09-12-2023, 02:57 PM
(08-12-2023, 07:58 PM)Hammie Wrote:(08-12-2023, 12:18 PM)Wanderlust Wrote: Lawrence wrote: "Defenders make mistakes and it's easy and lazy to single out Raggett. It's going to have to be a phenomenal (and expensive) signing in January to get any better."
Raggett's a good defender but CBs are generally cheap and there are bargains out there if you can find them.
Bolton's first choice back 3 for example. Club captain Ricardo Santos on a free from Barnet, George Johnston on a free from Feyenoord (did his ACL 10 minutes into the first preseason game so is currently out) and Eoin Toal £75k from Derry City - that rose to £150k recently as he was capped for Northern Ireland.
We splashed out £200k on Will Forrester from Port Vale but Gethin Jones and Jack Iredale were free from Carlisle and Cambridge respectively. Jones is currently being touted for a cap with Australia despite having played for Wales' U21s.
That's 6 decent CBs for a total transfer budget of £350k - so they are out there. That said, why bother? Raggett's a good CB.
Starting back 3 will probably be Santos, Toal and one of the others BTW.
there seem to be a few half decent northern Ireland international playing at this level.
And therein lies the problem for Northern Ireland. League One players do not have true International class.