and pace. Don't want a new CB if they're not quick.
and pace. Don't want a new CB if they're not quick.
Think we can all agree that even if we don't have the money to seriously spunk out on someone like Doyle that we still need to bring in at least one capable of challenging the 2 CBs for a place in the team. Can't see any way back in for Lati or Binks other than covering for injuries, we've seen enough of both and what we've seen isn't very good.
We dont need to spend a fortune. How much did Gyokeres cost us?
There's also plenty of good talent abroad that we can tap into. If we get a reasonable amount for Simms and BTA we could easily replace them.
If we did choose to cash in on Wright we'd get good money, and could bring in a decent striker with a good record.
There's plenty of options for Frank to think about.
The upgrades should be looking at Binks and Lati rather than Kitching and Thomas.
Suggesting a new CB to replace either of them is a priority is pretty nuts.
Fair, he’s still 22 in my head lol. I’d still keep him for his other attributes. I just don’t think the two together make a good partnership.
We need a chart ranking the speed of Championship CBs. I know some egghead on here can find one somewhere.
We had the second best attack outside the top two last year. Spending all summer discussing strikers is more nuts TBH
Not happening. Doug had them on a Two for Tuesday deal so got to wait for next week now.
Strikers are more fun to discuss tbf and i don't really think the fact we scored a lot as a team should hide the fact that most our CFs weren't very good. Like Rudoni scored loads so lay off Simms doesn't wash with me. I'd be genuinely amazed if Lampard didn't bring in a least 1 while moving on at least 1 of BTA/Simms.
We need to certainly have more competition at CB.
Lati is far too slow to play in a high line and Binks isn't good enough defensively.
As I recall it's acceleration that is his issue, rather than flat out speed. Once he got going he could shift, but in the time that took a speed merchant could be away from him.
I agree, but I still don’t think Kitching plays at the consistently high level that you’d need or expect for a promotion-calibre team. Which is probably why we haven’t got promoted while he’s playing in it.
Depends on what's available. Money isn't infinite which is why i feel if we really want to kick on we sell MvE for the big bucks. If we can upgrade Kitching or Thomas then great, why wouldn't we. If we can only afford to upgrade Lati or Binks that's also ok, as i'd happily never have to watch either play for us again.
Back three were so deep that season that I don't think we ever got to see one way or the other tbh.
The one thing I think with Doyle though (accepting it’s HIGHLY unlikely) is that he could play LB and when the supply is cut off to Grimes he could tuck across to form that back 3 and get us playing out.
Separate note to a later point, I also think Thomas is fairly quick which is one of his redeeming features.
For me yeah, I mean how many silly goals did we concede?. We scored if I’m not wrong the second highest in the division. Not to mention that our back up for CB is arguably some of the weakest depth in the squad.
Then you add in that neither of our CBs have the pace to play the high line and get caught out due to it (stoke second for example), and neither distribution is great and it becomes a priory for how we want to play Imo.
"Our problems were conceding not scoring" doesn't really wash with me when our defence was a lot better without a clown in goal and Lati 
or Binks 
in the backline.
We massively underperformed our xG and that points to underperforming strikers. Rudoni being great from midfield and EMC having a purple patch doesn't mean we can't look at upgrading at least 1 of Simms and BTA and expecting more from Wright.
To clarify I would still bring in a CB but they would be competition with Kitch and Thomas while binning off the other two chancers. A competent LB would help us massively too.
or Binks in the backline.We massively underperformed our xG and that points to underperforming strikers. Rudoni being great from midfield and EMC having a purple patch doesn't mean we can't look at upgrading at least 1 of Simms and BTA and expecting more from Wright.
To clarify I would still bring in a CB but they would be competition with Kitch and Thomas while binning off the other two chancers. A competent LB would help us massively too.
Wasn't the 2nd Stoke goal the one that was miles offside?
Agree re BT, and he spends time bailing out LK who’s not quick, hence pulling him all over shop.
BT still little raw, but all ingredients for a very good defender.
Looked onside to me but will double check I’m remembering right but there were other times I remember. If I’m not wrong the second Wednesday goal was caused by a striker running at us and breaking the line for example
Edit: sorry was referring to the first goal where Gallagher ran past our defence
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"Our problems were conceding not scoring" doesn't really wash with me when our defence was a lot better without a clown in goal and Lati
We massively underperformed our xG and that points to underperforming strikers. Rudoni being great from midfield and EMC having a purple patch doesn't mean we can't look at upgrading at least 1 of Simms and BTA and expecting more from Wright.
To clarify I would still bring in a CB but they would be competition with Kitch and Thomas while binning off the other two chancers. A competent LB would help us massively too.
Similarly Dovin having a purple patch doesn’t change the fact we went out of the playoffs because of our defence, and nearly lost the playoffs because of them too. We had a semi decent record when we completely changed our style to five at the back and longer balls out, but that’s not sustainable. Same as how Wilson and RCC are technically our best keepers in terms of clean sheets but we all know it’s because we changed the entire team set up.
As someone else said our CBs really hamper how we want to play and ultimately will be the difference between us going up or not. We may have underperformed out xG but it was the third highest in the division and our xGA was the seventh lowest. Only Bristol had worse in the top six.
changing the subject, and it may have been said on another thread this morning, I haven’t checked, but Fulham have agreed a deal with Tete so maybe their interest in MVE will cool, and Everton are apparently after Walker-Peters, which can only be a good thing?
We're getting into the realms of fantasy now . Kitching leads the defence when he plays , he constantly cajoles and positions Thomas and his full back into position, hence why he's been made captain.
To suggest Thomas is quick and constantly bails out Kitching is frankly horseshit
Getting a quality number 8 is much more of interest than someone to upgrade directly Kitching or Thomas.
Eiran Cashin on loan from Brighton
Or buy Ronnie Edwards from Southampton if they’d sell him
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To be fair to them both, I think both are decent championship CBs. Just would want better in one position. That way we have much better depth, can sell Lati or Binks and then can rotate between the 4-2-3-1 and a 5-3-2 depending on the opposition
Imagine Edwards will get a look in for Southampton after how well his qpr skint went
100 percent agree it is an area we need more depth and quality. I'm hoping that Brau and KHH might help shore things up at the back cause not all our issues conceding came from central areas
No I don’t disagree with that. LB had a lot of the blame imo. Still think all the defence can be very shaky espically against quick transactions as seen against Sunderland