Defence
At left-back, I’d like to see Ogbonna play there.
Angelo has played as a left back for Torino, Juventus and even for the Italian nation side. Naturally left footed and being our most experienced left sided defender, he fits the bill in our heavily affected area of the pitch. He should play left-back and stay back no going forward and making sure that our left side stops the oppositions right winger.
At right back, Arbeloa should play his natural position and do what he does best… defend. As versatile as he is, the 33-year-old needs to play as a deep right back, he hasn’t got the legs to march up the side-line so it would be beneficial for him to be disciplined and make sure that the defensive line is under control.
A centre back trio of Reid, Oxford and Collins is my preferred selection, with Oxford being the only defender out of the five to attack from deep linking up with the midfielders.
The boy is class and regardless of contract talks, he should be playing. His time is now and he will do well in a role where he shouldn’t be man marking players.
A free role defender would serve our back line well, especially with a deep pairing of Reid and Collins. Collins and Reid should be man marking with Oxford tracking back to cover, their strength and defending in the air is crucial for us to stop any long balls coming our way; they aren’t gifted with pace and their job should be making the strikers’ life hell by being within arm’s length of a tackle.
