Squad coming together

[steve@dcfd]

---------------Woods / Sullivan ( this postion is one of the weak links)-------

Flexibility in the players some can play CH and Fullback

Mustapha/O.Connor (when fit)- Loanee CH (a must)/Naylor --Friend /Bouheena(if signed)-- Spur / ??


Flexibity each player providing different qualities and can rotate postions.

------------------Stock (if fit)/ McDonald(if signed) ---- Gillett / Woods(if fit)

-=------------------------------- Mason(if Loaned) / Oster


Flexibity with Sharp or Brown down the middle, but Brown can play wide or has a two. Hayter Copps and Bennett can again play different postions.

-----Coppinger/ Bennett-------------------Sharp/Brown-----------Hayter/??

Hird
Martis and Lockwood ( not fit to loan out to get match fit)
Chambers ( not fit and no contract)
Wilson
Keegan ( not fit and can he get a contract)
Shiels (will he need to stay or go)
Baxendale( not ready for firtst team squad)
Trialists
Vine(can we afford to sign)
Deeney( Not ready for first team squad)

[Filo]

---------------Woods / Sullivan ( this postion is one of the weak links)-------

Flexibility in the players some can play CH and Fullback

Mustapha/O.Connor (when fit)- Loanee CH (a must)/Naylor --Friend /Bouheena(if signed)-- Spur / ??


Flexibity each player providing different qualities and can rotate postions.

------------------Stock (if fit)/ McDonald(if signed) ---- Gillett / Woods(if fit)

-=------------------------------- Mason(if Loaned) / Oster


Flexibity with Sharp or Brown down the middle, but Brown can play wide or has a two. Hayter Copps and Bennett can again play different postions.

-----Coppinger/ Bennett-------------------Sharp/Brown-----------Hayter/??

Hird
Martis and Lockwood ( not fit to loan out to get match fit)
Chambers ( not fit and no contract)
Wilson
Keegan ( not fit and can he get a contract)
Shiels (will he need to stay or go)
Baxendale( not ready for firtst team squad)
Trialists
Vine(can we afford to sign)
Deeney( Not ready for first team squad)

It seems so according to SOD on DROS, he said he had spoken to Neil Warnock and signing Vine would n`t hurt us financially and QPR are keen to offload him

[Lewis Guys Dentist]

At this stage, I think we are looking much more healthy in terms of players than last seasons. Could be better mind, but if we fill up one or two more possitions and countinue to build a stonger squad. Who knows?
With the youth of Bennet, Mussy, Spurr, Woods, Friend and Mason? and experience of Naylor, Copps, Sully etc, looks like a nice balance to me.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Agreed. I can't see us getting another centre half now as long as Rachid signs. May be if needs must after a game or two, we may be able to get a loan sorted but with Martis and Lockwood on the way back from injury someone more long term is doubtful...I'm guessing.

[Norfolk N Chance]

Totally agree but there no way Dumpaya and JOC when fit will not play in the first 11 this year ...So Friend and JOC will be the first team CH's in my opinion!

[Wellred]

Totally agree but there no way Dumpaya and JOC when fit will not play in the first 11 this year ...So Friend and JOC will be the first team CH's in my opinion!

So if I can understand what you are you saying you think DUMBUYA will start at right back with JOC at CB?

Do you really think JOC will play CB in front of Naylor?

[Snods Shinpad 2]

JOC had a shocking season and must be fourth choice CB now after Friend, Naylor and Martis.

He needs to regain a bit of form and stay fit. Far from a guaranteed starter in my book after last season.

[RobTheRover]

No, but I thing Bouhenna will.

JOC and Muzzy at FB (left or right, doesnt matter), Spurr/Bouhenna and Friend at CB.

I think Spurr will be a utility defender, cover for anywhere across the back.

[Wellred]

I hope it will be Muzzy, Bouhenna, Friend and Spurr

[DonnyNoel]

For me JOC is still a full back and should be steered back down that path. The first 18 months at this level he proved he was one of the best RBs outside the Premiership and I'd like to see him back there.

I accept a back 5 of
Woods/Sulli
Dumbuya
JOC
Friend
Spurr
doesn't look too bad at individual level but combined you're still looking at a back 5 that is only 20% new blood into a defence that conceded too many goals last season. Couple that with the fact we haven't exactly signed a midfield enforcer to give better protection then I think our back 5 needs more than one new face in it. It's great JOC has versatility but I'd hate him to become a jack of all trades/master of none when he could be a very masterful full back.

[RedJ]

For me JOC is still a full back and should be steered back down that path. The first 18 months at this level he proved he was one of the best RBs outside the Premiership and I'd like to see him back there.

I accept a back 5 of
Woods/Sulli
Dumbuya
JOC
Friend
Spurr
doesn't look too bad at individual level but combined you're still looking at a back 5 that is only 20% new blood into a defence that conceded too many goals last season. Couple that with the fact we haven't exactly signed a midfield enforcer to give better protection then I think our back 5 needs more than one new face in it. It's great JOC has versatility but I'd hate him to become a jack of all trades/master of none when he could be a very masterful full back.

Doesn't McDonald play that kind of role?

[RobTheRover]

Just to qualify that, Noel, JOC didnt play at FB too many times last season as he was covering the CB role.

[DonnyNoel]

Just to qualify that, Noel, JOC didnt play at FB too many times last season as he was covering the CB role.

Sorry, that was my point, may not have been clear on that! :S  and when he was shunted back to RB later in the season he was pretty poor.
Was meaning our defence needs more of a shake up than a new left back which is what has been suggested earlier in the thread.

[VikingJames]

Muzzy still doesn't convince me defensively. Much prefer JOC at full back, despite him having a bad season.

