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Any decent free agent central defenders going?

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The Cabbage said:
Oh aye:lol:

But this is what you do when you build a squad. Do we spread our resources thinly and add more and more layers of cover (of less and less quality) and allow that to have a knock-on to the level of starter quality we choose? Or do we put most of our money into a tight group of higher quality players and cross our fingers a bit? I'd argue that injury to starters sees us fucked either way. At least by having that smaller squad we can afford a better class of player. And there's always a chance that we make a welcome discovery from the youths too - which is a big part of what the club is trying to do anyway.
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Yep. I think that's obviously the thinking. Why piss money away on a West Ham player sat on the bench when you can put those wages against a proper first team who could be here 2-3 years.

Flanagan was away for nowt in the summer - I'm assuming we'll have at least gotten something for him yesterday, however paltry?
 
Ale taster said:
What about someone like Joost Van Aken ex-Sheff W.
Free agent, only 27, 6'3"
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There are a few Europeans on the list who would be worth taking a look at, and maybe a 6 month contract to show their worth and for standby/back up you would think. They must have some options as we are thin on the ground unless they believe Almond or another is worth giving an opportunity to?
 
Onlyfoolsrushin said:
There are a few Europeans on the list who would be worth taking a look at, and maybe a 6 month contract to show their worth and for standby/back up you would think. They must have some options as we are thin on the ground unless they believe Almond or another is worth giving an opportunity to?
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Very few of them would get a work permit.
 
Koscielny (ex the arse) has just left Bordeaux. Played a dozen or so games this season. Down side he is 36
 
Onlyfoolsrushin said:
There are a few Europeans on the list who would be worth taking a look at, and maybe a 6 month contract to show their worth and for standby/back up you would think. They must have some options as we are thin on the ground unless they believe Almond or another is worth giving an opportunity to?
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My thoughts exactly. I'm guessing they have someone in mind to let Flanagan go like that. I also noticed the list available is actually quite extensive so feel a bit better about cover now. Take your pick if a Brazilian CB is your thing :lol:
 
Andre Wisdom
Winston Reid
Joost Van Aken
Laurent Koscielny
Doneil Henry
Marcelo Djalo
Branislav Ivanovic
Mateo Mussachio
Bakary Kone
Yanga Mbiwa
Sebastien Bassong
Martin Cranie

The only ones I can see who are free that I know of. Most of these all well north of 30 except from wisdom, van Aken, Henry and Djalo. Out of the lot only Koscielny has played regularly playing 11 games so far but released by bordeaux 2 days ago after a falling out and being frozen out the team
 
The Cabbage said:
Oh aye:lol:

But this is what you do when you build a squad. Do we spread our resources thinly and add more and more layers of cover (of less and less quality) and allow that to have a knock-on to the level of starter quality we choose? Or do we put most of our money into a tight group of higher quality players and cross our fingers a bit? I'd argue that injury to starters sees us fucked either way. At least by having that smaller squad we can afford a better class of player. And there's always a chance that we make a welcome discovery from the youths too - which is a big part of what the club is trying to do anyway.
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I agree with the principle of what you are saying.

I just think the balance is wrong when we have three centre backs (four if you count O'Nien) for two and maybe three positions, but when it comes to wide midfielders / wingers, we have Dajaku, Clarke, Roberts, Gooch, Embleton, Huggins, Pritchard, McGeady, and plenty others who could cover that position if necessary.
 
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Mickdundee said:
Winston Reid has been without a club since September. 33 so might take a while to get up to speed.
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Last I thought he was playing for Brentford ( hang on that was last season I had no idea he’d been released). I know he’s been playing well for NZ In the international breaks He would do a good job, he’s very passionate and experienced, always plays well for NZ wears his heart on his sleeve and keeps himself in great shape, there would be a lot worse out there than Winston Reid... I say sign him up 👀😎💥👍
 
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LRW said:
I agree with the principle of what you are saying.

I just think the balance is wrong when we have three centre backs (four if you count O'Nien) for two positions, but when it comes to wide midfielders / wingers, we have Dajaku, Clarke, Roberts, Gooch, Embleton, Huggins, Pritchard, McGeady, and plenty others who could cover that position if necessary.
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It's not perfect, sure, but 5 centre halves (including Xhemajli and O'Nien) when we have a very clear first choice pairing isn't that bad. As I said earlier, Alves played 44 mins of league footy for us and a quarter of that was spent in central midfield. Younger didn't play a minute for us. It's a bit dicey as of this exact moment. But when Wright and O'Nien return it swings to the opposite problem. We'll have players sat on the bench and in the stands - or playing out of position to get minutes.
 
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