A left-field solution to the left-back dilemma?

toonsy

Eric Lichaj - An outside bet?
With Jose Enrique’s seemingly imminent departure, most Newcastle fans are asking themselves the same thing: “Who’s going to replace Enrique at left-back?”

Wayne Bridge? Too old, too pricey, and Mike Ashley isn’t going to want to pay his £90,000 a week wage. Neither would I to be fair. Neil Taylor? Signed a new deal with Swansea, yet I still see this one floating around. Steven Warnock? Nicky Shorey? Even Cheikh M’Bengue? All of these players would fit the left-back spot, but with Steven and Nicky aged 30 they’re most definitely not getting any younger. We need somebody who can play well, and is still young enough to improve drastically.

My answer: Aston Villa’s 22 year old American international, Eric Lichaj.

His impressive season on loan at Leeds United was enough to convince Bob Bradley to call up Lichaj for the 23-man United States squad in their Gold Cup run. He didn’t start the first two games against Canada and Panama, but later started the remaining four games for the United States where he put in three solid appearances against Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Panama, and one woeful appearance against Mexico.

Now, I must say that while he was a terrible performer against Mexico, he was put into an awkward position, right back. See, Steve Cherundolo was injured and taken off in the 11th minute, which gave Bob Bradley the brilliant idea of putting on Jonathan Bornstein for Cherundolo. Problem though is that Bornstein and Lichaj play the same position, so Lichaj was shifted to right-back while Bornstein ‘played’ left-back . Lichaj, while naturally right-footed, looked awkward and out of place the entire game, and defensive lapses from the United States allowed Mexico to take control of the game and win 4-2. At 22 he still has time to learn from that and adapt to playing both left and right comfortably.

Would he fit in with the current back line though? I think he would. His play style is quite aggressive and physical, but he shows bits of flair at times, much like Enrique. He wouldn’t dictate the game, but he’d win challenges and it would be safe to say that we’d let in less goals. He’s also naturally right footed, so (with a bit of training ground work) he’d be able to cover for Danny Simpson if he were to go out injured during the season, and at 22, he’s still got miles of room for improvement on top of being a solid player already.

Is Lichaj the next left-back super star? Not at all. But Lichaj does fit in under this current transfer philosophy that the ever “knowledgeable” Mike Ashley has come up with. He’s young, and he’d be cheap. I’d expect Villa to part ways with Lichaj for about £3-4 million, if even that.

To be honest though I just hope we bring in a left-back!

Thank to Wor Jackie for sending this in. A bit of a left-field choice but it’s probably something that Newcastle would go for – cheap, unknown, and with potential. Like it? Feel free to debate it or it apart or offer your own suggestions to problem that most of us know exists. You can keep up to date with Wor Jackie on Twitter @Ganon391

About toonsy

A lifelong Newcastle fan and current webmaster of this very 'blog who has the sole aim of creating a place by Newcastle United fans, for Newcastle United fans.

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259 thoughts on “A left-field solution to the left-back dilemma?”

  5. MDS – 😆

    And to the rest of you guys, cheers! Its a big thing as the mrs has had trouble conceiving and has been having treatment which ran out without any success a couple of month ago. In the end it happened naturally. Funny world.

    If its a boy it will be a toon fan. If its a girl I’ll **** it up to look like a boy and make sure it follows the toon 😈

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  10. Toonsy it wont matter what the child is mate when the’re born you will be over the moon mate, and anyway my middle Daughter is still a fanatical Toon Fan even at 25 😉

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  11. Oh dear, blackpool or hull fans are singing the Blaydon races (with different words)

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  14. Congrats Toonsy, becoming a dad for the first time is the best feeling in the world 🙂
    All the best to you and your missus!

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  17. dave cant see the question on the last thread ,plus have we ever fell out 😕 even though you have called me a w@nker and other names under another nick 🙂 so what do you think 😕

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  18. Dave,
    Obertan is ***** mate, reminds me of Franz Carr 👿
    He also has a heed smaller than Ashley Young 😆

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  19. Not overly excited about Obertan, seems a bit like a panic buy to me. But still always happy to have a new player in. He’s still farily young and seems to have abit of skill and pace to him.

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  20. Even as an American, I’m not that familiar with Lichaj (sp?). I’ve really only seen him in the Gold Cup loss, which, as has already been said was not his position and didn’t work out well. For purely nationalistic reasons, I’d love to see him do well in the Prem, but I simply have no idea if he’s good enough for a trial, let alone the starting spot at LB if/when Enrique flies the coop.

    LB is a big problem for the US national team. Bornstein never seems to have it nailed down and Bocanegra’s just covering. He’s getting older too.

    Who did Klinsmann bring in for cover at LB in the Mexico friendly, anyway? Gotta look at that squad he picked. I know he left out Dempsey, which seems very strange. Maybe it’s a nod to Fulham. Dempsey seems like a shoe-in pick for real matches.

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  21. Obertan was really highly rated at Bordeaux. He moved to Man U too earlier. He’s quick, tricky and can finish. Good signing imo, if we’ve signed him of course

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  28. Toblerone, anyone is better than Raylor mate. I’d rather stick Noel Edmonds on the wing.

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  30. 😉 youve become a real man now toonsy , plenty sleepless nights 4 u bud!!! has been 4 me the last 7 weeks 😆

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  33. @94. He called up a lot MLS and Mexican league players since they are in season and to give the most of the Euro based players a chance ot start their seasons.

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  35. Congratulations Toonsy 😀

    Off-topic, Tiote’s still on a ban, right? I’ll feel better when he’s back in the country!

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  44. @111. I like what he’s saying about having more Latino influence in the youth ranks. Long overdue in my opinion. Our best players tend to come throught the college/prep school ranks. We’re probably the only country in the world that doesn’t develop footballers from the working classes (Dempsey being the major exception).

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  45. Bats, ye can still get 4s on West Ham to win the Championship. I took them at 9/2 a couple of weeks back. Fkn nailed on for me like.

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  47. dave toonsy will be running round his wifey telling her too put her feet up ,hes ironing at the momment 😉

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  50. Rod I have a sneaky feeling Spam will only make the play offs and I would love it just love it if they didn’t make it 😆 😆

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  53. Dave- I’m just a top gambler mate, If I keep going at this rate, I will be able to buy Newcastle by 9909 😛 🙄

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  55. Bats, wey! :mrgreen:

    (what the fk does Mr Green mean anyway?)

    Dave, I honestly think they’ve got too much, reckon they’ll **** it like we did. Fat Sam could drive Real Madrid to success after all 😀

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  56. Right guys. Does anyone know if we have got anyone on trail at the club????
    Just going through some photos on the official website from the training up to the Fiorentina game tomorrow and in some pictures there is a player I do not recognise. He wears the nr 49, anyone know who it is?????

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  59. Spencer – yeah I thought that at first, although it doesnt quiet look like him 😕

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  62. Someone asked on the footy mad board and that was the main answer, would someone on trail get thrown straight into the first team? I think it was moyo.

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  67. Spencer – if it was a free agent on trial why wouldnt he be training with the first team.???? Just think Moyo has a bit rounder heed from some other pictures I’ve seen of him. Although he might just have lost some puppyfat, or whatever its called in english.

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  68. Cheers Adrew- forgot about that.

    Looks like Sammie and Tav are playing tomorrow since they weren’t in the squad today. Neither was Kadar- where has he been?

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