2025/26 Ins & Outs Discussion

[Kmcalpin]

We really have pushed the boat out in the past few weeks, strengthening midfield and up front. That's great. However, I still worry that the defence will ship goals. I know there are issues there with the number of legacy players but JBA may still want to shake things up in that department. 

[wunderwell]

13 minutes ago, Kmcalpin said:

We really have pushed the boat out in the past few weeks, strengthening midfield and up front. That's great. However, I still worry that the defence will ship goals. I know there are issues there with the number of legacy players but JBA may still want to shake things up in that department. 

I think I'm really looking forward to this season if we get two guns in the defensive area.

[Lobey_Dosser]

JBA will definitely want his own man in defence, someone with the physical attributes that is also comfortable with the ball. Hopefully a commanding goalie is also on his radar. 

[stv]

3 hours ago, Lobey_Dosser said:

JBA will definitely want his own man in defence, someone with the physical attributes that is also comfortable with the ball. Hopefully a commanding goalie is also on his radar. 

Gordon strolled thru the first phase of games for us last season ,he can’t suddenly just turn shite. Need to take into account previous manager lost the plot after those games. Still think he’s a good defender.

Looks like Ox will have this injury hanging over him for a while.

[Spiderpig]

4 hours ago, Lobey_Dosser said:

JBA will definitely want his own man in defence, someone with the physical attributes that is also comfortable with the ball. Hopefully a commanding goalie is also on his radar. 

Agreed a solid centre back and a keeper that will command his area, come for cross balls etc takes a whole lot of pressure away from the rest of the defence.

 

[santheman]

49 minutes ago, stv said:

Gordon strolled thru the first phase of games for us last season ,he can’t suddenly just turn shite. Need to take into account previous manager lost the plot after those games. Still think he’s a good defender.

Looks like Ox will have this injury hanging over him for a while.

Gordons fine when he's played to his core strengths of defending high balls and clearing his lines,  not so sure how he'll cope with playing it out from the back which looks like the way we'll be set up.

[dennyc]

1 hour ago, stv said:

Gordon strolled thru the first phase of games for us last season ,he can’t suddenly just turn shite. Need to take into account previous manager lost the plot after those games. Still think he’s a good defender.

Looks like Ox will have this injury hanging over him for a while.

Gordon was poor in his latter games for St J and after a brief encouraging start with us he then reverted to little better than the rest. Positional and ball retention, trying to play out hardly inspiring. There has to be a player in there given his earlier St J performances and I think he found playing in a back three especially difficult. I have hopes that in a back four, concentrating on defensive duties, we will see the player we hoped we had signed. But he needs a partnership and I do not think Balmer is that player. So yes we need a CB that the Manager knows and trusts. 

[stv]

1 hour ago, dennyc said:

Gordon was poor in his latter games for St J and after a brief encouraging start with us he then reverted to little better than the rest. Positional and ball retention, trying to play out hardly inspiring. There has to be a player in there given his earlier St J performances and I think he found playing in a back three especially difficult. I have hopes that in a back four, concentrating on defensive duties, we will see the player we hoped we had signed. But he needs a partnership and I do not think Balmer is that player. So yes we need a CB that the Manager knows and trusts. 

Agree about Balmer and hopefully the new manager plays the game to Gordon's strengths and coaches him a bit, not like our previous manager who seemed to go out his way to play his players out of their natural and preferred positions.

I think he did that with evey position in the team except the goal keeper.