Transfer Rumour 25/26 Summer Transfer Window (166 Viewers)

TomRad85

Well-Known Member
If you do a deal for Doyle that's around £6 million with £4 million in add ons if promoted then it's worth it. We won't be spunking any more than that up front.
 

Brighton Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
This notion that you need to be rapid to be a good centre half is bullshit peddled by people that have never played the game.
II would rather have a slower centre half who can read the game and is excellent positionally than a quick centre half who struggles with those attributes
Look no further than McFadzean playing in a back 3. Clearly very little pace in his legs but he had great positional awareness, communication and aerial strength.
 

Hobo

Well-Known Member
This notion that you need to be rapid to be a good centre half is bullshit peddled by people that have never played the game.
II would rather have a slower centre half who can read the game and is excellent positionally than a quick centre half who struggles with those attributes

Exhibit A. Paul McGrath
Exhibit B. Trevor Peake
 

Chicken Mcgraw

Well-Known Member
Look no further than McFadzean playing in a back 3. Clearly very little pace in his legs but he had great positional awareness, communication and aerial strength.

But we played a very deep back line. The only reason pace is being mentioned is because of the high line we play. Of course you don’t need pace to a be a top cb but it’s probably an attribute Lampard will look for alongside Thomas.
 

shmmeee

Well-Known Member

Skybluedownunder

Well-Known Member
In fairness, £5m is more than £3m. I don't think he's worth £10m though, and we can't afford £10m on a defender so it's moot anyway. A loan with an option/obligation to buy if promoted is entirely possible though.

Unless we offer £5m with rising to let’s say £8m upon promotion


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

procdoc

Well-Known Member
And what level have you played at out of curiosity?

In this high line system lampard plays, it would be pretty silly to not target a CB with pace.
Why does it matter what level I’ve played at? I’ve been involved in coaching and management at semi pro level, but honestly, you only need a good understanding of the game, even at Sunday league etc, to appreciate that positioning, reading the game, and communication are more important fundamentals for a centre-back than raw pace.

Pace is a useful attribute, but it’s a supplement, not a substitute, for defensive intelligence. Take players like John Terry (as an elite example), he was not exactly pacey, but he was effective because of his ability to anticipate danger, organise the line, and stay switched on.

In the Championship, where the pace of the game is high but the technical quality can be erratic, the ability to maintain shape and leadership at the back often makes the difference. A high line will always carry risk, even with quick defenders, because one mistimed step or lapse in concentration and you’re caught out. That’s where structure and communication are crucial.

So yes, pace helps, but if your defenders can’t mark properly, coordinate the line, or react to transitions, they’ll get exposed regardless of how fast they are
 

Skybluedownunder

Well-Known Member
Penny pinching by Bling costing us a top target.

I guess we won’t ever know if he was a top target or not. Could have just been one of those many linked with players where we’ve enquired

Interestingly this week he played 28 mins and managed to get a goal and an assist


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Ccfcisparks

Well-Known Member
Why does it matter what level I’ve played at? I’ve been involved in coaching and management at semi pro level, but honestly, you only need a good understanding of the game, even at Sunday league etc, to appreciate that positioning, reading the game, and communication are more important fundamentals for a centre-back than raw pace.

Pace is a useful attribute, but it’s a supplement, not a substitute, for defensive intelligence. Take players like John Terry (as an elite example), he was not exactly pacey, but he was effective because of his ability to anticipate danger, organise the line, and stay switched on.

In the Championship, where the pace of the game is high but the technical quality can be erratic, the ability to maintain shape and leadership at the back often makes the difference. A high line will always carry risk, even with quick defenders, because one mistimed step or lapse in concentration and you’re caught out. That’s where structure and communication are crucial.

So yes, pace helps, but if your defenders can’t mark properly, coordinate the line, or react to transitions, they’ll get exposed regardless of how fast they are
Well I'd imagine we wouldn't belooking at a defender who can't defend.
 

RoboCCFC90

Well-Known Member
Anderlecht are in the Belgian top league and in Europe this season …. It’s not a no brainer to join a tier 2 English club … it’s arrogant to assume it is.
This doesn't matter to some fans unfortunately.
 

David O'Day

Well-Known Member
Yes you do not have to have to have pace to be a great CB and there have many great CBs who were not quick. The point people are making is the system we play has a very high defensive line which leaves lots of space in behind them so a quicker CB is more suited to playing in this system as they can recover quicker when the play goes in behind them.
 

procdoc

Well-Known Member
Yes you do not have to have to have pace to be a great CB and there have many great CBs who were not quick. The point people are making is the system we play has a very high defensive line which leaves lots of space in behind them so a quicker CB is more suited to playing in this system as they can recover quicker when the play goes in behind them.
You’re missing the point entirely.
 

SBT

Well-Known Member
Yeah if you're going to spend £10 million on one player then it really needs to be either an attacking midfielder or a striker with the potential to run the game every week, not a CB. And I say that as someone who thinks CB is one of our biggest areas of need.
 

Hobo

Well-Known Member
were they asked to play such a high line and leave so much space in behind them? no

Were they camped in their own penalty area all game? No.

Plenty of examples of Paul McGrath defending as the last man just inside his own half for club and country
 

David O'Day

Well-Known Member
You’re missing the point entirely.
No, I'm not. You seem to be failing to grasp that it is not a question of "can you be a good cb without pace" but "should you look for cbs with pace if you play a very high line". John Terry was a great CB and wasn't quick but when he was asked to play in a very high line by AVB at Chelsea he struggled.

The question is not quality but suitability to our current tactics.
 

RoboCCFC90

Well-Known Member
This is what City and other teams in the Championship are competing with, a relegated PL team dropping £20m+ on a player from a rival club.

This would be a record transfer fee paid for a player in this division.

1753870638774.png

I personally think if we can get Callum Doyle on a loan to buy for £10m, it would be a steal.
 

David O'Day

Well-Known Member
Were they camped in their own penalty area all game? No.

Plenty of examples of Paul McGrath defending as the last man just inside his own half for club and country
No, but they weren't asked to push the line up to almost over the half way line at all times.
 

procdoc

Well-Known Member
No, I'm not. You seem to be failing to grasp that it is not a question of "can you be a good cb without pace" but "should you look for cbs with pace if you play a very high line". John Terry was a great CB and wasn't quick but when he was asked to play in a very high line by AVB at Chelsea he struggled.

The question is not quality but suitability to our current tactics.
Shock you’re wrong again. Positional ability and reading the game in a high line are more important than pace. It’s not like Thomas and Kitching are little slugs. They’re not rapid and if you play a high line with a quick centre half, but positionally he’s not very good the pace is irrelevant. No matter how quick your defenders are it’s a high risk - high reward of playing
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Top