[Lewis Guys Dentist]

I hope the people who want Spurr to be in the starting 11 have actually seen him play a competitive game recently. Im on about for Wednesday. I saw him once he wasnt over great but wasnt bad. and i really would bench him for the first few games and make him fight for positions and play.
Not saying hes not good, but he needs work, but with SODs guidance this pre season im sure he will prove me wrong

[Berkshire Rover]

I'll have a pint on it being

Woods GK

Spurr LB
Friend LCB
Naylor RCB
Dumbuya RB

at Brighton

and for good measure,

Gillett,
Oster,
Coppinger,
Bennett,

perm one from Mason, McDonald, Hayter

plus Sharp up top

on the bench

Sullivan, Brown, Hird, plus 2 of the three above.

[DonnyOsmond]

Hayter Sharp Coppinger

McDonald Gillett Oster

Spurr Friend Naylor Dumbuya

Woods

Subs:
Sullivan
Bouhenna
Bennett
Mason
Brown

[GazLaz]

Martis needs to get fit. I think he has potential. JOC is miles better than Muzzy at full back.

[steve@dcfd]

To improve anything you can only be has good has your weakest link. So we will see if the goalkeeping and defence have improvec when we start the league.
I believe we will still be under cooked in the gaolkeeping department.
Even with Naylor and if we sign Bouheena we will still need a taller, quicker centre half on loan to ensure real improvement. I do not believe Hird or Lockwood are up to this league. Martis and Naylor will be injury worries. This season Muzzy will need to improve his postioning and reading of the game. JOC will have to get back to his consistent best. Then we come to the unknown at left back lets hope he can get back to his best or supporters n here might be having a go the has they did with George.
Midfield we need to sign Mcdonald or some one of his stature plus Mason on loan to say the centre midfield has improved. We need Stock and Woods to really get over their injuries and be availble for over 35 gaMes.
Attack has long has we keep Billy we  can say already the front three have improve.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Whatever we start with, all the ingredients come in to play, especially with a back four, with form, balance, stability with very able bodied players pushing behind them.

If Naylor plays as we hope then any one of Friend, JOC, Bouennha, Hird can play alongside. If Naylor drops below expectation then we'll need some strength and depending who we're playing it will be a tough ask for Friend to play the lead CB in terms of winning most headers etc (although he has improved in this dept).

I think JOC and Hird are ideal for playing the 'sweeper' type role for their reading of the game and could be employed in a back 5, with the 2 full backs pushing on.

Early days, keep it simple and start with the basics and work on it from there.

[Norfolk N Chance]

I'll have a pint on it being

Woods GK

Spurr LB
Friend LCB
Naylor RCB
Dumbuya RB

,

copps
Oster,
gillet,
Bennett,

Brown Sharp

[Jonathan]

I think Spurr has been signed to play as first choice left back, his versatility is merely a bonus.

I'm intrigued to see what Bouhenna is really like but never fussed with friendlies so will have to wait and see if we sign him. I think he would have to be pretty exceptional for us to throw him in for his English league debut on day one. If he's up to that then great, he would definitey be worth signing.

For what it's worth, I think we will line up on the opening day with:

Woods
Dumbuya
Spurr
Naylor
Friend
Gillett
Oster
McDonald
Coppinger
Mason
Sharp

Subs

Sullivan
Bouhenna
Bennett
Hayter
Brown

[i_ateallthepies]

JOC had a shocking season and must be fourth choice CB now after Friend, Naylor and Martis.

He needs to regain a bit of form and stay fit. Far from a guaranteed starter in my book after last season.

Completely agree with that Snods, I Love JOC for the quality we've had from him but last season, after some very creditable performances at CB, he seemed to be totally at sea when he returned to RB.

And thank Christ at last I can agree with Wellred on something.  I'd love to see

   Muzzy     Bouhenna   Friend      Spurr      as the first choice back four.

[Berkshire Rover]

JOC had a shocking season and must be fourth choice CB now after Friend, Naylor and Martis.

He needs to regain a bit of form and stay fit. Far from a guaranteed starter in my book after last season.

Completely agree with that Snods, I Love JOC for the quality we've had from him but last season, after some very creditable performances at CB, he seemed to be totally at sea when he returned to RB.

And thank Christ at last I can agree with Wellred on something.  I'd love to see

   Muzzy     Bouhenna   Friend      Spurr      as the first choice back four.

If you add Woods in as first choice keeper, what would the combined age be?

[DonnyOsmond]

Woods - 20
Muzzy - 23
Spurr - 23
Friend - 23
Bouhenna - 20

109.

Average of those is 21.8

[GazLaz]

The CB position looks weak as hell to me. Naylor has gone at the game, Hird is poor, Friend was ok towards the end of last season. We will struggle in that area. I'm amazed we haven't brought in an impressive L1 centre half for a few quid.

[Alan Southstand]

Still far too many if's, but's and maybe's for me. If and when we sign any of the 3 possibles (McDonald/Vine/Bouhenna) we'll be a bit more 'secure' by way of quantity and, dare I say, quality.

We have not yet got the CB position sorted and nor do we look like doing. Maybe we're just going to see how Naylor does, and if he doesn't, act then, but that's hardly a positive plan.

Hopefully all the above 3 are signed, along with Mason, for the much-needing midfield area. A keeper would have been much more comforting, but someone somewhere seems to think that Woods is the answer. I like the lad, but he simply is not ready yet and Sulli, bless him, is past it now.

Lots of questions and not all answered.

[DonnyRTID]

I'll have a pint on it being

Woods GK

Spurr LB
Friend LCB
Naylor RCB
Dumbuya RB

,

copps
Oster,
gillet,
Bennett,

Brown Sharp

Hayter deserves to be in the stating line up.