From what I make out we now have 3 right backs in Woods, Vermijl and Fisher, 5 left backs in Cunningham, Spurr, O'Connor, Earl and Davies and 2 fit centre halves in Huntington and Boyle. Obviously Davies and Spurr can fill in at centre bac, as can Grimshaw at right back. We seem to have 10/11 players though now for 4 places so some pruning is going to be required but to me that seems high on numbers and low on quality.. What's other people's views on the defence as it stand still?
Defence
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2004
- Messages
- 19,671
Woods hasn't played since Oldham away last pre season. Considering he was back training on grass at the end of last season there must be an issue there. Vermijl isn't up to it IMO and the way Neil was reacting to what he was doing vs Newcastle it's no surprise he's signed a RB who seemingly likes to get on the ball.
Earl won't be in the squad I wouldn't have though, and due to the amount of left sided players we have now a loan would be good for him. Wasn't Grimsby mentioned by someone? Certainly needs to be a league club.
Davies is a CB, he was played LB by Westley and Grayson but he's always been a CB.
Spurr likewise. He came expecting/wanting to play CB but very rarely did, or when he did it was part of a back 3.
So for LB that leaves Cunningham who is nailed on starter, and O'Connor who on first showing looks decent enough, provides good energy and perhaps LWB cover if we go down that route. He can also play LW and has played CM at times for Cork.
So RBs:
Woods - injured
Vermijl - meh
Fisher - time will tell
CBs:
Huntington
Boyle
Spurr
Davies
LBs:
Cunningham - captain
O'Connor
Earl - possibly out on loan?
In summary, new CB required please Mr Neil.
Earl won't be in the squad I wouldn't have though, and due to the amount of left sided players we have now a loan would be good for him. Wasn't Grimsby mentioned by someone? Certainly needs to be a league club.
Davies is a CB, he was played LB by Westley and Grayson but he's always been a CB.
Spurr likewise. He came expecting/wanting to play CB but very rarely did, or when he did it was part of a back 3.
So for LB that leaves Cunningham who is nailed on starter, and O'Connor who on first showing looks decent enough, provides good energy and perhaps LWB cover if we go down that route. He can also play LW and has played CM at times for Cork.
So RBs:
Woods - injured
Vermijl - meh
Fisher - time will tell
CBs:
Huntington
Boyle
Spurr
Davies
LBs:
Cunningham - captain
O'Connor
Earl - possibly out on loan?
In summary, new CB required please Mr Neil.
Bailey Wright hasn't been properly replaced and now Clarke is missing too. We need an experienced centre back and that may cost decent money, but we seem to be shying away from that which is dissapointing. Grayson mentioned towards the end of last season about adding a bit of experience to the squad, but that is clearly not what Hemmings and Ridsdale are prepared to do.
The policy appears to be buy cheap gambles to sell high, which is laudable, but I am sure some of the younger players would learn so much more from having some older heads around. At the moment there is only really Clarke, Gallagher, Huntington, Cunningham and Welsh and most of those will not play much this season.
We have got a lot of young players and now is the time in to invest in some know how in defence and midfield.
The policy appears to be buy cheap gambles to sell high, which is laudable, but I am sure some of the younger players would learn so much more from having some older heads around. At the moment there is only really Clarke, Gallagher, Huntington, Cunningham and Welsh and most of those will not play much this season.
We have got a lot of young players and now is the time in to invest in some know how in defence and midfield.
Just posted similar thoughts on the Fisher thread. We have around amillion pound in compo for SG. At least invest that in the team seeing as AN came without having to pay compo
Earl won't be in the squad? He deserves to be in the squad with this pre season in mind. He's been great.
RB: Woods, Vermijl, Fisher
CB: Huntington, Boyle, Spurr, Davies, Clarke (injured)
LB: Cunningham, O'Connor, Earl
We need to sign a first choice centre back and then I imagine we're done in terms of the defence.
Like it or not, Fisher and Vermijl are our right back options until Woods returns (if he returns). A year ago, people were talking about binning off Hugill and he ended up being our top scorer, no reason why Fisher or Vermijl can't establish themselves under a new manager/ system.
CB: Huntington, Boyle, Spurr, Davies, Clarke (injured)
LB: Cunningham, O'Connor, Earl
We need to sign a first choice centre back and then I imagine we're done in terms of the defence.
Like it or not, Fisher and Vermijl are our right back options until Woods returns (if he returns). A year ago, people were talking about binning off Hugill and he ended up being our top scorer, no reason why Fisher or Vermijl can't establish themselves under a new manager/ system.
I agree with above, this centre half problem has been on going. There does not seem to be any sign of treating it with the urgency it needs.
I feel this is more a measure of our ambition than the platitudes about "making a top 6 challenge" !
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2004
- Messages
- 28,476
Real talk, Boyle replaced Wright. Clarke out injured, but Davies available again. With 5 centre backs on the wage bill, I'd expect any signing there to be a loan, unless we're selling Spurr.
Hull linked with a loan move for Michael Hector a 25 year old centre back from Chelsea. Don't know owt about him but Chelsea signed him a couple of years ago from Reading so must have shown something. Surely these are the type of players we should be looking at. There are plenty of Premier League clubs in the NW to go at
Wages and the contribution will be a problem for us with Hector.
We have a good relationship with Man Utd don't forget.
- Joined
- Nov 8, 2005
- Messages
- 6,233
I think this is going to be the problem this season. Cunningham and Fisher will start as full backs, which is exciting. However, at centre half, there is a leak without Tom Clarke and his last ditch tackles and blocks. Boyle may mature into that role but in Huntington, I can see the good sides being too fast for him with their attacking moves down the middle.
This may see Spurr be deployed in the Tom Clarke role, alongside the composed Boyle. Huntington is a great lad, but is 20% off being a top player at this level.
If I was AN, i would flog off Hugill for 6 million and invest about 4 million on Charltons central defender Ezri Konsa. He is only 19 but highly rated.
Conceded tonight to a set piece again.
Long season ahead.
Long season ahead.
We can't defend so you can forget about keeping clean sheets.
Ill give AN until feb before the daggers come out!
It's going to be a very long and hard season!!
Apparently it was last season and the season before that. This is the only issue I have with attending North End matches - is that I am usually sat next to some moaning get who whinges and whines at every little thing we do wrong. North End have proven fans like you wrong the past two seasons and will do again. You are predicting a relegation battle before the season has started. You talk about daggers out in Feb - you have already got the daggers out now! Jesus Christ glad I ain't sat near you next season or I hope I ain't either.
In a friendly well done. We then won 5-1. We have also only lost one friendly to a prem side. You predicted pearson was shit - so whatever you say to any fan on this forum is going to be irrelevant because in other words you talk out of your ass. Good night!