Omar Alderete

Um, but one of the, the talking points was not necessarily the starting 11, but the fact that he ended up with four defenders on the bench.

He had Hume, O'Nien, Alderete, and Metalli.

And we'll, we'll get into the game, see potentially if it had any impact.

But before the game he switched out Ahogbaja for Talbi on the bench rather than potentially one of the, the defenders.

We build from the back through the middle of the pitch with a bounce pass through Xhaka out wide.

You get that pass wrong and you do exactly what happened against Ipswich in the 95th, 90- 90 something minute when Alderete gave the ball away exactly trying that pass.

Bounce pass to Xhaka to play out to a fullback, and then that creates the opportunities.

Our lopsided formation creates risk because when your winger moves inside and your fullback bombs on to become effectively the winger, there's a big gap there that they could take advantage of.

Mm-hmm

... you know? Yeah, um, he's definitely gonna start for me, but I just think he offers us...

When you, when you weigh him up against the other defenders who are probably gonna miss this one out, which will be O'Nien and Alderete, I think he's, he's naturally got the edge, hasn't he, over them because of that little bit of extra threat that he gives us.

Yeah.

For Natale to play, for Unai to play, because he might not get a chance.

Alderete, now you've potentially got Danzo, Ballard and Mukieli ahead of him in the pecking order there.

So, Isadora start, although you suspect he'll start one of the three games next week.

But

I did choose to put that on screen.

I could have let that one slip, but it's always nice for balance, isn't it? Well, my Alderete came back in the team today, Michael, and I thought he did fine.

I think he He got some much-needed minutes into his legs.

He obviously saw him lip-switching.

Mm

... with Omar Alderete, 'cause he needs minutes.

He hasn't...

Well, I was gonna say he hasn't kicked a football.

So that will be a, a really strong back four.

Like, that could be a back four that you'd line up in the, in the Premier League at some point.

So yeah, Trey Hume right back, Luke O'Nien, Omar Alderete, and Diane Metali is the defense that I have forecast that Regis Lembras might go with.

You talk about that being strong.

Thale.

Alderete.

Ornain.

There's your four.

Maybe you do start bleeding in some of the stronger players.

But at this stage of the season, without a schedule, you know.

Well, if you're looking at the likes of, obviously, Alderete as well, who probably knows must be out of joint that he's barely played this season, who was out, like, you know, one of the first teams on the team to hit last year.

But then you look at Metali, who you'd think long term is going to be our first choice left back, you know, with everything, what we've been told about him and all that stuff.

And I know you said you wouldn't change much, but for me, I would be looking at the back four.

If Danzo's not ready, you know, Alderete perhaps.

But I think Danzo's been signed to start at the weekend, if I'm honest.

I really like Omar Alderete.

are kind of one of his biggest defenders I know he gives the ball away too often but when he's good he's brilliant and I just think the amount of minutes he's played this season the last thing you want to come up against is Mikkel Damsgaard and Kevin Sharder pressing down and running down at you don't get us wrong I think Brentford can be hurt like you play through the first play through their pressure that's how you hurt them and it's not going to be easy to watch because we're going to be playing risky balls we're going to be How many times against Fulham did Roofs take that touch and get away with it? It did really well.

Roofs was excellent on the ball.

So, other than that left centre-half position, I think the defence basically picks itself and I wouldn't be shocked if it was a back four of Ranildo, Danzo, McAuley and Munya.

Yeah, and I think one of you has made a good point, sorry I forgot to, but I think Ballard was most uncomfortable with the ball at his feet last week in terms of he's not left-footed and I think that's something that Labrie craves at the back, two left-footers, two right-footers.