Pre Season Friendlies

[Bruce Rioja]

Wouldn't say he's shit entirely.

I would. Not as bad as Zat Knight but still shit. It's just a shame that Knight wasn't injury prone too!

[malcd1]

Wouldn't say he's shit entirely.

I would. Not as bad as Zat Knight but still shit. It's just a shame that Knight wasn't injury prone too!

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I don't think Wheater's shit – he's a good defensive leader in the Big Ugly Throw Yourself In The Way style – but he is, and has always been, prone to looking foolish against fast or even merely mobile strikers.

If we play a low block - deep back four with at least one screening in front - he might be alright, but as soon as we amble toward the halfway line he's a weakness ready to be exploited. We would need a pacy, covering defender alongside him, which doesn't look amazingly likely considering the two centre-backs we've had on trial have been 35 years old.

For all the understandable talk of "there must be someone out there", they haven't yet come to as much as a training session and the season starts in 10 days. I suppose he could try playing Derik there but it's a risk - Osede hasn't played for something like a fortnight, and even in fitness he's seemed better further forward, although he did OK against Fulham forwards in flip-flops.

[Prufrock]

Wheater comfortably the best of a terrible bunch of lumbering CBs we've had recently. Problem always gen his wages. I'd love to have him back if he's on normal league 1 money. Wouldn't be happy jizzing over the odds.

[BWFC_Insane]

I don't think Wheater's shit – he's a good defensive leader in the Big Ugly Throw Yourself In The Way style – but he is, and has always been, prone to looking foolish against fast or even merely mobile strikers.

If we play a low block - deep back four with at least one screening in front - he might be alright, but as soon as we amble toward the halfway line he's a weakness ready to be exploited. We would need a pacy, covering defender alongside him, which doesn't look amazingly likely considering the two centre-backs we've had on trial have been 35 years old.

For all the understandable talk of "there must be someone out there", they haven't yet come to as much as a training session and the season starts in 10 days. I suppose he could try playing Derik there but it's a risk - Osede hasn't played for something like a fortnight, and even in fitness he's seemed better further forward, although he did OK against Fulham forwards in flip-flops.

Don't think Derik will be fit for the start and talk was Parky didn't fancy him at centre back, more full back.

Dervite is probably out too.

Leaving us with Beevers and Finney as our centre halves on the books.

Clearly another is needed, and I rather suspect (rather than wish) that one might be Wheater.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I hope we're not backed into a corner through paucity of alternative.

I'd seriously consider loaning a youngish PL lad, if the other option is committing to paying over the odds. We keep getting into this situation.

[LeverEnd]

I hope we're not backed into a corner through paucity of alternative.

I'd seriously consider loaning a youngish PL lad, if the other option is committing to paying over the odds. We keep getting into this situation.

If one of these mystery rumoured foreign clubs had taken Doreen off our hands I'd have wheater back, but not both of them.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

If one of these mystery rumoured foreign clubs had taken Doreen off our hands I'd have wheater back, but not both of them.

Yeah, I know what you mean. Sadly that all went very quiet very quickly. Mind you, it would be one more space to fill, and like I say PP hasn't yet produced any non-pensionable trialists. I'm hoping that's because he had less (wage) money to play with before the Holding deal went through, and after his summit with Ken yesterday we may now be hitting the phones sending invites.

I don't think Dervite is terrible, but nor would I weep if he left. Just 'meh'. With Wheater, I can at least see what his benefits are, but I'd also be worried we'd be paying him too much.

[BWFC_Insane]

I hope we're not backed into a corner through paucity of alternative.

I'd seriously consider loaning a youngish PL lad, if the other option is committing to paying over the odds. We keep getting into this situation.

Looking at Parky and what he's doing I'd suggest young, unproven centre halves won't be his bag....

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I hope we're not backed into a corner through paucity of alternative.

I'd seriously consider loaning a youngish PL lad, if the other option is committing to paying over the odds. We keep getting into this situation.

Looking at Parky and what he's doing I'd suggest young, unproven centre halves won't be his bag....

Which I why I said "I"

But I would hope that he'd be able to find somebody a bit less unyoung and proven than 35-year-olds

[boltonboris]

I hope we're not backed into a corner through paucity of alternative.

I'd seriously consider loaning a youngish PL lad, if the other option is committing to paying over the odds. We keep getting into this situation.

Looking at Parky and what he's doing I'd suggest young, unproven centre halves won't be his bag....

Probably why we pulled our pants down at the slightest bit of cash from Arsenal

[BWFC_Insane]

I hope we're not backed into a corner through paucity of alternative.

I'd seriously consider loaning a youngish PL lad, if the other option is committing to paying over the odds. We keep getting into this situation.

