The Central Defender Thread

[Hefty fullback]

Anyone care to pull either of our Centre Backs out from under the bus?

I think its fair to say that if we screw this up and end up in the play-offs...our defence will have a finger pointed at it

On the negative side, Flanigan and Baldwin gave the worst join-performance for a pair of SAFC centre backs that I've seen in years.

We need Catts back to shield them ASAP, and we need midfielders to take the ball from them when we are in possession.

I’ve said for a while mate the CB options are our Achilles heal.
Lots of changes needed defensively when we step up a level, they will get destroyed by decent championship sides.

Its our Centre backs worry me, perhaps get Dunne back in, he's better covering set pieces. Pleased to see Oviedo back.

If not, where do we look for upgrades? The top CB's from League 1, Starters relegated from the Championship, Players sitting on the bench highier up the Championship table, Scotland, bring in unused Premier League players on loan, Overseas leagues.

Here is a very detailed analysis of the CB's in the Championship Lots of scatter plots if your interested.
https://medium.com/@pannasandnutmeg...centre-backs-in-the-championship-820f5e7862e1

My favorite is this one. Look at Miazga standing out. There are only 5 teams between us and Reading and they are hoping to retain the Chelsea loanee. Why can't we go for him? Anyone think we would be competitive starting next season with a backline of O9 Flanagan Miazga Baldwin Hume?

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And just for some perspective, here's the same thing with names I'm sure you're all familiar with

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[Nads]

If Barnsley were to miss out I’d be straight in for Pinnock, smashing player.

Seen nothing of Miazga to comment, I’d be thinking about players from the Premier League if we could do it though.

Issue is with speculating right now, we’ve not a clue what the budget will be like.

There’s players like Ampadu at Chelsea who could be phenomenal loan signings, but can we pay for them?

We’ve Kone to come back as well, his wage will need shifting, let’s not forget that he got the 40k week deal when we rejected Everton. That’s a crippling salary that Strasbourg have been partially covering.

There’s so many factors, but it’s without question that the central back 4 needs work, Flanagan for me is a maybe, he’s the best of them.

He and Baldwin are far from bad players just utterly devoid of any pace and they will get crucified by quality centre mids.

Players like Mount, Grealish, McGinn, James. They would savage us with pace and turns.

I don’t think the midfield is far off being decent for the step up mind, that’s a massive plus. A bit more creativity in there and it’s golden.

 

[Nacho]

I think we'll need a complete overhaul of the defence next season whether we go up or not. Loovens and Ozturk should be moved on but we should keep Baldwin and Flanagan as backup because they aren't bad. I wouldn't be interested in signing Dunne permanently he's just a slightly bigger Baldwin.

Hume I'd keep, sell Oviedo for the wages and Matthews for the injuries, move O'Nien into midfield. James is at the same level as Flanwin so keep him as backup.

So two new CBs needed and two RBs, at least. For the CBs don't just look at their height look at their physical strength in general, tall beanpoles don't cut it in any league at CB.

 

[Saf]

Miazga is a great shout, Hefty. I've watched him live a few times when he was playing for Vitesse. He's great in the air, times his tackles well and he is very composed on the ball. I'm not sure how Reading play but when he was at Vitesse they played out from the back and a high pressing game. He fitted in perfectly. I'd say any negatives would be a suspect temperament and his concentration. A decent manager should be able to correct that, though.

 

[cumbrianmackem]

Would rather not think about this until we know which league we're playing in next season.

 

[marcusblackcat]

I think we'll need a complete overhaul of the defence next season whether we go up or not. Loovens and Ozturk should be moved on but we should keep Baldwin and Flanagan as backup because they aren't bad. I wouldn't be interested in signing Dunne permanently he's just a slightly bigger Baldwin.

Hume I'd keep, sell Oviedo for the wages and Matthews for the injuries, move O'Nien into midfield. James is at the same level as Flanwin so keep him as backup.

So two new CBs needed and two RBs, at least. For the CBs don't just look at their height look at their physical strength in general, tall beanpoles don't cut it in any league at CB.

Flanwin

I think O'Nien might stay at right back now personally. He's shown every bit he's capable of playing there and made that position his own. I'd like to see him moved into midfield as his energy to get box to box is unbelievable but I just think that Ross has him as right back now - not sure why, just a hunch!!

James is only here until the Summer as is Matthews - too many injuries and too high wages for the latter and the the former has struggled in our league so will almost certainly struggle in the championship.

Oviedo is a great footballer but paid far too much for a club in our position. Hume I would want to move heaven and earth to keep. He just looks such a good footballer - great carrying the ball, great in defence and great going forward. Haven't seen a weak point to his game yet. Hope we can get him signed on to a 5 year deal!!

 

[Jack TheLad]

A great thread Hefty, genuinely.

It's been our problem all season IMO, all other positions on the pitch are probably title winning.

The three of them are too samey and don't really have a defined role as such. They aren't ball playing, they aren't stoppers, they aren't aerially brilliant either.

They're good honest lads, but as it's been mentioned, they would get torn a new one by anyone with any pace or guile.

We will need two new CBs if we go up for sure.

 

[Sunderpitt]

A great thread Hefty, genuinely.

It's been our problem all season IMO, all other positions on the pitch are probably title winning.

The three of them are too samey and don't really have a defined role as such. They aren't ball playing, they aren't stoppers, they aren't aerially brilliant either.

