New Defence?

The Gills PegLeg

The Gills PegLeg

Rock 'n' Roll Football
Jun 25, 2012
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So with the new signing of Tommy Forecast now confirmed and Damian Reeves' transfer to us ever looming, I can't help but feel we need to try and focus more on getting more defenders in. Fuller has been told that he has a week and a half left of his contract and it looks like Allen will be renewing it so its just the left side of defence we need to seriously work on then. link = http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonline/sport/2012/july/20/barry_fuller.aspx

I personally aren't re-assured by the duo of Frampton and Martin on the left side. For me a new left back is a must as Martin isn't quick enough to keep up with tricky wingers like McGlashan of Cheltenham and we must sign another. Having said that, I would like Joe Carter to be given a chance after missing all of last season with a broken leg. Again unless Frampton vastly improves we must sign two more centre backs surely?

So what do people think then? One more defender, two, three etc and also who would you like us to perhaps bring in in those areas?
 
Peg Leg I share your thoughts regarding the left side of defence. Frampton was poor too often & Martin not good enough. Without a big improvement on their parts, the left side will be a weak link - and judging by what happened last season, it seems that you can't have enough central defenders.

ps - what do I have to do to get Simon King back in the side ?
 
Really tricky question for me because I probably have a view on the defence as a whole, some aspects people will not agree with and others will seem like I am on some mission to get rid of a player.

So the mission first: Joe Martin I have been questioning the situation here for enough seasons now and sadly it is becoming tiring but get rid. He has something and maybe Martin Allen can actually get the best out of him and prove me wrong. However, I'm sticking with my consistency so get someone else in. Not sure if Carter can do the role, not had chance to tell as you state with his broken leg.

Simon King - should have been offered another one season deal with conditions. End of on that one and I cannot see why it has not been done.

Andy Frampton - he is my warrior in the side and always has been along with Lawrence who was unfairly treated in my opinion. Need some strength and I believe Frampton is it, although I will accept any errors to cost him his place.

Connor Essam - First name on team sheet in defence for me, no thought process required.

Evans or Fish or Fuller. Last season Evans ahead of Fish. End of season, Fish ahead of Evans. This season...Fuller will need to show his worth along with the other two. Fuller MIGHT just edge it on Evans at the start for me.
 
I echo both of you when it comes to Simon King, surely a pay as you play deal would have been the best situation for all parties? I quite like Callum Davies and feel this could be the season that he develops more to challenge for the first team. But brb you are quite right, when Martin first signed for us, it looked like we had sorted out the left back position but time and time again, he let himself down and didn't look up to it, but hopefully you are right and Mad Dog & Schofield can tap into his potential more.
 
Left back: Joe Martin worth another try under new management
Centre back: Essam plus new signing.
Right back: Barry Fuller - Miles ahead of Fish and Evans when fully fit. Adds steel too.
Fish as his deputy. Evans not ready yet. Can't risk another Hereford
scenario. That match might actually have set him back a couple of
seasons.
 
I think we need a new left back as Martin is a back up player also we don't have enough centre backs, Essam is the only one I trust, Frampton to be back up. Hopefully Davies will make his break into the team so I would sign one really good centre back and one young one who can develop.
 
Fuller with Fish and Evans as deputies is more than enough for me. Barry has had his injury problems but is still certainly first choice in my eyes.
Frampton and Essam I feel will be our first choice partnership in the centre of defence. Davies will hopefully have a profitable season but we definitely need a couple of back up players at least. Not sure if Matt Fry currently has a club and Darren Dennehy is a free agent after leaving Barnet in May. Couple of cheap options there perhaps?
As much as I would like to see Martin shown the door, he's here to stay and maybe Allen will get the best out of him. Another LB is needed though, if only for competition. Wouldn't like Jackman shoved back there too much as he is much more assured in the middle of midfield.
 
I echo Brb's views mainly in regards to Martin. Not great but I'd be willing to give him another try under Allen as he's the type of guy who can get an extra 10-15% out of players. I would rather have this happen than putting Jackman there and wasting his talent in midfield. But don't forget that his Dad was a great defender and has good knowledge of the game so there is plenty of potential still for Joe.

Frampton however needs to be first choice. This is a big season also for the likes of Essam, Evans, Davies etc and I think they need Frampton with them for experience.
 
I think I must be ploughing a lone furrow on this one but I really like Martin. I think he was given a thankless task last season being asked to provide both width going forward and defensive cover for a pretty static pair of centre backs. I think Fish also suffered from a similar unrealistic demands. The problem in my opinion is the lack of natural wide players so I feel the need of wingers outweighs the need for a new left back
 
i think martin has his faults bsg but i have to agree that too often last year our defence as a whole were left exposed especially the fullbacks. it really didnt help them that the cover they had for most of the season was so slow, yes frampton is a good strong defender who has plenty of experience and can read the game but he will be xposed against any sort of pace and is woefully slow now. this lead to chances being created when a quicker player would have shut the door

in terms of signing new players id expect that to come after a few preseason games when allen has a good chance to see how defenders play along side other defenders as its one area where they really must owkr as a unit!
 
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