Who starts at CB?

Who starts at centre back?

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Who starts at CB?

This painfully long international break is almost over and the mighty BFC return to action at Villa Park in 7 days.

We are rapidly getting close to having Collins, Ajer, Schuster and SvdB all fully fit.

It seems uncontroversial to suggest that Collins and SvdB would have been first choice at the start of the season if both fit. However, Ajer has continued his splendid form from last season and coupled with his national team performances now looks at home in a back 2. Schuster has slotted in without difficulty and already plays with the skill and composure of a seasoned pro.

So the question is: who starts if everyone is fully fit? You get 2 votes and can change your vote too. Poll closes before the Villa
match.

Give your reasons below!
 

Who starts at CB?

Crazy to think SVDB could be 4th choice as he’s arguably got the most potential of all of them, but I think he might now be.

Collins Ajer for me for now but they’ll need to find ways to get the other two minutes.
 

Who starts at CB?

Ajer is a given. Schuster has been a revelation. Colins and VDB have a fight on their hands to regain their place, but will make a great pairing at Sunderland in the cup !
 

Who starts at CB?

Collins & Ajer to start. As well as a fine defender, Collins is important to our attacking build up play and moves the whole team higher up the pitch. Would hope the injury break has allowed him to re-think the amount he gets involved in wrestling and niggle. Seems to affect his concentration more than any dark arts benefit that we very rarely get given.

Ajer is in the prime of his career as a defender and also has the ability to cause chaos going forward with his dribbles out from the back. Has great last ditch defensive ability and loves a slide tackle. Staying on his feet unless no other option possibly his weakness.

van den Berg and Schuster are both excellent defenders but offer less in the all round game. Schuster is young and just got in the team so has understandably been “first concentrate on doing the day job well”, van den Berg seems cursed to never score a goal and is composed but seems less confident in trying progressive passes. Having the two together would be the least preferable combination.

Question 1b would be which of the 4, assuming fully fit squad where we have 1RB, 1LB & 1CB on the bench, doesn’t even make the match day 20?

Good luck deciding Mr Andrews! It’s a long season, plus we hope to go deep in the cups, so everyone should play a big role.
 

Who starts at CB?

I think we will start against Villa with Collins and Ajer but I think after a couple of games, Sepp will replace Ajer. He's played a lot of football so we might take the opportunity to rest him.
 
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Who starts at CB?

I voted Collins but only cos I like Ajer on the right.
 

Who starts at CB?

As a former CH/CB myself...and from what I've seen of the four above...I'd argue JS and NC are technically the two best CBs at BFC.... however I can see a case for starting KA and JS at Villa... and then reintroducing NC and SvdB at Sunderland.... reassess after that.... we'll see.
 

Who starts at CB?

JCMcBee said:
As a former CH/CB myself...and from what I've seen of the four above...I'd argue JS and NC are technically the two best CBs at BFC.... however I can see a case for starting KA and JS at Villa... and then reintroducing NC and SvdB at Sunderland.... reassess after that.... we'll see.
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Not sure it would be wise to reintroduce the 2 injured players together as a pairing. Sepp at least will be very rusty. This is a game we really want to win.
 

Who starts at CB?

ruislip bee said:
Not sure it would be wise to reintroduce the 2 injured players together as a pairing. Sepp at least will be very rusty. This is a game we really want to win.
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You're probably right... I'm just a bit of a 'heid the ba'' as is said in Scotland....and anyway...I'm certainly not KA.
 

Who starts at CB?

I've already made the point elsewhere that it makes no sense to change a winning team and defence that kept a clean sheet against one of the best attacks in the league. Schuster and Ajer would be entitled to be well peed off if they aren't given the chance to replicate that performance. There's a precedent for this, as Collins didn't go straight back in the team after injury last season.
 

Who starts at CB?

There's going to be a high dependency on next week when training restarts; how are Collins and van den Berg? Are they fully recovered? How is Ajer? What toll have the international appearances taken?

If all is well, Collins has to start – not just defensively, not just captain but he adds something to our speed of attack that none of the others does (although Schuster has showed a few glimpses). Berg is probably our best winner of headers, too, although his defensive ones are better than his attacking ones! I'd go with them as 1 & 2.
 

Who starts at CB?

Big Kris has been brilliant. As things stand, he starts for me in any centre back pairing.

