Do We Need a New Back Line

[Chez]

Doubtful for me Seaborne is going to make it back. I am surprised he is even trying following a serious head injury. Will always worry that will blow up again with tragic consequences.

 

if there was any danger he wouldn't have played in the reserve game a few weeks back, but I'm with you I am doubtful he will make it all the way back. I think despite his good showing in the first couple of game this season most fans have serious doubts about him as a top notch defender. Not nearly strong enough in the air for me. That said the ball is on the floor a lot more in the top flight so maybe his pace and tight marking will be very beneficial. Tevez vs Martin or Seaborne? Hmmmm.

[Chez]

 

There were a lot of rumours of Nigel moving for a keeper in January, not least the guy in the Dutch leagues, so wouldn't be at all surprised if we bought a keeper.

 

Been thinking the same and I think I read on here that Bart is out of contract in the summer. He responded well to the nightmare against Blackpool, but he still doesn't convince me. Davis deserves his chance, but the speed of the game is so much quicker he might be tested as he was at Sunderland in the top flight. Hope he shines as I have total respect for what he has done here. He was slated for years (and still is to a much lessor degree), unfairly in my opinion, yet he had the balls to put mistakes behind him and perform outstandingly well over the last four seasons.

[PinkScarf]

How about some-one like Kaspar Schmeichel - he would be an improvement on Kelvin

[Window Cleaner]

Could people suggest who they see a decent top flight full backs then?

 

Also, who are the best championship full backs? Fox may be inconsistent, not the best we've ever had, but surely he's one of the best left backs in the league? Even decent top flight full backs will be inconsistent. The top teams have full backs often better at attacking than defending, same abroad very often.

 

It's no coincidence that the teams with the good defences tend to be teams who play in a very defensive way. Yet managers and fans still seem surprised when plucking an individual out of a good defence for a massive price doesn't solve all their woes! It's a team game, so defend as a team.

 

I'm happy to get behind all our players in the top flight if we get there. I hope we'll improve options a bit, but quite honestly I don't see any gulf between the bottom 7 or 8 and newly promoted sides. Just need to avoid the QPR trap of spending fortunes on names, egos and reputations over team, commitment and real ability.

 

Me I'd not tart about looking for full backs in the lower leagues. I'd look in the PL, in France or in Holland.

 

Just need to ask Alan Pardew to give us some clues.Sneaky barsteward has already signed up young Romain Almafitano from Reims, great little player as an offensive midfielder.Bet we'd never even heard of him, Morgan must know him though.We need to broaden our horizons on scouting.

[melmacian_saint]

I think we need another first-choice CB to compete with Hooiveld and Fonte, and we definitely need another full-back, preferably to the right.

 

As for CM, I'm looking forward to seeing how a Cork-Schneiderlin midfield would get along in the PL (feel a bit guilty talking about it before Saturday haha) but another CM is definitely necessary (maybe some competition for Chaplow too?).

[PinkScarf]

The Girls have found the thread useful ...

 

1) Getting another Keeper in makes sense to challenge Kelvin.

 

2) A CB to replace Jaidi and give competition to Jose Fonte and Jos Hooiveld.

 

3) Another player in for Danny Butterfield on that side of play will help strengthen the Team.

 

Yes, the Defence needs a lot more work to consistently shut the door on teams.

[kpturner]

The Girls have found the thread useful ...

 

What girls......and useful for what?

[Window Cleaner]

What girls......and useful for what?

 

Players' WAGs committee ?? Helps them to know if they'll be moving or not?

[mulletsaint]

Saint John - the Girls reckon you're full of it !!

 

Tactics have a part to play - but of course it is about individual players and Danny Butterfield - Jose Fonte - and Danny Fox have been inconsistent and made regular errors.

 

Jose Fonte was a shining light in League One - but has been found wanting this Season and goes for the man rather than the ball regularly.

 

Do you go to Home and Away Games ?????

 

Quoting this as I think it sums up the pretty blinkered view of many on this thread.

 

Personally I think that Saint John, Adriansfc and a couple of others are closer to the nub of the problem. The way we play involves the fullbacks providing our attacking width which often leaves them exposed on the counter. A lack of an out and out defensive midfielder purely exacerbates the situation and often leaves the CB's in an awkward position. The same happened at times last year but the quality of our opposition's attacking play has gone up a level since promotion so we are being caught out more often.

 

I notice one poster mentioned that there is no ambiguity in our tactics, we have two sitting midfielders. ******. We have two CM's who sit more than the others but neither could be termed a DM. Last week against Boro there was one move in the first half where Fonte picked the ball up just inside our half and drove forward with it. One of our sitting midfielders Cork was already in a more advanced position. The other, Hammond was passed by Fonte but instead of sitting and covering his run he also began to move forward with him.

 

IMHO we need a decent DM to sit next season and offer our back four protection. I'm not saying we don't need personnel but I don't believe it's as bad as some have made out. I think Fox will be fine, as will Jos. I don't think Fonte is as bad as some of his performances have been this season. Indeed, I think his bad reviews from the Boro match come purely on the back of giving away one free kick which lead to a goal. There is not one player on this Earth who will not make at least one mistake per match, no matter how good. Paul Scholes has a 93% (or something nearly as inpressive) success rate on his passing since his return. However, this still means he has misplaced 7% of his passes. A lot of stick is given to our fullbacks but if you watch a decent amount of Prem football you will know that this is the position that probably suffers the most in the modern game. Richards, Clichy, Walker, Evra, Ekkoto and even Cole have been made to look like numpties at least once this season and we'd jump at the chance to have any of them in our team. Johnson has made a career of doing it and for the last couple he's been England's no. 1 right back!

[Pamplemousse]

Thought I'd bump this thread as there are some interesting views from before the start of the season, and indeed before we even knew of our fate.

[alpine_saint]

Don't tell me, Alpine is wrong again?

 

Apparently not.