First option on my Transfermarkt search (right backs currently playing in England) that caught my eye and feels realistic was Bali Mumba.
Was a standout in the Plymouth team that got promoted out of L1. 86 apps across two seasons in the Championship with them since.
Can play both sides as well, actually had his best year playing as a LWB. I think he could also fill in further forward (currently playing as a LW for Plymouth). I think this would be a good move but only doubt would be his physicality which might mean Jones doesn’t fancy him
I don’t buy the Walsall player link, other clubs mentioned are from L1. Think we were thrown in to make it look more impressive when a L1 side eventually signs him
It’s going to be a very difficult ask to find a RWB of a sufficient level this late in the window. It’s such a specialist role that a lot of teams will be unwilling to lose someone who can play it.
I'm not sure personally I wasn't in love with how quickly he ditched us after relegation (of which is drop off in form was a key factor)
But also he's not played since the terribly sad heart condition and only recently cleared to return, is he anywhere near the same player he was?
I'd like to see us look abroad for a new defender, there's not a lot of value or prospects in the UK, right now. WBA and Plymouth had great success and good value last season (Heggem cost £0.6m, sold for £10m, Talovierov bought for £1.5m, sold undisclosed)
To be fair, the only reason we got Lockyer in the first place was on the basis that he could leave for free if we got relegated. He put up with an absolute shitshow for a year and then left under the terms of his contract. He wasn't wrong to bet on himself either, after 3 consecutive years of Championship football with Luton he got to play in the Premier League and we spent that whole time in League One. The only way we got him in the first place was on the understanding that one way or another he'd be a Championship player the season after.
What worries me and was highlighted on Tuesday, that when Lloyd is not playing how disorganised the defence is Hopefully Burke will be able to cover this position
I think Burke is covering Chucks position ........ In the treatment room
He not in the treatment room been training for a few weeks now and Jones himself said he was fit
Surprised Mumba hasn't been snapped up already, can only assume there's a high asking price
Amazes he’s still there.. he’s been one of their stand out players in recent seasons. Def someone we should consider, I suspect he’d be keen to step back up a league. Argyle are looking a bit messy on and off the pitch..
I'm still slightly surprised NJ feels that WB is the position to fill, rather than CB.
On Tuesday for example, Hobden at RWB was clearly out of his depth, but if we had played either Zach Mitchell or Laqeretabua there I'm sure they would have been fine. Zach has shown in previous seasons that he's really good on the ball, and the lack of strength wouldn't be an issue there. Often young CBs get blooded at full back, even Steve Brown played a season at RB.
We couldn't play either there because they were needed as CBs.
I'm still slightly surprised NJ feels that WB is the position to fill, rather than CB.
On Tuesday for example, Hobden at RWB was clearly out of his depth, but if we had played either Zach Mitchell or Laqeretabua there I'm sure they would have been fine. Zach has shown in previous seasons that he's really good on the ball, and the lack of strength wouldn't be an issue there. Often young CBs get blooded at full back, even Steve Brown played a season at RB.
We couldn't play either there because they were needed as CBs.
Zac as a wingback??? Do you see him with his pace bombing up the wing and putting crosses in?
I'm still slightly surprised NJ feels that WB is the position to fill, rather than CB.
On Tuesday for example, Hobden at RWB was clearly out of his depth, but if we had played either Zach Mitchell or Laqeretabua there I'm sure they would have been fine. Zach has shown in previous seasons that he's really good on the ball, and the lack of strength wouldn't be an issue there. Often young CBs get blooded at full back, even Steve Brown played a season at RB.
We couldn't play either there because they were needed as CBs.
Lol so Hobden out of his depth but either of our young Centre backs would have been fine there? And will be absolutely fine against Championship wingers all season? Leave off
I'm still slightly surprised NJ feels that WB is the position to fill, rather than CB.
On Tuesday for example, Hobden at RWB was clearly out of his depth, but if we had played either Zach Mitchell or Laqeretabua there I'm sure they would have been fine. Zach has shown in previous seasons that he's really good on the ball, and the lack of strength wouldn't be an issue there. Often young CBs get blooded at full back, even Steve Brown played a season at RB.
We couldn't play either there because they were needed as CBs.
Lol so Hobden out of his depth but either of our young Centre backs would have been fine there? And will be absolutely fine against Championship wingers all season? Leave off
Hobden was making his debut. Laqeretabua has already played for the first team, and is well rated. Zach has plenty of games under his belt.
And all we are after is a BACKUP wing back anyway, as Apter is first choice there. My point being that Laq and Zach would be far less of a risk at RWB than as CBs.
I'm still slightly surprised NJ feels that WB is the position to fill, rather than CB.
On Tuesday for example, Hobden at RWB was clearly out of his depth, but if we had played either Zach Mitchell or Laqeretabua there I'm sure they would have been fine. Zach has shown in previous seasons that he's really good on the ball, and the lack of strength wouldn't be an issue there. Often young CBs get blooded at full back, even Steve Brown played a season at RB.
We couldn't play either there because they were needed as CBs.
Zac as a wingback??? Do you see him with his pace bombing up the wing and putting crosses in?
He's not slow. As quick as Josh Edwards I'd have thought. And his "ball skills" are a strength, as shown when he played a few games in the first team 3 years ago, and brought the ball out of defence really well.
I'm still slightly surprised NJ feels that WB is the position to fill, rather than CB.
On Tuesday for example, Hobden at RWB was clearly out of his depth, but if we had played either Zach Mitchell or Laqeretabua there I'm sure they would have been fine. Zach has shown in previous seasons that he's really good on the ball, and the lack of strength wouldn't be an issue there. Often young CBs get blooded at full back, even Steve Brown played a season at RB.
