I expect the plan might be to have Salisu as a potential starter with either Bedders or Jack (who are both still improving) and then maybe another as an experienced adequate squad player like Maya was as there does not appear to be an academy prospect ready to step up yet. We could well be stuck with Vester yet if nobody signs him. It makes absolute sense to have a degree of depth in case of injuries/suspensions. I think that it's clear where most of the team's problems lie, we have to lower the goals conceded column next season.
But unless we're getting a player with limited options or paying an awful lot in wages, no one really wants to be the fourth CB on a mid-table PL side in their prime years.
I wonder if the plan for a 4th CB is to have someone more versatile who can cover both CM and CDM. That way it would be potentially easier to convince them of likely playing time. Or their main position is CM but they have the ability to cover if we are short at the back, bit like Dier at Spurs I guess. If so, I imagine this may have been the plan with Danso, given his experience of playing midfield as well as defence, but he only got games as a full back where he looked terrified and never recovered.
We had one before with Maya. We will be saving on the wage bill soon by the departures of Hoedt, Vester, Danso and Maya.
Maya was a pretty rare breed in being willing to accept that role, and even then he eventually asked to go.
So you want an academy player as a squad back up? I'm sure other clubs have 4 CBs as we have had for a good while (although Stephens came through the academy) I would say it has been our failure to recruit well enough in central defence (and RB) which has been the main reason for our decline since 2016.
Maybe we will sign two centre backs and no midfielders with the expectation that Stephens will play further forward. Unlikely but possible.
Anyone else think the Pierre thing is gonna drag out to the final week? Spuds will surely know that his preferred destination is them and given his contract situation they hold all the cards. Think they'll happily hold fire knowing we'll get more desperate as time runs out and ended up accepting sub £15m for him in the final days.
I have read some stuff on twitter from a fella who seems to be ITK regarding Spurs, To be fair he does seem to get alot right too. He states that in principle we have agreed 18M for Pierre, And the only thing holding it back is we havent agreed a price on KWP. Spurs want 15, But we are not budging on 10. We shall see how it works out., He also says that Pierre has a Medical booked in tomorrow., Well he said Friday. Who knows which Friday.
Nobody signs to do that. They sign, they have to impress the boss to play. They do that they play and someone drops out and has to fight to get back in
If you listen to or read his interviews, he never accepted that role. He continually Worked hard to get in the first 11. He did that at times for good stints and lost it for long stints. He served us for 8 years. It was hardly a case of quitting the club for not being selected or he’d have gone 4-5 years a go. He was very driven to improve and never classed himself as a back-up.
I’d take a loan, but that’s still signing the extra CB, just temporarily. The previous few seasons should have told us that playing CBs not up to it gets exposed in this league. If we want to progress, that area would be a priority for me.
I refer the right honourable gentleman to a comment I made way back in the thread along the lines of... “except maybe a keeper”
