Cristian Romero

[awesome dawson]

Who is the CB we've had in the PL era that's most like Romero is style and gameplay?

Juan Foyth?

 

[DubaiSpur]

Who is the CB we've had in the PL era that's most like Romero is style and gameplay?

Sanchez, for good or ill. Before him, probably Kaboul.

Looking further back, imperfect matches would probably be Bassong and early Daws when he was less of a 'line' defender and more ready to venture out to close strikers down.

The common thread to all of them is that they were the 'dog' to the 'cat' in a central defensive pairing - hassling and harrying, being proactive, while the other defender sat deep and swept up behind them, organizing as needed.

In the best pairing we've had in the PL era (Toby and Verts), Toby was the dog, and Verts the cat, but they could each do the other's role perfectly well (and often did, in Poch's high-pressing system). It's what made them so good. However, I still think Toby was probably a bit better at pressing and Verts better at dropping off and organizing. It's why Verts + someone like Sanchez worked alright, but Toby + Sanchez worked a bit less well, imo - and why Toby was a bit worse when he was asked to be the deeper-lying of the two defenders.

I'm holding off on pronouncing on Romero for now - he's enormously promising, but I remember the excitement we had over Sanchez's wonderful first year and subsequent stagnation. More pertinently, I do think we still need the 'cat' to partner him with - someone who can read danger well, distribute it well and be more alert/on their toes than, for example, Dier, who is caught out fairly frequently (as he was for Villa's equalizer).

And I still think Romero would be at his best not in a two, but in a three - with someone like Japh to his right as a CB/RB and a distributor to his left, which would free Romero up to hound strikers into midfield if necessary. In fact, with the personnel we have, I think a 3 at the back system would do us all sorts of good, allowing Emerson and Reguilon to bomb forward and also allowing us to play Son, Kane, Dele and Lo Celso in the same side (with Hojbjerg covering the three center-backs). I'm at a loss why NES hasn't tried it yet, given it was his favorite system at Wolves.

 

[braineclipse]

Sanchez, for good or ill. Before him, probably Kaboul.

Looking further back, imperfect matches would probably be Bassong and early Daws when he was less of a 'line' defender and more ready to venture out to close strikers down.

The common thread to all of them is that they were the 'dog' to the 'cat' in a central defensive pairing - hassling and harrying, being proactive, while the other defender sat deep and swept up behind them, organizing as needed.

In the best pairing we've had in the PL era (Toby and Verts), Toby was the dog, and Verts the cat, but they could each do the other's role perfectly well (and often did, in Poch's high-pressing system). It's what made them so good. However, I still think Toby was probably a bit better at pressing and Verts better at dropping off and organizing. It's why Verts + someone like Sanchez worked alright, but Toby + Sanchez worked a bit less well, imo - and why Toby was a bit worse when he was asked to be the deeper-lying of the two defenders.

I'm holding off on pronouncing on Romero for now - he's enormously promising, but I remember the excitement we had over Sanchez's wonderful first year and subsequent stagnation. More pertinently, I do think we still need the 'cat' to partner him with - someone who can read danger well, distribute it well and be more alert/on their toes than, for example, Dier, who is caught out fairly frequently (as he was for Villa's equalizer).

And I still think Romero would be at his best not in a two, but in a three - with someone like Japh to his right as a CB/RB and a distributor to his left, which would free Romero up to hound strikers into midfield if necessary. In fact, with the personnel we have, I think a 3 at the back system would do us all sorts of good, allowing Emerson and Reguilon to bomb forward and also allowing us to play Son, Kane, Dele and Lo Celso in the same side (with Hojbjerg covering the three center-backs). I'm at a loss why NES hasn't tried it yet, given it was his favorite system at Wolves.

Good shouts on trying to find similar players, but we've never really had a player quite like him.

Sanchez looked good coming into a settled team, settled back line, playing with one or even two standout centre backs.

Romero has come in and improved what looked like dysfunctional team and back line. Still very early, shouldn't jump to conclusions, you're perfectly right.

Romero will be great though.

 

[SpurMeUp]

He's tenacious, and he's skillful. You can tell the footballers who've had a ball at their feet since they were tiny tots. Just natural footballers. But...when this guy goes in rashly and costs us, we will need to cut him some slack.

I think he plays best with a CB/defense who can cover him and give him some freedom to 'smash and grab' in the middle. If we are not setup for that, his 'enthusiasm' might leave us exposed now and again.

Ultimately great to have a real footballer at CB again. We've missed tenacity and technicality in the position for the last few years.

 

[AdamB]

He's tenacious, and he's skillful. You can tell the footballers who've had a ball at their feet since they were tiny tots. Just natural footballers. But...when this guy goes in rashly and costs us, we will need to cut him some slack.

I think he plays best with a CB/defense who can cover him and give him some freedom to 'smash and grab' in the middle. If we are not setup for that, his 'enthusiasm' might leave us exposed now and again.

Ultimately great to have a real footballer at CB again. We've missed tenacity and technicality in the position for the last few years.

I think this is the most important question - "what is the ideal type of CB to partner Romero"?

