I’d love to be wrong but I just don’t see how we can be a top six side with the centre backs we have in the squad. I feel sorry for Liam Roberts in all honesty. Forwards, Cosgrove adds something and McAtee looks ok. In midfield we are strong and more so when Connell returns. Wing back is a strength - going forward. Defensively? Questions on both flanks, whoever plays on the right. The centre back situation frightens the life out of me. We’ve got two coming back from long term injury and neither looked great last season, one who’s actually better at wing back (and our best right wing back by a mile defensively speaking) - but playing there out of necessity, a lad on loan from Rotherham who wasn’t first choice last season when on loan at Leyton orient, a young lad from the French league who should have been sent off inside fifteen minutes of his full debut - and two kids from non league, including one who was still fitting kitchens less than two months ago. They all might do well. Surprise us all. But it seems highly negligent that this is what we are going with. We’re going to have to win a lot of games 3-2 and 4-3 I reckon.
Agree the back line looks weak. Couldn’t we play Styles at RWB? Frees Jordan up. apart from that yikes!!!
Yes, last season Plymouth and Ipswich got promoted by building on the previous season, we rip up the script and start again.
We need quick balls into the box from out wide, an inverted full back wouldn’t help. Styles can barely stand on his right foot, never mind use it. No, stick to O’Keeffe and Cotter if JW is needed in the back three.
Cotter Okeefe Williams Lopata Cundy Mccarthy Gilgevny McCart Shepherd Dodgeson Cadden A decent defence can be made from this We have a fantastic midfield and forward line for league 1 Come on
Yes, except in a goalkeeper emergency situation (ie all professional goalkeepers at a club are injured at once)
I share your concern. The centre backs who played at Wembley are now in the Premier League or Championship, and those who have taken their places are essentially unproven, though they might turn out to be very good.
Glad we haven't signed a defender. Massively disrespectful of some fans towards Cundy and McCarthy. Especially after some fans had a right w@nk when we signed Cundy.
O'Keefe at RWB is solid, good player. Allows Williams to play RCB, his pace is invaluable in that position. Łopata at CB looks solid but does lack pace (perhaps a lack of fitness?) I'd go with Shepherd at LCB, he's young and raw but against Wigan (10 men I know) he looked calm and assured, I'd keep him in then rotate him with Cundy/McCart to keep them all fresh and get minutes. Cadden picks himself at LWB - glad he has something approaching competition in Dodgson. Once Connell is back I'd do something pretty controversial and drop Kane. Play Connell and Russell as CM's having Connell hold position, allowing Russell to play slightly forward of him. McAtee playing a number 10 role behind Cole and Cosgrove. McAtee looks a real player to me, technically good, able to join midfield with attack and hopefully chip in with assists and goals. Cole and Cosgrove are experienced League 1 strikers and know where the net is. 5-2-1-2 with our attacking wing-backs could be a good strategy imo. We will see.
Can't disagree, but we've always done alright replacing CBs in our history. Losing the whole back 3 from last year though is a tough ask for the management, Especially with the replacements we have made. The Scotts lad from Rotherham might step up, who knows? Massive gamble there from me. On the plus side we are much stronger in in midfield / attack. McAtee looks very good & makes me think we could go 3-4-1-1 , with him behind Cole, with the new lad an option to go 2 up top, if needed. Possession has to be our game this season, but with intent. We put in a strong peforence at Wigan, but do we have enough quality at the back to go for outright promotion? I have to doubt that, at this stage. Can't fault the board in losing our back 3. Mads was always going to a better level, good money for Kitch & Thomas was a loanee anyway.No real quality in the replacements. That said, we've done it before. The manager was a very good defender at higher levels. My prediction of being around the playoffs still stands Top 2? Not at the moment, unless we strengthen iin January. Can see an entertaining season ahead though.
I think there’s some talent there with those centre backs, and a decent trio can probably be picked from them. Cundy, Lopata and McCart, maybe? It’s a big risk though. No guarantee that any of them are cut out for it. I understand why we’ve sold Mads and Kitching but we’re gambling on some of these new lads coming good. Time will tell, but I imagine there’ll be some shaky performances along the way! I still think we’ll have a decent season but it’s hard to believe we’ll finish in the top 2 with that back 3.
Former Centre back Neil Collins must think that he has enough to be able to coach to the required level.
I notice you left Shephard out. For what reasoning. ? Have you wrote him off after 1 game and a cameo where he coped admirably. ? Give him a chance. Could have unearthed a very good player. Time will tell.
I think it's more a case of we kept refusing Coventry's bids for Kitching knowing that either they'd eventually either stop bidding, or offer something silly. They did the latter.
We have a lot of centre backs now and no way of knowing if any of them are any good. Too early in the season to judge. You’d hope that at least three of them turn out to be decent but will probably take some time to find the best combination.
Robbie Cundy has to step up now, he was a regular for Bristol in the championship when he joined us. He could be a big player for us moving forward but he needs to get get and get his head right. I was excited when we signed him, but it’s been a fairly shabby start to his career here. Had alotnof injury problems, granted.
