Flexible Option at the Back

[severnside gull]

Reading the Arsegas I am left a little confused. They quote Hughton as saying that we need full back cover and that the added flexibility of a midfielder (winger) who can presumably convert to full back or a centre back who can stand in when needed is an option he is looking at. All well and good. We have three excellent fullbacks and unless we are unlucky as we were with Bong last season we shouldn't need another specialist. Indeed the idea of a converted winger who can bomb forward leaving a 3 man back line is quite appealing.

However the next paragraph starts to talk about bringing in another centre back as cover.

So does that mean potentially 2 new centre backs (one of whom could cover full back) or one specialist centre back plus a winger who could convert to a defensive role?

Are we going to bring in one player or two?

 

[Superseagull]

Liam Ridgewell could be the centre back cover?

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

One central defender and one midfielder.
One of either of these to cover fullback


So it looks like we are getting

2 strikers
1 midfielder ( maybe cover fullback )
1 central defender ( maybe cover fullback )

And my guess, another central midfielder.

4-5 signings in total.

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

Pudil ( left winger/ leftback ) may have had his head turned when on loan at Sheffield Wednesday ?

Seems to be a mate of Jiri.

 

[blockhseagull]

Back in for Ben Marshall then ?

 

[smiler]

Liam Ridgewell could be the centre back cover?

Not good enough

 

[Marshy]

Back in for Ben Marshall then ?

Exactly what i was thinking. I would be very happy with him

 

[severnside gull]

Liam Ridgewell could be the centre back cover?

Might explain the Hughton quote that we have until the transfer window at the end of August so no rush.
No idea when his contract is up but the MLS season doesn't end until December so there's an immediate mismatch unless Portland will release him. He's their captain and they're nailed-on to continue beyond the end of the regular season.

I'd fancy Marshall but not at £3m. Expensive cover.

 

[beorhthelm]

a player to cover wing, full back and centre back sounds like a fantasy player. there often decent fullbacks who can get forward and put a cross in, or wingers who can tackle. and head the ball, read the forwards runs? nope, and if you can find one they'd probably be paid an awful lot at a higher level.

 

[blockhseagull]

Exactly what i was thinking. I would be very happy with him

Seems to tie in, only a year left at Blackburn and didn't we bid £3m for him last summer.

I'm sure [MENTION=6886]Bozza[/MENTION] gave the impression he was keen to come as well

 

[blockhseagull]

Might explain the Hughton quote that we have until the transfer window at the end of August so no rush.
No idea when his contract is up but the MLS season doesn't end until December so there's an immediate mismatch unless Portland will release him. He's their captain and they're nailed-on to continue beyond the end of the regular season.

I'd fancy Marshall but not at £3m. Expensive cover.

Who says he would be cover ? He could just play in a different position if required.

I'd swap Marshall for Lua Lua in a heartbeat

 

[severnside gull]

Who says he would be cover ? He could just play in a different position if required.

I'd swap Marshall for Lua Lua in a heartbeat

Now there's a thought

 

[HastingsSeagull]

Pudil and Marshal are both nice shouts

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Certainly wouldn't fancy Ridgewell. He was mostly competent, never better. Occasionally worse (and very slow).

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

Pudil would give us the added benefit of a meltdown on owlstalk

 

[Perkino]

Liam Ridgewell could be the centre back cover?

Is most probably the answer. Liam could cover at centre back but is unlikely to get much game time as most likely to be the 4th choice. He could also be the 4th choice fullback if we get an injury crisis like last season.

I'm expecting another centreback to arrive although I thought Greer would be offered an extension so I obviously know very little.
also think we will sign another centre midfielder and 2 new strikers along with CH trying to offload some of the players signed before he arrived.

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

Jordan Cousins, midfielder / rightback.

So, if we get him, we'd probably also need a dev squad signing / player to be able to play 3rd choice left back now Calde is gone

 

[Fran112]

My friend says Russell Martin was at the training ground yesterday, know he comes from Brighton / ex youth team player so may just have been visiting?


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[Finchley Seagull]

My friend says Russell Martin was at the training ground yesterday, know he comes from Brighton / ex youth team player so may just have been visiting?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Would be a decent signing but would be surprised if Norwich let him go as he's their captain isn't he?

 

[Superseagull]

My friend says Russell Martin was at the training ground yesterday, know he comes from Brighton / ex youth team player so may just have been visiting?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Now that would be a quality signing and give us the flexible cover. Can't see it happening though as he is club captain at Norwich.