Right Back Issues

[spurs61]

"Stephen Kelly has joined Birmingham, but Spurs have already signed a replacement in Benoit Assou-Ekotto from Lens. Although primarily a centre half Anthony Gardner could play in the full back position, and Philip Ifil has returned from last season’s loan spell at Millwall and been given a squad number this time around.

The noises are that Young-Pyo Lee will play at right back this season, where he played for South Korea in the World Cup, but that would mean being overcompensated on that side with Paul Stalteri also challenging for his place back. Maybe not much should be read into Lee starting the friendly against Borussia Dortmund in that position considering Martin Jol has also experimented there this pre-season with Wayne Routledge."

I really do not understand this at all. As far as I am concerned, Lee's problem last season was not that he is a right-footed left-back. His problem is that he can't defend, has no positional sense whatsoever and was constantly caught out of position. By moving him to right-back beind Lennon surely we are adding to the problem as both Lennon and Lee will raid forward at pace leaving an entire pitch behind them for the opposition to attack. I think MJ needs to accept that Lee is just not good enough at this level, regardless of what position he plays in. His unforgivable error against Man U should have been the last thing he ever did in a Lilywhite shirt.

Opinions?

[shoot_ffs]

i can't believe spurs fans think lee can't defend. he was doing two guys jobs last year, in his first year with us and in the prem. he hardly ever got beat. had he been a weak link, the opposition would have smothered him down that side and it wasn't the case at all. The dortmund game showed how much we missed him as although ekotto did very well, he didn't get forward at all.

[gbspur72]

I wouldn't mind Lee getting a go at RB. IMO it's more important for us to get a left winger and another striker.

[spurs61]

i can't believe spurs fans think lee can't defend. he was doing two guys jobs last year, in his first year with us and in the prem. he hardly ever got beat. had he been a weak link, the opposition would have smothered him down that side and it wasn't the case at all. The dortmund game showed how much we missed him as although ekotto did very well, he didn't get forward at all.

We were clearly watching a different player then! Are you really telling me that Lee was never beaten last season? Actually you're right, he was rarely beaten because he was constantly out of position and thus never had the chance to be beaten. The vast majority of our opponents in the second half of the season focused most of their attacks on Lee or Stalteri.

Let's just look at the Man U goals;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYb5xoCcxb4&mode=related&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahQqPaFevms&NR

For the first goal Lee is the last defender, which is great. Sadly his lack of positional awareness means that he neither moves to cut out the cross nor does he shut down Rooney (I suspect he had no idea Rooney was even there), it's a shocking piece of defending from a supposed top class international full back.

The second goal is the worst defending I have ever seen. If anyone can explain what was going through Lee's head I would be very interested to know.

Shall we continue, there are quite a few examples!

[Chinaman]

Lee is good enough as a RB. The only latent problem is with Lennon also on the right, we may not have enough muscle down that flank.

[highlander]

i wouldnt mind MJ giving Lee a go at RB. him & Lennon down the right would definately do some damage but would leave us exposed at times, its a risk i would be willing to take on occassion

[choda]

I disagree with you on this one spur61, I like him as a player. For me it is Stalty that gets caught positionally and with bad awareness. Apart from United (where he had a shocker), I can't think of any other clear instances of bad defending.

I have two problems with him though. One is that he looked like he needed to get used to the prem, the pace and the physicality... and two I get annoyed with him on the left because he is so right footed.

In short, I think if given a chance this year at right full he could be a revelation. I see a lot of ability attacking and defending wise in him. Having said that it might be less risky to buy somebody like Trabelsi than hoping Lee will settle in.

[highlander]

doesnt Trebelsi have a dodgy ticker??????

[Danishspurs]

rate Lee and think he could do a job on RB. He may lack a bit in strenght, but he's got pace, he's got so much energy and is good going forward...

[shoot_ffs]

We were clearly watching a different player then! Are you really telling me that Lee was never beaten last season? Actually you're right, he was rarely beaten because he was constantly out of position and thus never had the chance to be beaten. The vast majority of our opponents in the second half of the season focused most of their attacks on Lee or Stalteri.

Let's just look at the Man U goals;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYb5xoCcxb4&mode=related&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahQqPaFevms&NR

For the first goal Lee is the last defender, which is great. Sadly his lack of positional awareness means that he neither moves to cut out the cross nor does he shut down Rooney (I suspect he had no idea Rooney was even there), it's a shocking piece of defending from a supposed top class international full back.

The second goal is the worst defending I have ever seen. If anyone can explain what was going through Lee's head I would be very interested to know.

Shall we continue, there are quite a few examples!


Firstly lee or stalteri?? lee isn't responsible for salty's weaknesses. I thought he did well positionally on the first goal, he had to go back and cover the goal in case the defender was beaten, he was just beaten with a great pass. The second goal was a brain storm, i hadn't forgotten it believe me. I'm counting that as one cock up and i can't really remember any others. salty yes, loads from him, which is my point. I don't remember lee getting beaten much last year. Obviously all full back's get done quite a few times over the season, but i thought he was much better than the shirt tugging edman. I can recall more times when lee beat full backs than when he was done by wingers, even if his final ball was poor. I don't recall him being targeted much as nobody got any change out of him. He get pressured more the last few games of the season, as teams realised how much we played throught he left side and largely through him.

