Speculation - Centre Half

[brendywendy]

did we?

recognized CBs with grown up 1st team experience?

[andrew1957]

Seem to remember 5 years ago only having 2 CBs!!! Dint do us too much harm then.

That said, with serious ??? over Inga's fitness and Pearce's shiteness, we do need a Cb badly, even if that means offloading elsewhere.

only played 2 centrebacks. We had more.

In 2005-6 we only really had a squad of 18 players who had any chance of starting game and the only recognised CB's were Ingi and Sonko. Gunnar filled in as reserve CB. I have often said before that we achieved an amazing result that year with a very small squad. If we had had a few more serious injuries it is unlikely that the 106 season would have come to fruition. We actually have much more strength in depth now.

[brendywendy]

we had our fair share of significant injuries, and still managed it

i think that reduced squad size was a huge positive for us too

[Terminal Boardom]

It is all well and good having a larger squad now compared to 2005/06 but the key is the quality rather than quantity. Ideally, we would have 4 CBs to choose from to cover for injuries, suspensions and, heaven forbid, loss of form. It is fair to say that we lack cover defensively - unless we are allowed to play with 3 goalkeepers.

[Tony Le Mesmer]

Seem to remember 5 years ago only having 2 CBs!!! Dint do us too much harm then.

That said, with serious ??? over Inga's fitness and Pearce's shiteness, we do need a Cb badly, even if that means offloading elsewhere.

only played 2 centrebacks. We had more.

Nope, we had only Inga & Sonko. Gunnar was the only cover bar youth players.

[Focher]

Seem to remember 5 years ago only having 2 CBs!!! Dint do us too much harm then.

That said, with serious ??? over Inga's fitness and Pearce's shiteness, we do need a Cb badly, even if that means offloading elsewhere.

only played 2 centrebacks. We had more.

who was that Ian?????

[Hoop Blah]

We took a massive gamble at that time and somehow got away with both centre halfs playing every game. I think it meant both of them playing at times when they wouldn't have done if we'd have had sufficient cover in the squad (we did have Gunnarsson, Brown, or Dobson to cover in an emergency but the latter two were shit).

Don't forget that those two were estbablished as a pair following and at the perfect age for their partnership to flourish.

At the moment we have Mills and one of Pearce (didn't look great last year in his own right and certainly not as a partnership with Mills) or Ingimarsson (getting older and struggling with fitness). To my mind we've not got a centre half pairing yet let alone cover.

We got away with it 5 years ago, that doesn't mean it's a good way to go again though.

[brendywendy]

mills and pearce is ok
mills and ingi is ok
pearce and ingi -NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[Ian Royal]

mills and pearce is ok
mills and ingi is ok
pearce and ingi -NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

'greed.

I don't think Pearce will ever truely cut it at the top, but I'd still rather seem him play than Ivar for the simple reason that he might get better and Ivar is only going to get worse.

Ultimately though, we could do with a proper long term quality partner for Mills. Maybe I'm being harsh on Ivar, or maybe he'll prove better than the last couple of seasons and return to his former quality alongside Mills, Griffin & Williams.

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

We had Makin and Dobson too. Pretty sure Makin played centre half a bit during the season. Plus both Bryn and Ivar were younger and less injury prone. Let's not forget Ivar's had some pretty heavy injuries last few seasons.

Pretty sure we will bring someone in if the funds are there. I'd still wait on Kish, but there will be others.

[andrew1957]

We had Makin and Dobson too. Pretty sure Makin played centre half a bit during the season. Plus both Bryn and Ivar were younger and less injury prone. Let's not forget Ivar's had some pretty heavy injuries last few seasons.

Pretty sure we will bring someone in if the funds are there. I'd still wait on Kish, but there will be others.

Makin certainly never played CB in that season as Ingi and Sonko both started 46 games. He did cover Murty and Shorey at FB.

Added to that USA started 45, Harper 44, Convey 45, Shorey 40, Murty 40 , Doyle 41, Little 34, Sidwell 29, Kitson 27, Lita 22, Gunnar 19, Oster 11, Makin 11, Hunt 3 and 1 each for Long, Stack and Halls. 8 players making more than 40 starts is remarkable in modern football. Only 15 players started a significant number of games.

I was actually agreeing with the fact we need more cover. 2005-6 was exceptional as we had so few injuries in defence. We had injuries to Sidwell, Kitson and Lita, but we had more strength in depth in these areas.

I would agree that if we are to challenge that we need a 4th CB option in case injuries are a problem this season.

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

God Sonks was amazing before the injury. Such a shame.

[paultheroyal]

Davies / Villa

[Royalwaster]

Davies / Villa

We may want him, doesn't mean we'll get him.

[Sun Tzu]

If there was indeed some kind of meeting you'd think there is at least a chance of a deal.

[brendywendy]

mills and pearce is ok
mills and ingi is ok
pearce and ingi -NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

'greed.

I don't think Pearce will ever truely cut it at the top, but I'd still rather seem him play than Ivar for the simple reason that he might get better and Ivar is only going to get worse.

Ultimately though, we could do with a proper long term quality partner for Mills. Maybe I'm being harsh on Ivar, or maybe he'll prove better than the last couple of seasons and return to his former quality alongside Mills, Griffin & Williams.

tbf thats harsh on pearce

in his first spell he was partnered with another slow CB, so no wonder he looked shaky

in his second spell of 1st team games, partnered with mills he showed he had quality and composure

[loyalroyal4life]

Davies / Villa

lol if you think we have a chance of getting curtis davies

[Terminal Boardom]

If there was indeed some kind of meeting you'd think there is at least a chance of a deal.

I can imagine the conversation...

NH - Would you be open to the idea of letting CD come on loan to us?
MON - No

[Sun Tzu]

If there was indeed some kind of meeting you'd think there is at least a chance of a deal.

I can imagine the conversation...

NH - Would you be open to the idea of letting CD come on loan to us?
MON - No

Or

Martin, we're interested in Curtis Davis on loan.

Sure Nicky, we're at Basingstoke next week, come over and have a chat about it and he can meet you

I'd doubt Hammond would just walk up to O'Neill at a friendly and ask if he could have a player off him !

But who knows....

[Terminal Boardom]

If there was indeed some kind of meeting you'd think there is at least a chance of a deal.

I can imagine the conversation...

NH - Would you be open to the idea of letting CD come on loan to us?
MON - No

Or

Martin, we're interested in Curtis Davis on loan.

Sure Nicky, we're at Basingstoke next week, come over and have a chat about it and he can meet you

I'd doubt Hammond would just walk up to O'Neill at a friendly and ask if he could have a player off him !

But who knows....