Centre backs for friday

[Brennyboy]

Clearly TC will play but if HD is still not fit i don't see why calvet can't play, he's looking good in the development squad he needs experience and quite frankly KOC was poor yesterday, also calvet is a natural central defender

 

[Balders Bee]

Calvert is highly rated by everyone not sure throwing him in the deep end is the answer though especially against the dogs of war of Gillingford. If we can't get anyone in think I'd go with Mac and TC. Not scapegoating KOC but just think that would be our best pairing.

 

[bees66]

https://griffinpark.org/forums/showthread.php?t=107035&p=2294051#post2294051 we are already on this subject..

 

[hardybee]

Mac would be wasted at centre back

 

[shepperton bee]

Bit worried about lack of height at the back for this one if no Harlee whilst Alinfatty has the turning circle of a battleship he's a wily old fox and a certain Mr Legge is a danger at set pieces he scored from one yesterday ...we need to impose our game on them early and blitz them out of it otherwise it could be a frustrating night.

 

[andyrew]

Leon Legge must be licking his lips at the prospect of attacking our defence given his eye for goalscoring from set pieces although I would avoid any knee-jerk reaction with regard to changes to our defence.

 

[absenteebee]

New bloke

 

[MetalBee]

We've got 5 full days and however long on Friday before any registration cut off to sign a centre back which we need to do even for when Harlee is back.

Primarily as cover but they need to be good enough to play.

If we can't get Keirnan, must be other options available?

 

[jlove]

If this thread is going to morph into the Team for Gillingham (H) thread, then I think, while it will be a great idea to sign a tall, fast centre back and not play Calvet, the experience of Kev and Craig is more than enough to counter big players who are slow but have been around a bit. Gillingham now will be a different proposition to our earlier encounter and will probably try to play more football with Taylor now managing them for 15 or so games. If we play to our strengths, I don't see we should be too concerned about them.

 

[sonofabee]

If this thread is going to morph into the Team for Gillingham (H) thread, then I think, while it will be a great idea to sign a tall, fast centre back and not play Calvet, the experience of Kev and Craig is more than enough to counter big players who are slow but have been around a bit. Gillingham now will be a different proposition to our earlier encounter and will probably try to play more football with Taylor now managing them for 15 or so games. If we play to our strengths, I don't see we should be too concerned about them.

Agree we'll try and sign a centre back this week if Harlee is out for a while. Not so sure I agree with you on Taylor getting his teams to play football. I think you'll find he'll have them very fit, very competitive and very quick to get the ball forward. He's never been big on entertaining football, ask Leicester or Hull fans - he's big on graft and like MA he'll attempt to make them harder to beat but his style won't be anything like Walsall.

 

[jlove]

Agree we'll try and sign a centre back this week if Harlee is out for a while. Not so sure I agree with you on Taylor getting his teams to play football. I think you'll find he'll have them very fit, very competitive and very quick to get the ball forward. He's never been big on entertaining football, ask Leicester or Hull fans - he's big on graft and like MA he'll attempt to make them harder to beat but his style won't be anything like Walsall.

I wasn't suggesting Gillingham will play like Walsall! I was just suggesting that they will have more than just the previous 'heave-and-hope-and-run-around-a-lot' and be set up with a tactical game plan. That plan may include defending deep and breaking using McDonald, Weston and Harriman to break quickly, win free kicks and work their set pieces.

 

[hanworthbee]

we'll be ok just don't give away any corners

 

[alikat]

just don't give away any corners

... or free kicks in or near our half of the pitch...

 

[sonofabee]

I wasn't suggesting Gillingham will play like Walsall! I was just suggesting that they will have more than just the previous 'heave-and-hope-and-run-around-a-lot' and be set up with a tactical game plan. That plan may include defending deep and breaking using McDonald, Weston and Harriman to break quickly, win free kicks and work their set pieces.

Sorry I meant they wouldn't be a footballing side and will be happy for a battle. We have to earn the right to play football and that won't happen if the midfield is as ineffective as it was yesterday. Sav must not be the only midfielder putting in tackles, Dougie needs to step up and play as he did in the couple of games immediately before he was injured or otherwise Mac needs to be restored to midfield.

