[Albion] Lewis Dunk.

[Nobby Cybergoat]

I don’t see a big link, he’s 33, he’s declining, it’s natural. This would have happened regardless and was beginning to show last season.

There's a very good chance you're right. But I don't think we know this is a permanent irreversible decline. The drop off in his movement is so dramatic it looks like injury is contributing. 33 isn't mega old. There's a chance he get's fit and has a very good season next season and who knows the season after.

We'll know more at the start of next season. But in any, case succession planning clearly needs to be accelerated in case his movement is never getting any better from what we saw at the weekend.

There's a chance that we move on all of, Igor, Cashin, Veltman and much more reluctantly Van Hecke this summer. Webby, if we get anything out of him, that's a bonus. We don't have anyone from the u23 or any loanes who are imminently going to step up to the PL. So we could be bringing in 4 centre backs. We need Dunky fit for a season at least to oversee the transition

 

[jackalbion]

There's a very good chance you're right. But I don't think we know this is a permanent irreversible decline. The drop off in his movement is so dramatic it looks like injury is contributing. 33 isn't mega old. There's a chance he get's fit and has a very good season next season and who knows the season after.

We'll know more at the start of next season. But in any, case succession planning clearly needs to be accelerated in case his movement is never getting any better from what we saw at the weekend.

There's a chance that we move on all of, Igor, Cashin, Veltman and much more reluctantly Van Hecke this summer. Webby, if we get anything out of him, that's a bonus. We don't have anyone from the u23 or any loanes who are imminently going to step up to the PL. So we could be bringing in 4 centre backs. We need Dunky fit for a season at least to oversee the transition

I think the bigger link is heading to the Euros, with his injury issues, he probably shouldn't have gone, but with it probably being his last shot at a tournament ever, I completely understand why he went.

 

[GT49er]

There's a very good chance you're right. But I don't think we know this is a permanent irreversible decline. The drop off in his movement is so dramatic it looks like injury is contributing. 33 isn't mega old. There's a chance he get's fit and has a very good season next season and who knows the season after.
We'll know more at the start of next season. But in any, case succession planning clearly needs to be accelerated in case his movement is never getting any better from what we saw at the weekend.
There's a chance that we move on all of, Igor, Cashin, Veltman and much more reluctantly Van Hecke this summer. Webby, if we get anything out of him, that's a bonus. We don't have anyone from the u23 or any loanes who are imminently going to step up to the PL. So we could be bringing in 4 centre backs. We need Dunky fit for a season at least to oversee the transition

One thing we can be absolutely certain of, we won't be buying four CBs this summer. Just won't happen. Can't see any reason why we'd be getting rid of Veltman and Igor, and we should be able to keep hold of Van Hecke for at least one more season.
Granted our loan army isn't bursting with CBs, so I can certainly see us making a serious purchase of one CB (maybe two if we can move Cashin on). As for youngsters, the outstanding young CB is Freddie Simmonds, but he is only 17, which is VERY young for a PL CB. Having said that, Gary Stevens made his top flight debut as a 17 y.o. and went on to play 26 times that season*, so obviously it can be done.

* I realise, of course, that that was in the days before Sky invented football in the 1990s, but as an argument against that really doesn't hold water.

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

I thought on day 1 of the season he looked like he'd bulked up too much and was carrying extra upper body weight, slowing him down even more.

Not seen anything to suggest I was wrong on that.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

One thing we can be absolutely certain of, we won't be buying four CBs this summer. Just won't happen. Can't see any reason why we'd be getting rid of Veltman and Igor, and we should be able to keep hold of Van Hecke for at least one more season.
Granted our loan army isn't bursting with CBs, so I can certainly see us making a serious purchase of one CB (maybe two if we can move Cashin on). As for youngsters, the outstanding young CB is Freddie Simmonds, but he is only 17, which is VERY young for a PL CB. Having said that, Gary Stevens made his top flight debut as a 17 y.o. and went on to play 26 times that season*, so obviously it can be done.

* I realise, of course, that that was in the days before Sky invented football in the 1990s, but as an argument against that really doesn't hold water.

Hmm.

Well I think it's more likely we'll buy 4 centre backs than install a 17 year old into a PL back four, but yeh none of us can see the future.

I can just see a lot of churn in this position.

Van Hecke - Has two years left on his deal when this season ends. I'm not ruling out we'll get him to sign a new deal, but it's far from certain. If not we'll surely look to make the sale this summer rather than let his contract dwindle

Igor - Not quite what we need. Injury prone and pretty average. I think we'll move him on. Even if he stays, surely just as back up

Cashin - Lots has been said and i'm not going to lay into the bloke, but I think we'll move him on as well, maybe on loan at first

Veltman - Not really a centre back, but I guess he'll be here and could cover this position if not needed elsewhere

Dunk - Maybe irreversibly lost his pace. In any case, the clock is ticking

Webby - Good player, but amongst the worst record of niggling injuries in Albion history. We might get 10 or 12 starts out of him at best.


