With Liam Cooper's recent performances showing we have an able back-up at Centre Back (or left back for that matter) close to home, does that leave funds for an extra Striker, or whom ever we may need to strengthen elsewhere?
I'd like to give him a chance next season - easy to say when I don't have to make the decision though. Fans could easily turn if he makes a couple of mistakes at the start of the season, and we don't have another option until Hobbs comes back. Though, what decent CB would want to come here to sit on the bench, and then not even get in the squad when Hobbs comes back?
I think Cooper has promise, although he's still not very forceful in the air (which makes me wonder whether left back might be better for him in the long run). But I imagine they'll see him as a third centre back next season rather than starter - which would still likely mean 15-25 games. After one more year the club will know more about whether he's up to it. I've got a horrible feeling that Chester will go this summer to a Premier team. If so, we should pick up someone with more experience than Cooper and let Cooper come along gradually.
We've got Macca returning who's reliable, in fact in the pre-season warm ups he was outstanding especially against Liverpool. Rumour also has it that the rest of the lads like him and he's good for team spirit. I'd be happy to see him back in the team. We Defintately need some depth in the team though, as for strikers we need to move Simpson and Cullen on, wouldn't be too upset if we sell McLean although I think he's a great team player. With Harps, Adebola, Kilbane and Atkinson out of contract it will provide some room for movement.
Mcshane won't let us down either as centre back or right back. It will be him or Cooper until Hobbs comes back. I don't think we will sign a defender. The 4 or 5 signings. Does that include the 2 new goal keepers ? That could mean only 2 or 3 players coming in. All of them probably forwards or wide players.
Do any of you actually remember what Macca was like at Burnley away for us? I was one who always defended him and he tried his best, and 110% effort and all that, however against them he was god damn awful literally could not judge a single header right. Don't get me wrong if he is our fourth choice centre half fair enough, but he is our third choice until Christmas with Liam Cooper our first choice with Chester. Neither Cooper nor Macca do what Jack Hobbs does, thats why for me we need a centre half. Like someone said on here yesterday, Cooper did nothing wrong for Cole's first goal but i can gurantee you Jack Hobbs would not have let him score that.
I remember him in the pre season match against Liverpool when he had a stormer ! We have Bradley as well. And of course we could get a loan defender in until xmas. I agree we are missing Hobbs. I think he should have got player of the season !
Macca is not a Right Back. Burnley was testament to that. Macca is a Centre Back. Liverpool was testament to that.
Liam Cooper shows promise but we cannot start with him next season. Hobbs would not have been outgunned by Cole.
i dont mind cooper but yesterdays 1st goal concerned me, it was as basic as they come , there are ways to overcome a strength disadvantage and he looked like a boy marking a man unfortunately
We definitely need another centre back next season. Can't go into another season with a wafer thin squad, hoping we wont get any injuries. I still dont see Cooper as a first choice centre back if we have serious promotion ambitions.
McShane is not the answer, that game against Burnley was just embarrassing, he was the highest paid player on the pitch that game and was absolutely horrific! He cannot pass a ball, simple as that, he's an absolute liability! If we are going to be forking out 20k+ for a defender why not go for Gerrard. I don't rate Cooper at all either, he is so poor in the air. He loses nearly every single header. I can forgive him for that yesterday because he was up against a premier league striker in carlton cole. However, in the other games he has played he's been the same, he's very slow as well, chester bails him out so many times! He is pretty clumsy, i always worry he will mistime a challenge in the box because of how slow he is.
Agree to a certain extent because Cole is especially good but if we want to be challenging for promotion next season we need defenders that can hold their own against (almost) premier league players
Interesting that,because Gerrard is also slow,can't pass the ball to save his life and is also clumsy.He's also way more exspensive than he's worth. He's just a great stopper !
I rate Cooper more highly than McShane, more importantly, I think Nick does too. McShane pulled out of buying a house here, he's made it quite clear he wants out, even a half decent contract offer from Palace will see him gone and nobody will make any attempt to stand in his way. Nick's already said he's looking for a centre back, I don't think McShane figures in his plans at all.
