I'm struggling to appreciate why we are continuing to play with a back four when all season we have had issues at full back.
We started the season without our *best left back then upon his return we lost our best right back. We have had allsorts playing these positions which are crucial to an effective back four and the only thing missing was the names 'Glue and sticking plaster' and 'Bodge it and run' on the backs of their shirts.
During our unbeaten run, Mustafi did produce the odd good performance alongside Holding and Papapastathopolus but still remains so Jekyll and Hyde, particularly in a four.
Holding and Papa have been our two most competent central defenders whilst in my eyes Koscielny has dispelled the notion that he is finished.
Injuries aside, the only functional part of our defense has been our centre backs, so I am struggling to comprehend why we persist with a back four as opposed to going with a back three and just removing the problematic full back issue.
Mustafi being flanked by Kos and Papa might well go a long way to giving him the platform to be the interception master he was at Valencia again which was the reason why we had to pay £35M to get him. If that was also to prove fruitless then fair enough but I just can't view that as being as left field as AMN or Lichsteiner at left back.
I am in no way hung up on trying to resolve the puzzle box that is Mustafi and truth be told he would only be my fifth choice centre back.
Holding, Mavropanos and Papa would be my selection with Kos on the bench. Their game management would be simplified whilst dealing with the space out wide should not over stretch their physical and technical abilities. Add into the mix the defensive prowess of our Uruguayan Tasmanian Devil and how he is often the first on hand to support the full backs when defending and I simply can't see a better defensive set up within our squad.
* I rate Kolasinac but to me he should be converted into a left midfielder and as such Monreal is our best left back.