I reckon FH will be asking Tony for at least 3 new centre backs, 4 if we can't keep Van Hecke

 

[elwheelio]

I think we should sign 10 WORLD CLASS centre backs this summer. If you work on the basis that about 50% of transfers don't work out, that leaves us with 5. Once signed, 3 of them will get injured leaving us with just 2 centre backs for the whole season. Maybe 10 isn't enough.

 

[Marshy]

Webby will go for sure, So a starting 11 centre back is req over the summer, a very good one.

As Dunk has been absolutely superb for us over a long long time.

Father time and niggly injuries appear to be catching up with him, but at 33 understandable.

I think a fully match fit Dunk is still a superb player but squads have to move on.

 

[dejavuatbtn]

I guess the centre backs were asked to step into midfield on Saturday. Adding another player striding forward would have been a plan to break down a low block. It backfired.

A step? More “one giant leap”.

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

Webby will go for sure, So a starting 11 centre back is req over the summer, a very good one.

As Dunk has been absolutely superb for us over a long long time.

Father time and niggly injuries appear to be catching up with him, but at 33 understandable.

I think a fully match fit Dunk is still a superb player but squads have to move on.

Somewhat reluctantly, because l absolutely love the guy, l'm forced to agree. On his day Dunky is still one of the best centre backs in the league. Those days though are becoming fewer and fewer. Time and tide and all that.

As you say surely this season marks the end for Webby at the club, and Joel can't be far behind either. I think a new defence needs to built around Van Hecke and Pervis. l'm still not convinced about Igor as a regular starter, and Lamptey is very injury prone.

So for me we need to spend big on a centre back, and right back too.

 

[GJN1]

Somewhat reluctantly, because l absolutely love the guy, l'm forced to agree. On his day Dunky is still one of the best centre backs in the league. Those days though are becoming fewer and fewer. Time and tide and all that.

As you say surely this season marks the end for Webby at the club, and Joel can't be far behind either. I think a new defence needs to built around Van Hecke and Pervis. l'm still not convinced about Igor as a regular starter, and Lamptey is very injury prone.

So for me we need to spend big on a centre back, and right back too.

I'm not convinced by the defensive qualities of Pervis either. So a left-back too.

 

[pigmanovich]

I'm not convinced by the defensive qualities of Pervis either. So a left-back too.

I know we're constantly depleted by injuries but what are we going to do with three specialist LBs once Ferdi is fit again?

 

[dazzer6666]

I'm not convinced by the defensive qualities of Pervis either. So a left-back too.

Ferdi, hopefully

 

[macbeth]

Dunk is done being a starter at this level, however that’s absolutely not saying he won’t have a role to play. He will always be an excellent option if we’re seeing a lead out and need someone to marshal the back line and look to useful long balls to get us forward.

I would try and keep Webby too. He’s injury prone but a decent player and can definitely offer something. We’d of course be mad to let go of either JPVH or Veltman, they are our two best defenders. I wouldn’t offer Lamptey a new deal. He’s just injured too often. I know that somewhat contradicts the logic I used with Webster, but I think Webster is much the better defender so worth keeping IMHO, since we have other players who can play in that RB position and offer something going forward, whereas I think we’re short of good centre backs. I’d get rid of Igor. I just do not see it whatsoever with him. He’s unbelievably slow, a bad dueller, is never concentrating and costs us goals nearly every time he plays. I’ll make my mind up on Cashin by the end of next season.

I’d be bringing in two new defenders. One new LCB. That’s where I’d really spend the money. Get the best player that we possibly can. No teenage prospects. No one who will need ten loan spells before they’re ready. No over-the-hill plodders looking for a final pay-day and a cushy coaching job after retirement. Get the best player for our budget who is happy to come. I’d then also get in a new RB, but preferably one who can sort of fit into that dual RB/RCB role. That should be enough.

 

[Marshy]

I know we're constantly depleted by injuries but what are we going to do with three specialist LBs once Ferdi is fit again?

I still think Ferdi may play right back... certainly will keep Pervis on his toes on the left also.

 

[GT49er]

Hmm.

Well I think it's more likely we'll buy 4 centre backs than install a 17 year old into a PL back four, but yeh none of us can see the future.

Installing a 17 y.o. into the back four. Maybe, maybe not - probably not, I agree, though ot has been done successfully before. But four PL ready CBs? No chance, absolutely none! One certainly, I'd imagine - even more than one depending on who, if anyone, goes. But four? No.

