You have no centre backs available - what would you do?

This is Newcastle's current problem, they had to field 4 full backs and they conceded 4 from set pieces and crosses yesterday.

How would you line up? (use Newcastle's squad)
How do you defend set pieces / crosses?

Bring in reserves, or like we did, play midfielders in there.

We'd just be shitter than we usually are

The only backup they have is the youth squad I believe

And we are talking Newcastle here. Injury hit. Not exactly tall, defensive midfielders available.

Put some more effort in! This is Newcastle remember.

I'll do mine around 3ish.

A list of who's not available because of injury would be cool. :shift:

Ché Guayaba wrote:A list of who's not available because of injury would be cool. :shift:

Tiote
Steven Taylor
Collocini
Williamson
Guthrie

There's more but I'm currently on my phone in heavy rain so it's hard for me to check.

Fuck.

Convert Shola into a centerback. Can't be much worse.

Ché Guayaba wrote:Fuck.

Convert Shola into a centerback. Can't be much worse.

Shola played yesterday up with Ba. Literally their only 2 headerers of the ball.

Did they only get injured recently? I'd apply for an emergency loan tbh.

It's only a theory but I think Tiote could be a viable option at defense, I have always admired CDM's such as Song and Diarra playing in defense, we saw Diarra starting RB in the El Classico last night and then dropped into a deeper midfield role, generally CDM's will be able to adapt to a centre half's position.

Emma wrote:It's only a theory but I think Tiote could be a viable option at defense, I have always admired CDM's such as Song and Diarra playing in defense, we saw Diarra starting RB in the El Classico last night and then dropped into a deeper midfield role, generally CDM's will be able to adapt to a centre half's position.

Could work but then they'd have no other DM I think?

Emma wrote:It's only a theory but I think Tiote could be a viable option at defense, I have always admired CDM's such as Song and Diarra playing in defense, we saw Diarra starting RB in the El Classico last night and then dropped into a deeper midfield role, generally CDM's will be able to adapt to a centre half's position.

James said he's injured.

Edited have seen the injured list.

Tiote is injured too, otherwise he surely would have played there. I think Kadar is able to play CB, but he's too inexperienced. We have a different problem atm, we don't have any fullbacks

Zzonked wrote:

Emma wrote:It's only a theory but I think Tiote could be a viable option at defense, I have always admired CDM's such as Song and Diarra playing in defense, we saw Diarra starting RB in the El Classico last night and then dropped into a deeper midfield role, generally CDM's will be able to adapt to a centre half's position.

James said he's injured.

I didn't see Jame's post

It's hard coming up with a line up seeing as a lot of the players are injured, it seems Williamson and Ferguson may need to step up and play a more central role.

When does their first CB return from injury?

Would have personally brought in Kadar with Perch ( ) yesterday, don't think we actually have any other reserve CB's either, after that it goes down to like 17 year olds. Bring back Big Sol I say.

grenade187 wrote:When does their first CB return from injury?

Next week Coloccini should be fit, and maybe Williamson.

If it were for Arsenal, I would put Song and Sagna CB.

I'd say stick a tall midfielder into defence, but I don't think they have any

I guess stick the tallest/strongest fullbacks into the centre.

Zlatan wrote:If it were for Arsenal, I would put Song and Sagna CB.

Isn't Sagna injured?

Kuled wrote:

Zlatan wrote:If it were for Arsenal, I would put Song and Sagna CB.

Isn't Sagna injured?

Yes, but if he wasn't injured then I'd play him CB

If we're talking about right now at this very minute, then I'd play Song and Eboue


Oh shit, wait.

Throw the full-backs in the central defensive positions and make the wingers with the best stamina (Jonas and someone else) play as full-backs.

For corners i'd make Jonas and Obertan stay up and wide, Cabaye(best passer) up near the centre circle and Norwich would have had to leave at least 3 back, probably 4. Have Ba and Shola mark the tallest ones and do Walter Samuel type defending and just hope

Zlatan wrote:

Kuled wrote:Isn't Sagna injured?

Yes, but if he wasn't injured then I'd play him CB

If we're talking about right now at this very minute, then I'd play Song and Eboue


Oh shit, wait.

The idea was to use Newcastle. Obviously the top teams have more depth.

I got to admit, I didn't fully read the OP.
Although an extension to other teams as well would be good in my opinion

It would be hard to change the style so quickly but I'd go with a 5-3-2. Numbers can somewhat compensate for the lack of specialists. The wingers would be wingbacks and the fullbacks would play as rcb and lcb. When in attack the sole specialist cb would be helped out by the defensive midfield dropping back to help him.

We had to play Moussi at the back for the majority of our game yesterday as Morgan went off injured and we had no defenders on the bench. Lynch is currently out injured too so I'm hoping that Coterill finally decides to use Lascelles. If he plays well then his value might go up a bit if Arsenal really do want him.