Romero seems like an all-rounder to me (and a very good one) - not slow, good on the ball, loves defending, tall-ish but not huge etc.

So would a Jan V style footballing CB mean we're too lightweight? Or a big guy next to him mean we're lacking pace? Do we need pace there so that his partner can cover him quickly if, to your point, he goes to 'smash and grab'?

 

[ricky2tricky4city]

And I still think Romero would be at his best not in a two, but in a three - with someone like Japh to his right as a CB/RB and a distributor to his left, which would free Romero up to hound strikers into midfield if necessary. In fact, with the personnel we have, I think a 3 at the back system would do us all sorts of good, allowing Emerson and Reguilon to bomb forward and also allowing us to play Son, Kane, Dele and Lo Celso in the same side (with Hojbjerg covering the three center-backs). I'm at a loss why NES hasn't tried it yet, given it was his favorite system at Wolves.

I'm minded to think this could be the logical solution given the personnel available.

Why hasn't he tried it?, You ask.

I think if you laid out the availability of defenders week on week since the start of the season, you'd find the answer. Especially if you are hoping for consistency amongst the 3 chosen CBs.

Saudi Sportswashing Machine coming up will be another case of Romero Sanchez Royal all being missing and Davies looks to have health problems. So Dier Rodon Tanganga are the choices and Tanganga will probably have to play RB.

 

[ricky2tricky4city]

I think this is the most important question - "what is the ideal type of CB to partner Romero"?

Romero seems like an all-rounder to me (and a very good one) - not slow, good on the ball, loves defending, tall-ish but not huge etc.

So would a Jan V style footballing CB mean we're too lightweight? Or a big guy next to him mean we're lacking pace? Do we need pace there so that his partner can cover him quickly if, to your point, he goes to 'smash and grab'?

Just need another all rounder?

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Sanchez, for good or ill. Before him, probably Kaboul.

Looking further back, imperfect matches would probably be Bassong and early Daws when he was less of a 'line' defender and more ready to venture out to close strikers down.

The common thread to all of them is that they were the 'dog' to the 'cat' in a central defensive pairing - hassling and harrying, being proactive, while the other defender sat deep and swept up behind them, organizing as needed.

In the best pairing we've had in the PL era (Toby and Verts), Toby was the dog, and Verts the cat, but they could each do the other's role perfectly well (and often did, in Poch's high-pressing system). It's what made them so good. However, I still think Toby was probably a bit better at pressing and Verts better at dropping off and organizing. It's why Verts + someone like Sanchez worked alright, but Toby + Sanchez worked a bit less well, imo - and why Toby was a bit worse when he was asked to be the deeper-lying of the two defenders.

I'm holding off on pronouncing on Romero for now - he's enormously promising, but I remember the excitement we had over Sanchez's wonderful first year and subsequent stagnation. More pertinently, I do think we still need the 'cat' to partner him with - someone who can read danger well, distribute it well and be more alert/on their toes than, for example, Dier, who is caught out fairly frequently (as he was for Villa's equalizer).

And I still think Romero would be at his best not in a two, but in a three - with someone like Japh to his right as a CB/RB and a distributor to his left, which would free Romero up to hound strikers into midfield if necessary. In fact, with the personnel we have, I think a 3 at the back system would do us all sorts of good, allowing Emerson and Reguilon to bomb forward and also allowing us to play Son, Kane, Dele and Lo Celso in the same side (with Hojbjerg covering the three center-backs). I'm at a loss why NES hasn't tried it yet, given it was his favorite system at Wolves.

3 would define you suit us
What we saw at the weekend was that royal is perfectly happy keeping the ball. I don’t remember him making a poor pass all game
Reggie we already know is a wing back really
If you played one DM and one creator in the CM, Romero can add to the DM when needed
So 3-4-3 for me suits our team best

 

[glorygloryeze]

Juan Foyth?

Are you being serious?

 

[glorygloryeze]

Sanchez, for good or ill. Before him, probably Kaboul.

Looking further back, imperfect matches would probably be Bassong and early Daws when he was less of a 'line' defender and more ready to venture out to close strikers down.

The common thread to all of them is that they were the 'dog' to the 'cat' in a central defensive pairing - hassling and harrying, being proactive, while the other defender sat deep and swept up behind them, organizing as needed.

In the best pairing we've had in the PL era (Toby and Verts), Toby was the dog, and Verts the cat, but they could each do the other's role perfectly well (and often did, in Poch's high-pressing system). It's what made them so good. However, I still think Toby was probably a bit better at pressing and Verts better at dropping off and organizing. It's why Verts + someone like Sanchez worked alright, but Toby + Sanchez worked a bit less well, imo - and why Toby was a bit worse when he was asked to be the deeper-lying of the two defenders.

I'm holding off on pronouncing on Romero for now - he's enormously promising, but I remember the excitement we had over Sanchez's wonderful first year and subsequent stagnation. More pertinently, I do think we still need the 'cat' to partner him with - someone who can read danger well, distribute it well and be more alert/on their toes than, for example, Dier, who is caught out fairly frequently (as he was for Villa's equalizer).

