| So. Centre Back 17:17 - May 5 with 3107 views | Cheltenham_Blue |
Well known that KMc likes to have two for each position
Is it going to be O'Shea, Greaves, Kipre and one new signing, O'Shea, Kipre and two new signings as Greaves will be back up to Leif.
Or do we move anyone else on from that department?
O'Shea is pretty much nailed on I'd say, but who his partner will be is perhaps less clear. |  |
| |  |
| So. Centre Back on 17:23 - May 5 with 2522 views | Zx1988 |
I'd have no issues with O'Shea and Greaves being our starting CB pairing. They've been solid in that partnership during the run-in, and very much looked like the players we'd signed in 2024.
A decent back-up would be a good signing, although I'd remain flexible on the above pairing if a CB looks a good option for our top-level senior pro slot (if, say, we somehow manage to convince John Stones to give us more than a passing glance). |  |
| |
| So. Centre Back on 17:26 - May 5 with 2495 views | Marshalls_Mullet |
O'Shea plus one very expensive, experienced CB. Kipre and Greaves as back up, and maybe another.
New RB needed, and probably an experienced LB to compete with Leif. |  |
| |
| So. Centre Back on 17:26 - May 5 with 2489 views | Marshalls_Mullet |
| So. Centre Back on 17:23 - May 5 by Zx1988 |
I'd have no issues with O'Shea and Greaves being our starting CB pairing. They've been solid in that partnership during the run-in, and very much looked like the players we'd signed in 2024.
A decent back-up would be a good signing, although I'd remain flexible on the above pairing if a CB looks a good option for our top-level senior pro slot (if, say, we somehow manage to convince John Stones to give us more than a passing glance). |
I love Stones. But I think he would be another Kalvin Phillips. | |
| |
| So. Centre Back on 17:28 - May 5 with 2467 views | LeoMuff |
An area we go big on hopefully with experience ideally. |  |
| |
| So. Centre Back on 17:37 - May 5 with 2422 views | LeightonBuzzardBlue |
I love Greaves and think he was phenomenal in the run-in, but I really think we need our partner to O'Shea to have experience *not* getting relegated form the Premier League. Maybe by the end of the season Greaves will be ready to start but I think going into this season with Greaves and O'Shea (or Kipre and O-Shea) will just see us struggle again |  | | |
| So. Centre Back on 18:01 - May 5 with 2332 views | surreyblue |
I'd certainly like us to sign another LCB with the intention of starting alongside O'Shea. I wouldn't like end the transfer window with O'Shea and Greaves plus two back ups.
Whether that new signing automatically gets into the team or has to displace Greaves is another question. | | | |
| So. Centre Back on 18:34 - May 5 with 2212 views | BlueandTruesince82 |
| So. Centre Back on 17:26 - May 5 by Marshalls_Mullet |
I love Stones. But I think he would be another Kalvin Phillips. |
John Stones is class, 30 years old which is a v good age at CB, ball playing and classy ans way out of our league. Woukd take him in a heartbeat id we could get him |  |
| |
| So. Centre Back on 18:36 - May 5 with 2195 views | StockholmBlue |
| So. Centre Back on 17:23 - May 5 by Zx1988 |
I'd have no issues with O'Shea and Greaves being our starting CB pairing. They've been solid in that partnership during the run-in, and very much looked like the players we'd signed in 2024.
A decent back-up would be a good signing, although I'd remain flexible on the above pairing if a CB looks a good option for our top-level senior pro slot (if, say, we somehow manage to convince John Stones to give us more than a passing glance). |
So I understand this is not likely nor very realistic, but let me dream a little. Rüdiger.
Besides there will be quite some competition now that he is leaving Real Madrid, but think he has a few more seasons in him. Imagine salary is a possible problem as well, but this would be a signing that would send a message about our intention, and would possibly not require so much in transferfee (about 9 m euros on various sights). |  |
| Ipswich Town FC since 1981 |
| |
Login to get fewer ads
| So. Centre Back on 18:38 - May 5 with 2169 views | TRUE_BLUE123 |
Hopefully a back 3 and you can use DOS, Greaves and one new centre half.
