Experienced CB's

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Benctfc
Posts: 1353
Joined: 29 Dec 2011, 16:54
Location: Whaddon road
Anyone else frustrated that again like last season we haven't brought in anyone with FL experience in this position? There are plenty about who can be picked up relatively cheaply.

To me you build your team from the back and experience is seriously lacking there atm as can be seen by the lack of clean sheets. I don't think it is a coincedence that in our most succesful recent seasons we have had the like of Elliott with Bennett and Parslow and Downes at the back. No nonsense defenders who had been around and knew the league they were playing in.
CTFC03
Posts: 1451
Joined: 01 Jun 2013, 20:32
If we had 2 no nonsense FL quality cb's we would be around the play offs because the rest of the team imho is good enough which is why it's so frustrating watching continuous highlights of seriously bad errors from our team when our general play is overall good, yes we should score more but if you can keep the back door shut you give yourself a chance.
Robin
Posts: 15948
Joined: 20 Nov 2009, 11:19
I do agree with this a decent experienced centre back would be ideal.
RegencyCheltenhamSpa
Posts: 29757
Joined: 21 Nov 2009, 03:27
We did in the summer with Forster who was looking like one of the best in L2 easily. Can’t legislate for such bad injuries, and players of his calibre are not easily found for free transfer or affordable wages. Injury a real blow but it is what it is. He will recover and hopefully we can find someone of similar standard in the summer to play alongside him.
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Nesty
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Joined: 18 Jun 2011, 09:17
Ben2 wrote:We’ve replaced average centre backs with a complete disaster.

I’m seriously worried we’ll go down now
the gap is narrowing
Robin
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Joined: 20 Nov 2009, 11:19
Ben2 wrote:We’ve replaced average centre backs with a complete disaster.

I’m seriously worried we’ll go down now
Please stop the trolling.
horlickfanclub
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Joined: 04 Aug 2011, 11:02
We signed an experienced centre half called Downes on a new contract last summer.
Robin
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Joined: 20 Nov 2009, 11:19
Downes was signed more on the coaching side with the option as emergency cover though Horlick. I feel we need to sign a Steve Elliott, Alan Bennett, rugged and experienced centre half who can organise the backline. Boyle I feel can do that over time but the rest of our centre halves are very inconsistent already and need to avoid that added pressure.
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Shade
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Location: Cheltenhamshire
At least Boyle might get a game next weekend, assuming Moore's red won't be overturned, if it's even appealed.
horlickfanclub
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Joined: 04 Aug 2011, 11:02
In that case we needed one more from the start Robin and Grimes has not measured up.
RegencyCheltenhamSpa
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Joined: 21 Nov 2009, 03:27
horlickfanclub wrote:We signed an experienced centre half called Downes on a new contract last summer.
Forster was the experienced centre half. Do people not remember he exists?

Downes. lol. He was made a fool of in this league last season alongside Parslow. Had Downes played we would be bottom two, like we were last season until we signed defenders who could run.
horlickfanclub
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Joined: 04 Aug 2011, 11:02
Do you think that was a good use of budget then Regency? I haven't forgotten about Forster .I rate him .I also haven't forgotten he was used as right back so was he first choice centre half? I think he should have been, with Boyle alongside.
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Shade
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Location: Cheltenhamshire
Forster and Boyle at CB all season and we'd be at least 9 points better off, I reckon.
Mike1953
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Joined: 19 Oct 2017, 10:36
Agree wholeheartedly that we need an experienced iron man in central defence like Elliott, Bennet or the great Joe Hyde not least to help develop Grimes and Boyle. Disappointed one has not been brought in to help us necessarily to grind out the points in the remaining games. We have more than enough players capable of scoring goals without signing yet another striker. Strengthening our defence would allow Winiesta to play in his optimum role as creative midfielder. Great decision to appoint him captain and so allow Grimes to improve his primary skills (as happened at Mansfield). Thought the Fans View piece in the Echo this weekend was excellent. Anyone know who wrote it?
Oldun
Posts: 795
Joined: 02 Feb 2011, 20:12
One of the fan view articles was ok, the other full of arrogant nonsense. I have been holding back all weekend from posting to say that whoever the comic is who wrote that report (about being naieve to conclude that Robs can't go down) not only showed an ability to contradict himself but a disrespect to GJ in his concluding comments.
PB should not "be afraid to pull the trigger" he writes, and that after complementing the team on their performance and on the effort made. Again, as with so many posters, we have the situation where all good things that happen (on or off pitch) are down to some mysterious presence that galvanises the squad and makes it perform and on the contrary all bad things are the fault of the Manager and he should look out! Bonkers.
I don't know where the fans come from who are selected to write in the Echo, but please can we have someone who is not quite so arrogant. We are extremely lucky to have a manager who is so experienced and well connected as Gary along with such a brillaint Chairman. I am grieved that a jumped-up would-be reporter can be allowed to put out such an article. Guess the Echo has to fill up its space with something.
Oh and by the way...once the bullet has been dispensed, who will we get to take over from GJ? No doubt our columnist knows the answer to that too.
Robin
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Joined: 20 Nov 2009, 11:19
If we are going to stick with three centre halves then I'd like to see Boyle and Forster either side of an experienced centre back who can organise them. We can then keep Grimes and Bower as cover for them.


