasni - Both Rangers and Celtic are targeting players that are both physical, and comfortable with the ball at their feet. The problem is, all the top teams want these guys.
It is very easy to go out and just get a physically big guy who can head the ball (like Shane Duffy) . However, Rangers and Celtic are ball dominant sides who attack a lot more than they defend. If a CB cannot play with the ball at his feet he would be a disaster. Not only in Scotland when we try to play possession football, but also in Europe where this CB could not handle the high press.
Rangers are not a long ball team.
06 Jun 2024 14:04:24
Height alone doesn't make you dominant. Look at Goldson.
Also CCV is the best defender in Scotland and he's not overly tall for a CB but he's very effective as he's aggressive.
06 Jun 2024 14:18:26
Both Denk and Nsiala are just over 6ft guess who else is just over 6ft? Carter Vickers who has had no problem at all dominating scottish football.
06 Jun 2024 14:23:37
I’m fully aware that height isn’t everything. If they are dominant in the air, then it doesn’t matter. But when you’ve never seen them play and have no info on them, and as two CBs, one of the first things you look at when you’re researching them is their height. That’s it.
That’s why I said I was concerned at their height. God, they could be the best headers of the ball in the world, but we wouldn’t know that because we haven’t seen them play, yet.
GenericRangersFan, a bit tongue in cheek here, but we do play a lot of long balls ?.
06 Jun 2024 14:25:24
Happily see Scott McKenna at Rangers. He has the physicality and knows all about our league!
06 Jun 2024 15:36:21
Nope don’t want McKenna anywhere near us. one of them and he’s a dumpling at the best of times on the ball.
06 Jun 2024 15:41:05
No point being 6 foot plus then being bullied.
06 Jun 2024 17:19:18
Chasni your point is valid mate. we were poor last season at defending set pieces etc, so to then get 2 players (if we did) that are smaller would at first glance seem strange, but as john says some guys have an excellent leap, make there lack of height for a cb irrelevant mate. The money we have to spend, we are'nt going to get the full package, need to make exceptions somewhere.
06 Jun 2024 18:41:36
I hope it’s a no on McKenna just a hatchet man would be ok for a Scottish league option but would get us destroyed in europe.
06 Jun 2024 19:45:35
What height was John Greig, to be fair always better having good big yin than a good wee one but just getting a good yin would be a bonus.