I think Collins starts at Villa but, over time, SVDB comes back in for me. He’s class and also an attacking threat at set pieces.

4 top quality centre backs and I would be happy with any 2 of the 4 - what a great dilemma for Keith to have.
 

Who starts at CB?

If he was fit and still with us it would be the guy that can jump as high as Concorde, our record signing Alan Whitehead.
 

Who starts at CB?

Again I am surprised by responses on here. I thought most would say ‘don’t change a winning team’. I would have SVDB fourth at the moment. Knowing my innate conservatism (with a small c) I would probably go for Collins and Ajer in the final instance.
 

Who starts at CB?

I made a chart of defensive contributions for our CBs, and our new Rolls-Royce comes out on top. Small sample size and all...but outside of that, I get the impression that Nathan has the best overall positioning of the other 3, and is a good balance when driving forward. Ajer drives more, but what won't be shown in the stats are the mistakes.
After watching Schuster, I think he's going to be the best of the 4. For now, I would pair Collins and Ajer, with Schuster on the bench.

BeesCBs.PNG
 

Who starts at CB?

all fully fit, my starting two are young schuster and captain collins...
harsh on ajer, who is also at the top of his game
sepp is comfortably fourth, currently
 

Who starts at CB?

many people are factoring in injury concerns when that is not a consideration of the question, if they read how it's worded
 

Who starts at CB?

Edmundo said:
Yes, but that isn't the question.
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Maybe but it’s the answer for now. As for the future it’s probably moot as chances are that one of them will always probably be injured
 

Who starts at CB?

Assuming NC and SVdB are perfectly fit and ready, it would be KA and NC to start at Villa Park for me, very similarly to most others on this thread.

KA has been simply outstanding since taking on so much extra responsibility in defence in the absence of NC and SVdB, and appears to be at the absolute peak of his powers, so I think he has earned and, to a lesser extent, deserves the right to be first choice CB at this moment in time.

It would be incredibly difficult to not start a fit NC. Not only our captain, but probably also the best-suited of the four to how we want to play. For as long as he's at BFC, he will always have a very big part to play for us.

Starting with NC and KA would also mean that, should JS be subbed on to see out a game in order to get some more experience, he will be doing so alongside a leader and organiser, regardless of whether it's NC or KA.

JS has made an absurdly good start to life at BFC, and the confidence he must have built up already will be so conducive to helping him settle in and develop into a potentially world-class player for us, but he is still very young, so I don't think there's any need to risk that confidence by continuing to start him in every match now our hand is no longer forced.

We all know how brilliant SVdB is, completely dominant in the air and always so composed, but all things considered, I think he currently has less of a claim to a starting spot than both KA and NC, and arguably maybe JS too.

A good thing to note though is that we know Keith is willing to switch up his starting CB partnership as much as he sees fit throughout the season, so none of the four will be feeling overly disheartened if they are left out at Villa. Long term, I expect NC and SVdB to be the partnership that starts the most games for us this season.

On a side note, how lucky are we to be able to have a discussion of this nature? Fans of clubs like Man U are probably currently discussing things like whether it should be Shaw or Mazraoui starting at LB for them... :sick::sick:
 
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Who starts at CB?

Chosen Schuster over Collins based on game time only. I’ve taken it that Collins is only just fit so I think he maybe given a week or two more training before he starts.
Can’t believe SVB is not in the three but he’s been missing for a while and we have no need to rush him. His time also will come.
 

Who starts at CB?

I think our best form last season coincided with SVdB and Ajer paired together. When all are 100% fit they’d get the nod for me.
 

Who starts at CB?

Let me start by saying i love our captain and i think he is a fantastic player, but personally if all were fit i think i would go with SVDB and Ajer.
Its a great (and horrible) dilemma for KA to have.
 

Who starts at CB?

Collins and Ajer. I don't think we can drop the latter as he is just a bit different to the others with his pace and ball carrying and is having a great season. Collins is a quality player and our leader. Four top quality options though and no combination of them would worry me.
 

Who starts at CB?

jlove said:
There's going to be a high dependency on next week when training restarts; how are Collins and van den Berg? Are they fully recovered? How is Ajer? What toll have the international appearances taken?

