Is it just me or is defence our main problem.........

[PsychoIsOurLeader]

The best news i heard yet, was that we were signing a new defender in Matt Mills. Apparently hes a class apart in the Championship (from a Donny Fan)

Also Gunter could cut it at a higher level too - so talk of 3million doesn't to me sound a bad price.

Theres loads of talk about strikers and midfielders - but i believe our main problem is defence.

Luke Chambers (poor)
Joel Lynch (Apparently Signing - Not Good Enough)
Kelvin Wilson (Local Lad - but not good enough)
Julian Bennet (As above)
Breckin (Gone)
Wes Morgan and James Perch (Good Squad Players - But Not Premiership Quality)

Don't get me wrong - im happy we are trying to sign quality players like Dexter Blackstock, but i don't believe thats where our past problems lie.

If we are going to sign good players - for say 2.5 million - they have to be able to cut it both in this league and the Premier League. We have players caperble of Premieship - but if we are going to sign players for 2-3 million - they need to be good enough in the long term too

 

[Darth Pierre]

the only good thing about our defence is wes

perfect back for for me

GUNTER-----WES-----MILLS-----FOX

lynch
bennet
chambers
wilson

are all poo

 

[PsychoIsOurLeader]

Good shout on Fox - hes very highly rated - my mates a season ticket holder at Walsall - and he said he was shithot before he left for Coventry

 

[Timothy Pope]

Corrected your post. You're not wrong about needing to focus on defence - but I think you are very harsh. A proper full back (Gunter) and a quality Centre Half (Mills or Jones) will turn a reasonable defence into a good one.

The best news i heard yet, was that we were signing a new defender in Matt Mills. Apparently hes a class apart in the Championship (from a Donny Fan)

Also Gunter could cut it at a higher level too - so talk of 3million doesn't to me sound a bad price.

Theres loads of talk about strikers and midfielders - but i believe our main problem is defence.

Luke Chambers (poor at right back - but a solid centre half)
Joel Lynch (Apparently Signing - shown he's Good Enough when fit)
Kelvin Wilson (Local Lad - but not good enough too laid back to be fully effective)
Julian Bennet (As above great commitment, but unproven at this level)
Breckin (Gone- followed his legs that went a year earlier)
Wes Morgan and James Perch (Good Squad Championship Players - But Not probably lack Premiership Quality)

Don't get me wrong - im happy we are trying to sign quality players like Dexter Blackstock, but i don't believe thats where our past problems lie.

If we are going to sign good players - for say 2.5 million - they have to be able to cut it both in this league and the Premier League. We have players caperble of Premieship - but if we are going to sign players for 2-3 million - they need to be good enough in the long term too

 

[Ravi]

Yes other than our perpetual lack of a 'midfield general', the defence is our main problem. I hope BD signs a new back four from the one that started last season, because they were just not good enough.
A back four of : Gunter Jones Mills Lynch would be a vast improvement. Wes, Chambers, Moloney and maybe Bennett would be decent back up/squad players.

 

[andyred]

The defence is probably our biggest problem but we also don't have any wingers other than Mcleary and he only seems to show his best form as a sub. We need two more wingers. Anderson and Mcsheffrey would be a good place to start. I would like to sign Mark Yates from Colchester as well.

 

[PsychoIsOurLeader]

Corrected your post. You're not wrong about needing to focus on defence - but I think you are very harsh. A proper full back (Gunter) and a quality Centre Half (Mills or Jones) will turn a reasonable defence into a good one.

Great thing about these forums are opinions - so that should read - i have changed your post to reflect what i reckon about those players and the defence

I reckon you have to be harsh if you want to get anywhere - especially in this division. If players aren't the best in the division - and aren't better than good players - we won't get anywhere!

 

[Timothy Pope]

Great thing about these forums are opinions - so that should read - i have changed your post to reflect what i reckon about those players and the defence

I reckon you have to be harsh if you want to get anywhere - especially in this division. If players aren't the best in the division - and aren't better than good players - we won't get anywhere!

Fair point mate - but wholesale changes to our defence could cause major problems. Best to change slowly & replace the poorer players with players capable of making the step up. A Full Back & Centre Half this year and further changes the following year.

 

[king_congo_red]

In a way, I disgaree, Wilson, Morgan and Bennett all have the attributes to be very good defenders at this level, but all are lacking a little something, for Wilson and Bennett, it's probably experience, they are still very young, as defenders typically don't peak until somewhere between 28 and 30...

If we could add a vocal and experienced leader into the back four, I think all the individual players would suddenly look better.

 

[NFFCJonny]

i must agree Chambers has had a very poor season, but i put this down to him being out of position for the majority of it. Playing right back when his natural position is center half must be hard for the lad so im gonna give him a little slack and see if he can improve as a player.

 

[DapperDan]

I thought Chambers, when played at centre back looked a very capable defender.

 

[barky]

I don't think Chambers was that good at centre back. I think it was just that he's so bad at right back, he looks good when he plays half decent.

 

[DapperDan]

I don't think Chambers was that good at centre back. I think it was just that he's so bad at right back, he looks good when he plays half decent.

I disagree. :hey:

 

[toptrunk]

I thought Chambers, when played at centre back looked a very capable defender.

I don't think Chambers was that good at centre back. I think it was just that he's so bad at right back, he looks good when he plays half decent.

IMHO when Chambers played at center half towards the end of the season he was one of the best 2 or 3 players on the pitch in every game - he deserved a lot of the stick he got at the start of the season when playing RB - but improved massively as the season went on (the same goes for Lynch), he even admitted himself that he had found the step up difficult. Additionaly, he has masses of passion for this club and is always completely commited, we would be silly to firstly write him off and secondly not use his potential.

I suppose the two quotes above and what I have just said sum up the vast differences of opinion and why it must be so difficult to be a manager.

 

[adam09]

Chambers especially, is a young lad who was playing League 2 football not long ago. It seems expectancy is a little too high where he is concerned, it's rare a player makes the jump instantly and if they do, they're probably a bit special. Wilson, again, is largely inexperienced but has a lot of good qualities too, which seem to go unnoticed.

 

[sammy_forest1]

Anyone heard anything about Rob Jones from Hibs, are we still in for him?

 

[TheStorm101]

Echoing the sentiments above, based on his performances at CB near the end of the season, I'd have no problem with Chambers being a back-up CB with Wilson (if he sorts his attitude out, if not he can do one).

IMO, Wes is the only CB we have that's up to the task of starting next season.

Bennett could be good enough at LB, but it's gonna be a massive gamble to assume how he's going to perform after being out for so long. I honestly think he's back-up material as well and can also move into the middle if needs be.

Perch is an option at RB and I wouldn't mind him being given a run of games to prove himself, but still think he's a 6/10 player. He'll never have a complete shocker, but never be outstanding either. Good player to have in the squad.

Essentially, I agree with the thread title. I don't see the point in us signing 19 strikers and 5 central midfield players if the personnel at the back stays the same.

Gunter back on loan would be a fantastic piece of business and a good starting point.