Left Back [Liam Ridgewell?]

[Hastings gull]

I think that the 'cover both' situation is one we could do without given the unfortunate case of Rosenior covering for Bong. The timescale of a return to match fitness for both remains uncertain.

Accordingly I hope that TB and board will look for a specialist left back - what were the club thinking when they signed Chicksen (amongst the many others who offerred absolutely zilch)

To be fair, we do seem to have made some errors in the transfer market, though I am sure that this would be true of all clubs. The reality is that assessing a player's future worth, unless you are paying millions, (and even that is not a guarantee) is not an exact science. So many issues come into play - confidence, relationship with manager, injuries at vital times, fit into squad's style, change of manager (direction), unhappy wife/girlfriend, player's physical and mental maturity etc etc - that make it hard to be totally accurate in one's prediction. Fortunately the present recruitment team seems to be better than last year (could it have been worse?!) and thus there is presumably less chance of us buying sub standard players, though there is a strong suspicion that Elvis might be a prime example of this? Time will tell.

 

[spanish flair]

I think that the 'cover both' situation is one we could do without given the unfortunate case of Rosenior covering for Bong. The timescale of a return to match fitness for both remains uncertain.

Accordingly I hope that TB and board will look for a specialist left back - what were the club thinking when they signed Chicksen (amongst the many others who offerred absolutely zilch)

One of the many poor signings made by David Burke, which ultimately cost him his job

 

[BensGrandad]

Not that simple I'm afraid BG. Another major problem is VLP leaving next week - he must be replaced or permanently signed asap. If Wilson is recalled we'll be doubly hit - especially if Hemed or BZ pick up an injury. Another Dunk sending off with Greer's continued absence could be very problematic in the centre of defence too. Lot's to solve in January, not just a LB.

I think VLP will stay, Baldock will be back. The problem one is an LD red card or injury but if Ridgewell comes in he can play CB so we are back to the left back problem , which to me is paramount.

 

[fleet]

Not that simple I'm afraid BG. Another major problem is VLP leaving next week - he must be replaced or permanently signed asap. If Wilson is recalled we'll be doubly hit - especially if Hemed or BZ pick up an injury. Another Dunk sending off with Greer's continued absence could be very problematic in the centre of defence too. Lot's to solve in January, not just a LB.

An outbreak of plague would be a worry too!

 

[GT49er]

It looks like our major problem will be overcome very soon, signing a left back all we have to do then is get back our attacking flair from early season and we will be up and running again.

Seeing as our back four against Ipswich is likely to be:

Bruno; Dunk; Goldson and Calde -

- who are our LAST four defenders (none left to go on the bench, except Chicksen, who most agree isn't up to it) I don't think it's just left back we need to worry about. One more injury - or suspension - and we won't even have bare bones any more!

 

[BensGrandad]

Seeing as our back four against Ipswich is likely to be:

Bruno; Dunk; Goldson and Calde -

- who are our LAST four defenders (none left to go on the bench, except Chicksen, who most agree isn't up to it) I don't think it's just left back we need to worry about. One more injury - or suspension - and we won't even have bare bones any more!

It is strongly rumoured that Ridgewell will be signed very early January and what about the left back from MLS who has been training with us. What about a short loan?

 

[GT49er]

It is strongly rumoured that Ridgewell will be signed very early January and what about the left back from MLS who has been training with us. What about a short loan?

Ridgewell would be fine. That would see us with bare bones plus one!

 

[smelly]

Terrible luck so far:
Rosenior , Greer,German,Bong arguably first choice back four all out.

Ridgewell provides excellent cover until they start getting fit again,

Other worry is LD is still a walking red card which won't go unnoticed at our opponents team meetings. Either no one has had a word with him or he refuses to listen. Suspect it's the latter.

Went to ground again yesterday in ugly fashion, luckily was in their box not ours! Must learn and soon

 

[chaileyjem]

Terrible luck so far:
Rosenior , Greer,German,Bong arguably first choice back four all out.

Bruno, Greer, Dunk, Bong is first choice back four when available with Rosenior playing in mid.
After the transfer speculation re: Dunk at beginning of season he's always favoured him ahead of Uwe.
And Bong was ever present LB before injury.