They're good honest lads, but as it's been mentioned, they would get torn a new one by anyone with any pace or guile.

We will need two new CBs if we go up for sure.

Obviously we are going to persevere with the 2/3 CBs players we have atm, (ignoring Loovens and Ozturk) as they are all we have.

However could Ross not get them to do a short pass to one of the central midfield players rather than attempt (mis)placed passes themselves also be instructed to boot the ball and clear their lines, not try and be clever(they cannot do it) row Z or down the pitch will be fine... then most of the glaring errors we can see happening atm will be minimised. It is foolish to think they can be a Van Duke/John Stones. They do however with Leadbitter's help score the odd goal from corners which are more useful

 

[marcusblackcat]

A great thread Hefty, genuinely.

It's been our problem all season IMO, all other positions on the pitch are probably title winning.

The three of them are too samey and don't really have a defined role as such. They aren't ball playing, they aren't stoppers, they aren't aerially brilliant either.

They're good honest lads, but as it's been mentioned, they would get torn a new one by anyone with any pace or guile.

We will need two new CBs if we go up for sure.

Any other season we'd be top at this point with this many points mind! It's only due to the exceptional form of Luton that we aren't!

3 home and 3 away left and we need 4 wins and 2 draws I think!

 

[monty987]

3 wins and 3 draws should swing it or 92 points, don't lose to Portsmouth though.

 

[Sunderpitt]

Ever thought what might have been..

Van Dyke before he went to Southampton was being discussed with Advocaat to come to us from Celtic. It is also rumoured Johnny Evans wanted to come home to SoL when he left Manure
We also hummed and harred about Alonso

Money was the problem?

 

[Saf]

This is Miazga helping Reading to a clean sheet at Stoke recently. It shows when he's in a team hitting long balls he's not really going to pick a man out. His short passing is bang on and notice him always moving into a free position so he can have it back if needs be. Very good in the air and his anticipation and reading the game is superb.

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[marcusblackcat]

Ever thought what might have been..

Van Dyke before he went to Southampton was being discussed with Advocaat to come to us from Celtic. It is also rumoured Johnny Evans wanted to come home to SoL when he left Manure
We also hummed and harred about Alonso

Money was the problem?

I have no problem with the Alonso one - most wouldn't if he hadn't gone to Chelsea for £23m. In the climate, the money they asked for him was way over priced - only with hindsight did anyone know differently!

The others can go in the file with Yann M'Vila! Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda, but, as per usual with SAFC, signed some Mercenary **** instead!!!

 

[Jack TheLad]

I have no problem with the Alonso one - most wouldn't if he hadn't gone to Chelsea for £23m. In the climate, the money they asked for him was way over priced - only with hindsight did anyone know differently!

The others can go in the file with Yann M'Vila! Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda, but, as per usual with SAFC, signed some Mercenary **** instead!!!

We could've had Alonso for around £5m at the end of his loan.

Absolute bargain.

 

[Sunderpitt]

We could've had Alonso for around £5m at the end of his loan.

Absolute bargain.

I was not sure how much was asked for him.... the girls in the SAFC Stadium shop were sorry he did not return... I wonder why

 

[marcusblackcat]

We could've had Alonso for around £5m at the end of his loan.

Absolute bargain.

I heard £10m . Only the people in charge at the time know for certain.

 

[clockstander]

Ever thought what might have been..

Van Dyke before he went to Southampton was being discussed with Advocaat to come to us from Celtic. It is also rumoured Johnny Evans wanted to come home to SoL when he left Manure
We also hummed and harred about Alonso

Money was the problem?

Not to forget the class act that was M'Vila, he was on his way here, but we decided to go for N'Dong at twice the price, I am told Bain was the brain on this one.

 

[dansafcman]

We have the 3rd best defensive record in the league (3 worse than Barnsley) people banging on like we had the worst record
Just lovens that needs to be moved on imo, and one brought in.
Isn't Kone still our player next season ? Wonder what Ross will make of him? Presuming we're in the Championship

 

[Nacho]

Flanwin

I think O'Nien might stay at right back now personally. He's shown every bit he's capable of playing there and made that position his own. I'd like to see him moved into midfield as his energy to get box to box is unbelievable but I just think that Ross has him as right back now - not sure why, just a hunch!!

James is only here until the Summer as is Matthews - too many injuries and too high wages for the latter and the the former has struggled in our league so will almost certainly struggle in the championship.

Oviedo is a great footballer but paid far too much for a club in our position. Hume I would want to move heaven and earth to keep. He just looks such a good footballer - great carrying the ball, great in defence and great going forward. Haven't seen a weak point to his game yet. Hope we can get him signed on to a 5 year deal!!

I agree with you about Hume he's got genuine quality written all over him. Hopefully we can get him signed up because I see him playing at the top level.

I dunno about Luke at RB long term, he's done well and I'm happy for him to finish the season there but if we get promoted it's a big step up. I'd rather get a dedicated RB in and let him play in the position he knows best but he's got the perfect mentality to fully tackle a new role and maybe that's where his future is.

In short I dunno, we'll have to see how he looks a league up.

 

[Nads]

I was not sure how much was asked for him.... the girls in the SAFC Stadium shop were sorry he did not return... I wonder why

£4million plus that CB that disappeared off face of earth he was so ****e.

Absolute snip, Alonso was exceptional for us second half of that season.

Have to say I didn’t realise the concerns of the back line were so universal, just shows that the support this season has been just that, support.