Question...So we play three at the back and go into the season with only four centre backs in Deborah/Heneghan/Hall/Humphreys (not counting U21 Lomax) is this sufficient and necessary?

Or could it be that apart from the centre half "head-it kick-it" that both LCB and RCB are in some sense full backs in terms of mobility/cover and bringing the ball forward such that Hart/Gordon can cover at LCB and Gabriel/John can cover at RCB?

On another train of thought as in Wain was mentioned a week or so back alongside Embleton and Wain has been signed so perhaps Ojo stays (can also play centre back) or perhaps Ojo is moved on and another midfielder signed.

Finally the trialists firstly the keeper only 24 and one for the future but with Amos 35 and Marosi 31 can't see the luxury of three keepers unless Amos is looking for a 2 year contract somewhere on the back of the promo...but mostly in terms of 3/4/3 having five strikers Stockley/Curtis/Tolaj/Paton/Wain then there would seem to be room for one more and what kind of player is the trialist striker....a target man/number nine/centre forwar/ back up for Stockley or Other?

4 minutes ago, Burslem Academicals said:

Question...So we play three at the back and go into the season with only four centre backs in Deborah/Heneghan/Hall/Humphreys (not counting U21 Lomax) is this sufficient and necessary?

Or could it be that apart from the centre half "head-it kick-it" that both LCB and RCB are in some sense full backs in terms of mobility/cover and bringing the ball forward such that Hart/Gordon can cover at LCB and Gabriel/John can cover at RCB?

On another train of thought as in Wain was mentioned a week or so back alongside Embleton and Wain has been signed so perhaps Ojo stays (can also play centre back) or perhaps Ojo is moved on and another midfielder signed.

Finally the trialists firstly the keeper only 24 and one for the future but with Amos 35 and Marosi 31 can't see the luxury of three keepers unless Amos is looking for a 2 year contract somewhere on the back of the promo...but mostly in terms of 3/4/3 having five strikers Stockley/Curtis/Tolaj/Paton/Wain then there would seem to be room for one more and what kind of player is the trialist striker....a target man/number nine/centre forwar/ back up for Stockley or Other?

My head hurts 

7 minutes ago, Brian Johnson said:

My head hurts 

Mine too, hope DM has a plan 🙂 otherwise OVF will sort it out 🙂 

Sorry the short version......A) Foster 24 or Amos 35 B) Ojo or Embleton C) Trialist striker Yes/No.

 

47 minutes ago, Dol Boy said:

Who are they, please?

The player is Ethan Chislet

6 minutes ago, Conrad said:

The player is Ethan Chislet

 

1 hour ago, Dol Boy said:

Who are they, please?

Bob Vylan. 

1 hour ago, Burslem Academicals said:

Question...So we play three at the back and go into the season with only four centre backs in Deborah/Heneghan/Hall/Humphreys (not counting U21 Lomax) is this sufficient and necessary?

Or could it be that apart from the centre half "head-it kick-it" that both LCB and RCB are in some sense full backs in terms of mobility/cover and bringing the ball forward such that Hart/Gordon can cover at LCB and Gabriel/John can cover at RCB?

On another train of thought as in Wain was mentioned a week or so back alongside Embleton and Wain has been signed so perhaps Ojo stays (can also play centre back) or perhaps Ojo is moved on and another midfielder signed.

Finally the trialists firstly the keeper only 24 and one for the future but with Amos 35 and Marosi 31 can't see the luxury of three keepers unless Amos is looking for a 2 year contract somewhere on the back of the promo...but mostly in terms of 3/4/3 having five strikers Stockley/Curtis/Tolaj/Paton/Wain then there would seem to be room for one more and what kind of player is the trialist striker....a target man/number nine/centre forwar/ back up for Stockley or Other?

I guess it’s a slow day at work pal😂…..

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41 minutes ago, Burslem Academicals said:

Sorry the short version......A) Foster 24 or Amos 35 B) Ojo or Embleton C) Trialist striker Yes/No.

 

In terms of C - if he plays 3 4 3 Shipley and Richards figure in his options. Potentially also Headley who often played further forward at Huddersfield and Gordon who played as a winger in The National League. Maybe an outside chance for Noordanus if he performs better than Paton over the next week. 

B - Embleton is a right footed Shipley. I suspect that boat has sailed.

A - almost zero chance we have 3 senior keepers.

Your general points about a fullback in the back 3, I think Moore likes the idea. Last year he would have done it more but for fitness and suspensions. Quite often he only had two available. He made the point about how much all 6 played. He's probably decided that how he wants to play it's the wingbacks at most risk of injury, over loaded his squad there rather than centrehalf. He can't go on adding more and more cover in every position.  He has a squad limit of 22, Financial Fair Play and ultimately a limit on the amount the owners can subsidise the squad.

Man City, Liverpool and Arsenal fans all have the same conversation after each signing - good now if only we improve this or that area. Ultimately there comes a point where you have to accept reality and go with the best you can afford and sign. It won't be perfect, otherwise there would be no need for a January window.

2 hours ago, Guitar Ray said:

Of the 5 forwards currently on the books we have only Stockley as a proven striker at the level, Curtis to a lesser extent.  The others are unproven, I’m not including Shipley as I don’t see him playing there regularly.  Without seeing Waine, it sounds as though he’s closer to Paton, possibly Hackford if he has that pace. I’d be amazed if we don’t sign a “target man” type of forward to cover Stockley.  My gut feeling is we’ll hold out for an experienced player late in the window, possibly on loan as you say.

You may be right but it depends upon your definition of experienced… if by experienced we mean on a level of Stockley, I d be amazed if a central striker would be available on loan at the start of the season unless his legs were gone.

i think we would have to go with an inexperienced striker on loan myself. Either that or bust our budget for a striker as good as a fit Stockley which I do t think we ll do.

JRC thanks for the reply....wasn't thinking three keepers rather Foster over Amos as back up for development and then new midfielder (name supplied) to replace Ojo if moved on and finally Noordanus at six two and very much a number 9 could perhaps be the back up for Stockley everyone knows we need.

1 hour ago, Conrad said:

The player is Ethan Chislet

Thanks, Conrad.  He's had a haircut, I didn't recognise him!

All the talk of keeper age: chances are that at 31, a goalkeeper has many years left, potentially up to even a decade. We don't give any player more than 3 years on a contract anyway, plus we already have a young goalkeeper to develop. Two keepers at 35 and 31 is absolutely fine - desirable, even: it may be the position that most benefits from a bit of experience.

My thought is if we can get Richards, Cover, BBB etc. as L2 loans, we should hopefully be able to get even better loans for L1. We’d be absolutely set with a decent young striker pushing to start and another CB.

Edited July 1, 2025Jul 1 by 1