The next area of the pitch that I’m focusing on in terms of identifying transfer targets for Southend United is at centre back.
My approach is primarily data-driven, although it’s important to point out that optimal recruitment requires a mix of both approaches – statistical and traditional. Therefore, this is merely a starting point.
Head coach Kevin Maher has built a system consisting of a three-at-the-back structure. To fit into this, we need players who are comfortable in possession and can progress play effectively, and have a level of physicality which enables them to challenge for ground or aerial duels.
The outside centre backs also need to be mobile enough so that they can defend the wide spaces — essentially as a full back would be able to. It would also be desirable if these players had the ability to carry the ball forwards, and if the left-sided centre back was left-footed.
Current options and criteria
Obviously the futures of all of our players, even those under contract, remain uncertain. However, our squad depth across the back three currently looks like this:
After Shaun Hobson’s departure, Louis Lomas is currently our first choice option on the right side (RCB). Ollie Kensdale, although our first choice central centre back (CCB), can also shift across to the right. I also believe Harry Taylor could be used on the right side of our back three. I think that this gives us good enough depth.
Of course, Kensdale can only be used on the right side of defence if someone is able to cover him. As we currently have nobody else in the squad who is capable of playing in the middle of the back three, another option here is essential.
Likewise with Taylor, if he were to be used in defence, we’d have to bring in another midfielder. I will focus on midfield targets in my next article.
I think it would be desirable to have a second choice option in the middle of the back three with excellent physical attributes, and the confidence to be a leader at the heart of the defence. If we were to bring in someone who’s potentially more physical than Kensdale, it would also give us the flexibility to adapt when up against the National League’s most physical forwards. With a young defence, this player could potentially be more experienced.
Club captain Nathan Ralph is our first choice option on the left side of defence (LCB). Kensdale and Lomas can also play there, although neither are left-footed. Considering the footedness of our back up options, Ralph’s injury record in the time he’s been with us, and the fact that he turned 30-years-old in February, I think a younger left-footed player to play on the left side of defence in Ralph’s absence is essential.
If we were to bring in two players in the areas that I’ve spoken about, our depth in the back three would look like this:
This is of course on the assumption that the players we currently have that I have mentioned all remain at the club. If somebody was to leave, they would also have to be replaced. For this reason, I have included targets for all positions in the back three. Below are my recommendations for each position.
RCB option 1: Joe Cook
Currently under contract at Dorking Wanderers and turning 24-years-old at the end of July, Joe Cook would be a good fit to play on the right side of our back three. He fits the profile of being comfortable in possession whilst also being a physical presence, and is able to defend the wide areas due to his mobility. Whilst naturally being right-footed, Cook also featured on the left side of Dorking’s back three last season – so could provide more cover there as well.
RCB option 2: Kenton Richardson
Kenton Richardson turned 24-years-old at the end of June, and had an option for a further year on his contract activated by Gateshead earlier this summer. A similar profile to Cook, Richardson also has the ability to deliver crosses into the opponent’s penalty area when higher up the pitch supporting the attack. Gateshead also place a lot of emphasis on controlling possession, so Richardson has to be comfortable on the ball to fit into this system. I also think that Richardson could play on the left of the back three.
RCB option 3: Danny Collinge
Danny Collinge turned 25-years-old in April and is under contract at Barnet. With Barnet reaching the play-offs last season I’m not sure how likely this transfer is, but I think it would be a good fit regardless.
RCB option 4: Adam Crowther
Adam Crowther will turn 23-years-old next January, and had an option for another year on his contract activated by King’s Lynn Town earlier this summer. With King’s Lynn failing to get promoted last season I think this one could be a possibility. Crowther is a good passer and can carry the ball forwards effectively. He’s also strong in the air and at 22-years-old has lots of potential. He also scored seven goals last season and helped King’s Lynn keep 16 clean sheets in the National League North.
RCB option 5: Ben Radcliffe
Ben Radcliffe was released by Burton Albion this summer after spending last season on loan at Banbury United. Radcliffe will turn 19-years-old this month, but is already physical enough to effectively challenge for duels. He’s very comfortable on the ball and should also be able to play as a right back in a back four or even in midfield. At 18-years-old Radcliffe has lots of potential and I feel he would be a good choice as a back up player for us on the right side of the back three.
Other RCB options
Joe Rye – D.O.B: 26/02/04 – Signed new contract at Worthing.
Jack Burchell – D.O.B: 20/11/02 – Out of contract at Eastbourne Borough.
Mason Barrett – D.O.B: 24/09/99 – Signed new contract at Wealdstone.
Daniel Bowry – D.O.B: 29/04/98 – Left Worthing to join St. Albans City.
CCB option 1: Tyler Cordner
Tyler Cordner will turn 25-years-old in December and fits the profile of being a physical defender who can play in the middle of the back three. Cordner is under contract at Aldershot Town so would require a transfer fee, and realistically will have offers from League Two this summer. He’s also a threat from set-pieces, and even if he were to join us it would be on the assumption that he would be first choice, so it would only happen if Kensdale were to leave.
CCB option 2: Jesse Debrah
Jesse Debrah turned 22-years-old in May and is out of contract at Halifax Town this summer. A similar profile to Cordner, Debrah is a physical player who can also play. At such a young age he has lots of potential and again will likely have offers from higher up the pyramid, considering he’s available on a free transfer this summer. I think Debrah could also play on the right side of our back three if we were to make this one happen.