Looking at Parky and what he's doing I'd suggest young, unproven centre halves won't be his bag....

Probably why we pulled our pants down at the slightest bit of cash from Arsenal

You mean when we spent two months moving the deal from 750K to 2M plus?

[Bruce Rioja]

I don't think Wheater's shit

Well I do. Apparently, and according to Parkinson, he was fecking shit last night because his baby has been ill and he's "not played much football". You're telling me he hasn't.

I'm a little concerned that the new gaffer's making excuses for shitness here.

[boltonboris]

I hope we're not backed into a corner through paucity of alternative.

I'd seriously consider loaning a youngish PL lad, if the other option is committing to paying over the odds. We keep getting into this situation.

Looking at Parky and what he's doing I'd suggest young, unproven centre halves won't be his bag....

Probably why we pulled our pants down at the slightest bit of cash from Arsenal

You mean when we spent two months moving the deal from 750K to 2M plus?

We pulled our pants down for a shit amount of money from one of the worlds richest clubs for our most promising player

Thanks for confirming it

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I don't think Wheater's shit

Well I do. Apparently, and according to Parkinson, he was fecking shit last night because his baby has been ill and he's "not played much football". You're telling me he hasn't.

I'm a little concerned that the new gaffer's making excuses for shitness here.

See, I read it the other way, chum: that he'd called him out, or rather felt the need to explain the shitness having said "I'm disappointed with the penalty because it wasn't a challenge we needed to make." That sounds clear enough to me. I'm not sure you need to worry that Parkinson's made up his mind and is excusing him - the very fact of laying the blame might be seen as something of a public rebuke: I'll let you off this time but that's not the sort of decision-making I want from any of my defenders.

[boltonboris]

All managers of our club start out like that.

As soon as the pressures on, they blame the players and call them out to protect themselves,

5 games in and if we're bottom of the table, those comments are different

[BWFC_Insane]

I hope we're not backed into a corner through paucity of alternative.

I'd seriously consider loaning a youngish PL lad, if the other option is committing to paying over the odds. We keep getting into this situation.

Looking at Parky and what he's doing I'd suggest young, unproven centre halves won't be his bag....

Probably why we pulled our pants down at the slightest bit of cash from Arsenal

You mean when we spent two months moving the deal from 750K to 2M plus?

We pulled our pants down for a shit amount of money from one of the worlds richest clubs for our most promising player

Thanks for confirming it

Being the best player of a league one club does not make you worth loads. He's played 30 games in a terrible defence and looked good but not faultless. We spent two months negotiating and trying to start an auction. He's worth what the market would pay.

You seem to live in a dream world. We moved the initial offer up over 100%. That is not bending over and taking it. It's getting the best price you can from a very weak bargaining position for a player who is very early in his development.

[Bijou Bob]

A couple of points from last night. I thought Spearing was head and shoulders (clearly in footballing terms only) above anyone else on the park last night. He took responsibility, always wanted the ball and actually found a white shirt on most occasions. I need to see more of the new lad Taylor, but he hasn't shown much in the way of pace or end product tonight.

Trotter was OK, but Vela was awful. He seems to have no idea of what to do in any role other than full back. 300 grand anyone?? Snatch their hands off.

1 up front rarely works for us, but then again, we played against a premiership side who had lots of possession and we largely held our own. Alf is apparently a target for Rotherham and Bury (!) amongst others. Personally, I'd break the bank to get him back. I really suspect he could be the difference between make or break this season.

[BWFC_Insane]

A couple of points from last night. I thought Spearing was head and shoulders (clearly in footballing terms only) above anyone else on the park last night. He took responsibility, always wanted the ball and actually found a white shirt on most occasions. I need to see more of the new lad Taylor, but he hasn't shown much in the way of pace or end product tonight.

Trotter was OK, but Vela was awful. He seems to have no idea of what to do in any role other than full back. 300 grand anyone?? Snatch their hands off.

1 up front rarely works for us, but then again, we played against a premiership side who had lots of possession and we largely held our own. Alf is apparently a target for Rotherham and Bury (!) amongst others. Personally, I'd break the bank to get him back. I really suspect he could be the difference between make or break this season.

I don't think we've a chance of ALF, doubt we could afford his trip here let alone his wages. The league might have something to say too.

Agree with the rest, Spearing looked very good, vela the polar opposite. Vela looked disinterested, which I hear, is the problem, he's not arsed, and goes through the motions.

I'd get rid sharpish.

Madine did well whilst he was on and I'm not a fan.

Thought that Taylor looks like you'd expect. An honest worker and runner but limited overall. Think he might have goals in him as he did make good runs off Madine.

[thebish]

Vela looked disinterested,

I think you might mean "uninterested"... (you're welcome!)