Lati and Squad performance this season (2 Viewers)

Sky Blue Pete · 2026-04-10T11:44:59+0100

Put this on another thread and thought I’d be interested in others opinions so have it its own one

Got me thinking whether Lati and many others are playing way above their ability or whether they are at the peak and have all improved and come together this season

or whether all players have a dip and by having 4 defenders the team have managed to come through individual dips by changing individual players at times

I concluded with lati that he is far better than he was given credit for and has found a consistent standard of performance above his levels before in his career

shmmeee · 2026-04-10T11:46:26+0100

Why picking on Lats?

Sky Blue Pete · 2026-04-10T11:50:57+0100

shmmeee said:
Why picking on Lats?

Cos he was interviewed
He’s been consistently better than his mean in games this season
He got me thinking

I know you rate him highly but would you say you always have or he’s been 4th choice up till now and he’s definitely 2nd choice behind Thomas if not 1st choice

shmmeee · 2026-04-10T11:54:21+0100

Sky Blue Pete said:
Cos he was interviewed
He’s been consistently better than his mean in games this season
He got me thinking

I know you rate him highly but would you say you always have or he’s been 4th choice up till now and he’s definitely 2nd choice behind Thomas if not 1st choice

I’ve alway felt he’s the best defender we’ve got tbh. But that’s mostly cos I really don’t rate the others defensively. Thomas and Kitching for me have always been rash, poor on the ground, and lose concentration easily. They have other attributes outside of defending, to be fair most centre backs at this level are poor defenders which is why I’ve long been a proponent of attacking being the way out of this division.

shmmeee · 2026-04-10T11:55:31+0100

I just think everyone has gone up a level under Lampard pretty much. I can’t think of anyone who has regressed or even stayed the same.

Sky Blue Pete · 2026-04-10T11:58:25+0100

shmmeee said:
I just think everyone has gone up a level under Lampard pretty much. I can’t think of anyone who has regressed or even stayed the same.

Yep possibly only Bidwell and others who Lampard has just been able to leave out or loan - Brau being another

shmmeee · 2026-04-10T11:59:19+0100

Sky Blue Pete said:
Yep possibly only Bidwell and others who Lampard has just been able to leave out or loan - Brau being another

Yeah fair. Bassette too.

PVA · 2026-04-10T11:59:29+0100

shmmeee said:
I just think everyone has gone up a level under Lampard pretty much. I can’t think of anyone who has regressed or even stayed the same.

Bidwell and Allen have, but that's obviously an age thing and not on Lampard!

Sky Blue Pete · 2026-04-10T12:00:51+0100

PVA said:
Bidwell and Allen have, but that's obviously an age thing and not on Lampard!

Not sure about Allen but he’s been surpassed
Maybe Torp hasn’t improved too

shmmeee · 2026-04-10T12:01:31+0100

Sky Blue Pete said:
Not sure about Allen but he’s been surpassed
Maybe Torp hasn’t improved too

Torps record first half of this season was well above what he’s done before. Regressed a bit since though.

LarryGrayson · 2026-04-10T12:06:01+0100

lati i always thort got a bad deal he was the best defender start of last season

fernandopartridge · 2026-04-10T12:11:28+0100

Sky Blue Pete said:
Cos he was interviewed
He’s been consistently better than his mean in games this season
He got me thinking

I know you rate him highly but would you say you always have or he’s been 4th choice up till now and he’s definitely 2nd choice behind Thomas if not 1st choice

He's always been a solid defender, unfairly maligned really because he isn't a terrific footballer. Not sure he's played above his level tbh.

Sky Blue Pete · 2026-04-10T12:18:55+0100

fernandopartridge said:
He's always been a solid defender, unfairly maligned really because he isn't a terrific footballer. Not sure he's played above his level tbh.

Interesting thanks

SwanLane · 2026-04-10T12:28:22+0100

Hate to use the word but people’s ceilings are invisible and they can change. People can improve at any time and writing them off is done too easily. Credit to FL for actually bringing more out of Eccles, BTA, Dasilva and Lati than most people thought possible.

Specifically on Lati it’s not just his football ability that had people criticising him. He was billed as a utility player when to me, he’s a CB (not saying he could never adapt). His mobility or lack of, would frequently get him into trouble and it was hard to watch. What he’s done is adapt his game and focussed on his strengths of raw defending plus communication/organisation. It’s a process that many players have had to follow after injury or as they get older. He’s done it brilliantly at a younger age which shows great maturity.

SwanLane · 2026-04-10T12:40:12+0100

On the same note, Kitching has also improved a lot. He lapsed a bit lately but had largely put the worst of his rashness behind him and looked a lot more composed again, as we’d seen for a few months after he joined. He can and probably will improve again. Whether or not that’s with us next year, I’m not sure. I can see nice switches or fizzed balls into midfield / out wide. But at a higher level I’d still worry short term about those lapses. Getting stretched and then seeing him run round like a cat on a hot tin roof trying to rescue things. Penalties and red cards just waiting to happen. He’d be a good pick up for another champ side and with the right attitude and coaching, should push on again.

Jamesimus · 2026-04-10T12:43:56+0100

I think Lati is playing in a way and now regularly in a position that suits his abilities and suits what the rest of the defenders need next to them.

clint van damme · 2026-04-10T13:18:22+0100

SwanLane said:
Hate to use the word but people’s ceilings are invisible and they can change. People can improve at any time and writing them off is done too easily. Credit to FL for actually bringing more out of Eccles, BTA, Dasilva and Lati than most people thought possible.

Specifically on Lati it’s not just his football ability that had people criticising him. He was billed as a utility player when to me, he’s a CB (not saying he could never adapt). His mobility or lack of, would frequently get him into trouble and it was hard to watch. What he’s done is adapt his game and focussed on his strengths of raw defending plus communication/organisation. It’s a process that many players have had to follow after injury or as they get older. He’s done it brilliantly at a younger age which shows great maturity.

He himself mentions in the interview he can play multiple positions.
But I agree, he's a CB, can do a job in CM if needed, but never want yo see him at RB again

Lati and Squad performance this season (2 Viewers)

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