Transfer News and Gossip Summer/Autumn Transfer Targets/Rumours Thread 2022

[Massimo Giovanni]

The bottom line with loans and signings, other than future Hope's like Wood has got to be that the need for them to be at least nailed on into the squad for matchday is paramount.
At the moment we have no pressing requirements unless Steve is going to be out for weeks in which case we have no back up gk for Collin.

 

[JAL]

6 players at centre back and we want more. Think some are getting greedy

What are you on about?


Kensdale
Hobson
Lomas
Davies - Unproven & a youngster
Ralph - Not a Centreback - better in LWB
Taylor - Injured

Not greedy at all wanting another centre back, especially when we’re currently using all 3 natural centre backs with no cover.

 

[JD]

What are you on about?


Kensdale
Hobson
Lomas
Davies - Unproven & a youngster
Ralph - Not a Centreback - better in LWB
Taylor - Injured

Not greedy at all wanting another centre back, especially when we’re currently using all 3 natural centre backs with no cover.

I agree, we need someone else, for a couple of reasons….

Most importantly, competition for places… Lomas, Hobson and Kensdale COULD get even better if they have someone chomping at their heels for a place in the starting 11. Realistically that’s not happening at this time.

Also it would give us the chance to manage players fitness more efficiently rather than hoping they don’t get crocked and then scrambling for a last minute loan for a player that doesn’t know the squad and style of play.

 

[Hazey]

I also think that if something is available that is potentially better than what we have, then we absolutely should go for it. If we were hypothetically able to get Lopata in for the season, we would then have multiple combinations of centre backs who could comfortably play without compromising our quality.
Let’s imagine the next game Hobson picks up a knock and Lomas pulls a muscle. We suddenly look very light.
How lovely would it be for us to actually be able to choose to rest a player every now and then, rather than having to rush people back from injury to get our best 11 on the pitch?

 

[JD]

I also think that if something is available that is potentially better than what we have, then we absolutely should go for it. If we were hypothetically able to get Lopata in for the season, we would then have multiple combinations of centre backs who could comfortably play without compromising our quality.
Let’s imagine the next game Hobson picks up a knock and Lomas pulls a muscle. We suddenly look very light.
How lovely would it be for us to actually be able to choose to rest a player every now and then, rather than having to rush people back from injury to get our best 11 on the pitch?

Better than what we have is ideal, although if they are as good as we have then that’s just as helpful.

 

[Hazey]

Better than what we have is ideal, although if they are as good as we have then that’s just as helpful.

Especially as the three centre backs is the absolute foundation of our team right now. We saw what happened last year when Lopata went back and we suddenly stopped picking up points for a while.
To be able to choose between Hobson, Kensdale, Lomas and Lopata would be as good a foursome as any in the league. Potentially this is a pipe dream and nothing more, but if the option did happen to arise, I’d like to think we would still actively pursue it, regardless of our recent solidarity at the back.

 

[southendkid]

6 players at centre back and we want more. Think some are getting greedy

In a 2 centre back system then 6 might be excessive, in a 3 centre back system (like we have) having 6 is the minimum you should have in the squad, you should be able to make a second team of backups that fits the same formation as your first XI.

 

[palexander]

Here's a hypothetical. Lopata comes in before the weekend... who do you drop?

If the 3 guys with the shirts continue to play well, do we leave Lopata on the bench until an injury?

I dont think we got any chance of Lopata, but just saying. We probably smart to bring in cover level player (Clarke for example), not so keen on brining in a loanee to dislodge one of the 3 with the shirt.

 

[Danshrimper]

6 players at centre back and we want more. Think some are getting greedy

Absolute nonsense to suggest we have 6 centre backs.

Ralph is a LWB. His performances and the teams performances are far better when he is playing in his natural position, and not being forced to cover at centre back.

Taylor I don’t know too much about, but was under the impression he had come to the club to play in central midfield. He can cover at centre back, but I don’t think that’s where he is here to play.

Davis has come from the youth team. And judging by the fact that Lomas was on the bench against Boreham Wood despite not being fully fit. Kev & Co might not see him as ready for this level just yet.

All it takes is 1 injury at centre back and we are forced to play somebody out of position, or a youth team centre back who might not be quite ready. I don’t think it’s greedy to suggest it would be good to sign an actual centre back as cover/competition.

 

[fredheim_holm]

The amount of people who are unable to spell Davis is remarkable.

 

[SUFCGoals]

The amount of people who are unable to spell Davis is remarkable.

Or spell in general!

 

[Rattus Norvegicus]

I must admit that I had forgotton about Davis. That makes a difference I think if he is up to the standard of the existing central defenders.

 

[NZamba Legend]

The amount of people who are unable to spell Davis is remarkable.

Very true, just like with Clark, SZ often opts for a superfluous ‘e’

 

[Hazey]

Here's a hypothetical. Lopata comes in before the weekend... who do you drop?

If the 3 guys with the shirts continue to play well, do we leave Lopata on the bench until an injury?

I dont think we got any chance of Lopata, but just saying. We probably smart to bring in cover level player (Clarke for example), not so keen on brining in a loanee to dislodge one of the 3 with the shirt.

I wouldn’t drop any of them, but let’s not forget Lomas is still adapting to full time football and is probably still finding his way to full fitness, so may benefit from a rest soon.
Either way, any player coming in should have to work to get their place, and Lopata would be no different. I imagine it’s mentally a very different sort of motivator for our starters to know Lopata is waiting to come into the team, rather than knowing the next best choice is currently playing as left wing back so is unlikely to take your place.

 

[palexander]

Very true, just like with Clark, SZ often opts for a superfluous ‘e’

Depends what one;

Paul Clark
Leon Clarke
Kenny Clark
Steven Clark
Peter Clarke

Minefield.

 

[Thundersley Blue]

Sort of agree with the thinking, but we don't know how ready Davis is for 1st Team football. At the moment Ralph is the cover, but we are far better served when he is playing left wing back. No disrespect to Clifford, but Ralph is the best we have in that position. Guess the loan market will have to be used. Haven't noticed whether Gubbins has yet made the bench for QPR, wonder if he could be a short term option.

 

[JAL]

The amount of people who are unable to spell Davis is remarkable.

Mine was copy and paste from another post, my bad

 

[Blue43]

6 players at centre back and we want more. Think some are getting greedy

6 centre backs? Please remind me of the 6 CB’s we have? When I say CB, I mean a natural CB, not a centre midfielder or a full back filling in?

 

[Blues4LifeDan]

Let's be honest, we have 3 first team CB's. All of which are playing. One injury to one of those and we are back to square one. Yes, Ralph can fill in and yes, Davis plays that position, but he is a young, untested player.

We must have 4 first team CB's to be properly covered. That is the minimum if we are playing 4 at the back, let alone 5.

We all know that we have injuries in our DNA as a club and we can't expect not to get any. Lomas has already had one, Ralph always gets injured at some stage and Clifford likewise.

If Lopata genuinely became available and it didn't break the bank, we'd have to go and get him. I said yesterday that it isn't as black and white for him to come straight into the fold, but having that calibre of player and competition available is what promotion sides are made of.

 

[Tampa Blue]

Trouble is that we have champagne tastes with beer money.

Of course it would be great to have cover for every position and not have to rely on younger players or those playing out of position or ultimately injury-cover loans.

Reality is that we can't afford that, we are not Wrexham.

We have a very decent squad at the moment which when everyone is fit becomes a very good squad which together with a very good management team should keep us all very happy.