 

[Stanley]

IMHO the key to playing against Gillingham and their ariel threat is to do what we did against Port Vale and not let them have the ball by playing a high level of possession football and breaking them down in the midfield. With that in mind I would play Mac in the midfield as I lost count against Port Vale how many times he broke up their play.

Also not giving away corners and free kicks that might give Legge and co a look in.

 

[bees66]

Leon Legge must be licking his lips at the prospect of attacking our defence given his eye for goalscoring from set pieces

don't agree, we have played much better teams and players in the past 15 games and not lost..

 

[sonofabee]

don't agree, we have played much better teams and players in the past 15 games and not lost..

We've had Harlee at the back though and without him we lack height which will be a problem given they have big old units like Kedwell, Akinfenwa and Barrett as well as Leon.

 

[jlove]

I can't see we'll have a problem if Legge is what we're worrying about!

 

[bees66]

We've had Harlee at the back though and without him we lack height which will be a problem given they have big old units like Kedwell, Akinfenwa and Barrett as well as Leon.

we lacked height against Flint and Burn when both Harlee and Craig played from corners..

 

[sonofabee]

we lacked height against Flint and Burn when both Harlee and Craig played from corners..

Mate, you're pushing an open door, we're not great defending corners even with Harlee but without him we are definitely weaker. Clayton is our best defender at set pieces.

 

[BURFORD BEE]

Mate, you're pushing an open door, we're not great defending corners even with Harlee but without him we are definitely weaker. Clayton is our best defender at set pieces.

The thought of what Legge might do to us on Friday without any real height amongst our defenders with Harlee out worries me more than a little. We were poor at defending set pieces at the end of last season and its still not been sorted out. We also had all summer to get at least one decent CB in to cover for the inevitable injuries or suspensions To Harlee and TC but all we ended up with was Nugent. Don't get it as its such a key position.

 

[BURFORD BEE]

I can't see we'll have a problem if Legge is what we're worrying about!

Oh and just why is that. He was pretty damn effective when he went up[ for corners when he was playing for us.

 

[afrimleybee]

Oh and just why is that. He was pretty damn effective when he went up[ for corners when he was playing for us.

He has scored 2 goals in the league this season, the last yesterday v Swindon.

 

[favershambee]

MW knows we need another CB and I expect to see another signing next week.

 

[BURFORD BEE]

He has scored 2 goals in the league this season, the last yesterday v Swindon.

Its not just about the goals that someone like Legge scores when he goes up though, its the chaos that they cause that allows others the opportunity. Don't get me wrong I'm not suggesting that we need another Leon but like long throws there must be players who can deal with an aerial threat and without Harlee we have nobody.

 

[BURFORD BEE]

MW knows we need another CB and I expect to see another signing next week.

Not a criticism of MW but he and the previous incumbent have know this since we let Legge go and we are still waiting!

 

[favershambee]

I take the point, but with Harlee injured the matter has become more urgent.

Not a criticism of MW but he and the previous incumbent have know this since we let Legge go and we are still waiting!

 

[Bigruss]

All this talk of us being sh*t at defending set pieces, and I can't recall the last goal we conceded from one.

 

[Alex Callow]

Colchester at home?

 

[BURFORD BEE]

All this talk of us being sh*t at defending set pieces, and I can't recall the last goal we conceded from one.

You presumably do not suffer the recurrent nightmare of the playoff semi final 2nd leg or the goal that sent Yeovil into the Championship. This was when we actually had Harlee in the team.

 

[lishabee]

Can someone please answer me a simple question, if we go and get a replacement CH does this mean we do not play Harlee when he is fit? If we do play Harlee when he is fit, does this mean we say to a prospective CH ,'come and join us you will love it, oh and by the way you are dropped as soon as HD is fit again?!' For me, this has been the problem all along and that is why Kirnen seems a good solution. Too often reacting to a short term problem with a long term solution simply creates a long term problem.

 

[JCMcBee]

I take the point, but with Harlee injured the matter has become more urgent.

the lad at Forest Green,oshidi,looked solid when i saw him play on telly against hereford......we have sent people to watch him,and MW knows him from watford.....believe he scored yesterday in an easy win for Forest Green.

