CB

[themotivator]

After watching fridays horrorshow, i did not think i could take listening to stringer describing anything so i opted for a nice game of 5-a-side under the floodlights. when i returned home and checked the result my heart totally sank. i do not dislike Sousa or his style of play, but i am getting really tired of defensive inconsistencies. sounded from peoples reports that the back four were far from solid yet again. obviously Sousa knows we need to strengthen after he tried to sign Zayatte, but after that didn't go through we have been left with lots of inexperience. obvious i know, but as a nice change from the usual Sousa in/out threads, i fancied a bit of wild transfer speculation.

Should we be loaning someone with experience or bringing someone in at christmas? and who would you like to see?

[Kitchandro]

Is the loan window still open?

If it is you'd think Sousa would be desperate to get a centre back in. It's so obvoius that we've needed one sine Brown left. And I mean a centre back, not Morrison who's a right back or Moreno who's a midfielder. We need someone experienced a good in the air. Someone as close to Brown as we can find, except preferably not a racist. If he can pass the ball then great but this is not important. We need someone who can defend, not pass Paulo!

[themotivator]

i dont know when the loan window closes actually. didnt we recently extend Ikeme's contract for another month? not sure how it works to be perfectly honest.

I agree wayne had some good qualities like strength, aggression and maybe a bit more self belief (down to his extensive championship experience) i dont think he was ever outstanding though and i think if we are to progress we should probably look at bringing in players much better than wayne brown. Would like to see someone at the club who is going to work with hobbs to totally run the defence. vitor could be ok, but wont be here next year. and I'm not sure how Tunchev will be affected by such a long absence i don't think we can really rely on him being the player he once was.

i would just like to know who people think would be a good player to bring in. as i am looking round at championship players and premiership players who might come down a division to play for such a troubled club, i cant seem to find many likely candidates.

[Wymsey]

I don't know who exactly wants to come to our club in the difficult situation we are sadly having

[Kitchandro]

i dont know when the loan window closes actually. didnt we recently extend Ikeme's contract for another month? not sure how it works to be perfectly honest.

I agree wayne had some good qualities like strength, aggression and maybe a bit more self belief (down to his extensive championship experience) i dont think he was ever outstanding though and i think if we are to progress we should probably look at bringing in players much better than wayne brown. Would like to see someone at the club who is going to work with hobbs to totally run the defence. vitor could be ok, but wont be here next year. and I'm not sure how Tunchev will be affected by such a long absence i don't think we can really rely on him being the player he once was.

i would just like to know who people think would be a good player to bring in. as i am looking round at championship players and premiership players who might come down a division to play for such a troubled club, i cant seem to find many likely candidates.

Brown may have been a crap footballer, but he was immense at what he did, dealing with high balls and crosses. I had so much confidence in him. We don't need owt special. Vitor is too short and inexperienced.

[Len Finsbury]

I don't think our problems stem from whether we have the right players or not. Even established players from last year are looking terrible at times.

[The Doctor]

pretty sure loan window is open till some point in November

[Kitchandro]

I don't think our problems stem from whether we have the right players or not. Even established players from last year are looking terrible at times.

True but that partly comes from a lack of confidence in each other because we are defending so badly. Even if our top players were playing well we clearly still have a centre back problem.

[Guest Basildon Fox]

True but that partly comes from a lack of confidence in each other because we are defending so badly. Even if our top players were playing well we clearly still have a centre back problem.

The problem is the tactics and not the players. Until the fundamental problems with the tactics are dealt with it will not make a difference who plays there.

[Kitchandro]

The problem is the tactics and not the players. Until the fundamental problems with the tactics are dealt with it will not make a difference who plays there.

What specific tactics? For me, it's basic defending: Marking players, positioning and getting it clear properly. Any cross that comes into the box we can't deal with because we don't have a natural centre back to partner Hobbs. Morrison's a right back, Moreno's a midfielder, and Vitor is clearly not going to have any aerial ability, which we are desperately in need for.

[Simo86]

pretty sure loan window is open till some point in November

It is November when it closes, not sure what date though

[davieG]

Well it's certainly strange that no attempt, in view of the results has been made to strengthen the team further especially after the failure to sign Zayatte.

Perhaps the delay in the take over has resulted in a freeze on funds?

[Ric Flair]

Where's Jay DeMerit these days?

[davieG]

Where's Jay DeMerit these days?

He's in hiding after hearing we were interested

[Simo86]

Where's Jay DeMerit these days?

Supposably holding out for a top flight to come in for him, Wolfsburg and Everton amongst others were rumoured to be after him, but he probably made that up himself to attract interest! I think he'll be waiting a long time for a club unless he lowers his expectations

[talkfoxes.com]

Aaron Hughes is struggling to get in the Fulham.

[Corky]

We need something. Moreno is not a centre-back, Morrison has fallen apart completely, haven't seen enough of Vitor so we do need to look at making a loan, because Hobbs needs assistance, preferably an experienced partner.

[okie fox]

Getting a centre back is just a partial solution. Sousa needs to find a right and left back that can play in his system. That's a big ask! We do not have full backs with enough speed to get up and down the sides. Consequently they are being caught too far forward and our opponents are being given too much space for breakaways or crosses.

[Cobbo]

Big, mean, organised, mouthy centre half (with a bit of ability) is a must.

We are missing Wayne Brown a lot.

[David Guiza]

We need a centre back, we won't sign one though so no use speculating who's on a free or not playing.

[themotivator]

What specific tactics? For me, it's basic defending: Marking players, positioning and getting it clear properly. Any cross that comes into the box we can't deal with because we don't have a natural centre back to partner Hobbs. Morrison's a right back, Moreno's a midfielder, and Vitor is clearly not going to have any aerial ability, which we are desperately in need for.

i agree, its difficult to pick apart his defensive tactics when a lot of goals are coming from mistakes from inexperienced players like morrisson and the hit and miss nature of our fullbacks this season. i think that we lack leadership and order in the back line. could come from not having a consistent partnership, which could be put down to the injury and suspension of vitor who paulo seems to see as a starter. is vitor that poor in the air though? hes not tiny at 6.0ft.

would love somebody like jay demerit. think davie hit the nail on the head about him going into hiding from us though. not sure we are as attractive a club as we were under nige.