CCB option 3: Jack Cook
Jack Cook will turn 30-years-old in September. However as I mentioned earlier, I don’t think this is an issue considering we’d be looking for a back up option to Kensdale. However he is under contract at Wealdstone where he is club captain, so this one may be unrealistic. Regardless, Cook is very comfortable in possession, to the point where he is able to play either in the middle of the back three or to the right. Wealdstone are a side who place a high emphasis on building play from defence, and Cook has the ability to fit this system very well. As well as possessing very good ability on the ball, he’s also physical enough so that he can effectively play at the heart of the defence.
CCB option 4: James Jones
James Jones turned 26-years-old in March and is under contract at Altrincham. Altrincham are another side who like to play out from defence, and Jones played 36 matches for them last season. He also put up some very solid defensive numbers, as well as being able to pass and carry the ball forwards from defence.
CCB option 5: Louis Storey
Louis Storey will turn 30-years-old in October and is under contract at Gateshead. As mentioned earlier, Gateshead are a side who like to control possession, and Storey also has the ability to carry the ball forwards from the heart of the defence very well. Although he’s a physical player he doesn’t seem to be particularly effective at challenging for aerial duels. I also think that he could play on either side of the back three as well, although he’s naturally right-footed.
CCB option 6: Alex Whitmore
Alex Whitmore will turn 28-years-old in September and had an option for another year on his contract activated by Fylde. He fits the profile of being a very strong player who can operate in the middle of the back three, whilst also being comfortable on the ball. Whitmore also helped Fylde keep 19 clean sheets last season.
CCB option 7: Emmanuel Onariase
Emmanuel Onariase will turn 27-years-old in October and has been made available for transfer at Dagenham & Redbridge. Whilst he doesn’t look quite as good in possession as the other options, he is a strong defender who is effective at challenging for ground or aerial duels. If we are looking for a back up option I think he would be a good fit, and he is just entering his prime.
CCB option 8: Callum Howe
Callum Howe is under contract at Solihull Moors and turned 29-years-old in April. He is Solihull’s captain so a transfer seems unlikely, but he again fits the profile of being strong enough to win aerial duels whilst also being able to help his side progress play from defence. Solihull again are a side who like to play out from the back if they can.
Other CCB options
Canice Carroll – D.O.B: 16/01/99 – Signed new contract at Oxford City.
Joy Mukena – D.O.B: 03/07/99 – Left St. Albans City to join Crawley Town.
LCB option 1: Pierce Bird
My #1 choice for the left-sided centre back role is Fylde’s Pierce Bird. Bird turned 24-years-old in April and is under contract at Fylde. He is tall, strong, left-footed, and fairly quick for his size. The below stats show how strong he is in possession, and he can carry the ball forwards and cross the ball into the opponent’s penalty area when supporting the attack. His mobility also allows him to defend the wide areas which is important when playing on the outside of a back three. A left-sided centre back in his age range coming into the club would also signify good squad planning considering Ralph is now 30-years-old.
LCB option 2: Joe Gubbins
Joe Gubbins had an option for another year on his contract activated by QPR and will turn 22-years-old in August. We had him on loan at the end of Kevin Maher’s first season in charge, and he again fits the profile of being a physical presence whilst being comfortable in possession. As he had his contract extended recently a permanent move seems unlikely until next summer, but I think he could be available for a loan move.
LCB option 3: Lewis Baines
Lewis Baines is under contract at Altrincham and will turn 25-years-old in October. We can see from the below stats that he’s good at making lots of passes, but beyond that nothing really stands out. The stats don’t really do him justice, however this is largely because he plays as part of a centre back pairing for Altrincham. When we consider the requirements for playing in a centre back partnership compared to on either side of a back three – they are very different. For instance there’s more emphasis on carrying the ball forwards or crossing the ball into the box when you’re in a back three, as you have more freedom to get forwards.
When we look at Baines’ radar chart from the 2021/22 season when he was at Chorley it’s a very different picture. He excels at passing, carrying the ball forwards and at crossing. Of course we have to consider the league that he was playing in, and the National League North isn’t obviously the same standard as the National League, but his role was different too.
Baines is a good passer of the ball and can defend either in a centre back partnership or as part of a back three. Whilst he perhaps isn’t quite as mobile as Bird, he can still carry the ball forwards well, get the ball into the penalty area, and even has experience of playing as a left back.
LCB option 4: Ethan Pye
Ethan Pye will turn 21-years-old in November and is under contract at Stockport County. Last season he spent time on loan at Gateshead, who as previously mentioned need their defenders to be comfortable in possession. Pye is probably more of a left back than a natural left-sided centre back, but he did play in Gateshead’s back three last season. I’m not sure if he’ll be available this summer, but I think it would be a good fit regardless.
LCB option 5: Miguel Freckleton
Miguel Freckleton will turn 20-years-old in August and is under contract at Sheffield United. Last season he spent time on loan at both Wealdstone and Yeovil Town. I think he would be available for a loan at least this summer, and is someone that Darren Currie may know from his time at Sheffield United. I’m not sure Freckleton is strong enough physically to play in our back three, but it could be an option.
Other LCB options
Lewis Miccio – D.O.B: 02/12/98 – Signed new contract at Oxford City.
Shrimper Stats 
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