If same formation has to be DOS and a new partner imo. I like Greaves but I don't trust that back 2 in the prem. |  |
| |
| So. Centre Back on 18:44 - May 5 with 2138 views | Swansea_Blue |
You want two centre backs for each centre back position available? You’re Roy Keane and I claim my evil stare of darkness.
If we’re being brutally non-sentimental, we need 1 better than O’Shea to partner him, Greaves as backup and a wonderkid as backup backup.
Kipre seems like a lovely bloke but I’m not sure he’ll be the answer in the PL.
I’d be looking for an improvement on Leif too. As much as I love him to bits, he was exposed defensively in the PL.
(I don’t think we’ll do that btw. It may not even be realistic either financially or practically to do that, but if we don’t I think we’ll struggle again if we don’t significantly improve in quality all over the pitch). [Post edited 5 May 18:47]
|  |
| |
| So. Centre Back on 18:46 - May 5 with 2124 views | Churchman |
| So. Centre Back on 17:26 - May 5 by Marshalls_Mullet |
O'Shea plus one very expensive, experienced CB. Kipre and Greaves as back up, and maybe another.
New RB needed, and probably an experienced LB to compete with Leif. |
Furlong and Greaves are fine. I’d leave the defence alone.
The person in front of Furlong is where Id put some money along with midfielders and a really good target man or two. McAteer is a good back up and improving. Egeli needs to play more centrally, probably on loan as he needs to be playing - unless he has a good pre season. Burns was excellent of course, but his time here is at an end sadly.
A backup to Leif, I agree with. |  | | |
| So. Centre Back on 19:12 - May 5 with 2027 views | Radlett_blue |
| So. Centre Back on 18:46 - May 5 by Churchman |
Furlong and Greaves are fine. I’d leave the defence alone.
The person in front of Furlong is where Id put some money along with midfielders and a really good target man or two. McAteer is a good back up and improving. Egeli needs to play more centrally, probably on loan as he needs to be playing - unless he has a good pre season. Burns was excellent of course, but his time here is at an end sadly.
A backup to Leif, I agree with. |
If you think our current defence will be fine in the Premier League, I think you are very much mistaken. However, I would agree that a good, experienced partner for Matisuwa should be a priority (assuming we are going to stick with 4-2-3-1). If we could find our own Xhaka1
All our signings will be risky given that ready made PL players either won't be for sale or won't want to come here. So we have a choice of top Championship players (disastrous policy 2 years ago), ageing PL players (Kalvin Phillps etc), loanees from top PL clubs or trawling European markets. The latter is where we are most likely to find the quality we need at an affordable price. |  |
| |
| So. Centre Back on 19:30 - May 5 with 1967 views | TRUE_BLUE123 |
| So. Centre Back on 18:46 - May 5 by Churchman |
Furlong and Greaves are fine. I’d leave the defence alone.
The person in front of Furlong is where Id put some money along with midfielders and a really good target man or two. McAteer is a good back up and improving. Egeli needs to play more centrally, probably on loan as he needs to be playing - unless he has a good pre season. Burns was excellent of course, but his time here is at an end sadly.
A backup to Leif, I agree with. |
Leave that defence alone and we are 100% going down. You have to upgrade it.
Leif New DOS New [Post edited 5 May 19:30]
| |
| |
| So. Centre Back on 19:48 - May 5 with 1904 views | Churchman |
| So. Centre Back on 19:30 - May 5 by TRUE_BLUE123 |
Leave that defence alone and we are 100% going down. You have to upgrade it.
Leif New DOS New [Post edited 5 May 19:30]
|
I disagree. The defence was not the worst aspect of last season. They were not overly mistake prone and they've had a full season to operate as a unit. The keeper has grown with them and I stick to my view, having watched them and their predecessors.
The problem was what was in front of them last time. 20 mins and an apology of a midfield collapsed onto the defence. Just about every game. We couldn't keep the ball at all.
Greaves has improved and Furlong is a lot better than his predecessors and has PL experience, size and is streetwise. I know where I’d put the bulk of the money. I would sign another CH and a good full back if I could find one and assuming Boniface isn't good enough.