[matthius23]

We could always get Atouba back? :p

[Welsh Spur]

I rate Lee, definately. He was good enough for Hiddink at PSV, and he's good enough for us.

[spurs61]

OK, I am clearly in the minority on this one. I am yet to be convinced that Lee should be a first choice full back on either flank but I guess we will have to wait and see what BMJ does in terms of the full backs. He clearly isn't happy with them though otherwise we wouldn't have bought A-E and we wouldn't be so desparate to sign another rightback.

[shoot_ffs]

OK, I am clearly in the minority on this one. I am yet to be convinced that Lee should be a first choice full back on either flank but I guess we will have to wait and see what BMJ does in terms of the full backs. He clearly isn't happy with them though otherwise we wouldn't have bought A-E and we wouldn't be so desparate to sign another rightback.

do you mind not calling him A-E. The idea of one of our defenders nicknamed accident & emergency fills me with dread lol.

[Chinaman]

No, A-E for him stands for athletic and energetic.

[Spur]

OK, I am clearly in the minority on this one. I am yet to be convinced that Lee should be a first choice full back on either flank but I guess we will have to wait and see what BMJ does in terms of the full backs. He clearly isn't happy with them though otherwise we wouldn't have bought A-E and we wouldn't be so desparate to sign another rightback.

I'm also yet to be convinced.

Seeing Benny at the Inter game I now have high hopes for him, if he can continue what sounds like a fine pre-season into the season I can only see him at left-back.

Out of Lee and Stalteri I would choose Lee every time. However, like I say I am yet to be convinced, and in an ideal world we would buy in for the position. But there are very few quality right backs at the moment. The only one I can think of I would gladly pay a decent amount for is Miguel, a great, great player. Other than that, we will continue to be linked with the likes of Lucas Neill, who I only think would be a good signing due to the lack of quality players in the position.

[TomMcLaren]

For the past few years we have been plagued by crappy full-backs, the kind that lead to a sharp intake of breath everytime the ball comes anywhere near them. Lee is one of the better ones from this bad bunch, but I still worry about him!

[Welsh Spur]

Good shout on Miguel, sadly it won't happen. He is superb.

[spurs61]

For the past few years we have been plagued by crappy full-backs, the kind that lead to a sharp intake of breath everytime the ball comes anywhere near them. Lee is one of the better ones from this bad bunch, but I still worry about him!

Nicely put Mr McLaren. Our only reference point for full backs are Justin Edinburgh and Dean Austin. It's no wonder a lot of Spurs fans rate Lee, just look at the rubbish we have had to endure for over a decade, David Kerslake ffs!

[spurs61]

Good shout Spur, relieved to hear I'm not the only one!

My only issue with Miguel is that he is very much like Chimbonda in that he's a very attacking fullback. Assuming Super Aaron plays right wing we need a much more defensive option behind him. Other that I'd welcome Miguel!

[highlander]

i like Lee but would rather buy a new RB. Lee is definately better than salty, no question but do we really want to be in a 'lesser of 2 evils' stage. i think maybe a few years a go we would have settled for Lee but with the drive for CL football we need a strion RB which we dont have at the club

[Welsh Spur]

Trabelsi is on the verge of signing for Man Citeh.....how the **** is this happening?

[Welsh Spur]

i like Lee but would rather buy a new RB. Lee is definately better than salty, no question but do we really want to be in a 'lesser of 2 evils' stage. i think maybe a few years a go we would have settled for Lee but with the drive for CL football we need a strion RB which we dont have at the club
It's not the lesser of two evils. Lee is a right back.

[Ossie]

I'll keep on insisting in Anthony Vande Borre

[Chinaman]

Trabelsi is on the verge of signing for Man Citeh.....how the **** is this happening?


This can only mean that we've never been interested in him. Knowing that we're after a RB, his agent would surely have called us up offering his services.

[Houdini logic]

I want Trabelsi!
I want Trabelsi!
I want Trabelsi!
I want Trabelsi!
I want Trabelsi!
I want Trabelsi!

[spurs61]

I gather he quite likes you as well.

[Welsh Spur]

Put it into perspective;

Chimbonda for £5.5million, or Trabelsi for free?

[spurs61]

Put it into perspective;

Chimbonda for £5.5million, or Trabelsi for free?


And;

Chimbonda - one season wonder, can't defend

Trabelis - one of the most consistent rightbacks in the world. He's known as the African Cafu!

[mgrep1881]

Man City have almost certainly signed him. I have been told he has had a lot of knee problems and at 30 i think we can do better. DONT wanna waste 5 mill on chimbonda, no were near that.
Lee right back for sure with PS and PI as cover. Get Bridge for 3 mill or play with the new French lad who looks great and Zeigler as his cover.
Must buy a LM and we are sorted COYS!!

[SharX]

And;

Chimbonda - one season wonder, can't defend

Trabelis - one of the most consistent rightbacks in the world. He's known as the African Cafu!
true. its a pity hes going to man city not a better club.

[country cock]

Yeah i would go along with that, a left midfielder must be priority. Lee is naturally right footed and as long as he doesn't over play like he did against utd could do a job. Keep it simple get it and give it, let the midfielders and forwards play.

[JJ]

I'll keep on insisting in Anthony Vande Borre

You play football manager, i take it.

[highlander]

You play football manager, i take it.
not only FM. on LMA he's excellent as well lol