Right-back watch: 2025

In my view we need both a right back who could instantly change the look and feel of the team on the pitch and a youngster with high potential like Aznou who could be the long-term answer. (The only one I read about this summer who was in the former category was Juanlu Sanchez, and both Tuttomercado and Gazzetta dello Sport report that he already agreed terms with Napoli.)

I just don't see our management spending for that in January. The need is obvious, but not urgent in their view. Moyes clearly believes in Jake, and Coleman and Patterson seem to be considered adequate cover. I doubt we'll see buying activity until next summer, so the only possible route in January would be a loan -- your two short-term options for starters.

As always, your research is appreciated.

We have healthy competition for the centre-midfield places with Gana, Iroegbunam, Röhl, Dewsbury-Hall, Alcaraz, Armstrong and Garner.

Garner has great delivery, is calm on the ball, and has a great engine. I would have no hesitation in starting Garner at right-back, I think he has all the qualities we are missing.

Despite his better form this season, I'd still bench Michael Keane (or James Tarkowski) in a heartbeat if I could replace him with someone better. I think Jake O'Brien has that potential and his development as a centre-back is not necessarily helped by having to cover the right-back position.

Tete was moving on a free, wasn't he? Where does the quoted £25M come from?

The few occasions I've seen Mazraoui, all I've really noticed are his flaws.

Rob, Garner is okay but not outstanding in the position and I think there must be better full-backs out there somewhere.

Only 21 but one of the best young full-backs in the division so far. Goes by the name Thierry Small.

I would consider him as having the defensive capability of Tony Hibbert with a lot more ability in terms of crossing or dead-ball situations. Plus he has a great engine and can move up and down the flank all game, which is I think a prime requirement for that position.

I think it is a brilliant idea, and Moyes should seriously consider it. In midfield, Gueye, Rohl, Iroegbunam and Dewsbury-Hall can compete for the 2 places.

When everyone is fit:

Pickford
Garner Tarkowski Branthwaite Mykolenko
Gueye Dewsbury-Hall
Dibling Alcaraz Grealish
Ndiaye

Subs: Travers, Keane, O'Brien, Aznou, McNeil, Röhl, Iroegbunam, Beto, Barry.

They seem to be having a very decent season so far.

Out of interest, can we look forward to 'Centre-Forward watch: 2025' coming soon?

Definitely my favourite Championship team at the moment.

I said a few years ago, Matty Cash... but we missed that one. Being a local to where I live, I watched his football development through his teens. You could see then.

They could be missing for 6 weeks including the busy Xmas period when games come thick and fast. I know Beto now plays for Guinea-Bissau but I don't think they have qualified for the Afcon.

But young Aznou may well be with Morocco which is another space on the bench to fill during a busy fixture period.

I doubt we'll get one in January but there's a good chance we upgrade Beto in summer.

RB seems a possibility for January though -- especially the loan options. As we've seen over the years, you don't always need a brilliant player to make a difference -- so a square peg in a square hole like Mazraoui might be underwhelming but still pretty good.

I'd have Garner at right-back, O'Brien, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, and Keane competing for two centre-back positions. Midfield could then be two of Gueye, Röhl, Iroegbunam, Alcaraz.

Also, I'd like to see Beto and Barry dropped and use Ndiaye as a false 9, making a place for Dibling in the front-line.

21-year-old, good stats, and we would probably get him for a million.

Since we now appear to have both rich and competent owners for the first time in our Premier League history, I am hoping we can just do what other clubs do and buy genuinely good players.

They might not be expensive £70M plus signings but hopefully we will see a lot more moderately priced £40M-ish players and fewer low-cost sub-£25M players (except excellent development players).

We're becoming a big club again.

I have watched Kellen Fisher in a couple of games this season and have been very impressed. He looks calm and assured in his passing, movement and defending. II would take him in a heartbeat, especially with Ndiaye or Dibling just in front of him.

The link-up play would be a joy to watch.

The right-back slot is possibly even more essential to sort out now that Branthwaite is out longer term and O'Brien's mobility is sorely required at centre-back.

Here's something to ponder: Would the squad be in better shape overall had we sold Branthwaite for circa £65M or £70M last summer?

The only way we should sell Branthwaite is if he insists on leaving. I don't believe in selling the best players to strengthen the squad.

Danny 9,

Wasn't Cash a converted winger whilst at Forest?

Gary Stevens converted midfielder to right-back.

Ian Snodin converted centre-mid to right-back.

Without labouring the point too much, I do think Garner could be a top-class full-back.

I do however feel differently about the right-back situation and agree with Mike that both the manager and club don't feel it's an absolute priority.

Firstly, it would be difficult to get one to improve us. Moyes has Garner and O'Brien for the role, plus we have 2 others in Coleman and Patterson on the payroll.

Mazraoui is a good shout because he could come in instantly and is at the level to make it worthwhile, letting Jimmy concentrate on making the Number 6 position his own. The downside is that he has a history of injuries so, with heavy wages, it would be a big commitment. Also, I think they still need him.

By the time the window will be open, hopefully Jarrad will be back, so it wouldn't surprise me if Garner will solve this role by default as I originally thought he would do so by design. Much will depend on Röhl.

