Mykolenko

[Shogun]

If we want to be a decent top half team then he needs to be upgraded, yes.

[Gash]

He's the least of our worries with the amount of positions already required. Definitely improved going forward under Moyes although he's still a bit negative at times. Has a decent left foot when he uses it, a goal and a couple of assists since the start of the year and credit for knocking the ball in for Tarkowski's derby equaliser too.

[AjaxAndy]

We have no backup at LB so we need to buy one either way... Personally I think whoever we buy should either be a starter or a young prospect who can push Myko and rotate in at times. Either way we do need to buy someone who can play there.

[Toddacelli]

Falls into both doesn’t he? Not necessarily an immediate concern, but also an attacking LB would transform us considerably.

[sam of the south]

I recall Naysmith being arse too.

When Skies Are Grey famously said “Gary Naismith, a man who makes running look difficult”

[The Doc]

He's the only LB we have. If he's injured then we have zero crosses coming in from the left.

So we have to buy one anyway, and left back is a key position in a Moyes team. Myko has improved but we can't settle for that, I'd be going for a better left back.

[Audrey Horne]

Did we find out what kind of injury?

[The Doc]

Annoying this one, because we'd have a very settled back 5, and midfield 2, with some fresh additions in attack, but this injury means a big risk with Aznou or an untested shuffle with Keane coming in and Branthwaite at LB.

Some massive lads in the team if he goes with the latter, and like kramer said in another thread, could work to our advantage if we have Grealish winning free kicks.

[Escalator]

Did we find out what kind of injury?

Definately groin strain, all depend whether it was grade 1,2 or 3, grade one three or four weeks, grade three three or four months.

[dazfrancis]

Probably should have just kept Young for another year

[Gary1878]

Are we just completely discounting Aznou now? After one pre-season game?

If Myko is out for 3/4 months, then that’s understandable that we might need a solution. But if we are talking 2/3 games, then Aznou has to come in. Yes he might be raw and not quite ready, but that’s what we have bought him for. To be a backup for times when Myko isn’t available.

Changing the entire system because we don’t have one first XI player available doesn’t seem right.

[StirlingBlue]

This wouldn’t be an issue if we had signed an actual right back so O’Brien could play CB and Branthwaite at LB

[Escalator]

Probably should have just kept Young for another year

Can just imagine the fume on here if we had done so !

[Blueomar]

Probably should have just kept Young for another year

Said the same myself the other day, then was reminded that we did offer him a contract.

[blueToffee]

Are we just completely discounting Aznou now? After one pre-season game?

If Myko is out for 3/4 months, then that’s understandable that we might need a solution. But if we are talking 2/3 games, then Aznou has to come in. Yes he might be raw and not quite ready, but that’s what we have bought him for. To be a backup for times when Myko isn’t available.

Changing the entire system because we don’t have one first XI player available doesn’t seem right.

Probably in part people are presuming what Moyes would likely do in the given scenario. Usually he’s a tad risk averse with younger defenders, but we’ll see.

The fact it’s an away game and for a newly promoted team too does raise the pressure a bit and the likelihood of him playing experienced players…but who knows. Maybe Moyes is happier to roll the dice these days.