Nathan Ferguson

[Green Bin]

Originally Posted by Eddie McGoldrick's tash

It seems most likely that Ward will start the season at right back with Roy wanting to look a bit more at both Jairo and Mitchell at left back in pre-season I suspect.

Schlupp is obviously still the other option. He did well further forward today but with Eze and hopefully, surely at least one more forward, seemingly on their way, there may be more of an option to play him at the back again.

The centre backs is the other obvious worry. Tomkin, Sakho and Cahill all likely to miss the start of the season so Kouyate may well start the season at the back.

I had hoped that Tomkin would have been back soon, but looks like he has Wickham syndrome....Sounds like Cahill could be out until the new year, and Sakho never seems to get fit, let alone match fit, and when he is on the pitch he's a liability

Looks like we are currently looking at combo's of Kelly, Dann, Kouyate, Jaroslaw, Wood, Tavare and Riedewald

Jairo doesn't seem to be rated as a CB even though he played there for Ajax and is no smaller than Ake who's just gone to Man City

So if we don't rate the youngsters or Jaroslaw and with Dann always likely to pick up an injury, we need to get someone in, on loan or long term

As for Ferguson I guess he was always going to be eased in given his recent injury... with PVA out and Ward at an age where injury can strike at any time, maybe the back line could be an issue for us this season

[bourne man]

Originally Posted by GreatGonzo

What date is the tribunal set for?

All I can get on it is that it's looming

[teesdale99]

Originally Posted by Green Bin

I had hoped that Tomkin would have been back soon, but looks like he has Wickham syndrome....Sounds like Cahill could be out until the new year, and Sakho never seems to get fit, let alone match fit, and when he is on the pitch he's a liability

Looks like we are currently looking at combo's of Kelly, Dann, Kouyate, Jaroslaw, Wood, Tavare and Riedewald

Jairo doesn't seem to be rated as a CB even though he played there for Ajax and is no smaller than Ake who's just gone to Man City

So if we don't rate the youngsters or Jaroslaw and with Dann always likely to pick up an injury, we need to get someone in, on loan or long term

As for Ferguson I guess he was always going to be eased in given his recent injury... with PVA out and Ward at an age where injury can strike at any time, maybe the back line could be an issue for us this season

There’s the option of playing Ward at centre back too. He might be next in the pecking order after Dann, Kouyate and Kelly?

Best case scenario is that Sakho gets fit early in the season and stays fit. His positional sense, composure and passing ability are superb. Although these attributes come with his ability to put hearts in mouths and drop a clanger. Unlikely he will stay fit for an extended period but you never know.

[Shipp Ahoy!]

Originally Posted by teesdale99

Sakho gets fit early in the season and stays fit.

[Martin H]

Originally Posted by teesdale99

There’s the option of playing Ward at centre back too. He might be next in the pecking order after Dann, Kouyate and Kelly?

Best case scenario is that Sakho gets fit early in the season and stays fit. His positional sense, composure and passing ability are superb. Although these attributes come with his ability to put hearts in mouths and drop a clanger. Unlikely he will stay fit for an extended period but you never know.

Agree Ward would be a deputy but that’s not really an option until Ferguson is ready. There is a real risk we could end up with a porous defence before Xmas with this schedule and the fragility of our CBs. The clubs with big squads backed by high quality youth squads will probably thrive this season.

The CB situation is a problem of the past 3 years squad management and we will have to ride our luck a little. It’s not FM and is a tough and expensive puzzle. Hopefully one they have a better answer to than Jach. Woods looks a way off a regular start still. Innis not likely an option either.

[Mr Palace]

Tomkins said recently that he was fit, and Sakho said likewise. Cahill is out long term but PvA is likely to be back in October.

Hopefully we will have Tomkins and Sakho to start, along with Dann, Kelly and Kouyate. That's strong.

If one of Tomkins or Sakho is fit then I think we'll be ok. It's when we partner any of the others together (i.e. minus Tomkins, Sakho or Cahill) that I worry.

