Conor McCarthy...

It’s not optimism, it’s just wanting to give our own players a chance rather than writing them off and replacing them every two minutes.

You seem to take my post as ‘championing’ Shepherd as a top player. Im not. Im just suggesting that Clarke may have seen something in him over his loan period. I haven’t a clue how he’s played.

No one is suggesting any of these players should be first choice centre backs, but as young players they could be a big part of the coming season.

 

I agree. I want them to succeed.

 

Too much commen sense here for my liking. I recall a certain Bobby Hassall being slated on here as being the worst player some folk had ever seen and getting pelters from a few hysterical melts in the crowd during his first 6 months here.

Lopata and young Shep should never have been first choice players at the start of last season but then you can blame the folk upstairs for that.
They might turn out to be decent players they may well not but for now some patience required .......sithi.

 

Yup, It would be great to buy proven players and have two for every position but that’s no one’s reality at this level, although some clubs are closer to it than others.

As bad as our defence was last season we still got to the playoffs, so even a small improvement could be a success, without necessarily changing the whole back line.

 

Pines looked half decent before injury, Earl looked half decent but then lost it but does have it, Lofthouse has apparently been playing well and I'm assuming will return to play for us. There's also been mention of James coming through from development so we may be a bit better off than the start of last season. As Fitztyke said if Clarke can develop Shepard and we could bring in a L1 level CB along the lines of Solbaur, who helped Anderson no end, there may be light at the end of the tunnel. If, and a big if, we can sell McCarthy and probably Lopata to free up funds.

 

McCarthy could be like a new signing, as could any of the players who have been out of favour.
Clean slate, you never know who will step up with the backing of DC.

 

Fair point. I know I’m in a minority but I thought there was a player there before his injury. Especially in a back 3.

 

Probably surplus to requirements.

Currently we have de Gevigney, Pines, Earl, McCarthy, Lopata, Shepherd along with James from the U21s.

Apart from Pines there is a distinct lack of pace in that group which I believe needs rectifying. Therefore we need one more centre half with pace who is preferable tall or with a physical build to compliement the group.

Assuming we're continuing to play with three at the back then we'd be starting the season with the following:

Right: de Gevigney (with either Lopata/McCarthy/James as back up)
Centre: Pines (with new centre half as back up)
Left: Earl (with Shepherd as back up)

If James is ready to step up then Lopata and McCarthy are surplus if not then we need to move one of them on.