ToffeeWeb - Season 2009-10

The Mail Bag

Defenders

If he's not asking too much money, what about Sol Campbell? Even when we have Yobo, Distin, and The Jags fit, we'll still be short of experienced cover in central defence.

Let's hope Hibbo does another good job against Chelsea, but he could easily put in a solid stint at centre-back and still get ripped apart by Drogba. Campbell strikes me as an obvious and viable option. He'd get games, and we'd get cover for the rest of the season and maybe a little longer.

Davey Weir and Richard Gough both played for us when they were older than Campbell, so let's not the age thing put us off. Looking at it another way, are there any other options out there that we could afford?
Tim Lewis, Atlanta Posted 11/12/2009 at 19:31:04

back Return to the Mail Bag

Comments

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer

Mitchell Wilton
1 Posted 12/12/2009 at 02:42:45

Report abuse

While i have to admit his current form is shaky, with a few more games under his belt Lucas Neill is another permanent option for central defence.

For some reason he is always employed in center back for the Aussie National team (i think Gus Hiddink put him there originally) when there are other options for that role and he do well at the last world cup in that position (except for that last minute slide that gave Italy a dubious penalty)

Vijay Nair
2 Posted 12/12/2009 at 03:02:10

Report abuse

Isn’t Michael Ball still available as a free agent as well?

Pat Finegan
3 Posted 12/12/2009 at 03:39:17

Report abuse

How about some cover for Baines? Neville, Neill, Coleman, and Hibbo are all viable options at right back when healthy. The same goes for Yobo, Neill, Distin, Jags and maybe Duffy in the middle. Baines is solid on the left but who is his backup? That said, I’d like to see us sign a guy with creativity and pace in the midfield before we go after any other position. And before we make any transfers, a priority must be to re-negotiate Saha’s contract and keep him around for a few more years.

Dave Wilson
4 Posted 12/12/2009 at 07:23:25

Report abuse

Can we put to bed this idea that Lucas Neill needs a few more games under his belt ?

He’s played plenty, he finished the season with W Ham and was signed in Sept, he’s missed a couple of weeks thats all.

FFS the Chrimbo decorations are up and some people still want to give him more time.

Time to step up to the plate Lucas lad, Shut out Drogba today and there will be no looking back

Brian Waring
5 Posted 12/12/2009 at 11:30:17

Report abuse

Vijay, Ball has been on trial with Wigan, Martinez has said he has been impressed with Ball, and he is on the verge of signing a contract with them.

One point on Campbell, wages, he is a greedy bastard.

Mike Oates
6 Posted 12/12/2009 at 11:48:06

Report abuse

I suspect Campbell will want to stay in the South unless a Man U/City or Liverpool come calling.

He and Distin did well together at Pompey so he would probably slot in well but if he’s not careful Moyes will be back to increasing the average age at this rate - Neill,Distin, Campbell and it doesn’t give good vibes out to the younger/better lads in the team and who you want to keep.

Neil Vaughan
7 Posted 12/12/2009 at 11:47:08

Report abuse

Are you people serious...???

Geriatric Campbell and/or Michael ’Crock’ Ball who’s NEVER been fit since the day he left the club...get real FFS

Lee Kidd
8 Posted 12/12/2009 at 13:49:00

Report abuse

Neil, thank God for that last comment, as I genuinely thought the world had gone upside down for a moment!

Campbell? Seriously? The guy that Alex Ferguson cleverly commented "was" a good player, not "is". We’re lacking pace all over the shop as it is, we don’t need a guy who looks like he’s walking when he breaks into a sprint!

Not just that, we could very well be in for a relegation fight this year - we don’t need one of the most egotistical footballers in England lording over the rest of the squad with a £40’000+ a week contract.

Just a complete no to Sol Campbell, and as for Ball...

John Martin
9 Posted 12/12/2009 at 14:01:52

Report abuse

We need a centre back in January, We dont know how long Jags will be out for and Yobo will be in Africa. If we could get 1 who covers at Left back as well it would be a shrewd signing. Maybe we could use the cash some of our fans thought we had saved up from not spending last summer haha. Some strength and pace in midfield would be nice too although i’ve said that for 4 years and we have not done anything about it so its probably too much to ask for this January

Tom Bowers
10 Posted 12/12/2009 at 14:49:26

Report abuse

The line up today looks positive but the back 4 looks very suspect.although experienced.We may play well for 20minutes but then it will be all downhill unless everyone plays out of their skins.Surely Coleman has shown he is better than Hibbert but Moyes has to be loyal after Hibberts good game against Athens and not too bad a game against Spurs.Chelsea are not unbeatable and stranger things have happened in football but I said the same thing when we lost to Redshite and Manure.

Karl Masters
11 Posted 12/12/2009 at 17:31:23

Report abuse

Campbell spends all his time appealing for offside. Too slow these days. Get Senderos on loan,

Ball? Well we do need some cover for Baines. Who would play there if he was injured on Thursday? There are few other options apart than youngsters, but we do have plenty of them already and Seamus got ripped apart playing there wnen Baines was missing in Benfica.

There must be some good players in the Championship we could sign for left back. If any money is available Moyes may go for Bougherra at Rangers as a Centre back or the other fire sale is looking to be at Pompey.....

Add Your Comments

In order to post a comment to the MailBag, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.

Log in now

Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and MailBag submissions across the site.