In response to Oldun if there are genuinely fans out there who believe GJ should be fired then I suspect they are young and don't quite realise we are not Barcelona, Man City, PSG, Real Madrid etc.
RegencyCheltenhamSpa
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Robin wrote:If we are going to stick with three centre halves then I'd like to see Boyle and Forster either side of an experienced centre back who can organise them. We can then keep Grimes and Bower as cover for them.


In response to Oldun if there are genuinely fans out there who believe GJ should be fired then I suspect they are young and don't quite realise we are not Barcelona, Man City, PSG, Real Madrid etc.
Forster is the experienced centre back who can organise the defence.
horlickfanclub
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Joined: 04 Aug 2011, 11:02
Olduns comments about young supporters are as arrogant and patronising as those he objects to.
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Nesty
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Joined: 18 Jun 2011, 09:17
if GJ cannot see where the problem and/or fails to source a solution then god help us
Oldun
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Joined: 02 Feb 2011, 20:12
Sorry Horlick but I don't find any mention of "young supporters" in my comments! At the risk of sounding arrogant I suggest you are wrong again!
horlickfanclub
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Joined: 04 Aug 2011, 11:02
Apologies OLdun, it was Robins comment. My error.
RegencyCheltenhamSpa
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Joined: 21 Nov 2009, 03:27
I would be interested to know if the OP and critics genuinely think that Gary and the Board deliberately and consciously decided not to sign the best defenders we could attract and afford.

The OP states there are plenty of experienced League defenders around who are easy to sign. If so how come we and all the teams below us haven't signed them?

I personally think the reality is we have signed the best we can afford and attract within the budget. Boyle and Grimes are a mid-table pairing (despite the boo-boys and hysteria) and Forster is promotion standard.

Forster would have been the bedrock of the team as per the OP wish. His injury a huge blow.

I am sure that Gary would love to sign a couple more of Forster's calibre, but so would most teams in the division - especially those in relegation or promotion battles who have a lot more at stake than we do. Just because we haven't been able to find quality which is available, willing and affordable in January doesn't mean Gary isn't desperate to improve the defence and for all we know he could already be working with PB to plan the summer budget alongside existing player contract negotiations.
horlickfanclub
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Joined: 04 Aug 2011, 11:02
You make good points Regency. Forster,Boyle and Moore ,Mannyare all good enough What some people get miffed about is seeing the Manager persisting with Grimes who has been sub par and leaving out Boyle, playing players on their wrong sides.The players have been there , apart from Forster and his injury, but the balance has been wrong. In defence of ALL of our centre backs, they have not been helped by the lack of specialist full backs.
The balance has been tilted since preseason.
everyman
Posts: 2034
Joined: 21 Nov 2009, 09:11
Robin wrote:I do agree with this a decent experienced centre back would be ideal.
We do need some experience at the back and in midfield,we are not capable of game management,winning in 79min.at Mansfield lost 3-2.Where are the leaders ?
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Shade
Posts: 16823
Joined: 27 Sep 2010, 13:02
Location: Cheltenhamshire
everyman wrote:
Robin wrote:I do agree with this a decent experienced centre back would be ideal.
We do need some experience at the back and in midfield,we are not capable of game management,winning in 79min.at Mansfield lost 3-2.Where are the leaders ?
To be fair, we did only have 9 on the pitch!
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