Thuram in new position : center back (13 Viewers)
- Thread starter Maher
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Thuram is suited to play in the center: He is strong, good in air, and terrific man-marker. He is pretty good tackler too, but not on the same level is Nesta, Cannas, and Samuels. What Thuram lacks IMO at this stage of career, is pace and positioning. I have seen him get caught out of position often now and then. Hence, I think we need to cover him with Sweeper-esque defender a la Nesta, Mexes mold. Damm, only if we can sign Mexes.
Actually, the main difference between him and those you mentioned is that he isn't quite as dirty. He prefers to play an opponent off the game but not do it whatever the cost. In Italy, that works against him. I think he'll finally show what an awesome defender he is in the centre, partnering Cannavaro in front of Buffon. Now now, where have we seen that before ...
I agree Slack, one of the weakness in Thuram is that he isnt as dirty as you have mentioned. If I remember correctly, Thuram did not receive a single yellow card for 2-3 season while he was playing for Parma. This shows that 1) he doesnt make reckless tackles 2) he doesnt take attackers out on purpose 3) doesnt hold on to attackers shirt 4) got lucky on many occasions. Ironically a defender who represents opposite pole of Thuram IMO is, Fabio Cannavaro. A cynicism personified.
Cynicism personified looks like a good defender to me.
Thuram isn't a good centreback, let's face it. He played a bad Euro 2004 in that position and for everyone except Santini it was pretty obvious that Gallas was lost in his position as well. Clearly, those two should have switched positions.
Thuram is too good of a wingback to play in the centre. Actually he adds a lot to our attack without disregarding his defensive duties.
I don't like him in the center, I've seen him do many bad headers in defence which are just too dangerous when he plays in the center. I'm thinking of the one against Deportivo in the first leg which cost us the Champions League.
I don't know why Thuram is so keen on that centreback position and I don't know why every coach thinks the same. I admit I'm just a humble mortal, but I haven't seen too many good matches of Thuram playing in the centre.
Thuram isn't a good centreback, let's face it. He played a bad Euro 2004 in that position and for everyone except Santini it was pretty obvious that Gallas was lost in his position as well. Clearly, those two should have switched positions.
Thuram is too good of a wingback to play in the centre. Actually he adds a lot to our attack without disregarding his defensive duties.
I don't like him in the center, I've seen him do many bad headers in defence which are just too dangerous when he plays in the center. I'm thinking of the one against Deportivo in the first leg which cost us the Champions League.
I don't know why Thuram is so keen on that centreback position and I don't know why every coach thinks the same. I admit I'm just a humble mortal, but I haven't seen too many good matches of Thuram playing in the centre.
thurams best position is in the centre. he had a good euro 2004 there...were we watching the same games? he made some very good tackles and so on.
he did play at centre back for parma, they played with a 3 man defence, and it didnt stop him coming forward.
lets not forget hows he played for juve there: against barca in the semi final. single handedly kept the defence and team intact. amazing performance. and his performance cannot have been a fluke if he played that good.
plus we need him there. what, you want us to buy TWO central defenders?! thats risky, they would need time to gel. and oddo isnt bad at right back, not bad at all...
he did play at centre back for parma, they played with a 3 man defence, and it didnt stop him coming forward.
lets not forget hows he played for juve there: against barca in the semi final. single handedly kept the defence and team intact. amazing performance. and his performance cannot have been a fluke if he played that good.
plus we need him there. what, you want us to buy TWO central defenders?! thats risky, they would need time to gel. and oddo isnt bad at right back, not bad at all...
Thuram was a quality CB for Parma: The argument that RCB is not CB is just not true. The main job of center backs is that of putting defence together man-marking opposition strikers. And guess what? Thuram and Canna were man-markers in Parma system backed up by Torrisi who played as a sweeper. And he did a remarkable job at that.
Just because Thuram lacks cynicism doesnt mean that he isnt a quality CB. Different players have different way of doing their jobs: Malidini for the sake of argument doesnt quite have the cynicism that characterize most of the Italian defenders such as Cannavaro, Nesta, Iluliano, Materazzi to name a few. Doesnt that mean he isnt a quality centerback? My answer is no, because Maldini has other qualities that allows him to play his style of football. Maybe, by having extra cynicism would have made him an even better defender,
, but my argument is that just because he doesnt have it doesnt necessarily mean that he is a bad defender.
Thuram has qualities to be a quality CB, he is good at heading; pretty good at battling positions; disciplined defender and werent give needless fouls; strong, and most importantly he has proven that in the past he can be a good CB. I admit he didnt enjoy best of times playing that position in Juve, but CB in 4-4-2 is all about forging partnerships and if we can find a good complimentary players a la Mexes, I see no reason why Thuram cant excel in that position. Admittingly he isnt a best CB at this moment of time but given our options, I think it is pretty safe that he wont do any worse than Iluliano, Montero, Legro did last year.
BTW, the guy who should have been left out is Bixente Lizarazu, and Silvestre should have played as a left-back. Lizarazu is totally washed up, and has very little game left now.
Just because Thuram lacks cynicism doesnt mean that he isnt a quality CB. Different players have different way of doing their jobs: Malidini for the sake of argument doesnt quite have the cynicism that characterize most of the Italian defenders such as Cannavaro, Nesta, Iluliano, Materazzi to name a few. Doesnt that mean he isnt a quality centerback? My answer is no, because Maldini has other qualities that allows him to play his style of football. Maybe, by having extra cynicism would have made him an even better defender,
, but my argument is that just because he doesnt have it doesnt necessarily mean that he is a bad defender.Thuram has qualities to be a quality CB, he is good at heading; pretty good at battling positions; disciplined defender and werent give needless fouls; strong, and most importantly he has proven that in the past he can be a good CB. I admit he didnt enjoy best of times playing that position in Juve, but CB in 4-4-2 is all about forging partnerships and if we can find a good complimentary players a la Mexes, I see no reason why Thuram cant excel in that position. Admittingly he isnt a best CB at this moment of time but given our options, I think it is pretty safe that he wont do any worse than Iluliano, Montero, Legro did last year.
BTW, the guy who should have been left out is Bixente Lizarazu, and Silvestre should have played as a left-back. Lizarazu is totally washed up, and has very little game left now.
