Transfers Review - Defensive Players

[wassy04]

Thought it might be a good time to have a look at how our transfer business has gone since we got promoted. Based on the performances of the existing squad players we essentially needed 9 starters plus another 10+ to rotate/cover.

Will start defensively

Keepers:
Henderson - Hit
Navas - likely Hit

Hendo had some big games although was at fault a few times when we. Had that ridiculous run of long range goals conceded earlier in the year. Navas started well and hasn't made any errors.

Defenders
Neco - Miss
Aurier - Hit
Boly - Hit
Niakhate - not enough info
Felipe - Likely Hit
Richards - Miss
Lodi - Hit
Toffolo - Miss 
Biancone - Miss
Bade - Miss

We got a big win on Aurier, luckily after the failing of the Neco signing, nets off really. Lodi, started slowly but I think has looked good enough for this league. Real potential for him to grow and improve next year if he stays on after having a year to settle.

Boly, showing his value by being injured right now! Had a poor debut but stepped up after the Spurs game and since then has been our best defender, badly missed right now. Really need Niakhate to step up when he comes back in with Worrall sadly proving to make too many mistakes.

Richards, not really much to say on that. Toffolo has looked a capable backup to me, although that said I think Neco is probably the backup LB so probably makes it a miss.

Felipe has had a strong start and has proven to be very necessary after the injuries to Boly and McKenna. 

Oh and Bade who knows! Some will say he should've been given a chance although I would trust the fact he couldn't get in the squad as a sign he wasn't up to it. Probably our most pointless signing but I doubt we paid a big loan fee so overall no a huge loss.

Thoughts?

Far too early to say Williams is a miss.
Young player who will get better. As has already been said he wasn’t signed to play fullback. 
He’s got enough tools to get to the level, and patience is required.

I don't disagree that he is young and can/will improve, perhaps to the level of a premier league starter. I am very willing to be patient and can see there's a player in the there, perhaps we will return to wing backs next year. 

However, in the context of what he was signed for, a starter replacement for Spence, for 17m he has not lived up to that fee so far. We got lucky with Aurier after the window was already closed and how well he's settled in. 

The "Miss" rating was very much in the context of what he was signed for and also his contribution so far.

For example, I wouldn't mark Danilo a miss at the end of the season because he wasn't signed to be an immediate starter. Maybe that's unfair on Neco, luckily the way it's worked out Neco has been able to be a solid backup to either full back with a chance to develop.

One thing I would add, is that you mention he was signed to play wing back, I liked what I see from him going forward (aside from his crossing) but does he have the pace to play that role effectively? Will his lack of pace hinder him if we do revert to that formation again at some point? (I don't know the answer here, be interested to hear other views)