 

[jackalbion]

I still think Ferdi may play right back... certainly will keep Pervis on his toes on the left also.

I still think a specialist Right Back to play FH's system is priority. Someone like a Sacha Boey (literally first name I could think of), Ferdi is versatile can play there, left back, Right Mid, centre mid, just a good option and takes some pressure off Pervis, who I feel has been run into oblivion for a few years now due to a complete lack of other options. Time to move Lamptey on, while he's had his best season for us (IMO) he is just too injury prone to have any reliance on, to the point its stunting the development of one our most talented youth products being forced to play there. Then there is an outside chance of Charlie Tasker being a 3rd choice option behind a new one and Veltman next season.

 

[jackalbion]

Hmm.

Well I think it's more likely we'll buy 4 centre backs than install a 17 year old into a PL back four, but yeh none of us can see the future.

I can just see a lot of churn in this position.

Van Hecke - Has two years left on his deal when this season ends. I'm not ruling out we'll get him to sign a new deal, but it's far from certain. If not we'll surely look to make the sale this summer rather than let his contract dwindle

Igor - Not quite what we need. Injury prone and pretty average. I think we'll move him on. Even if he stays, surely just as back up

Cashin - Lots has been said and i'm not going to lay into the bloke, but I think we'll move him on as well, maybe on loan at first

Veltman - Not really a centre back, but I guess he'll be here and could cover this position if not needed elsewhere

Dunk - Maybe irreversibly lost his pace. In any case, the clock is ticking

Webby - Good player, but amongst the worst record of niggling injuries in Albion history. We might get 10 or 12 starts out of him at best.


I reckon FH will be asking Tony for at least 3 new centre backs, 4 if we can't keep Van Hecke

I would like to see 2 new Centre Backs, one which is ready made for the premier league and ready to go, and maybe an understudy who is more than capable. I think Dunk can stay to be a back up, Van Hecke and (new CB) starters, another new CB as a back up, with Cashin maybe replacing Igor and have him shown the door with best wishes. Webster the conumdrum, probably similar to what I've just said about Lamptey, great player but can't rely on him enough these days, happy for him to hang around for experience, but otherwise if a club offers a good deal, I wouldn't turn it down (a bit like Moder this season).

 

[Bozza]

I would like to see 2 new Centre Backs, one which is ready made for the premier league and ready to go, and maybe an understudy who is more than capable. I think Dunk can stay to be a back up, Van Hecke and (new CB) starters, another new CB as a back up, with Cashin maybe replacing Igor and have him shown the door with best wishes. Webster the conumdrum, probably similar to what I've just said about Lamptey, great player but can't rely on him enough these days, happy for him to hang around for experience, but otherwise if a club offers a good deal, I wouldn't turn it down (a bit like Moder this season).

Willing to bet one English Pound that van Hecke and Boscogli will be our starting centre-backs next season, assuming someone doesn't offer silly money for JPVH, and neither suffer a pre-season injury.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

I still think a specialist Right Back to play FH's system is priority. Someone like a Sacha Boey (literally first name I could think of), Ferdi is versatile can play there, left back, Right Mid, centre mid, just a good option and takes some pressure off Pervis, who I feel has been run into oblivion for a few years now due to a complete lack of other options. Time to move Lamptey on, while he's had his best season for us (IMO) he is just too injury prone to have any reliance on, to the point its stunting the development of one our most talented youth products being forced to play there, with a outside chance of Charlie Tasker being a 3rd choice option behind a new one and Veltman next season.

I still think that some evidence of FH having a system is priority. Seems to have ditched earlydoors many of our South American wunderkids that made our football so enjoyable to watch. In terms of entertainment we've taken a giant leap backwards this season

 

[Lady Whistledown]

I think a new defence needs to built around Van Hecke and Pervis.

Whereas I've watched us for the last 18 months or so wondering what's happened to the Pervis who was outstanding for a season and a bit under De Zerbi.

It can't just be injury: he's had enough time both this season and last to find his form again. But other than one or two games, really hasn't. I feel a bit sad for saying it but if we got an offer for him in the summer, I'd quite happily say go on then.

I think the defence next year has to be Van Hecke, Kadıoğlu, new CB, new RB. Lewis isn't going anywhere but I fear we're reaching a point where he isn't a regular starter (I hate saying that especially as he's quite clearly not fully fit currently but football is going away from the old fashioned CB role now unless you're Everton, and time catches up with even the best).

Keep Joel (I'm quite happy having him playing but we'd need cover regardless as we can't keep wasting Jack there) and keep Webster.

Cashin, I shall reserve judgement on but right now it feels like he might be the next Matt Clarke.