smooth 114 Posted January 13, 2011 Good move by Lambert, good left backs are hard to find and now we have three who are also versatile.Drury has signed till the end of the 2011/12 season a good re-negotiated contract, solid player for this level. Smith is a very good left back and if he can get over some injury issues then he will be very difficult to dislodge from the first 11.He has all the attributes of a modern left back and certainly could be player that we can develop into a great left back and subsequently in the long term sell-on.Tierney is on the same page as lambert and an excellent addition, to an area that many clubs struggle to have competition for.This time next year Drury will be in the last 6 months and it will be unlikely we will sign him. Hence we are getting in tierney before he is a free agent and will have him and smith to compete following the end of next season.Lappin is a great utility player, now signed to 2013 and will cover any holes. But this signing is worth getting in now so in 18 months we have two lefts backs at this club and that we are not on the look for another. It is an easy transition to lamberts way of thinking, can play in other positions and is on our list. We do have positions where competition is less, but again I have faith that we can manage with some of the systems we have played and personnel re-shuffles. We do have an opportunity to push on for a play off place, but maybe players that we want are not available in those positions.There is no point getting a right back or a right midfielder that isn''t on our list, one that we haven''t seen, know we can afford or will not be on the same page as lambert.I do think there are areas of weakness and players that in our first 11 could well be replaced or where there is need of competition. But if players aren''t available then we have a good mix in the squad to cover for now.This signing hower is helping an area where we have had problems, where at this time in 12 months we would be looking for another left back and he is on lamberts page and hence will fit in pretty quick. It is right to get in player who fits lamberts requirements and both parties know how to get the best out of each other. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BlyBlyBabes 0 Posted January 13, 2011 Maybe we could sign a few more and increase that shortage. Then we could strategise to exploit our rivals left flank weakness. Not sure what woulkd happen if RMartin got injured though. [;)] OTBC Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ROBFLECK 134 Posted January 13, 2011 [quote user="BlyBlyBabes"]Maybe we could sign a few more and increase that shortage. Then we could strategise to exploit our rivals left flank weakness. Not sure what woulkd happen if RMartin got injured though. [;)]Good point,...are we gonna sign a right-back too? Wonder if Lambert still has something up his sleeve OTBC[/quote] Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BlyBlyBabes 0 Posted January 13, 2011 [quote user="mikewalker"]INRAT[/quote] Who does he play for? OTBC Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GJP 79 Posted January 13, 2011 [quote user="smooth"]Smith is a very good left back and if he can get over some injury issues then he will be very difficult to dislodge from the first 11. [/quote] Whereas I don''t think Smith will ever be a regular/long term first 11 player for us. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JKUIL 0 Posted January 13, 2011 [quote user="BlyBlyBabes"]Maybe we could sign a few more and increase that shortage. Then we could strategise to exploit our rivals left flank weakness. Not sure what woulkd happen if RMartin got injured though. [;)] OTBC[/quote]Nice one Bly ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smooth 114 Posted January 13, 2011 If RMartin were to get injured we would be short, however askou can do a shift there, long term I agree we need cover and competition. However if the players we want are unavailable do you get the next best thing or move over one of our centre backs, play francomb.Again this is for Lambert ot answer but I would think that Right back is his possible last signing in January but again only if the the player is avaiable.The position I would be most worried about, without an injury happening to RMartin is our right side of midfield.At the moment as a rival manager Korey Smith is the weakest player, if he starts in our first 11 (and I am being hyper critical when our aim is staying in this division and now as a playoff contender) and I would realise his passing and general awareness is weak. He has a motor and desire. But I always remember ''You are only as strong as your weakest team member''.To me that is Korey Smith, I hope Lansbury can stay on and if so we do have mcnamee and others who can do a job there. Maybe not stand out in this division (except at times lansbury) but enough to make us play off contenders. If we can get a right back I would be very happy with the competition throughout the squad for the immediate and longer term plans. But I would also look at the quality at the right side of midfield or the base of the diamond if we were to move crofts to the right side.As always so many questions that luckily for us, Paul Lambert has to make. Not Grant, Roeder and Worthy, oh and almost forgot Gunn Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
