I genuine believe a large reason for us dropping deep so often for the last 4 years is the team attempting to shore up the defence.We definitely need two centre backs in the door as well as Romero. Three fighting for two spots is healthy. There’s more than one way to shore up a defence. Different formation,style,keeping the ball better and playing on the front foot will limit teams chances against us. Confidence also plays a big part in it as we saw that at the end of last season when it was shot to fuck. Getting a top centre back in next to Romero or two in to play together will improve us in that department in terms of conceding goals. What we can’t do is sign a kid from Blackburn and expect him to be ready who might turn out to be a star but might also turn out to be Rodon.
I look at Newcastle’s back four and last season not one of us would be happy with Trippier and Burn as full backs and Schar and Botman as centre backs. What they did was get a style of play that suited them,had a pride in defending and played within a structure and with confidence.
If we line up with Porro and Udogie as full backs and Romero and VDV as centre halfs and start the season well then these boys will be flying. They are all hungry,quick and aggressive players but they also have a lot more ability than that Newcastle back 4. Getting good decent players comfortable and confident week in week out you will get results like we saw with Newcastle. Getting excellent players like we have comfortable and confident week in week out then we could go to another level. I’m excited what is coming because for the last 4 years I’ve been bored out my skull watching this team (apart from the end of 22/23 season) and I honestly believe we will actually enjoy going to games or watching Tottenham on tv again.
Part of that is because the likes of Dier,Davies, Sanchez et al have all been bad, but also because we haven't had a truly great DM since Demebele and that's 5.5 years ago, isn't it?
As annoyingly bad as our defence is, it's been exposed too often for too long.