Speculation: Central Defenders

[Barry the bird boggler]

If Mills does go, then I think we'd need to bring in TWO central defenders as Pearce and Morrison would be our only specialist cover in those positions and they are an untried and untested partnership at this level.

Jason Pearce has now gone to Portsmouth and the only other name we've been linked with in that role is Magnus Okuonghae from Colchester. And its probably a little too early for Michael Hector or Jack Mills to make the step up as well....

Anyone care to speculate, any useful names in the Premiership we could nab on loan?

[royalsroyalsroyals92]

Ibrahima Sonko

[songvip]

Karleigh Osborne (Brentford)

[Hoop Blah]

IF we lose Mills then I think it presents us with an opportunity to bring in a player more suited to fitting in with Pearce and Morrison. I think that means a centre back with a bit of pace and also an experienced head and good character.

With Griffin and Harte two of our options at full back we have to be careful not to go too far with the experience though. Some might suggest Harte at centre back but I'm not a great fan of that idea.

Who that player(s) is I'm not sure. One name that popped into my head was Danny Higginbotham, but I've just read he did his cruciate ligaments so no go there.

[Snowball]

Just curious, but does L-Wood play CB?

[roadrunner]

Just curious, but does L-Wood play CB?

Who's L-Wood?

[CentiaRoyal]

Just curious, but does L-Wood play CB?

Who's L-Wood?

Leigertwood

[Ian Royal]

I vaguely recall him playing at CB many years ago, but I could very easily be wrong about that. He could do a job there I'm sure, but I'd rather him in midfield thanks.

[CentiaRoyal]

I vaguely recall him playing at CB many years ago, but I could very easily be wrong about that. He could do a job there I'm sure, but I'd rather him in midfield thanks.

Same as Bryn could, but not a solution, even as back-up

[Hoop Blah]

Certainly not a solution, especially as we'd then have to spend just as much on a midfielder to maintain any strength to the side.

He certainly used to play right back a fair bit in his earlier days though, and I think centre back might've been something he did too.

[Ian Royal]

Without a doubt we've got a lot of good centreback emergency cover in the squad, which is why I think we could cope just fine with three specialists. We're unlikely to be without two of them for long periods without being able to bring in a loanee of some kind.

Mills goes and we need a signing, and I'm sure we'll get one.

[Hoop Blah]

That's fine, but don't forget that one of those 'specialists' is currently totally unproven at this level and couldn't get a game with us or when out on loan to Huddersfield last season. Furthermore the team he did get games for (and impressed with apparently) got relegated.

I'm not writing Morrison off at all, but a lot of people seem to be putting a lot of faith in him for, from what I can see, very little reason.

My main concern is that he looks like he'll be a bit of a carbon copy of Pearce, ie decent but slow. That doesn't make for a good partnership in my experience.

[Wycombe Royal]

and couldn't get a game with us or when out on loan to Huddersfield last season.

THat's a bit harsh. He went to a team that were on a long unbeaten run and unfortunately for him no one got injured or suspended.

[Hoop Blah]

I thought at the time he went there it was specifically because they had an injury to cover (obviously used their own backup for that if true) but I might be wrong.

It's always a little harsh to judge a player on games as a loanee though. Not being part of the club proper can have various effects on how often you play and how you play when selected.

[Wycombe Royal]

I thought at the time he went there it was specifically because they had an injury to cover (obviously used their own backup for that if true) but I might be wrong.

It's always a little harsh to judge a player on games as a loanee though. Not being part of the club proper can have various effects on how often you play and how you play when selected.

I believe the player wasn't as badly injured as they thought and carried on playing.

[Hoop Blah]

I just did a little check to refresh the memory too.

It seems they had two injuries to cover, Peter Clarke (their skipper who they played through his injury) and also Antony Kay (their 3rd choice centre back who was out for longer). RFC certainly thought and wanted him to get games up there though.

Agreed it's harsh to say he didn't get a game, but at the end of the day he didn't but at least Lee Clark did say some nice things about him when we recalled him. The noises from RFC sound promising as well, but as you have to take every soundbite from anyway involved with a truck load of salt I'll wait to form my own opinion on him when he plays.

[Victor Meldrew]

Just curious, but does L-Wood play CB?

IIRC he was first and foremost a centre-back who occasionally played right-back or in a holding midfield role.

[Snowball]

That's fine, but don't forget that one of those 'specialists' is currently totally unproven at this level and couldn't get a game with us or when out on loan to Huddersfield last season. Furthermore the team he did get games for (and impressed with apparently) got relegated.

I'm not writing Morrison off at all, but a lot of people seem to be putting a lot of faith in him for, from what I can see, very little reason.

My main concern is that he looks like he'll be a bit of a carbon copy of Pearce, ie decent but slow. That doesn't make for a good partnership in my experience.

The "faith" comes from knowing that a lot of other clubs, incl Prem clubs
were looking at him. Which was why we jumped in early

[Hoop Blah]

Clubs look at a lot of players and do or don't make a move and it turns out to be a failure

I'm all for giving players a chance but I won't be convinced either way until I've seen a bit of them myself to form an opinion.

I'm just not a fan of blind optimism for the sake of it.

[UpNorth]

So - no suggestions so far for centre back replacements. Not looking good.

What about that Scottish fella who plays for Brighton?