It transpires James Perch is absent from the training session in Austria, due to the arrival of a baby daughter, Ella. So huge congratulations to Perchy and his missus - that’s great news. Although fear not, he is still training with the academy to ensure he has a decent preseason preparation whilst the first team squad are out on the continent.
It was a big year for Perchy last season - and given the incoming midfielders, I’m expecting to see him in a more defensive role (at right back, if I had my way) so he will have changes on and off the pitch to contend with. But I’m sure he’ll rise to the challenge, I can see him operating well as a fullback which was the position he first broke into the team playing in.
In other news, Didier Agathe will not be joining us - having been invited to join the squad for the Austria training session, and promptly not turning up! Smoulds commented that this ends his trial, and frankly, if he couldn’t be bothered to turn up or offer a decent excuse for not doing so, then sod him - Perchy can play there anyway!
10 July, 2007 at 1:01 pm
Why do people insist on Perch playing at full back? He broke into the first team as a centre half but played some reserve football at full back but is by no means a fulltime full back.
He is decent cover for either right or left back but we don’t want another John Thompson on our hands.
Perch says his best position is centre midfield and I agree with him. We need a proper right nack not another sqaure peg.
10 July, 2007 at 1:25 pm
That’s a fair point actually, he did break in at centrehalf which I believe at the time was his ‘preferred’ position.
Right back (absolutely not left back) is the position in which he’s seemed most natural to me though - and it fits his attributes perfectly, I don’t think it would be a case of square pegs, round holes etc - I totally agree we’ve had far too much of that lately.
If he holds out for central midfield then he’ll be lucky to get a game!
10 July, 2007 at 1:35 pm
He will struggle to get a starting perth in Midfield and will probably end up as the utility player on the bench as he can play virtyally anywhere in midfield defence.
If he is to play centre midfield then there aren’t many better players to learn from than Neil Lennon so it’s a win win I think.
10 July, 2007 at 1:37 pm
That’s very true about Lennon.
I still think we’ll see him utilised as a right back though
10 July, 2007 at 1:41 pm
If Lennon starts then Perch wont, simple as. Not if you’ve also got Sammy (my pick) and Lewis available. So Perch needs to think about making right back his own. Bloody hell, nice to have so many tidy midfielders to pick from!
Any news on Breckin? I think (hope) he’ll be lucky to make the starting 11, and I doubt he’d be happy to be a sub….Chambers for Captain.
10 July, 2007 at 1:44 pm
I’m sure I’ve read somewhere that Breckin retains the captaincy… I would have thought if not him, then Lennon would be an obvious pick!
10 July, 2007 at 1:45 pm
I keep seeing people suggest Chambers for captain, he’s only played a handful of games. We have a ready made captain in Neil Lennon.
10 July, 2007 at 2:55 pm
BBC Nottingham report that Brecks is to remain captain (see our blog for the link - shameless plug!). I suspect that Brecks and Chambers will be CC’s preferred partnership at the back (and is in my opinion, the best partnership, although it is unfortunate for Wes).
As for Perchy, he is unlikely to get a chance to play in midfield, and I think he is a bit slight to play at centre-half. He has played a reasonable amount of football at right-back in the past, is quick and full of running, and he can tackle. Seems like a good choice for right-back to me.
Of course, if we sign Wilson, that could change everything.
I wonder if Perchy’s baby has healthy joints and immune system from all the fish oil he takes?
10 July, 2007 at 3:53 pm
I wouldn’t mind Breckin if all of his negtives (lack of touch and ability to dictate the tempo of the players around him) were outweighed by the positives he brings to the team - ie, a danger and goals from set-pieces. If there was one thing that we were better at under Megson it was scoring from set-pieces and Breckin was the main beneficiary of that. I hope that someone makes Calderwood aware of this and that we can improve on our goals tally from setpieces this season.
11 July, 2007 at 1:00 am
[...] Who’s the daddy? [image]It transpires James Perch is absent from the training session in Austria, due to the arrival of a baby daughter, […] [...]
11 July, 2007 at 3:07 am
It`s going to be Perchy at right back and Lennon as captain.I`m sure Brecks won`t object particularly as Lennon is helping with the training.Let him earn his money.
11 July, 2007 at 11:06 am
The main reason I dont see Brecks as captain is because I wouldn’t have him in my starting 11. And while I agree that Lennon is certainly an obvious choice, and wouldn’t stand for any shit/slacking, I did like the way that Chambers just seemed to assume control as soon as he went into the center-half position.
So, not living local I dont get to read the “hot news”….is Lennon a coach too then?
11 July, 2007 at 11:14 am
My understanding was Lennon was here solely as a player for a year, despite initial rumours that it was a player-coach role. Of course, his influence in the dressing room may well make him an informal mentor for our younger lads, though.