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posted on 15/1/13

Dorrans was a class player 3 years ago but I don't know where has at currently.

I hear from a good source (when I say good I don't mean I'm in the know, just people in the Leicestershire football community who often hear things before they happen) that we're in talks about Trotter. He would be a great signing but potentially waiting to see if a Prem club comes in.

It would be harsh on James, who has plate well recently but I still feel we're missing a solid central midfielder who is up for a battle.

Trotter would do me nicely but it would be a coup for us to get him.

posted on 15/1/13

The position I think we have to watch is centre back. I know that Merseyside wants a battling defensive midfielder (when hasn't he ) but centre back is where I worry that we're short. If St. Ledger remains injured, which appear to be the case, that leaves us with Whitbread - who's decent but makes errors and is injury prone himself - and Keane - who looks like a strong prospect but will probably be inconsistent as almost all young players are in this league and is still only on a shot-term loan. Having seen Moore play there, I'm convinced that he's a right back filling in at centre back and not a viable option if we have eyes on the autos.

Therefore I believe the most important business to do is to sort out a lack of depth at centre back, even if that's just extending an in-form Michael Keane's loan deal until the end of the season.

comment by Jobyfox (U4183)

posted on 15/1/13

Didn’t Brian Little sign a bloke called Trotter (from Darlington?)? Ever since I’ve had a bit of a mental block with the name as he was clearly not meant to play professional football.

posted on 15/1/13

Dungeon, I think we have more cover at centreback than you think and making a signing I feel may disrupt the squad as too many players won't get a look in.

We currently have Morgan and Keane, with SSL coming back from injury. Assuming he gets fit, that's your two starters and bench sorted with Whitbread already missing out. If SSL did struggle to get back AND Whitbread remains out (worst case scenario) then we still have Keane with Morgan as capable back up and flexibility of two positions covered on the bench leaving spacefl for more attacking players.

So, if we are looking to loan out one of SSL or Whitbread then fine but otherwise I only feel that we would disrupt squad.

What is clear is that Morgan has been absolute class all season yet he's had 5 different central defensive partners. With this in mind, it only adds to what a phenomenal player he's been this year.

I hope Morgan gets the recognition he deserves by getting player of the season from fans, tater than the super exciting players like Knocky, Wood or Nuge.

And Dunge - I think I've been asking for a defensive midfielder for 6 years and counting. Stuck record? Not me!!

comment by CDUBYA (U17121)

posted on 15/1/13

I have never seen Trotter play but like the idea of a more physical option in the middle of the park.

Him and Keane it is then glad that's settled!

May have been Michael Trotter? I was only a little boy then but the likes of him Gary Coatsworth and Phil Gee are burnt into my memory for evermore

posted on 15/1/13

The thing is, I see centre mid and centre back the opposite way around. A physical option in the centre of the park would be great, but I don't think you bring Trotter in just to be an option. Therefore you're leaving out two of Drinkwater, James and King, unless you go 4-3-3, in which case you're leaving out one of Nugent or Wood! You could argue that an embarrassment of riches would be great to have, but it does make it difficult to keep everyone happy.

My concern at centre back is that St. Ledger's injury seems to keep getting longer and longer and it would take time for him to get back up to speed, while Whitbread has a long, sad history of injury - notice that he hasn't come back quickly either; I believe he was brought in as a reserve anyway because of that record. So that's why I say that we need to /either/ extend Keane's loan to the end of the season or bring in a new player, and that's the most important business for us to do in this window. (I didn't mention Morgan because... well, he doesn't need mentioning, does he?)

comment by Jobyfox (U4183)

posted on 15/1/13

Michael Trotter? Yeah that’s him.
It was, indeed, in an era when we had the likes of Gary Coatsworth, Brian Carey, Jimmy Willis, Ian Ormondroyd and Phil Gee. I have to remind myself that these players were part of a squad that won promotion through the play offs. Has the standard of the 2nd tier improved that much over time?
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In terms of the extra central defender or a tough midfielder argument then I can see both sides. Before the transfer window we would probably say we lacked a striker with presence, a tough midfielder and an extra central defender. In an ideal world we’d have augmented the squad with all three.

We’ve added Chris Wood who looks like the sort of striker we’ve been after for years and the form of Matty James almost feels like a new signing in midfield. The team looks complete for the first time in ages, but the squad looks light. An injury to one of the midfielders and Wellens is in the squad. An injury to Morgan and we’re relying on players of inferior quality and recent injury troubles.

I think Mersey makes a good point about destabilising the squad. Morgan, Whitbread and SSL are all at a stage of their careers where they would probably not respond too well to being a long way from the 1st team. If Whitbread or SSL became 4th choice I would imagine NP would be under pressure to secure a loan move quite quickly. In midfield Drinkwater, James and King might benefit from the challenge from another midfielder and more inclined to wait their chance.

It’s a delicate balance as, in an ideal world, we’d have depth and quality in every area. The counter to this is the advantages of having a small, well motivated, squad. So if I had to choose one player I’d go with the extra midfielder, but only if the judgement is (on the best guess of the medical staff) that Whitbread and SSL are likely to remain injury free – otherwise I’d go with a central defender.

posted on 15/1/13

we have quality youth players in Moore and Taff at the back so i'd bring them in

comment by Jobyfox (U4183)

posted on 16/1/13

“Which 1 player (if any) would you bring in this transfer window?”
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I’m still not sure, but Chris Wood is in danger of being the 1 player I’d bring off this transfer window!

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