Issues wouldn't have risen so strongly had we played a back four with a sprinkle of quality, for instance if Ballard as centre back with Triantis and with anyone but Anderson left back. Hjelde even. The fact they all played together made it much worse than it actually is. That defence will never play again as a combination. I don't know where I stand currently in regards to what we need at the back, it's dependent on outgoings the way I see it. For instance, if loaned out Hjelde, Triantis and Johnson for instance, I'd like us to sign a centre half capable of competing with O9 and Alese, so those two could then cover full back. Then we'd just have to hope we don't have a crisis before Jan, whilst we pray for Huggins and Seelt to come back. If we kept Triantis around, I'd be keen on loaning a fullback or even getting a free in to fill a void. So much more to be done when it comes to shifting players.
Totally agree. There’s a really quality player on there if he could play 30 games and his decision making becomes a bit intuitive then we have a baller.
I must admit I’m getting canny sick of the Mendy saga. If you want him that badly just pay the asking price or get the player to force the move. Alternatively, move on to another target.
Mbappe can **** off. He’s meant to be focusing on being a football player, not an owner. The utter spenk.
Same here, surely if we are THAT confident it'll be done soon. If not we need to move on to some other targets, wouldn't want to risk us ending the window without one. I'd like to see the PL loan striker come in too as we want one alongside a senior striker
Here's why I think we're going to see more versatility in the coming years: Football is becoming more technical and more tactical, this means specific traits are required to function effectively across the pitch, we see more centre backs under 6ft nowadays with more emphasis put on the defenders ability to integrate into the rest of the team, especially when keeping possession and starting moves. Winning headers and crunching tackles are still valued, but a good reader of the game, with good pace can now be a very effective defender, especially with modern tactics where teams defend in blocks. In possession and out of possession positioning means that a winger or striker, can effectively be a fullback or defensive player out of possession if they have specific traits like jumping and heading, which reduces the need for the actual centre back to have those traits, though I will admit it is still desirable. Football changes fast and goes through trends, so it wouldn't surprise me if it reverts at some point, but if we stay on the current trajectory you will end up with technical players playing at centre back because they start off many of the moves.
Honestly, if the Mendy thing goes sideways and we don’t have an alternative outside of a young lad on loan then we’re into serious questions about capability to do that part of the job
Well yeah 100%, no matter what anyone says we simply can't go into a fourth window failing to sign a senior striker. Also a senior striker to me doesn't need to be from the Championship or England. Plenty of strikers with experience in Europe hence Mendy and other strikers who have went elsewhere
They've always been there mate.....Bobby Moore,Franco Baresi,Colin Todd...just off the top of my head...wonderful centre backs,not particularly tall, could read the game was their strength.
Sunderland’s star man Jack Clarke has not signed a deal at Sunderland despite internet rumours this week, The Echo understands
I think there must be a player we can get in this sort of mould. A RB like that would be fine for me. One thing we need to consider in the full back discussion is the future pathway. I'd be hoping Bainbridge comes back from Kilmarnock next year and is challenging in the first team squad. If Hjelde, Alese and Huggins cover Cirkin for a season to allow Bainbridge to break through then I'm ok with that.
We’ve seen from players signed by this regime that they generally get it right. Do you honestly think that they decide on one player at a time? There will be other options being looked at at the same time. It just happens that Mendy is the one that has come to light. The club may not sign him and it’s easy for supporters to say that the club should’ve paid whatever daft amount, but that doesn’t take into consideration many factors, especially the fact that it’s not their money to spend. The club are being financially responsible. I’m sure you’ll agree that we don’t want to go back to the days that led us into the embarrassment of playing in League 1. As an analogy, when we go and buy a car do we just go and pay the first price the showroom asks for? Of course we don’t. At the end of the negotiation we either decide that we’re happy to pay the agreed price or we decide not to agree to the price that they want and walk away.
January but with his history and the type of injury it was it wouldn't surprise me if we don't see him at all this season
