We'll have to disagree on Bash's speed mate, or more importantly his box to box ability. He definitely has stamina and he gives his all and has decent work rate, but that doesn't mean he can press as well as I would like to see because of his lack of mobility. When you look at some of the guys that ripped through our midfield last season, like Moncur, I don't see Basham the guy to track such players because he hasn't the pace or the mobility etc. Of course Basham wasn't the only centre mid and I think he had a decent season last season. Playing Hammond alongside him was never going to work. Nor would Coutts work with Basham for me. To get the best out of Basham I would say he needs to sit in midfield and with other players of greater pace and athleticism around him he can sit in the midfield and break things up. Personally I see his best position as a centre back, because of the my previous points, but he can read the game and is a decent header and tackler. Just my thoughts.
Don't think the budget will stretch to two centre mids. With Fleck likely to sign we have Coutts, Reed, Whiteman, Wallace, Scougall, Basham and even Kieran Wallace all centre mids. I think Coutts will go to Burton at some point.