Recruiting a new contractual player for the defence

Redwurzel

Redwurzel

Well-known member
As we stand we may only have 4 available defenders for the Ipswich game and 2 of them are left backs, one id still very inexperienced and one is just coming back from 14 months out.

We also have 2 defenders out for the season.

Surely if there is ever a time to dip into the non contractual market, say for a defender without a club, it is now. There are lots of games to play in December and New Years Day, before the January window opens.
 
Am sure the clu
Redwurzel said:
As we stand we may only have 4 available defenders for the Ipswich game and 2 of them are left backs, one id still very inexperienced and one is just coming back from 14 months out.

We also have 2 defenders out for the season.

Surely if there is ever a time to dip into the non contractual market, say for a defender without a club, it is now. There are lots of games to play in December and New Years Day, before the January window opens.
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Am sure the club are looking at it, but there are at least 3 things that make it difficult.
1) are they fit and ready to play now.
2) will they come to us and are they in our wage range
3) who will come knowing that there is a good chance they will drop down the pecking order once we can buy someone else in the January.
 
I agree on point 1.

On point 2 - a player coming is likely to earning nothing at present - likely candidates are in their 30s - possibly earning a bonus close to the end of their career

On point 3 - agreed, but as per pount 2 its probably a player in their 30s who may struggle to play week in week out for an extended period

Phil Jagielka is an example of the type of player. I noticed he said he retired on November 28th and is 41, but we are talking until Fry and McNair are fit and the Jan window opens.
 
Redwurzel said:
I agree on point 1.

On point 2 - a player coming is likely to earning nothing at present - likely candidates are in their 30s - possibly earning a bonus close to the end of their career

On point 3 - agreed, but as per pount 2 its probably a player in their 30s who may struggle to play week in week out for an extended period

Phil Jagielka is an example of the type of player. I noticed he said he retired on November 28th and is 41, but we are talking until Fry and McNair are fit and the Jan window opens.
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I think I would prefer to register Woodgate for a few games than Jagielka to be honest. Total non starter.

I would have thought we would play the best defender from the U23s if it came to it.
 
Ref PK - I don't know his current condition, he was released by Stoke in the Summer - Samba of 2 years ago is another in the the same category - but I did say that type of player i.e, later years defender with decent record for defending.
 
Colgates_shaving_foam said:
I think I would prefer to register Woodgate for a few games than Jagielka to be honest. Total non starter.

I would have thought we would play the best defender from the U23s if it came to it.
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I’d rather Carrick played himself, at least his body would hold up better than Woodgates and he played a fair few games at CB in his last couple of seasons at Man Utd. Woodgate might last 60mins but then he’d need 3 weeks to recover.

I’m half expecting Phil Jones to rock up on a deal until Jan. Scott Dann could be a short term option. Matty Longstaff looked destined for good things a couple of years ago, he’s still a free agent, could bring him in and let Howson cover the defence.
 
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Howson can play RB and CB as well..
Bangura (or Engel), RVB, Clark, Howson isn't too bad. Then hopefully McNair and Fry are back soon from injury. Jones could play RB when back from suspension.
 
The Card Cheat said:
Howson can play RB and CB as well..
Bangura (or Engel), RVB, Clark, Howson isn't too bad. Then hopefully McNair and Fry are back soon from injury. Jones could play RB when back from suspension.
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Hackney is out as well though so who will play midfield if howson goes to full back? Crooks could maybe play deeper or howson would have to stay in midfield and one of the LBs would have to go play RB.
 
Colgates_shaving_foam said:
Hackney is out as well though so who will play midfield if howson goes to full back? Crooks could maybe play deeper or howson would have to stay in midfield and one of the LBs would have to go play RB.
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Yeah I'd play Crooks in the slightly deeper role, then Rogers where Crooks has been playing. Just for the next game.👍
 
Howson is best in midfield, we really only have 3 central midfielders and one of them is injured.

Isn't it easier to recruit a club free defender to cover one of our long term injured defenders?

There must be some cash available from bigger crowds this season and the cup run.
 
Redwurzel said:
Howson is best in midfield, we really only have 3 central midfielders and one of them is injured.

Isn't it easier to recruit a club free defender to cover one of our long term injured defenders?

There must be some cash available from bigger crowds this season and the cup run.
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It's what I'd do on Football Manager, and usually works quite well!...but I'm not sure it's that simple in the real world. It takes weeks for a player to be fully match fit, a new player would take time to fully understand how we play and his teammates play. If a player plays for us it also limits who he can sign for this season, so a player would want some kind of commitment contract wise from us you'd have thought?
It's a lot of stumbling blocks for one, maybe two games.
 
Surely an opportunity for an academy player until January, then we can get a player we actually want. Aren’t Riley and O’Brien due back in the next month so could fill in.
 
Bangura—RVDB—Clarke—Engel

I think that’s our best option

U23s..
Sykes—Hannah—Bilongo—Collins

Hannah looked great to me.. I’ve been a big fan of Bilongo’s now for quite a while.
 
I think I’d be more inclined to put Bangura at left back and shuffle the other 3 across one than play Bangura at right back.
 
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