 

[chaileyjem]

injury latest - defenders


Fit: Bruno, Dunk, Goldson, Calde, Chicksen.
Injured: Rosenior ("end Feb"), Bong ("beginning of Feb"), Greer (few weeks ?) , Uwe (few weeks ?)

Possibles: Rea (back from Southend Jan 2nd), Ridgewell (on loan ?) from Jan 1st.

WildCards: Dallison, Ince ?,

Other signings from Jan 1st ??

 

[crookie]

Bruno, Greer, Dunk, Bong is first choice back four when available with Rosenior playing in mid.
After the transfer speculation re: Dunk at beginning of season he's always favoured him ahead of Uwe.
And Bong was ever present LB before injury.

Think that's why he said "Arguably" !! Regardless, horrific luck, any other club have 4 first team squad defenders injured ? It could be argued LR was expected to be first choice RB, but as Bruno has been superb, he's been used elsewhere

 

[El Presidente]

I think there is insurance actually, to be fair to [MENTION=22906]GingerBeerMan[/MENTION] - that would offset the wages we are paying out, but I don't think it would cover the full amount so my general point remains. Maybe [MENTION=31]El Presidente[/MENTION] has more of an idea about this subject?

There is insurance, but the premiums are so high that most clubs tend not to bother.

 

[severnside gull]

injury latest - defenders


Fit: Bruno, Dunk, Goldson, Calde, Chicksen.
Injured: Rosenior ("end Feb"), Bong ("beginning of Feb"), Greer (few weeks ?) , Uwe (few weeks ?)

Possibles: Rea (back from Southend Jan 2nd), Ridgewell (on loan ?) from Jan 1st.

WildCards: Dallison, Ince ?,

Other signings from Jan 1st ??

Presumably the earliest bookings could be made is Jan 2nd and that assumes the FA will open up on a weekend?
For the next 2 games at least we will have to go with what we have.

 

[BensGrandad]

Presumably the earliest bookings could be made is Jan 2nd and that assumes the FA will open up on a weekend?
For the next 2 games at least we will have to go with what we have.

I read the window opens on 2nd January so presumably the FL is open for transfers and registrations etc.

 

[redoubtable seagull]

I read the window opens on 2nd January so presumably the FL is open for transfers and registrations etc.

That's correct, the window opens from midnight on 2 Jan.

 

[GingerBeerMan]

injury latest - defenders


Fit: Bruno, Dunk, Goldson, Calde, Chicksen.
Injured: Rosenior ("end Feb"), Bong ("beginning of Feb"), Greer (few weeks ?) , Uwe (few weeks ?)

Possibles: Rea (back from Southend Jan 2nd), Ridgewell (on loan ?) from Jan 1st.

WildCards: Dallison, Ince ?,

Other signings from Jan 1st ??

So everyone is back in time for our playoff win? Excellent.

There is insurance, but the premiums are so high that most clubs tend not to bother.

Makes sense, fingers crossed we have it or we're burning £50k/week on players who can't play.

 

[El Presidente]

So everyone is back in time for our playoff win? Excellent.


Makes sense, fingers crossed we have it or we're burning £50k/week on players who can't play.

We did that last season on players who weren't even injured.

Think how much was being shelled out on CMS, COG and Kemy!

 

[Ninja Elephant]

There is insurance, but the premiums are so high that most clubs tend not to bother.

So, depressingly, we are paying full whack for the players who can't play.

I'm sure there's a joke to be made about Kemy here, but I'm not funny enough to make it.

 

[El Presidente]

So, depressingly, we are paying full whack for the players who can't play.

I'm sure there's a joke to be made about Kemy here, but I'm not funny enough to make it.

Every club suffers injuries each season, insurance is supposed to be there for irregular events that occur on rare occasions, such as theft, car crashes and so on, so isn't worth it for football injuries.

 

[Ninja Elephant]

Every club suffers injuries each season, insurance is supposed to be there for irregular events that occur on rare occasions, such as theft, car crashes and so on, so isn't worth it for football injuries.

Well, the good news is that my point about the playing budget including players who are absent through long term injury stands to reason. Things like that are never really thought about, it's a lot of money down the pan on a weekly/monthly basis. Our fans get very uppity about the finances of other clubs and our sense of morality screams when we think a club is over spending, but here we are demanding left back signings without much of a thought to the overall budget and whether we'd be able to stay within FFP regulations.