If all is well, Collins has to start – not just defensively, not just captain but he adds something to our speed of attack that none of the others does (although Schuster has showed a few glimpses). Berg is probably our best winner of headers, too, although his defensive ones are better than his attacking ones! I'd go with them as 1 & 2.
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Funny how people see different things because for me out of the 4 CB's id say Collins slows our attack down more than any of the others especially moving the ball across the back line.

He's a great defender but imho he's the least technically gifted of the 4.
 

Who starts at CB?

Freebee said:
Funny how people see different things because for me out of the 4 CB's id say Collins slows our attack down more than any of the others especially moving the ball across the back line.

He's a great defender but imho he's the least technically gifted of the 4.
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Collins can play reasonably accurate quick long balls through and across, by-passing the opposition midfield. He finds Jensen, when he's in space on our left, or in behind for Schade to run on to, plus whoever can get in behinds on the right. Schuster tried a couple of those against Chelsea Berg usually feeds our left back... IMHO Ajer takes too many touches before making any decision, slowing everything down.

Each to his own.
 

Who starts at CB?

It's Schuster's to lose, even if it's the captain. I chose him and Ajer for Villa, but they are playing well and the other 2 aren't fully fit

When everyone is up to speed, I think there is a real case for rotation based on games and scoreline in-game.

Collins is the highest progressive passer through to midfield and attack. A very useful attribute if teams press high
Ajer is the strongest carrier of the ball, great for games when teams don't press and sit back as it encourages them to leave their positions when he gets far forward.
VDB is the more safe player on the ball, but has the highest pass completition. One for possession games or when we are leading.
Schuster I haven't seen enough of but seems to be well rounded. That's useful against teams who change their playing style frequently in game
 

Who starts at CB?

Kind of an irrelevant question is how I see it.

It'll be whichever two are currently best in form/ have the right skillset for whoever we are playing against.

At the moment, Schuster and Ajer start and there's no reason to drop them, given we are unbeaten and they've played well.

At some point, someone will have a niggle or a poor game. Then either VDB or Collins will come in.

Having said all that, for me, Collins is 4th choice. For all his leadership qualities, he too often drops a clanger.
 

Who starts at CB?

For Villa I would keep the same defence as the one which was the first to keep a clean sheet v Chelsea last time out. So Ajer and Schuster keep the shirts.
We are blessed with four excellent CBs so going forward horses for courses depending on fitness, tactics and training and rotation to keep fresh.
 

Who starts at CB?

After the recent JS performances the fact that he wouldn't start just shows our quality at the back.
 

Who starts at CB?

Hippobee said:
Having said all that, for me, Collins is 4th choice. For all his leadership qualities, he too often drops a clanger.
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Collins is club captain. He might have 1 or 2 matches on the bench once fit but it’s near certain he’ll start after that.
 

Who starts at CB?

stomalomalus said:
I made a chart of defensive contributions for our CBs, and our new Rolls-Royce comes out on top. Small sample size and all...but outside of that, I get the impression that Nathan has the best overall positioning of the other 3, and is a good balance when driving forward. Ajer drives more, but what won't be shown in the stats are the mistakes.
After watching Schuster, I think he's going to be the best of the 4. For now, I would pair Collins and Ajer, with Schuster on the bench.

View attachment 69491
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If assessing centre backs then headed duels attempted and won should be included to get a complete picture of their defensive performance.
 

Who starts at CB?

Am I the only one who still thinks it's Collins and vdB? Ajer has been immense but I do think the limitations of his passing game hamper us in buildup. Schuster has hit the ground running very commendably and is clearly prodigious in the art of defending, but he's very young and doesn't have the on the ball quality of Collins and vdB.

I'll caveat that I think when you've played as well as Ajer and Schuster have you shouldn't be dropped automatically just because the 'starters' are fit again, we need to reward performance and Collins and vdB both will need to win back their spots same as anyone. But when everyone's fit and in form I think Collins and vdB is our best pairing.
 

Who starts at CB?

brentford born & bred said:
If assessing centre backs then headed duels attempted and won should be included to get a complete picture of their defensive performance.
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I agree. It was missed off the table, but the numbers are:

NC: 3.27/90 64.2%
KA: 2.93/90 61.5%
SvdB: 4.2/90 66.8%
JS: 4/90 75%

Which bears out that Sepp is our best in the air, Kris the worst, and Jannick could be a beast with more data.
 
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