EXCLUSIVE
Slaven Bilic has been told he will have to sell to buy this January.
The club are aware they need back up in defence but the club spent every last penny available in the summer and may need to carry on with the current squad.
Central defence has caused some concern with Winston Reid and Angelo Ogbonna suffering injuries and in a perfect world the club would strengthen in that position.
However, everybody was heartened by the strong performance by James Collins on Saturday – a display which looks likely to help the manager make up his mind to keep him for the season despite talk of a winter loan.
ClaretandHugh was told this morning that it was unlikely the defender would be moving away which – with the arrival of a new baby in the Collins household – will suit suit the player perfectly.
He had been begging for a chance to play and grabbed it with both hands when his moment came at the weekend.
We were told: “If the manager needs more players we will have to sell first because we really have spent all our money and are up to our maximum on financial fair play and wage cap.”
Great squad player, no need to get rid of him imo. Missed a clearance and stepped up for offside, both nearly cost us, but they didn’t. After that he had a decent game. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him start against CFC to handle Costa.
He is just a backup player and who are you going to get to replace him ?
Oxford offers something different if necessary and Henry could probably do the same as Ginge,
Left back is covered by 2 players but Jenks is still a concern,but after watching Chelski and how much they paid for the rubbish full back,i would stick with what we have and buy a new right back and CH in the summer,
Don’t forget Kouyate and Song can fill in at CH and right back if needed
I understand why so many people (including myself) like Collins. He definitely has strenght, aerial power, battling spirit and true man/hammer charisma. Hes our Ginger Pele after all. But the fact is that he has some weaknesses top class opposition can easily capitalise on. Lets face it: hes slow and he wont get faster. His 2nd half display against (10 man)Palace was great, but in the 1st half he has made few awful mistakes. Palace didn’t punish us for em, but mistake is a mistake. We cannot afford to play like that against big boys, and I feel much safer when our back line consists of Cressie, Reid, Ogbonna and Tonks.
He offers our defence something different, he gives his all every game, sure he does make a few mistakes but if we are backs to the wall I would rather have him and Reid there putting their heads and bodies on the line than any of the other choices we have. It remains to be seen whether Henry/Burke/Oxford could fill that style, if not keep him until his contract runs out, if nothing else as a utility sub when we need to defend a lead.
I thought he played really well.
There was a point were everything that was lobbed in he headed out with force.
He’s not the fastest and I was worried before the game that he may be beaten for pace but I thought he was safe at the back.
Big effort after the knock he took too.
I must admit I thought he had a shocker. He got lucky a couple of times but got exposed for pace too many times. All about opinions and I wouldn’t like to see him
go but remains our 4th best CB.
He had a colossal game – everyone around me in the ground agreed that Ginge was immense. It’s another of those instances the pundits in their “infinite wisdom” (and I use the terms extremely loosely) like to call “a good problem for a manager to have”.
Ginge is fine as a reliable back up.Think you are being a little harsh there Merry.I guess we could always get Roger Johnson back for you 😀
Merry michael you must be mad mate. He did have a couple of slips but no more than winnie or ogbonna in the past shall we sell them toi?
You need more experienced players in the squad especially in defence. He may not have as much pace or flair but as a shot blocker and general grafter, he is major asset.
Ergggh.
Out of position four times, two errors leading to chance, four misplaced passes. (NOT clearances).
Just ‘cos our beloved DG praises him, does NOT mean that he had a good match.
We got lucky …
SELL, SELL, SELL …
Good for Ginge, he had a cracking game on Saturday and always gives it the lot. Would love to see him batter that tw@t Costa next week and give their pr1ck of a manager something else to cry about. COYI.