Why do we need a centre-half?

[Aspinal's Body Double]

According to Argus this is one of the positions Mcghee is hoping to fill with a new signing.

Cullip, Butters, Blackwell, Virgo, Hinshlewood (El-Abd?).

So why do we need a centre-half (given the limited number of players we'll be able to afford).

 

[Josky]

Blackwell's fitness is not guaranteed. And we don't really know how Butters is going to fare in Division 1.

An experienced 1st Div centre half would be a good signing - in the mould of Simon Morgan please.

 

[saltash seagull]

i have 2 agree danny,guy,deano,virgs,hinch and elabd is is more than enough in my view its at the other end of the pitch we need a bit more quality.

but iv got full faith that Mcghee knows exactly wat he's doing

 

[Albionite83]

Is Butters up to Division 1 pace? However, it's our midfield that is really crying out to be strengthened.

 

[BUTTERBALL]

Guy Butters and Dean Blackwell are both big wage earners. Maybe they are looking at a cheaper options?

I expect them to improve and extend Danny Cullip's contract too.

 

[Aspinal's Body Double]

Guy Butters and Dean Blackwell are both big wage earners. Maybe they are looking at a cheaper options?

Don't think we can really hope to survive on cheaper players, but even if it were true then Virgo, Hinsh or El-Abd are the cheaper options.

I agree with Albionite83, the money would be much better spent in midfield.

 

[Lammy]

We must have the biggest defensive squad in the country!!!

Midfield please and one more striker is all we need!

 

[Simster]

I suspect McGhee's brief is to ensure we stay in division 1 for the next two years - 4th from bottom will do in both seasons. With that in mind, I'm expecting some dull football at Withdean with very few goals and just enough 1-0 wins to keep us up.

In the end, I reckon McGhee has decided he can't take the chance that Butters, Blackwell and the youngsters will be OK at this level and has decided to strengthen. As for signing forwards, I reckon anyone who would walk into that team ahead of signing Ilewumo and Knight is going to be out of our price range. I reckon he'll bring another striker in, but really only to provide some meaningful competition for places.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Guy Butters and Dean Blackwell are both big wage earners. Maybe they are looking at a cheaper options?

I expect them to improve and extend Danny Cullip's contract too.

I know Butters is a big earner, his original wage was linked to the highest earner at the club (at the time Zamora). However Blackwell took a 40% cut to re-sign for us.

I cannot see how they can justify keeping the pair of them.

 

[Biscuit]

Butter isnt a gurrante of a good div 1 defender.
Blackwell, injury problems - abit of a risk.

Considering the first season is all about staying up (aposed to playing good football) a proven division one center back is more vital than a midfielder. In my opinion.

 

[i hate derby]

you can have dawson for 10 million..........

 

[Razi]

Butters played 44 games this season - the most, along with Knight, in the club. We got promoted at the end of this season. Does that not mean that he's of a good enough quality to get a start in Div 1?

 

[fatboy]

Butters played 44 games this season - the most, along with Knight, in the club. We got promoted at the end of this season. Does that not mean that he's of a good enough quality to get a start in Div 1?

Impossible to say.

All we know is he wasn't up to it last time. Perhaps Mcghee doesn't want to take the risk this time.

 

[Locky]

I am not convinced Butters will be up to the task next season.
He has been great in the air, quite often heading the ball out of defence, or indeed hoofing the ball...............as has cullip to a degree.
We really need a good centre half who will play the ball out of defence and by doing so pass the ball to our midfield and stop the lottery of a 50/50.

 

[saltash seagull]

im not convinced either he's had a fantastic season but i do think he may get shown up next season and that maybe he should have stuck to his original plans and hung up his boots after sunday! wat a game that woul have been to do a nasser

 

[GNF on Tour]

I suspect McGhee's brief is to ensure we stay in division 1 for the next two years - 4th from bottom will do in both seasons.

Predictably, I agree with Simster. If McGhee was allowed to buy the Berlin Wall as a new central defender he would. The next few years is all about one thing - staying in Div 1. If McGhee wants to buy defenders then its fine by me.

Just remember in true Albion fashion McGhee will gone by Christmas and at the very least we should have a decent defence to hand over to Booker by then. Of course, we won't be able to score goals for toffee!

 

[London Irish]

We DO NEED another competent central defender. Remember our last big tonking of the season at Blackpool as what happens when Cullip gets injured. Both Butters and Virgo looked utterly lost that day without the skipper. We can't gamble on Danny or Butters staying fit for the whole campaign. We need alternatives. As people have said, defence is going to be the priority next season given the cleverer forward lines we are going to face. We actually have more options in our much derided midfield than we do at central defence at the moment.