And I still think Romero would be at his best not in a two, but in a three - with someone like Japh to his right as a CB/RB and a distributor to his left, which would free Romero up to hound strikers into midfield if necessary. In fact, with the personnel we have, I think a 3 at the back system would do us all sorts of good, allowing Emerson and Reguilon to bomb forward and also allowing us to play Son, Kane, Dele and Lo Celso in the same side (with Hojbjerg covering the three center-backs). I'm at a loss why NES hasn't tried it yet, given it was his favorite system at Wolves.

Interesting post. In your opinion, right now, who do you think would be best to be the 'cat' next to CR that you say he'd be best with in a back 4?

 

[glorygloryeze]

3 would define you suit us
What we saw at the weekend was that royal is perfectly happy keeping the ball. I don’t remember him making a poor pass all game
Reggie we already know is a wing back really
If you played one DM and one creator in the CM, Romero can add to the DM when needed
So 3-4-3 for me suits our team best

Who would the 3 CBs be in your 3-4-3 line-up?

In fact who starts altogether in your 3-4-3 formation?

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Who would the 3 CBs be in your 3-4-3 line-up?

In fact who starts altogether in your 3-4-3 formation?

Tanganga, Romero (central), Dier (Rodon could play any of these roles)

Right wing would be royal, left reggie
CM would be skipp with Hojbjerg for tough games
And skipp or Hojbjerg with Lo Celso or Tanguy for “normal games”
Up front it’s Kane, son and Bergwein of everyone is fit for me
Moura can play there and so can Brian
It may also suit dele and Lo Celso more to play in that kind of 3
we have back up wingbacks in the squad in sessegnon and Doherty to play in the ECL
Could also ask Bergwein, Lucas and maybe Brian to play one side of the other has a defensive WB

 

[glorygloryeze]

Tanganga, Romero (central), Dier (Rodon could play any of these roles)

Right wing would be royal, left reggie
CM would be skipp with Hojbjerg for tough games
And skipp or Hojbjerg with Lo Celso or Tanguy for “normal games”
Up front it’s Kane, son and Bergwein of everyone is fit for me
Moura can play there and so can Brian
It may also suit dele and Lo Celso more to play in that kind of 3
we have back up wingbacks in the squad in sessegnon and Doherty to play in the ECL
Could also ask Bergwein, Lucas and maybe Brian to play one side of the other has a defensive WB

Very interesting. Can i ask would there be certain games with this formation that you would play Dier and certain other games when you would instead play Rodon?

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Very interesting. Can i ask would there be certain games with this formation that you would play Dier and certain other games when you would instead play Rodon?

I’d okay Dier until he lost his place basically
I thought him and Romero really complimented each other at the weekend
But going a 3 gives us more flexibility IMO
Rodon though I just cant understand why he hasn’t been given more games
He has never failed (compared to so many who have) any yet doesn’t get a sniffn

 

[glorygloryeze]

I’d okay Dier until he lost his place basically
I thought him and Romero really complimented each other at the weekend
But going a 3 gives us more flexibility IMO
Rodon though I just cant understand why he hasn’t been given more games
He has never failed (compared to so many who have) any yet doesn’t get a sniffn

Ok, but why would you play Dier over him, based on what little you have seen of him (and the amount you've seen of Dier)?

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Ok, but why would you play Dier over him, based on what little you have seen of him (and the amount you've seen of Dier)?

Because Dier so far this season has played very well
Players shouldn’t be dropped unless they play poorly
Dele has been
Tanguy should be next game on the basis of villa (he won’t be though)

 

[ricky2tricky4city]

Tanganga, Romero (central), Dier (Rodon could play any of these roles)

Right wing would be royal, left reggie
CM would be skipp with Hojbjerg for tough games
And skipp or Hojbjerg with Lo Celso or Tanguy for “normal games”
Up front it’s Kane, son and Bergwein of everyone is fit for me
Moura can play there and so can Brian
It may also suit dele and Lo Celso more to play in that kind of 3
we have back up wingbacks in the squad in sessegnon and Doherty to play in the ECL
Could also ask Bergwein, Lucas and maybe Brian to play one side of the other has a defensive WB

It really reads that we should head that way.

All players playing in roles that suit. And flexibility with options to swap players in/out and a few players able to cover more than one position.

 

[glorygloryeze]

Because Dier so far this season has played very well
Players shouldn’t be dropped unless they play poorly
Dele has been
Tanguy should be next game on the basis of villa (he won’t be though)

Fair enough.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

It really reads that we should head that way.

All players playing in roles that suit. And flexibility with options to swap players in/out and a few players able to cover more than one position.

That’s why I like it
It’s fluid too
Look at how Chelsea play it and they do it with some inexperienced players combined with very experienced ones, but in an unfamiliar system they make it work through coaching and of course, quality players

 

[glorygloryeze]

That’s why I like it
It’s fluid too
Look at how Chelsea play it and they do it with some inexperienced players combined with very experienced ones, but in an unfamiliar system they make it work through coaching and of course, quality players

You honestly think we have the players to play the Tuchel system at Chelski? I like the sound of that, but then my head keeps saying 'hold your horses' lol...