Really? Our lcb options are McCart and Shepherd. We're led to believe McCart isn't far off full fitness, but Shepherd's performances have been inconsistent to say the least. Even if McCart does slot back in ahead of Shepherd, he's only here until the end of the season, so not a long term solution. We have 3 first team centre backs who are right footed, and that doesn't include the one playing at rcb at the minute, McCarthy who's out on loan, or Cundy who has a long term injury.
Too promising... now that either Fleetwood or his agent have leaked it to Nixon, I await Pompey/Derby/Bolton/Posh/Charlton sneaking in.
Both O'Keefe and Cotter are glaringly sub standard. Anyone can see that. Williams J is better at RWB than RCB. So if you can shove Williams J out on the right (I'm not convinced myself but it's safer from a potential defensive point of view) then the need is to stick someone in at RCB. If we already had a decent one, we'd have done it. I am in a minority who would leave Williams j where he is. And get a competent RWB in. There's no wonder Cole/Watters/whoever look crap when there's zero to feed off from the right hand side.
We've persisted with Williams at centre back because he has pace. I'm led to believe that both Pines and Earl are quick. I actually think Pines will eventually come in, in the middle, and De Gevigney will go to right CB. Williams then will go back to his natural position you'd assume, where he looks far more comfortable. I agree about O'Keeffe, but not Cotter. I think Cotter does offer a lot going forward, albeit he's inconsistent. If we had a bit more pace in our back 3, we'd be able to give him a bit more freedom, and be less reliant on him getting back.
What happens when McCart is fit then? We're OK for the left but absolutely pants on the right. I like Shepherd anyway. He tries and makes himself available for passes and his distribution is half decent. He's learning and he's honest.
I love Cotter because he's entertaining and enthusiastic and unpredictable. But he is an exceedingly poor man's Devaney and you can't build a team on what might come good once a flood. I agree that if Pines gets up to speed then Williams J may be freed to the right. But for some reason (which I find frankly ridiculous for professional football) Pines is not fit to play for another month or so, then our need is not to sort out the left , but the right. We have nobody running through the middle - ever - so it's up to the wings. And we need a Cadden type on the right.
I think Cotter has better temperament than Okeefe. He makes mistakes and his final ball lets him down, but he just keeps going forward regardless. If he doesn’t become a better player, it won’t be for the lack of effort.
I like Shepherd the efforts there. I thought he was coulor blind v Bristol the amount of stray passes he gave away, Oxford the school boy header back to the keeper and Exeter he wasn't great either (but he wasn't alone) I just think it's too much too soon. Possibly a league 2 loan would be a good move and next season kick on. Let's not forget how many divisions he has jumped.
I have to agree. Shepherd looks like a centre-half, but I get very nervous when he's on the ball and an opponent rushes to challenge him. He always looks likely to blunder and give the ball away. Admittedly, he looked impressive in his first couple of games, but his performances have gone downhill.
I thought Collins said a 2 or 3 week pre season for Pines once his visa came through? Not a month or so
Russell and Shepherd were at fault for both goals conceded at the weekend - they look unsure of themselves and need some input on their decision making.