Im not in favour of ripping the team up. The current one is just forming and Id enhance it rather than replace it, however exciting the latter might be. | | | |
| So. Centre Back on 21:38 - May 5 with 1798 views | Swansea_Blue |
John Stones is a free agent. Imm only half joking. That wouldn’t happen now as he’s only 30/31 so will have high wage demands and European competition aspirations. But we could do with finding someone like him with loads of experience yet a couple of years older so more affordable (like Walker when he went to Burnley). I’ve no idea who though. | |
| |
| So. Centre Back on 21:43 - May 5 with 1767 views | burnbudgiesburn |
I'm still wondering if we'll have a complete change of system, to an ultra pragmatic 5 at the back.
Not sure Leif is good enough defensively in a back 4, and a central 3 would allow him to play to his strengths. | | | |
| So. Centre Back on 21:46 - May 5 with 1744 views | TractorJack |
| So. Centre Back on 19:30 - May 5 by TRUE_BLUE123 |
Leave that defence alone and we are 100% going down. You have to upgrade it.
Leif New DOS New [Post edited 5 May 19:30]
|
Yep, we will need a new RB and CB regardless so there's absolutely no chance we don't aim to upgrade. |  | | |
| So. Centre Back on 22:23 - May 5 with 1663 views | LeoMuff |
| So. Centre Back on 19:48 - May 5 by Churchman |
I disagree. The defence was not the worst aspect of last season. They were not overly mistake prone and they've had a full season to operate as a unit. The keeper has grown with them and I stick to my view, having watched them and their predecessors.
The problem was what was in front of them last time. 20 mins and an apology of a midfield collapsed onto the defence. Just about every game. We couldn't keep the ball at all.
Greaves has improved and Furlong is a lot better than his predecessors and has PL experience, size and is streetwise. I know where I’d put the bulk of the money. I would sign another CH and a good full back if I could find one and assuming Boniface isn't good enough.
Im not in favour of ripping the team up. The current one is just forming and Id enhance it rather than replace it, however exciting the latter might be. |
We need two destroyers in there protecting. | |
| |
| So. Centre Back on 22:50 - May 5 with 1609 views | Bellevue_Blue |
| So. Centre Back on 19:48 - May 5 by Churchman |
I disagree. The defence was not the worst aspect of last season. They were not overly mistake prone and they've had a full season to operate as a unit. The keeper has grown with them and I stick to my view, having watched them and their predecessors.
The problem was what was in front of them last time. 20 mins and an apology of a midfield collapsed onto the defence. Just about every game. We couldn't keep the ball at all.
Greaves has improved and Furlong is a lot better than his predecessors and has PL experience, size and is streetwise. I know where I’d put the bulk of the money. I would sign another CH and a good full back if I could find one and assuming Boniface isn't good enough.
Im not in favour of ripping the team up. The current one is just forming and Id enhance it rather than replace it, however exciting the latter might be. |
Most of the success stories in the past few years see teams investing heavily in defenders. For almost all that have stayed up 1st year, 1/3 of their transfer business was new defenders.
2025/26 season (promoted for 2024/25)
Sunderland – ✅ Stayed up
Total signings: 14
Defenders: 5
Leeds – ✅ Stayed up
Total signings: 11
Defenders: 4
2022/23 season (promoted for 2021/22)
Fulham – ✅ Stayed up
Total signings: 11
Defenders signed: 4
AFC Bournemouth – ✅ Stayed up
Total signings: 7
Defenders signed: 3
Nottingham Forest – ✅ Stayed up
Total signings: 30
Defenders signed: 11
2021/22 season (promoted for 2020/21)
Brentford – ✅ Stayed up
Total signings: 8
Defenders signed: 3
2020/21 season (promoted for 2019/20)
Leeds United – ✅ Stayed up
Total signings: 8
Defenders signed: 2 | | | |
| So. Centre Back on 22:53 - May 5 with 1591 views | cressi |
| So. Centre Back on 18:34 - May 5 by BlueandTruesince82 |
John Stones is class, 30 years old which is a v good age at CB, ball playing and classy ans way out of our league. Woukd take him in a heartbeat id we could get him |
Rarely fit hence why city don't want him a no from me. | | | |
| So. Centre Back on 23:03 - May 5 with 1557 views | Swansea_Blue |
| So. Centre Back on 22:50 - May 5 by Bellevue_Blue |
Most of the success stories in the past few years see teams investing heavily in defenders. For almost all that have stayed up 1st year, 1/3 of their transfer business was new defenders.
