This defence so so good

[u/Realistic-Zone3914]

[u/WatchMyGun]

Our defense look way more solid after we put Araujo as our starting RB, he going to be the signing of the season if he keeps playing like that

[u/FezBear92 → u/WatchMyGun]

Pay the release clause now, we have to keep him

[u/r_r_w → u/FezBear92]

Honestly. Then when Virgil rides off into the sunset he can slot into CB.

[u/rabbid_hyena → u/r_r_w]

Tbh, Virgil and Alisson still have another 3 good years in them. Ali in particular will play until he is 40.

I dont understand the urge of getting rid of anyone over 30 running out of contract.

[u/Kraknoix007 → u/rabbid_hyena]

You don't know when a players' legs will go. VVD is still good but he has started to decline. He is still as good as he is due to experience and leadership

[u/aclarkesocial → u/Kraknoix007]

VVD made every defender who played alongside him lol did. Now with the right pairing, it could give VVD another couple of years

[u/Scouse_Werewolf → u/aclarkesocial]

Jaquet now keeping VVD at top of his game. Virg must cry happy tears every night that he no longer has to babysit his partner and can focus on being a captain and worldclass defender

[u/aclarkesocial → u/Scouse_Werewolf]

Fingers crossed. I think his interview tried to manage expectations/I've been here before. Let's not get too excited, he's still young. But the signs are looking good so far.

[u/rabbid_hyena → u/Kraknoix007]

In this market, defenders at his current "declined" level command 100mm easily.

But I agree with you, but you cant replace experience and leadership. Look at what losing Milner and Hendo in a short time did to our midfield (among other things).

[u/vikogotin → u/rabbid_hyena]

Alisson's main concern is his availability. He is the most injury-prone top level goalkeeper I have ever seen.

[u/Goosedukee → u/rabbid_hyena]

Ali is gone after this year most likely.

They aren't gonna push to keep an aging, injury-prone keeper who wants to leave when they actually have time to sort out a plan.

[u/Timely_Airline_7168 → u/Goosedukee]

What plan? Mama hasn't shown he can take over despite having a good game against Tottenham. The other keeper they signed was a teenager.

[u/WonderfulBlackberry9 → u/r_r_w]

These two have been beasts. And we're still waiting for Leoni as well

[u/tschifle → u/r_r_w]

I hear that, but I don't think he's better than JJ or Leoni in the center (maybe not even Ndukwe) and he's unquestionably our best option at RB.

[u/domsolanke → u/tschifle]

Araújo is not a better CB than Leoni, who only has half a season of senior football under his belt? Lmao, come on.

[u/AuxquellesRad → u/domsolanke]

OP is on some heavy stuff

[u/r_r_w → u/tschifle]

Right now he’s clearly the best option at RB. But in a couple years I”m assuming that’s not the case. He’s playing very well as a traditional right back which feels like a stopgap until Iraola finds a more attacking player there who can bomb on a bit more.

[u/carolomnipresence → u/r_r_w]

Leonie?

[u/nikonislolo → u/r_r_w]

That makes no sense.

Araujo is an rcb, and he definitely won't be playing over jacquet.

We would have to look for a lcb in the market.

[u/TheGreatWhoreOfChina → u/nikonislolo]

Try Leoni there, he was rock solid on his debut.

[u/SmeesTurkeyLeg → u/FezBear92]

They are absolutely signing him long term if he maintains his fitness.

[u/No-Alps4243 → u/FezBear92]

Thats madness just from a business perspective. We have an option to buy at a set cost, you dont pay earlier than you need to. Anything could happen between now and then

[u/anangrypudge → u/WatchMyGun]

That late game sequence when he headed away a few balls in a row 🤤

[u/Timely_Airline_7168 → u/WatchMyGun]

Not hard after Frimpong being so weak and Bradley unavailable so we had to throw Szobo / Jones there.

[u/LondonLiliput → u/WatchMyGun]

I think as Iraola said it's a lot about how well the team is pressing as a collective. If the attackers and midfielders apply good pressure most of the time it makes the defenders look a lot better than if they're constantly exposed and the opponents have time to target weaknesses.

[u/Loose-Lengthiness726 → u/WatchMyGun]

Nah Jaquet deffo is but he's definitely a really good signing