Mladen in the YP.

Although at a lower level.
For some reason I thought he got played at right back at times for us, which I dont think suits him.
Looking back he normally played on the right of a back 3 until his injury.

 

Mccarthy played 18 games for Swindon following his loan in January.

 

They need pace to play in that position.. having a lot of ground to cover, not to mention height which he as neither. It's why Mael struggles there. Why Lopata could never play there.. too slow
And why against most on here Collins played Williams there so much.
Maybe Lightboune at 6"3 can make the RCB his..

 

Lightboune.....who is that, U21s player I guess?

 

I thought we looked pretty good at the back for the few games that we had a back 3 of De Gevigney - Pines - Earl.

Someone posted a while back that we didn’t keep a clean sheet in them games but we played Derby & Bolton in that run taking 4 points from 6 & Lawal’s goal for Fleetwood was an unbelievable hit that you can’t really blame the defence for.

My eyes told me that was the best trio of centre backs we had on the pitch at any point last season.

I don’t think any of McCarthy, Lopata & Shepherd are bad back up players. You wouldn’t want to play all 3 together but I’ve no issue with them as squad players & back ups.

The problem is we need reinforcements in goal, at left wing back, in central midfield & up front when I think everyone knows by now that we aren’t exactly flush with money so it’s about priorities.

Is it really a priority to loan out a centre back where we’ll be paying a percentage of his wages to bring in a new one? Or would you rather use that money in areas where we’re desperately short of bodies?

 

Does anyone know what formation the new manager prefers, is it 2 or 3 centre halves?

 

New coach, new ideas.
Andersen came good, eventually, so there's nothing to say that some new "heroes" aren't waiting to emerge. This happens everywhere, players you've never heard of blossom out of nowhere and succeed. It may happen with our lot with a new coach.
Let's hope.

 

******* hell.

Let's hope the manager doesn't agree with him if he thinks that defence is ok. I worry for the manager under this set up, he's a little fish in a big pond.

 

I would say Earl, Pines and MDG compliment each other well and hopefully with a new coach in place, we can be stronger as an overall unit. Particularly on set pieces.

I do think we still need to bring a defender in though as I’m sure the 3 named above won’t play every minute of every league game and I’m not particularly confident with the 3 backups. Lopata and Shepherd have shown glimpses (as well and big mistakes) but I’m not convinced over McCarthy.

 

I’d probably assume they meant Lofthouse.

 

His comments and those relating to why Collins was sacked, underline the issue with the Club. He should leave the footballing matters to the Head Coach and use his Data skills to recruit the players the HC wants to play the style the HC wants in order to get results. Hopefully DC is true to his word and is not the 'yes man' they were hoping to appoint

 

How?? Seriously how is one man going to change it. All the same coaches are still in place.

 

I think his preferred formation is 3-5-2

 

I mean I’m not expecting miracles and them suddenly turn into Terry, Ferdinand and Campbell but a different head coach can definitely change things up. And there’s only Devaney that has been confirmed to be staying? No comments on Stead yet.

Hopefully, for starters, Clarke won’t have our centre backs passing the ball between them.

 

I can't see a new coach suddenly giving the defence pace... unless Usain Bolts come onboard.

Without pace at the back we are not going up next season.

 

Confidence is obviously a big thing also, maybe he instills that into them. Ultimately tho it comes down to quality, something that is lacking in defence whichever way you look at it.

 

That interview is a replica of one in the Chronicle

 

Wonder what the reaction would have been if Mladen came out and said most of the defence are **** bit we are stuck with them so nothing we can do ?

 

He can get rid of zonal marking for a start.

 

At least Shepherd has the proper build for a centre back. He might come good. I wasn't impressed by De Gevigney or Earl last season, apart from Earl's first couple of games.