One surprise absentee (and perhaps there is a reason?) is Doue of Strasbourg. I watched the game against PSG the other night and he looks a talent. Totally different player to his famous sibling but I was really impressed with him (and their manager), all the same. Looks like a complete modern full-back and, on that performance, like he could be the long needed heir to Seamus.

Just look at the difference Kyle Walker made to Man City, Julien Timber to Arsenal, and I hate to say it, Alexander-Arnold to the other shower.

If Moyes rated him at all, surely he'd be ahead of at least 2 of those. Is he just going to see the rest of his contract out from the bench? What a waste of a career.

I watched him again today... what a player he has become. He would have changed the course of this club.

I suspect, though, he always had his eye on, and was holding out for, a big European move.

Instead, we bought very poorly in Patterson and Godfrey.

However, we can all see that the shape isn't working as fluidly as it did when Moyes first turned up. This is because of the absence of Branthwaite and because opposition teams have figured out how O'Brien operates as a right-back.

Priorities may now have changed -- who knows?

As for Doue, I agree he'd be a good signing. I am not sure we could get him for less than my arbitrary ceiling of £25M though due to Strasbourg being a pretty wealthy sister club of Chelsea.

They are commanding big fees for their players now. I was genuinely surprised when Bakwa (who Sam H sensibly pointed out as a good option) ended going for much the same price as Dibling.

Like I say there are probably about 25 other genuine options.

Keep O'Brien in the right-back position and play two from Tarkowski, Branthwaite and Keane.

One or two loans are likely to be the only feasible options in what is a very difficult window to do business in.

Not for a long while, sadly.

We all love Seamus, he has been brilliant all the time he has been here, but wouldn't he be better used coaching the youngsters?

Yes, we need a pacey full-back but for me we need a striker way more than we need a full-back.

I would suggest Robert that had we signed Tete or Coufal I don't think they would have played much. Moyes played Lescott over Baines and even the likes of Pep has preferred Ake and Gvardiol over specialist full backs over recent seasons and won titles doing so.

Moyes will have wanted to improve us as an attacking threat but more importantly have done so without sacrificing the defensive structure of the team.i think he is still perfectly happy with Jake there and only through Jarrads injury that this may change.

I understand why you have limited your search but I feel that won't necessarily be a barrier when we do address the right back situation which I feel will be during the summer (all going to plan with Jarrads recovery).

Last window we had so much to do with a limited budget to do it. I suspect our future spending will be aimed at 4 or 5 players with a few outgoings and if we do identify the right quality then £30 or £35 million won't be unworkable.

Your personality is a good influence on this site.

When you post your 'Centre-forward watch: 2025' list will you be including a cheeky loan move for Richarlison -- who seems to be fit again but back on the bench at Spurs?

For who don't recall, this is what was said at the time:

Speaking after the fact, David Unsworth stressed that Everton did everything they could to keep hold of the starlet, but ultimately it was his decision to move on to pastures new.

“In fairness to the club, we did everything we possibly could [to keep him]”, Unsworth told the Liverpool Echo. “We made him an unbelievable offer; we didn't want him to leave.

“We never envisaged it coming. Up until he actually did leave, we fought really hard to keep him. But, when a player doesn't want to be at your club, it's very difficult to try and keep him. He's got his way, and that's usually the case these days.”

Long term I'd like to know what Robert and others think of Brooke Norton-Cuffy. He's England U21 and Genoa; I've not seen much of him but he's looked quality when I have and I think he's probably affordable.

Just spotted the mention of Thierry Small; as Michael alludes to, he screwed us over and is now a substitute in The Championship, so he's a non-starter for me.

He's had the usual career trajectory for a modern academy player. As soon as he showed potential aged about 17 he was shipped out on a series of loans -- Lincoln, Rotherham, Coventry and Millwall -- where he did well alongside his regular appearances in the England youth set-up. I only ever saw him play live for England U20s where he was a good, pacy outlet on the right flank and an aggressive defender.

He would have been an astute signing from Arsenal for the €2.00M Genoa paid at the start of last season -- and still only 21 has cemented himself in the starting XI, albeit for a team rooted to the bottom of Serie A under Patrick Vieira.

He would be a good right-back to have as 2nd choice. And he might well start for us because of our problems at right-back. But I am not sure he would start for any other Premier League club.

The fact is that we are not the Premier League's poorest club anymore. We shouldn't need to build up the squad on cheap scraps and should be hunting out genuine quality. Even Sunderland managed to get not one but two Champions League regular right-backs in Mukiele and Geertuida this summer. This puts Hulme (a player we have been repeatedly linked with as a step up on what we have) as Sunderland's third choice right-back.

This is frankly ridiculous.

Hopefully we bring in a player of the quality of, say, Sanchez or El-Hilali as well as someone at least of the standard of Norton-Cuffy as cover.

He also came on a few times in the summer for England Under-21s, when they defended their European title. I thought he gave a good account of himself in those games.

He reminded me of another Arsenal product, Iwobi, although I think Iwobi is possibly better on the ball whereas Norton-Cuffy probably has a little bit more pace.