[Jim Cannon]

Originally Posted by Soarin' Eagles

Has the comedian in here joked that Ferguson is going to play defensive midfielder yet?

Ferguson will be playing DM

[exiledeagle]

Originally Posted by Mr Palace

Tomkins said recently that he was fit, and Sakho said likewise. Cahill is out long term but PvA is likely to be back in October.

Hopefully we will have Tomkins and Sakho to start, along with Dann, Kelly and Kouyate. That's strong.

If one of Tomkins or Sakho is fit then I think we'll be ok. It's when we partner any of the others together (i.e. minus Tomkins, Sakho or Cahill) that I worry.

Strange though not seen Tomkins or Sakho in training , doubt they will play in first few games . As i and many on here have said , we have lots of Central defenders but all are injury prone - we need to get someone in .

[GreatGonzo]

Originally Posted by bourne man

All I can get on it is that it's looming

I would be shocked if that is the case.

Ampadu moved from Exeter to Chelsea on August 2017, tribunal was in April 2018.

Harvey Elliott moved from Fulham to Liverpool last summer, that tribunal has yet to happen.

For balance on figures, Ampadu the tribunal set at £2.5m. Elliott Liverpool have been thought to have offered just £750k and Fulham wanted 10 times that. Likely the figure will be closer to Fulhams valuation than Liverpools i suspect.

[GreatGonzo]

Originally Posted by Mr Palace

Tomkins said recently that he was fit, and Sakho said likewise. Cahill is out long term but PvA is likely to be back in October.

Hopefully we will have Tomkins and Sakho to start, along with Dann, Kelly and Kouyate. That's strong.

If one of Tomkins or Sakho is fit then I think we'll be ok. It's when we partner any of the others together (i.e. minus Tomkins, Sakho or Cahill) that I worry.

Dann and Kouyate have not looked too bad. Agree they wouldn't be first choice but Kouyate is an international CB.

[Jim Cannon]

I like Kouyate at CB. Didn't realise Cahill was long term, thought it was just a pulled hamstring

[Big Blue Eagle]

Originally Posted by Jim Cannon

I like Kouyate at CB. Didn't realise Cahill was long term, thought it was just a pulled hamstring

I think it was torn, which is longer term.

[sl6 Eagle]

Originally Posted by Mr Palace

Tomkins said recently that he was fit, and Sakho said likewise. Cahill is out long term but PvA is likely to be back in October.

Hopefully we will have Tomkins and Sakho to start, along with Dann, Kelly and Kouyate. That's strong.

If one of Tomkins or Sakho is fit then I think we'll be ok. It's when we partner any of the others together (i.e. minus Tomkins, Sakho or Cahill) that I worry.

Tomkins isn’t fit. A fake Tomkins Twitter account announced he is fit, this is wrong unfortunately.

[Mr Palace]

Originally Posted by sl6 Eagle

Tomkins isn’t fit. A fake Tomkins Twitter account announced he is fit, this is wrong unfortunately.

Ah, I didn't spot that.

What sad prick creates a fake twitter account for someone like Tomkins (as much as I love the man!). Very odd thing to fake.

[Mr Palace]

Originally Posted by GreatGonzo

Dann and Kouyate have not looked too bad. Agree they wouldn't be first choice but Kouyate is an international CB.

Agreed. Kouyate is decent.

[newish eagle]

where is Tomkins? Isn't it something like six months since he last played?

[Gollum]

Originally Posted by newish eagle

where is Tomkins? Isn't it something like six months since he last played?

Mark Bright said Tomkins was 'back on the grass'. So maybe he's having light personal training but not back with the full group yet.

[El Aguila]

Maybe. Or maybe he’s sparking up a chillum and making the most of the summer’s end.

[Martin H]

Originally Posted by El Aguila

Maybe. Or maybe he’s sparking up a chillum and making the most of the summer’s end.

great minds...

[Eddie McGoldrick's tash]

He's hanging out with Chris Armstrong from 1994.