Full backs for the future

Times are good.  We won a game. Branthwaite is back.  But much, much more importantly – the takeover situation means that we can hopefully start to compete for players again with our immediate rivals in the bottom half of the Premier League.

This is important.  Whilst we’ve been good in spells this season (the points tally is lower than we deserve), we should be better.  What would make all the difference?  Good full-back play, that’s what.  

And that’s not knocking the ever-unpopular Young (who was good again today) or the promise of young Dixon, it’s just an acknowledgement that one is right at the very end of his career, and the other is at the very start (and would probably benefit from a Championship loan).

Surely then it’s not too much to hope that we might sign a pair of quality full-backs in the January window?

Instead of trying to persuade doubters that we have a bad set of players (again), I thought I’d return to my traditional ground of listing players I’d like us to buy.  It’s nice to be home…

Right backs

Instead of thinking who we might be for tuppence ha’penny, we should be thinking more along the lines of who is capable of playing Europa League football or beyond.  There’s a few options in the £10m to £20m (ish) bracket that we will hopefully be able to afford.

Tchatchoua (Verona) – age 23: clearly the RB we were hoping to sign this summer, but it wasn’t to be. Looks like he may be heading to Inter in January.  A rugged defender with not a huge amount of attacking quality, although is improving in that regard.  I would like to think we can do better.

Sildillia (Freiburg) – age 22: could pass for Joshua Zirkzee from a distance – and has the same sort of calm ball control as the Dutch forward.  This big, powerful French defender is very comfortable on the ball and defends well too. My favourite option.

Pubill (Almeria) – age 21: a big centre-half sized Spanish RB but excellent on the ball and very mobile too.  Would be a classy addition to our back line. 

Dedic (Salzburg) – age 22: The Bosnian is really a dynamic wing-back style RB but still good defensively.  He would be my favourite option if we had a stronger midfield base to cover his marauding runs. Might bust my £20m budget, but who cares.  

T.Santos (Lille) – age 22: Even more adventurous than Dedic.  The Portuguese is a brilliant dribbler and an extremely high quality Champions League style full-back, although he won’t please those who believe the primary job of a full-back is to prevent crosses coming into our box.  Again, might bust my £20m budget.

Rensch (Ajax) – age 21: out of contract in summer and may be available at low-ish cost.  I think his Ajax credentials probably flatter him a bit and he’s possibly no more than a mid-table Premier League player – but he has pace and would definitely be an upgrade.

Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach) – age 21: American full back with a good engine and good all round attacking and defensive skills.  He’s not brilliant but would definitely add something.  Mike Gaynes and our other US based fans may have a helpful / biased perspective.

Left Backs

Mykolenko is a good left back, and his poor form may have more to do with fitness that quality.  However, whilst he defends well he is no Leighton Baines going forward.  It would be good to have a different sort of left back option available, someone to help take the game to the opposition in attack.  Here’s another few in the £10m to £20m zone.

Brown (Gent) – age 22: very tall and mobile LB who left Derby for Belgium and has really kicked on.  Good footballer.  We’ve been linked for the past 12 months along with a lot of Premier League clubs.  Would be a likely signing.

Locko (Brest) – age 22: athletic, pacy forward-thinking LB who is also a diligent, aggressive defender.  He would be a really good alternative to the more defensive minded Mykolenko.

Diouf (Sparta Prague) – age 19: like a lot of weaker leagues, the Czechs have now got in on the act of youth import development.  Probably the best prospect is 19-year-old Malick Diouf who came to Prague after a spell with Tromso in the Arctic region of Norway (the life these teenage Senegalese kids must live, honestly).  He plays either LB or LWB and covers the whole flank with his pace and power.  Good footballer too.  I know it’s only the Czech league, but he’s hit 4 goals and 1 assist in 7 games this season. Impressive.

I know what some fans will be thinking – FFS Robert why always foreigners?  Where are the British options?  Well there were some good options over summer like Norton-Cuffey, Walters and Burrows – but it wasn’t to be and nothing really stands out for January.  Kyle Walker-Peters and Kieran Trippier will both be free in summer but although they are better than what we have, I don’t think they’d move us on in the same way as the suggestions above – many of whom could have long Champions League careers ahead of them (hopefully with us).

It'll be interesting to see whether Friedkin does release a few quid in January – and then whether Thelwell / Dyche show any interest in these players. Might indicate more broadly what the future holds, and not just in the full-back position. 

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