We couldn't play either there because they were needed as CBs.
Lol so Hobden out of his depth but either of our young Centre backs would have been fine there? And will be absolutely fine against Championship wingers all season? Leave off
Hobden was making his debut. Laqeretabua has already played for the first team, and is well rated. Zach has plenty of games under his belt.
And all we are after is a BACKUP wing back anyway, as Apter is first choice there. My point being that Laq and Zach would be far less of a risk at RWB than as CBs.
I'm still slightly surprised NJ feels that WB is the position to fill, rather than CB.
On Tuesday for example, Hobden at RWB was clearly out of his depth, but if we had played either Zach Mitchell or Laqeretabua there I'm sure they would have been fine. Zach has shown in previous seasons that he's really good on the ball, and the lack of strength wouldn't be an issue there. Often young CBs get blooded at full back, even Steve Brown played a season at RB.
We couldn't play either there because they were needed as CBs.
Zac as a wingback??? Do you see him with his pace bombing up the wing and putting crosses in?
He's not slow. As quick as Josh Edwards I'd have thought. And his "ball skills" are a strength, as shown when he played a few games in the first team 3 years ago, and brought the ball out of defence really well.
But Josh Edwards isn't quick enough to play RWB in our system. The RWB has to be a fast, aggressive runner who essentially acts as a right winger in possession and cuts in. Not a suitable role for a youth centre back
The panic shown around a backup wing back proves how far we've come as a club recently and how little we've followed it as fanbase. Think there's still some Roland/Nimer/Tommy S trauma swirling around, it wasn't that long ago we entered a season without a recognised left back at all
There's a copy of that shirt on eBay at present only £30+. Its 3XL, so not much use to me (not mine to be clear). Always like that one before we started with FADS & Woolwich sponsorship on the front.
I'm still slightly surprised NJ feels that WB is the position to fill, rather than CB.
On Tuesday for example, Hobden at RWB was clearly out of his depth, but if we had played either Zach Mitchell or Laqeretabua there I'm sure they would have been fine. Zach has shown in previous seasons that he's really good on the ball, and the lack of strength wouldn't be an issue there. Often young CBs get blooded at full back, even Steve Brown played a season at RB.
We couldn't play either there because they were needed as CBs.
Lol so Hobden out of his depth but either of our young Centre backs would have been fine there? And will be absolutely fine against Championship wingers all season? Leave off
Hobden was making his debut. Laqeretabua has already played for the first team, and is well rated. Zach has plenty of games under his belt.
And all we are after is a BACKUP wing back anyway, as Apter is first choice there. My point being that Laq and Zach would be far less of a risk at RWB than as CBs.
I'm still slightly surprised NJ feels that WB is the position to fill, rather than CB.
On Tuesday for example, Hobden at RWB was clearly out of his depth, but if we had played either Zach Mitchell or Laqeretabua there I'm sure they would have been fine. Zach has shown in previous seasons that he's really good on the ball, and the lack of strength wouldn't be an issue there. Often young CBs get blooded at full back, even Steve Brown played a season at RB.
We couldn't play either there because they were needed as CBs.
Zac as a wingback??? Do you see him with his pace bombing up the wing and putting crosses in?
He's not slow. As quick as Josh Edwards I'd have thought. And his "ball skills" are a strength, as shown when he played a few games in the first team 3 years ago, and brought the ball out of defence really well.
And neither Laq or Mitchell are really cutting it as backup centre backs, let alone backup wing back.
If we sign no-one, Apter goes down and play Zack bloody Mitchell as the right wing back until January, we'll be cemented in the bottom 3
The one player we lost this summer who the fans at least would have liked to stay is the sort of player we could really do with now. Thierry Small. RWB and LWB cover. Would have been absolutely perfect. A real shame.
I must admit my aspirations for players in this thread has increased
Not so long ago I would have looked at the list of free agents and felt a lot of them may have been suitable. Now not many names appeal and the couple who do look interesting would only be potential squad players not regulars.
For me both Wing Back positions could do with reinforcement and the Centre Half position could do with another body because we play three at the back.
Any other signings like JRS would purely be a bonus ball
Comments
...DAYS ARE CRITICAL...
All I could come up with was: (To the tune of December 1963 by Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons)
Tyreece Campbell running down the wing,
Scoring goals, makes the Addicks sing,
What a player, what a night.
The club refused to pay me as it would only work for evening games, I was furious.
Anyway... QPR are shit aren't they?
THE NEXT THREE DAYS ARE CRITICAL...SAT, SUN, MON...🤷♂️
On Tuesday for example, Hobden at RWB was clearly out of his depth, but if we had played either Zach Mitchell or Laqeretabua there I'm sure they would have been fine. Zach has shown in previous seasons that he's really good on the ball, and the lack of strength wouldn't be an issue there. Often young CBs get blooded at full back, even Steve Brown played a season at RB.
We couldn't play either there because they were needed as CBs.
And all we are after is a BACKUP wing back anyway, as Apter is first choice there. My point being that Laq and Zach would be far less of a risk at RWB than as CBs.
He's not slow. As quick as Josh Edwards I'd have thought. And his "ball skills" are a strength, as shown when he played a few games in the first team 3 years ago, and brought the ball out of defence really well.
If we sign no-one, Apter goes down and play Zack bloody Mitchell as the right wing back until January, we'll be cemented in the bottom 3
Deal with it
Not so long ago I would have looked at the list of free agents and felt a lot of them may have been suitable. Now not many names appeal and the couple who do look interesting would only be potential squad players not regulars.
For me both Wing Back positions could do with reinforcement and the Centre Half position could do with another body because we play three at the back.
Any other signings like JRS would purely be a bonus ball