 

[Bigruss]

Colchester at home?

Just checked and you're right.

 

[BURFORD BEE]

Can someone please answer me a simple question, if we go and get a replacement CH does this mean we do not play Harlee when he is fit? If we do play Harlee when he is fit, does this mean we say to a prospective CH ,'come and join us you will love it, oh and by the way you are dropped as soon as HD is fit again?!' For me, this has been the problem all along and that is why Kirnen seems a good solution. Too often reacting to a short term problem with a long term solution simply creates a long term problem.

Of course it doesn't. The intention I believe to ensure competition for places and to cover injuries and suspensions is to have an alternative for every position. I admit we don't have this all over the side as is obvious by our lack of a recognised left wing for example. However there are 2 centre backs in the modern game and we don't have a recognised alternative for either of them. Its an absolutely key position. You cant change the formation and play 1 centre back the way you can play 1 striker or opt not to play recognised wingers. It will cost us dear if Harlee is out for much longer and I would rather not think about what would happen if Craig were injured or got a straight red.

 

[Bigruss]

You presumably do not suffer the recurrent nightmare of the playoff semi final 2nd leg or the goal that sent Yeovil into the Championship. This was when we actually had Harlee in the team.

Nope. Don't see the point of dwelling on last season.

 

[BURFORD BEE]

Nope. Don't see the point of dwelling on last season.

Maybe not but in this case its relevant!

 

[Bigruss]

Maybe not but in this case its relevant!

How? You still have nightmares about 2 games last season when Harlee was playing, yet this thread has been started because people are worried about the fact that he's not playing.

 

[Thorne In The Side]

By the tone of this thread anyone would think we were playing Barcelona. Think gillingham may need to worry about us a little.

 

[belvederebee]

Should we give Pierre a chance?

 

[gavobee]

Why did rosler feel the need to offload Leon?

 

[sonofabee]

Why did rosler feel the need to offload Leon?

Because he wanted first team football and we couldn't offer him it.

 

[WARFIELD BEE]

I can't see we'll have a problem if Legge is what we're worrying about!

Yeah, and on Friday I was told Dagnall was crap, and look what happened Saturday, we need another CH going with Kevin would be a big mistake IMO

 

[Thorne In The Side]

Why did rosler feel the need to offload Leon?

Because we have moved on light years.

 

[andyrew]

the lad at Forest Green,oshidi,looked solid when i saw him play on telly against hereford......we have sent people to watch him,and MW knows him from watford.....believe he scored yesterday in an easy win for Forest Green.

I don't think he played in the recent game vs. Hereford Utd did he? A mate of mine is a FGR supporter and he doesn't rate Oshodi that highly!

 

[fencer/bee]

we'll be ok just don't give away any corners

... or free kicks in or near our half of the pitch...

Or throw in's. as they like a long throw

 

[Easter 1959]

Why did rosler feel the need to offload Leon?

And because, although he was decent defensively (particuarly aerially) and was a reasonable aerial attacking threat from set pieces, his ballplaying skills were a way from what would be needed if the Club were to move forward to a higher level; 'agricultural' would be one way to describe how he moves the ball upfield.

He was a good servant, honest and reliable on the pitch I reck, and, like almost everyone else I should think, I wish him well in the future; but, perhaps a bit like with Farid, the Team and the Club have evolved forward past him.

 

[Womble Bee]

Whoever marks Legge when Gillingham get a corner needs to be prepared for a battle, good luck!

 

[JCMcBee]

I don't think he played in the recent game vs. Hereford Utd did he? A mate of mine is a FGR supporter and he doesn't rate Oshodi that highly!

your right....it was bangura i thought was ok....not oshodi.

 

[paulmaddy]

Have often thought Toumani could do a decent job at centre back. Certainly has the height we lack and would imagine he would be good at passing out from the back.

Anyone else or just me?

 

[Aberdeen flyer]

If people on here rate Leon Legge so highly I would just think back to Gillingham's F.A. Cup tie against Brackley F.C. where he was torn apart by a non league striker and looked liked a Sunday league player.