Centre Backs for 2015 / 16?

Phil Walsh has signed for Leatherhead as a striker.
Scored a hatrick in his first game (friendly) on Sat
http://www.epsomguardian.co.uk/sport/13419682.Leatherhead__Walsh_is_the_main_man/

That leaves us with 18 yo Luke Matthews.  Looks quick and strong in friendlies so far but will need some assistance in the hurly burly of the Conference South

We definitely need a commanding centre back if we are going to be tighter this season. While his form dipped badly after Christmas, I can't help feeling that Mellor took all the blame for our weaknesses. Walsh was far too inconsistent and I'd argue his attitude rather than the travelling may have been behind this. There were a couple of incidents right in front of us at Farnborough that made me embarrassed to be a City fan.

The interview in that report made me chuckle, “Bath did not want Phil to leave (this might be true I don't know). Not only because he’s a great striker" well, one he never was, and two we haven't played him upfront apart from when desperate at the end of a game or in the Somerset Cup!

With regards to centre backs, I was wondering if Nicholson is to allow Ball/Gallinagh/Simmo to be the main centre backs this year, while I like all 3 the lack of height would be an issue. Hopefully though, this is all idle speculation and we've got some burly bloke lined up!

I hear there's a good laddy called Pat Keary on the lookout for a club...

Roy D Hacksaw wrote:I hear there's a good laddy called Pat Keary on the lookout for a club...

Two defenders called Pat Keary. What are the chances! Seriously though, the one report on his first outing for WSM was not glowing. Thought he might be okay as cover for their better defenders.

I hope we can keep Kevin Nicholson who has been very impressive in both games so far and if we do bring in another centre-back I hope he is at least as good as we've already got which I don't think Keary is.

When the defence was all over the shop at the beginning of last season Keary was brought in in desperation. Lo and Behold we suddenly mysteriously tightened up. As soon as Walsh was fit he was put straight back in. Keary never got another run in the team.

How you can say he isn't good enough is a Mystery. Having said this I am not averse to having this 18 year old although he will undoubtedly make mistakes.

Mysteriously tightened up.... Was that before or after the Thurrock match?

Or maybe after Whitehawk

Sign up Matthews & Nicholson

Matthews looked good against Newport and with Phillips experience behind him and Nicholson close by he'll learn something.

Santini91 wrote:Mysteriously tightened up.... Was that before or after the Thurrock match?

Or maybe after Whitehawk

Before Walsh came back

I think the defence had good and bad runs with Walsh and Keary playing.

Walsh began the season slowly after missing some of pre-season then when he appeared to be getting up to speed he suffered the bad ankle injury. This gave Keary his run in the team but I don't think it was a surprise that Walsh regained his place once fit.

I don't think Walsh ever really recaptured the form he showed the previous season, which may have had a lot to do with the injury, so perhaps there was case for Keary to be given another go during the second half of the season. In the end they played almost exactly the same number of games - Walsh 36 and Keary 34.

Anyway, they've both now gone so it will be interesting if we sign Nicholson and draft another centre-back in.

Is Matthews still in the frame? He didnt play at Hallen.

Nicholson signs, brings a lot of experience which will be good for those round him, still looking for that big defender.

Great signing - we lack naturally left-sided players and he's played well in pre-season.

Harriers fans hold him in high regard too:

http://www.mtannersports.com/nicholson-signs-for-bath-july-2015/

Well ok I only asked one...

But seems like a great signing on his outings so far, and ambitious too!

I'm sure getting knocked out of The Trophy on pens in the semi's and seeing off 3 conference premier sides (1 of which got promoted to the league) had a lot to do with the defence playing well, and everyone in that defence. Including Hemmings.

Everyone playing well really.
Clean sheets away to Bristol Rovers and home to Altrincham mustn't of been easy.

It's funny isn't it, one minute you're losing to Thurrock 7-1 and the next your keeping clean sheets at Bristol Rovers and winning 2-0. Nothing to do with personnel though I suppose.

against Thurrock:   Mellor, Simpson, Ball, Keary, Gallinagh (c), Adelsbury, Watkins, Kington (Artus 71), Pratt (Patten 81), McCootie (Stearn 59), Hemmings. subs not used: Allen, Rollo.

against Rovers: Mellor, Simpson, Gallinagh (c), Ball, Walsh, Hemmings, Watkins (McCootie 79), Allen, Pratt (Stearn 82), Kington (Adelsbury 86), Artus. subs not used: Bowman, Keary.

My feeling is that the Thurrock defeat contributed to our long Trophy run. I have never seen a City team and management so gutted as when they walked off the pitch at Thurrock (and so they should have been!) - and I would like to think they vowed afterwards to do themselves justice in the other competition and give the loyal fans something to cheer about. The defensive performance for the last hour in the cup match was the worst I've ever witnessed. Yes, it was put right in the trophy, but elementary mistakes continued to crop up in the league. Quite how they kept Rovers out yet conceded 6 goals over 2 games against Farnborough remains one of the season's many mysteries!

No mystery at all. Farnborough were completely gung-ho!
They sacrificed their defensive duties inorder to score more goals.

It was so open. I wouldn't lose any sleep over it though, we scored 14 against them in 2 matches,

Perhaps you shouldn't lose any sleep then over the gung ho Thurrock scoring 7 either!

comrade powell wrote:My feeling is that the Thurrock defeat contributed to our long Trophy run.

I can't help thinking it might be worth another FA Cup embarrassment to see if we can go one step further in the Trophy next season.

So getting embarrassed in the FA cup, one round away from first round proper was the trigger for the Trophy cup run then? Interesting theory but in reality utter nonsense.

Comrade Powell, if my aspirations for BCFC were the same aspirations as Farnborough have for their club then yes, I wouldn't lose a wink.

If I knew what you were on about, I might possibly agree...

Sam Bailey's unavailable now http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Van-driver-29-appears-court-following-crash/story-26707028-detail/story.html

tigerroar wrote:Sam Bailey's unavailable now http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Van-driver-29-appears-court-following-crash/story-26707028-detail/story.html

Old news Neil. See ex Romans thread exactly 5 weeks ago. A very tragic incident.

Yep. I didn't check the date. Seems Lee Smith got off lightly with that head butt!

So is that definitely the same Sam Bailey? I can't see anything to confirm that.