16 Feb 2018 10:08:38
What do people think of a cb partnership of vvd and Klavan? I honestly think Klavan is our best ‘defender’ and to add to that if you pay attention to him he can hit some pretty decent long passes from the back to our wingers too! But certainly defensively I think he is very solid, maybe he struggles a little bit with small quick tricky players, like ageuro ( but let’s be honest who doesn’t) but hopefully vvd could help him with those! But with big strikers he dominates them on the ground and in the air! Games against Lukaku and benteke spring to mind where Klavan played and limited them to very few chances, and he rarely makes an individual error leading to a goal or chance which Matip and Lovren have consistently done.

So yeh back four of gomez, vvd, Klavan, Robertson for me in the next match. Thoughts?

1.) 16 Feb 2018
16 Feb 2018 10:20:29
The problem is they all have had great games and all have had shockers. So far Lovren and Van Dijk have looked good together so changing it doesn't make sense.

2.) 16 Feb 2018
16 Feb 2018 10:24:34
VVD and Lovren for me.

Klavan was very impressive in his games this year and seemed to find a way to deal better with pace and trickery. I had written him off.

However time is not on his side. Lovren is a good defender but my god does he need consistency. When he makes a mistake its a howler. If he finds that consistency he could be an excellent partner for VVD.

He's had enough chances though so for me he's got until the end of the season to make it work otherwise he's out and a new CB will likely take his place.

He's looked good the last number of games though. AS has VVD. Hopefully they can keep it going.

3.) 16 Feb 2018
16 Feb 2018 10:35:32
In theory it could work. However Virgil and Klavan both play on the left side of the pairing.

It's nowhere near as easy to just switch sides as people think. All of a sudden you are hitting passes with the other foot, tackling wingers from the other side, having to hold a different position in the line etc.

They looked suited in terms of their strengths and weaknesses. However i just don't see it working in reality.

4.) 16 Feb 2018
16 Feb 2018 10:55:10
Jak, that won't work from jump. Why? They both play on the left side of the CB position and VVD has played there for years while Klavan well, is left footed. To create that partnership, you have to shift VVD to the right and sorry, that would take him time to re-adapt, time we simply do not have. As a Manager, you have to put your players in the very best situations to succeed and this partnership will do the complete opposite. That is just the reality.

5.) 16 Feb 2018
16 Feb 2018 11:07:11
Klavan has done relatively well when played. I think he is a solid 3rd choice.

6.) 16 Feb 2018
16 Feb 2018 11:10:51
Going on the other night it has to be VVD and Lovren for me, they looked like a solid unit, something we haven't seen for a very long time.

7.) 16 Feb 2018
16 Feb 2018 11:46:02
I've been thinking this since VVD came in.

Klavan was playing very well along with Lovren while Matip was out injured and I felt bad for both of them for losing out when VVD came in and Matip came back.

In my opinion Matip is the worst of the 4, he just causes chaos around him every time he plays and really he needs to be got rid of.

I'd like to see Klavan given a run alongside VVD but i expect as VVD has taken up the left sided CB role there won't be much of a chance for Klavan now. he's a solid backup and I would definitely keep him around as 3rd/ 4th choice.

A new CB in the summer to partner VVD, Lovren and Klavan as backups and Gomez covering CB and RB positions and I think we are suddenly looking very strong in those areas.

If Karius can kick on and fulfill the potential he showed in Germany then great, otherwise I expect a new GK in the summer. As Ed002 has said this could well be Navas, which I would be fine with, he's very good, not in the very top group of GKs in the world (De Gea, Neuer, Oblak, Buffon etc) but is a very good keeper imo.

Have a relaxing weekend all, no football = no stress.

8.) 16 Feb 2018
16 Feb 2018 15:05:31
Klavan and VVD won't work cos they both play on the left and it would be stupid for them to switch sides. This is not hard to grasp and Klavan himself, prolly knew that he would be the one to make way for VVD.

9.) 16 Feb 2018
16 Feb 2018 16:43:37
Everyone saying it won’t work cos you need to switch sides must be forgetting that Lovren always played on the left for Southampton and played on the left when partnered with Matip but has now switched to the right for vvd?

10.) 16 Feb 2018
16 Feb 2018 17:25:51
Lovren can play both sides Jak. It's not something every player can do. Carragher could too. As could Toure.

Agger couldn't. Skrtel couldn't. Hyypia couldn't. Sakho couldn't. Most player can't to be honest.

It's a skill in it's own right. Virgil or Klavan have never been asked to do it as long as I've known of them. Maybe one of them has it in their locker, but i certainly have never witnessed it from either of them.

11.) 16 Feb 2018
16 Feb 2018 17:35:36
I think vvd could easily play on the right, would offer good advice to both Taa and Gomez who are young and could learn off him, and Klavan and Robertson would be a solid left hand side. Anyway that’s just my opinion I asked for everyone’s thoughts and it’s good to read what others think! Personally I just don’t want Lovren anywhere near that team, it’s been too long he’s had and too many chances and he’s never shone consistently, so many individual errors leading to either chances or goals and at times his decision making and overall defending is atrocious and not good to have him in a team of young defenders trying to learn!

12.) 16 Feb 2018
16 Feb 2018 21:43:47
Vvd and Klavan are our lcbs, lovren and matip are our rcbs. Oh and gomez.

13.) 17 Feb 2018
17 Feb 2018 09:14:18
Sad that Klavan hasn't even made it on bench. Such a crying shame.