Stephen Welsh

It’s an issue when the only biggish guys we have is the two centre backs and Ralston. Who’s no even that big but is strong and attacks the ball

 

True, a marking mismatch is bad, but that can be rectified by giving clear instructions. If we had Jullien instead of either Welsh or Starfelt, that would mitigate all the aerial issues significantly. Welsh and Starfelt are both covering defenders- we need a stopper (FM terminology, I know...).

 

Delighted with his performance today. It should cement Bitton being frozen out the team.

He is head and shoulders a better defender and a better player than Bitton. There is no reason for Bitton to play. An utter liability.

That being said, I'd love for us to sign one, preferably two, more in the heart of defence.

 

Strange dig to have.

 

Think he's our best fit centre half. (Hardly high praise) He's no the biggest but he's solid in the tackle and a good passer and good on the ball. It's hard to get a read on how good he actually is because our defence is a bit of a mess but I've been impressed since he came in.

 

I see Welsh’s role this season as the player to rotate with Starfelt, as I fear when they two play together we lack height at the back.

Julien is excellent at defending the box at set plays and has been a big miss for us. He can get outmuscled in open play but tends to be good in the air in both boxes. I feel if we sign another CB (and we need too) they have to be good in the air, as well as the other attributes that have been discussed to play in Ange’s system.

 

Right now, want to see both Walsh and Starfelt starting every game together, and then drip feed CJ when fit. So important to build a partnership.
Overall, Walsh has not done much wrong whenever he plays.

 

Don’t think Ange made a mistake with Biton, think Ange is just going through the process of working out who’s his best combination, who’s up to the task and who he can trust. Biton has let Ange down twice now and Welsh hasn’t at all.

Welsh took a big step forwards today to show that he has what it takes.

 

He let him down against the Danes. Welsh has been the standout CB so far and he dropped him. What I've bolded in your post is the definition of a mistake, the key word being TWICE!! Learn from your mistakes first time around. Unfortunately the harm was done against the Danes and he's potentially cost us tens of millions. Long story short... get Bitton to *!

 

Yes Biton cost us tens of millions. That happened and that’s gone.

I don’t think putting Biton in against Hearts is a mistake. Ange has shown the board that Biton isn’t good enough and we need another CB in this window through evidence. If Ange sticks him on the bench, board just goes yeah sure, he’s your backup.

There’s more than one way to get players gone and money out of pockets. Looks like Ange has achieved what no other manager has in 5 competitive games.

 

Sorry mate but we dropped 3 points and Bitton didn't exactly cover himself in glory for their winner. If that's AP's way of showing the board we need reinforcements then I'd like him to not do that again please. Welsh should have started that game, it was/is clear that Bitton can't be relied upon and is an inferior defender to Welsh. It was a mistake to play him and I think you'll struggle to find anyone that disagrees.

 

People forget but Jullien was getting a lot of heat prior to his injury. Absence makes the heart grow fonder as they say. Got bullied off Dykes from memory and it wasn't the only time someone put the spooks up him, he is also guilty of switching off and having the odd clanger. He will be an upgrade on what we have but we definitely need another starting CB. For me, in an ideal world Jullien is a 3rd option behind 2 better CB's.

 

Nah. Julien came back from an injury and noticeably improves us instantly. Yes he's not perfect, could be stronger and needs to stop running into the post. However hes a qaulity defender.

 

I agree that Welsh is a better defender than Bitton and has a much higher ceiling too.

But seeing who is good enough to wear the hoops in Ange’s eyes, that’s a process. I don’t think Ange would have set out to drop 3 points to prove it, however he’s more than likely thought if Bitton can’t handle Hearts, then his future is limited. I don’t expect Bitton to be here in 12 months, whereas I see Welsh being a big part of the future.

You calling it a mistake, that’s fine, that’s how you see it. I don’t see it that way, I see it as much as a process, just like yesterday’s 6-0 didn’t happen without embedding a style through a process.

 

I'm not sure Bitton cost us anything really, have you seen PSV's form? They'd have run through us had we gotten past Midtjyland. CL football for me was always out of the question this season.

 

Yes you are possibly right, we will never know.

 

He was brilliant tonight as well, much better in the air than I first thought and very comfortable with the ball at feet. Him and Starfelt look excellent together.

 

Brings a full new level of steadiness to our back line. He’s the full package.

 

Beating midtjyland guaranteed europa league, which we may not get. Although I'm confident we would do well in the conference league.
I think people are more angry because it was a * stupid red card to give away and it isn't the first time