The Picture is starting to emerge of what DM has in mind, but a while to go yet on will or will not wear the famous shirts.  

Shorrock and Plant deserve to be playing further forward as wingers, don’t see that happening at Vale under Moore. 
 

I feel for Planty a bit more as he’s been out of position at Vale when he was here and not been able get the game time at a level to help us out. He’s getting to that age he needs to break through to make it as a EFL player. 
 

Shorrock is still much younger and promise, can see him getting move upwards at his age. 

7 hours ago, Portvale4 said:

Can’t complain about that for depth, especially given how many injuries we had at wing-back last season.

I think that's exactly why we now have so many? More rotation and, hopefully. reduced chance of the injuries we've suffered from more than once! Also, can swap like-for-like for the last 20 minutes without losing impetus? 

1 hour ago, LancyTony said:

I think that's exactly why we now have so many? More rotation and, hopefully. reduced chance of the injuries we've suffered from more than once! Also, can swap like-for-like for the last 20 minutes without losing impetus? 

I think the like for like swap in game will be a big part of it.  WB's need to cover a lot of ground and they will be able to go all out, knowing that there is a high quality replacement on the bench.

7 hours ago, NW9Valiant said:

Shorrock and Plant deserve to be playing further forward as wingers, don’t see that happening at Vale under Moore. 
 

I feel for Planty a bit more as he’s been out of position at Vale when he was here and not been able get the game time at a level to help us out. He’s getting to that age he needs to break through to make it as a EFL player. 
 

Shorrock is still much younger and promise, can see him getting move upwards at his age. 

Not sure as too early in their (especially Shrok) careers. Both have skill and technique to potentially be a winger but neither are blessed with pace.

8 hours ago, JRC said:

Interesting article about Brandon Hanlan in The Valient.  Stevenage play 4 1 4 1 and he played quite a lot on the right of a midfield 4. Wycombe have played 4 2 3 1 since the days of Akinfenwe.  They've had Vokes, Kone, Dale Taylor and Akinfenwe playing that lone striker role in his 4 years at club. I suspect his goal record is what it is because he's been used mostly as a winger.

That’s interesting. If Bagger’s is doing a piece on him, it must mean we are definitely in for him 

Looking at our signings and the rumour of Hanlon it looks to me like we are seriously giving ourselves an option to play 4 at the back rather than being wed to 3 CB’s…. Well I hope that is the case.

51 minutes ago, MBE said:

Looking at our signings and the rumour of Hanlon it looks to me like we are seriously giving ourselves an option to play 4 at the back rather than being wed to 3 CB’s…. Well I hope that is the case.

I think that is very much wishful thinking on your part. Moore has been quite open he likes 3 5 2 and 3 4 3. Last year I think he decided he didn't have the pace in his forwards to play 3 4 3. The only forward option with real pace was Hackford, so teams could play quite a high line. It often ended up very congested around the halfway line. He may be addressing that this close season.  I think he probably quite likes having more of a fullback than a centrehalf as part of a back 3. I think he would probably have played that way more often; if it wasn't for injuries to John, Clark, Headley,  Sang and Headley for large parts of the season.  He rarely had more than 3 fullbacks available for large parts of the season; quite often only 2. Headley and Gordon have both played as wingers, so probably not suited to being out and out fullbacks. Gabriel has played as a winger more than a centrehalf, although is probably quite comfortable as a pure fullback. I don't have a strong preference over formations but I'd be a little surprised if Moore moves away from a 3. I think he's more flexible about how he sets up in midfield and his forward line.

What's the feeling about Gordon's position? From what I have read on the Walsall forum there's split between those who see him as better as a wingback and those who see him better in the back three. 

A lot mention his pace so I wonder if he'd been brought in to add some cover/pace to the back three rather than wingback? Heneghan, Hall and Debrah are not exactly speedkings.

If he is coming into the back three it makes sense both in terms of adding another left footer and adding someone with a bit of pace. 

I am totally prepared to be shot down by those with greater knowledge telling me Gordon is definitely a wingback though! I genuinely have no idea!

1 minute ago, robf said:

What's the feeling about Gordon's position? From what I have read on the Walsall forum there's split between those who see him as better as a wingback and those who see him better in the back three. 

A lot mention his pace so I wonder if he'd been brought in to add some cover/pace to the back three rather than wingback? Heneghan, Hall and Debrah are not exactly speedkings.

If he is coming into the back three it makes sense both in terms of adding another left footer and adding someone with a bit of pace. 

I am totally prepared to be shot down by those with greater knowledge telling me Gordon is definitely a wingback though! I genuinely have no idea!

Morning Rob

I read the same thing on their forum, but I think they are talking about the player they may use to replace him in the team (Evan Weir?) being the CB. It’s a bit confusing because they don’t seem to have / use a quote optionality their site. 

From what I can tell, he’s definitely a LB / LWB.

42 minutes ago, robf said:

What's the feeling about Gordon's position? From what I have read on the Walsall forum there's split between those who see him as better as a wingback and those who see him better in the back three. 

A lot mention his pace so I wonder if he'd been brought in to add some cover/pace to the back three rather than wingback? Heneghan, Hall and Debrah are not exactly speedkings.

If he is coming into the back three it makes sense both in terms of adding another left footer and adding someone with a bit of pace. 

I am totally prepared to be shot down by those with greater knowledge telling me Gordon is definitely a wingback though! I genuinely have no idea!

Debra's speedy, I'd say.

9 minutes ago, Valiant62 said:

Debra's speedy, I'd say.

Agreed, he's deceptively quick. 

1 hour ago, JRC said:

I think that is very much wishful thinking on your part. Moore has been quite open he likes 3 5 2 and 3 4 3. Last year I think he decided he didn't have the pace in his forwards to play 3 4 3. The only forward option with real pace was Hackford, so teams could play quite a high line. It often ended up very congested around the halfway line. He may be addressing that this close season.  I think he probably quite likes having more of a fullback than a centrehalf as part of a back 3. I think he would probably have played that way more often; if it wasn't for injuries to John, Clark, Headley,  Sang and Headley for large parts of the season.  He rarely had more than 3 fullbacks available for large parts of the season; quite often only 2. Headley and Gordon have both played as wingers, so probably not suited to being out and out fullbacks. Gabriel has played as a winger more than a centrehalf, although is probably quite comfortable as a pure fullback. I don't have a strong preference over formations but I'd be a little surprised if Moore moves away from a 3. I think he's more flexible about how he sets up in midfield and his forward line.

Maybe wishful thinking as you say but DM has certainly given himself the option.

20 hours ago, Johnny p said:

Would not mind clarke-harris from Rotherham 

apparently DC is looking to try and get him down to Bristol Rovers

1 hour ago, robf said:

A lot mention his pace so I wonder if he'd been brought in to add some cover/pace to the back three rather than wingback? Heneghan, Hall and Debrah are not exactly speedkings.

If he is coming into the back three it makes sense both in terms of adding another left footer and adding someone with a bit of pace. 

You may have a valid point there Rob looking at this on the Saddlers.