2025/26 season (promoted for 2024/25)
Sunderland – ✅ Stayed up
Total signings: 14
Defenders: 5
Leeds – ✅ Stayed up
Total signings: 11
Defenders: 4
2022/23 season (promoted for 2021/22)
Fulham – ✅ Stayed up
Total signings: 11
Defenders signed: 4
AFC Bournemouth – ✅ Stayed up
Total signings: 7
Defenders signed: 3
Nottingham Forest – ✅ Stayed up
Total signings: 30
Defenders signed: 11
2021/22 season (promoted for 2020/21)
Brentford – ✅ Stayed up
Total signings: 8
Defenders signed: 3
2020/21 season (promoted for 2019/20)
Leeds United – ✅ Stayed up
Total signings: 8
Defenders signed: 2 |
If we want to try to stay up, as opposed to fail limply like last time, we have to be mimicking these numbers. I don’t think people realise how much change is needed. If we were an exceptional team playing really well-drilled football we would possibly ride that wave and manage with fewer signings next year. But we’re not. Apart from only very recently, we’ve struggled for that team cohesiveness. We’re built on individual quality not team work, so we need to strengthen our individual quality. | |
| |
| So. Centre Back on 01:19 - May 6 with 1456 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
| So. Centre Back on 21:43 - May 5 by burnbudgiesburn |
I'm still wondering if we'll have a complete change of system, to an ultra pragmatic 5 at the back.
Not sure Leif is good enough defensively in a back 4, and a central 3 would allow him to play to his strengths. |
I’d go one further, you literally can’t play Leif in a 4 at PL level. |  |
| |
| So. Centre Back on 09:59 - May 6 with 1229 views | OldFart71 |
| So. Centre Back on 19:48 - May 5 by Churchman |
I disagree. The defence was not the worst aspect of last season. They were not overly mistake prone and they've had a full season to operate as a unit. The keeper has grown with them and I stick to my view, having watched them and their predecessors.
The problem was what was in front of them last time. 20 mins and an apology of a midfield collapsed onto the defence. Just about every game. We couldn't keep the ball at all.
Greaves has improved and Furlong is a lot better than his predecessors and has PL experience, size and is streetwise. I know where I’d put the bulk of the money. I would sign another CH and a good full back if I could find one and assuming Boniface isn't good enough.
Im not in favour of ripping the team up. The current one is just forming and Id enhance it rather than replace it, however exciting the latter might be. |
You certainly cannot rip the team up. Too many are saying that virtually all the current team aren't good enough.
I have seen the centre backs questioned, the fullbacks, midfield and players like Philogene, Clarke and McAteer.
It simply doesn't make sense to change too many in all positions. You just end up like we did at the beginning of last season where it took months to get going.
At that rate by Christmas there would be no sense in worrying about making purchases in the January window as we would already be relegated.
It will take a very good transfer window if the amount available to spend is on similar lines to our last venture into the Premier League which was around £130 million.
You ain't gonna get 12 players for that money even allowing for loans.
I just hope that the scouting has sorted one or two gems from abroad. As I see it you would look at buying two at around £35 million and three at £20 million each. and maybe three loans. So eight in total. | | | |
| So. Centre Back on 15:17 - May 6 with 1039 views | Dilithium85 |
Adam Webster? Hear me out, only 30, bags of premier league experience, been here before, out of contract in the summer, so save money to spend on other areas of the pitch.
I was right about Ben Johnson being signed | | | |
| So. Centre Back on 15:23 - May 6 with 1014 views | tractorboy1978 |
| So. Centre Back on 15:17 - May 6 by Dilithium85 |
Adam Webster? Hear me out, only 30, bags of premier league experience, been here before, out of contract in the summer, so save money to spend on other areas of the pitch.
I was right about Ben Johnson being signed |
The issue with Webster is his propensity to get injured. | | | |
| |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
