Build From The Back

[Ian Rust]

If we are going to have any chance of competing next season we've got to sort out our defence.
Letting 82 goals in this season (only surpassed by Ebbsfleet) is shambolic.

Along with Maghoma & Byrd, the much hyped youngsters (Armitage, Woodhouse & Ellison) have been exposed as not up to top half National League standard. Added to that we've got Jenkins & Harfield, but they are clearly injury prone and you've got to doubt whether they'd be any better than our current three.

Signing a minimum of 3 serious proven (25-30 years old) central defenders is going to be absolutely critical for us next season.
I'm sure the management realise this. We've just got to hope they can pull some rabbits out of the hat in the close season.

[chimpster99]

If we are going to have any chance of competing next season we've got to sort out our defence.
Letting 82 goals in this season (only surpassed by Ebbsfleet) is shambolic.

Along with Maghoma & Byrd, the much hyped youngsters (Armitage, Woodhouse & Ellison) have been exposed as not up to top half National League standard. Added to that we've got Jenkins & Harfield, but they are clearly injury prone and you've got to doubt whether they'd be any better than our current three.

Signing a minimum of 3 serious proven (25-30 years old) central defenders is going to be absolutely critical for us next season.
I'm sure the management realise this. We've just got to hope they can pull some rabbits out of the hat in the close season.

We could sign the best backline in the NL, but with that chancer strolling about in front of them they would be torn apart. Our issues run deeper than the back three, but getting that bit right would be a good start. I'd like to see Woodhouse signed, he's a class act.

[Shots91]

Agree with what you've said Ian and chimpster on a certain someone hogging one of the most important possion on the pitch.

Harfield I would like to see back on the pitch again but don't know what sort of player he will be since that horror freak injury he picked up. Some players are never the same again when something like that happens.

[Aldershot_Rob]

I agree with Chimpster, all the while Theo is stealing a living off of us , the work required of our defence will be increased hugely.
I watched him yesterday and he offered absolutely nothing. He slowed down any potential attacks, he struggled to pass more than 5 yards, he couldn't beat his man, he surrendered possession , he was second best to every ball and was utterly useless.

[Mytshot]

I’ll cut the 3 lads at the back some slack as playing this much men’s football with very little experience has obviously caught up with them. But as mentioned above, the opposition waltzes through our midfield due to that statue who continually gets selected. It can’t help, whoever is in defence.

[Alf W]

If we are going to have any chance of competing next season we've got to sort out our defence.
Letting 82 goals in this season (only surpassed by Ebbsfleet) is shambolic.

Along with Maghoma & Byrd, the much hyped youngsters (Armitage, Woodhouse & Ellison) have been exposed as not up to top half National League standard. Added to that we've got Jenkins & Harfield, but they are clearly injury prone and you've got to doubt whether they'd be any better than our current three.

Signing a minimum of 3 serious proven (25-30 years old) central defenders is going to be absolutely critical for us next season.
I'm sure the management realise this. We've just got to hope they can pull some rabbits out of the hat in the close season.

I think the main issue is the need to strengthen midfield, particularly in respect of protecting the defence which has been totally exposed in recent weeks.It hasn’t helped that Cam has been suspended as he is the mainstay.I think Woodhouse is a superb player and Armitage/Ellison have much potential.

[Silasgoldeen]

It's how Tommy chooses to play. No defender will look good in this system. Needs to play a proper midfield which means more than two people and at elast one who can defend and shield the back line.

[Silasgoldeen]

This is the problem with Tommy's system. Only the #10s and the goalkeeper look good in it. Wing backs would but that's the most demanding role and we need better players than we have.

[redblueuptoyou]

Is Harfield injury prone? Before the freak accident, I thought he’d pretty much been ever present.

[Diving Wayne Andrews]

Is Harfield injury prone? Before the freak accident, I thought he’d pretty much been ever present.

Agree with this, I'm certain he played every game for us last season, and suspect he would have done the same this season had he not been injured.

[beechcroft]

Is Harfield injury prone? Before the freak accident, I thought he’d pretty much been ever present.

Agree, same with Jenkins, before he got injured we could all see what a class act he is,

[Northcampshot]

Harfield isn't injury prone, but whether he comes back the same sort of player is the question. He is one of he best left sided wingbacks in the league and would love to see him back to his best.

I think we need 2 new central midfielders plus 3 centre halves at the very least next season all with a bit of experience if possible, that will only happpen if TW goes.

[redblueuptoyou]

Harfield isn't inhury prone, but whether he comes back the same sort of player is the question. He is one of he best left sided wingbacks in the league and would love to see him back to his best.

I think we need 2 new central midfielders plus 3 centre halves at the very least next season all with a bit of experience if possible, that will only happpen if TW goes.

Would add a right wing back. I don’t think AJ has the energy to get up and down the wing in the way we play anymore. Think he could maybe have a role in the back three and definitely as back up.

[CH]

If we are going to have any chance of competing next season we've got to sort out our defence.
Letting 82 goals in this season (only surpassed by Ebbsfleet) is shambolic.

Along with Maghoma & Byrd, the much hyped youngsters (Armitage, Woodhouse & Ellison) have been exposed as not up to top half National League standard. Added to that we've got Jenkins & Harfield, but they are clearly injury prone and you've got to doubt whether they'd be any better than our current three.

Signing a minimum of 3 serious proven (25-30 years old) central defenders is going to be absolutely critical for us next season.
I'm sure the management realise this. We've just got to hope they can pull some rabbits out of the hat in the close season.

We could sign the best backline in the NL, but with that chancer strolling about in front of them they would be torn apart. Our issues run deeper than the back three, but getting that bit right would be a good start. I'd like to see Woodhouse signed, he's a class act.

Exactly, they are afforded no protection

I dont think anyone has any idea what sort of condition Harfield will recover to, even if we sign him i can't see him.being anywhere back to his best for months, if at all, it will have affected him mentally as well let's remember.

We won't be seeing Ryan Jones on the pitch either until new year in all probability, so that leaves Olly Scott. Who I feel we should be looking at tying down as our first choice LWB for next season.

[Gone West]

Build from the back? Our problems aren’t just about poor defenders. Over the last two years we have seen some decent individual defenders come and go but still can not stop leaking goals. The arrival of Armitage, Woodhouse and Ellison looked like it could have changed that narrative but here we are back where we always have been under Widdrington. Tactically competent managers have watched these boys for a couple of months and now have the measure of them. They know we only ever play one way and set up accordingly also knowing our manager is too tactically inept to change the system during a match. Add to that the utter garbage which masquerades as a midfield and we see what we have seen since Widdrington arrived, totally incompetent and incoherent defending.