Ask yourself this..

[Old Skool]

To a degree I share your concern barneyblade...that said there are a couple of points that might offer a slightly different perspective.

1. Collins - he's reliable and knows what the job of a centre-half is. He is not a world-beater but is solid enough
2. The manager has already said he wishes to strengthen at the back - a new addition might not be in the side for the weekend but I am confident Adkins is working hard to identify and sign the right player sooner rather than later
3. Whilst it was unfathomable for Mr Clough...I believe NA understands that the best form of defence is attack - teams that score can take a great deal of pressure away from the defence.....for a start defenders don't spend 90 minutes worrying that if the opponents score then its effectively game over.....and opposing teams cant do much damage when they spend most of their time defending !!!

 

[him behind you]

Just an example really. Point is, neither can defend against pace. Whilst League 1 is hardly full of incredible players, they'll have to face pace fairly regularly. The one benefit of Basham back there was some modicum of speed.

There are two obvious ways to attack us:

Drop off, pick the ball up and run at us
Dominate the midfield

I think we're susceptible to both, and both are pretty obvious to anyone who scouts us. I'd also say our right hand side is another target. If Baxter plays in the centre then we're relying on Basham to protect the CBs and LB. I'm guessing Murphy won't be expected to track back if we're attacking teams. There are too many vulnerabilities for me to be confident of success.

All really valid points but I can't help but think most are based on how we played under Clough. Maybe I'm being too optimistic (not something I'm normally accused of) but I expect a new manager to bring in different approaches and attitudes to address our previous failings. If not, and we still defend like the muppets we were last year, my faith and love of the game and in our desire to improve will be seriously damaged. This is the first time in years (probably since the first season in the prem under Bassett) that I'm truly fired up about the blades and if they kick me in the nads again then I could become the forums biggest "knocker" - putting you and pompey to shame

 

[robbiez666]

All really valid points but I can't help but think most are based on how we played under Clough. Maybe I'm being too optimistic (not something I'm normally accused of) but I expect a new manager to bring in different approaches and attitudes to address our previous failings. If not, and we still defend like the muppets we were last year, my faith and love of the game and in our desire to improve will be seriously damaged. This is the first time in years (probably since the first season in the prem under Bassett) that I'm truly fired up about the blades and if they kick me in the nads again then I could become the forums biggest "knocker" - putting you and pompey to shame

Just because I'm employing realism does not put me in the same league as Pompey. Players don't get quicker. The fact that a large proportion of this forum seems to believe that some of our players are suddenly going to become great League 1 players is rather bizarre.

 

[him behind you]

Just because I'm employing realism does not put me in the same league as Pompey. Players don't get quicker. The fact that a large proportion of this forum seems to believe that some of our players are suddenly going to become great League 1 players is rather bizarre.

No one's claiming that anyone will get quicker or become "great league 1 players" though are they - I've not read that. All I'm saying is that with a different approach, better organisation, different coaching, and a different mindset, they can certainly improve on last year's performances so we shouldn't write them off. Some of them would certainly find it difficult to get worse.

 

[blade67]

I'm personally amazed that people are saying Mceverley is slow. I didn't see him out paced once last year and saw plenty of evidence that he could catch most league 1 forwards having given them a head start.

His problem was poor positioning (probably because he's not played much at Centre back ) and from the spurs game onwards he was making too many basic errors. It's no good being quick if you are slipping over on the edge of your own box.

I'm surprised we haven't signed a centre back as we are clearly short in this area whilst having an excess of midfielders but I think these two compliment each other about as well as they can.

 

[Come from away]

McE and Collo have height and are solid, the best of what we have right now. Adkins has said he will get another Cb and it seems he is trying to bring in somebody from a higher league, hence the need to wait until the season starts and squads are confirmed. We will have a new CB before the end of the Window, just not today.

 

[robbiez666]

The height and pace of our solid CBs really shone through today. good call.