Defenders, do we need more?

R

RenzoRosso

Well-known member
Unless Clarke is out for a very long time and Djksteel is not fancied at all anymore we appear to have a lot of cover already at centre half?

Fry and lenihan seem first pick. McNair, bola can do a job and then Clarke and dyksteel are going to be back at some point. Van heck (top name) and the lad from Leeds/milwall are good I’m sure but do we need them?
 
We let too many goals in, Fry is down to 12 months in the summer. Maybe, Van Hecke and/or Cresswell are seen as a longer term solution as well as cover.
 
The thing with our central midfield is weird because it’s not like the club/staff don’t see the need for strengthening that part of the team. They’ve signed Siliki, Morsy, Luongo and Mowatt over the past few windows. They tried to get Hendrick last January. It’s a key position that needs to be addressed.

Hopefully Barlaser can be the man we need.
 
Assuming we have no intention of moving Paddy on I don't see a pressing need to recruit a CB. We have even used Johnny Howson at CB in the distant past and Dijkstil can operate there, I believe Clarke is back in training but is experiencing niggles and setbacks (not unusual for this long out) hence no timeframe but definitely will be back at some point. Unless we can improve on what we have got I don't see the need. As others have said central mid is the area where we have fewest options. If we can't get Barlaser over the line I trust we have another option...
 
viv_andersons_nana said:
The thing with our central midfield is weird because it’s not like the club/staff don’t see the need for strengthening that part of the team. They’ve signed Siliki, Morsy, Luongo and Mowatt over the past few windows. They tried to get Hendrick last January. It’s a key position that needs to be addressed.

Hopefully Barlaser can be the man we need.
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Crooks and McGree as well who we've realised can't play centre mid. We're very lucky we had Hackney able to step in otherwise I think we'd still be struggling in the bottom half.

This was my biggest criticism of the recruitment team over the summer. We were short last year and we're even shorter this year and we've still not brought anyone in. It should be our top priority. A team doesn't compete without a good midfield and add much as I think Howson does well he should've been replaced ages ago. We shouldn't be relying on a 34 year old and a 20 year old to play 90 minutes of every game.
 
Without being a nob about their performances or abilities McNair. Bola & Dijksteel aren't really centre backs in a two as far as I'm concerned. None of them were signed to play there and none of them would play there for a team looking to push for the top of the league. All three have had accusations about their commitment to the cause.

We have two first choice centre backs and one long term injured who may not be fully up to speed for another month or two.

Dijksteel is injured anyway so not available and is cover at fullback, Bola is cover at fullback, and despite being the only 'proper' left footed full back at the club, not playing.

McNair is on a big salary (for us), has barely played under Carrick (till he was forced to) and has been linked with moves away.

We definitely need another CB I feel, and a starting left back if Giles isn't going to stay on after this season.
 
Smith/Dijksteel
Fry/Lenihan
McNair/Clarke
Giles/Bola

Injuries here have cost us for the past two seasons, McNair isn't fancied, Fry could well be off in the summer if we don't go up.. there's two straight away!

Matt Clark is contracted for another two and a half years.. nerve damage in his back sounds serious especially that he has been out for so long already. Progression, turnover and with one eye on the prem. We could easy have two defenders in the mis, especially id Paddy McNair is off to pastures new.
 
viv_andersons_nana said:
The thing with our central midfield is weird because it’s not like the club/staff don’t see the need for strengthening that part of the team. They’ve signed Siliki, Morsy, Luongo and Mowatt over the past few windows. They tried to get Hendrick last January. It’s a key position that needs to be addressed.

Hopefully Barlaser can be the man we need.
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And a lad out the academy has been head and shoulders above them all. Imagine the money wasted there on wages.
A CM and a left sided forward would be priorities for me. 3rd in line would be a left back.
 
Agree that we're very thin in midfield. If Howson and Hackney are both out, who plays there?

We have a few players who can "do a job" there but Carrick doesn't strike me as a manager willing to play square pegs in round holes.

My personal preference would be an upgrade on Howson and have Howson/Mowatt as back up.
 
We need another defender and a combative midfielder. We concede in almost every game however we have been fortunate that we have been playing well enough to overcome that. There are going to be games where we play poorly (and with possible injuries) towards the end of the season where we will need the defence to help us out.
 
changingman said:
Agree that we're very thin in midfield. If Howson and Hackney are both out, who plays there?

We have a few players who can "do a job" there but Carrick doesn't strike me as a manager willing to play square pegs in round holes.

My personal preference would be an upgrade on Howson and have Howson/Mowatt as back up.
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Crooks, Mowatt, McNair are more then enough for the two deeper lying midfield positions, although I suspect the latter may leave this window.
 
viv_andersons_nana said:
McNair and Mowatt need moving on IMO.
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I think McNair will move on, he's on relatively big money and despite being a consistently decent performer for us Carrick obviously feels that he can be sacrificed.

Not sure whether we can move Mowatt on, given he's already played for WBA, so I suspect he'll be here until the summer.
 
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