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Is CB an achilles heel?


Professor
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When Jose and Jos are in the side the back four looks solid and Martin has done well as cover but after him there is the aging Jaidi who hasn't played all season and Seaborne can't be considered until he returns to fitness. If 2 CBs are out, we play a FB out of position. So despite NA saying he is satisfied with the squad after the Jan window, the effort to sign a CB suggests the club recognises there is a weakness. Adkins says that after 7 Feb he will be asked by fans and the media if he plans to bring in an emergency loan. Its unlikely he's going to say publicly one way or the other, but should he? Does the club need a CB and if so, should it be someone who could genuinely compete with Jos or Jose for a first choice place, or a squad player?

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I would feel more comfortable if we did have some more established cover, however, with 3 fit centre backs (fingers crossed we will be back in this position in a week or so) it isn't an issue. The chance of getting someone of quality in to help out may be compromised if they think they would be 4th at best in any pecking order, we would have to therefore bring in someone exceptional to make it worth our while.

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I really don't see that there is any doubt that we are short at CB, and the Club clearly recognises this. But it looks like Jos is closer to being back than was originally thought. They are also clearly stepping up Jaidi's return, by giving him a long run out at Reading, so he could be used in an emergency. Seaborne won't play again this season, of that I am reasonably confident, due to the nature of his injury, and really it is questionable whether he will play again, unfortunately. Martin has been splendid in covering for the injured Fonte and Hooiveld and has really shown that he is up to the mark, but you can't get by with 3 CBs. I don't think Collins was the answer, he is not even played at CB at his present club, he was understudying Higgy who has now joined Forest (actually Higgy would have been a better bet). We are clearly looking for backup but are not going to be bullied/rushed into signing the wrong player, but expect someone in in a week or so. Personally I was a bit surprsied we let Harlee Dean stay at Brentford until end of season.

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It not iust a question of the number of fit Centre Backs we have, if you look at the record it will show that for a top two team we concede too many goals - if memory serves there are 5 or 6 other teams in this division with better defensive records than us.

 

This game is nearly always a uphill struggle when you concede (re Cardiff) so a classy defender and a medium term replacement for Kelvin might well have served us just as well as signing Billy Sharpe this transfer window.

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I was trying to remember who made that "Strikers win you games, defenders win you championships" quote, thinking it was fairly apt for this thread and assuming it was somebody successful, Shankley perhaps, or Ferguson.

 

Unfortunately upon searching it turns out it was John Gregory.

The original quote was "goals win games. defences win championships"
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We have three good centre backs. That's fine if you keep them fit, but four should be the proper number. I too think Jaidi wouldn't cut it now, in a higher league, at a higher age, and Seaborne is still on the recovery trail. Seaborne, Martin, Jos and Jose would be a good CB quota to have, but we do currently need a left sided CB, so...loan.

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Yes it is an area that needs strengthening, but only on loan as we will need to reconsider options when we get promoted. I think Martin is showing himself to be a very capable CB in the NPC. Whether any of our main three CB's are capable in the Prem remains to be seen. As far as Seaborne is concerned I don't honestly see him playing in a Saints shirt again, only due to the fact that if/when he returns, he'll not be capable of playing at Prem level.

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