Ross McCrorie has indicated he’s best suited to playing either as a centre-back or right-back after completing his move to Bristol City from Aberdeen.
McCrorie has signed a three-year contract at Ashton Gate, with the option of a further 12 months, with the Robins agreeing a total package which could reach just over £2million, if all the obligations are fulfilled over his time in the West Country.
There has been an air of mystery over exactly what Nigel Pearson’s plans are for the 25-year-old, something that won’t be fully revealed until the 2023/24 season develops.
According to Whoscored, for the Dons last season in the Scottish Premiership, McCrorie played 14 games at centre-back, six as a wing-back, six at right-back, six in defensive midfield and one as a right-sided midfielder, showcasing his versatility.
He has also been called up to the Scotland squad to replace Celtic right-back Anthony Ralston, while Aberdeen recruited full-back Nicky Devlin last week from Livingston to effectively replace him.
That all lends itself to considering him more in defence, than midfield, and indeed in the club’s presentation interview he was listed as “Ross McCrorie: Defender”, something the Scot expanded on when asked what sort of player City fans can expect him to be.
"For me, my preference is in defence - between centre-back and right-back - that's where I've played the majority of my football over the last few years," McCrorie said. "Obviously I can step into a couple of other positions, I'm pretty versatile, but for me, coming to City, the team's aggressive and on the front foot and that's something I like.
"I had that up the road at Aberdeen, very similar styles of play and I think it's a great fit for me. I want to come here and make an impact, help the boys as much as I can and get to know them - I want to help a progressive club get to a new level.
“There is ambition at the club to progress, and, for myself, it’s a new challenge and I think it's a good fit. Everything's cut out for the club to push up the table and towards the play-offs and promotion.”
What’s said now, and then put into action over the next 12 months and beyond are two different things and McCrorie’s path could look very different once he’s built up a body of work in the Championship and his attributes can be better assessed in that context.
However, that declaration does raise interesting questions around the futures of Kane Wilson on the right-hand side of defence as the 23-year-old’s knee injury curtailed his presence in the matchday squad and led to George Tanner becoming City’s first choice, with Harry Leeson an increasing first-team consideration for Pearson towards the end of the season.
While, with Zak Vyner and new signing Rob Dickie alongside McCrorie, plus the prospect of Jake O’Brien joining them from Crystal Palace, and emerging talents like Joe Low and Jamie Knight-Lebel in the academy, City would look well stocked for right-sided centre-backs meaning they could be preparing for life without Tomas Kalas as his contract discussions rumble on with June 30, when he’ll become a free agent, approaching.
Haydon Roberts is set to be confirmed as the club's third summer arrival, and with Rob Atkinson, Kal Naismith and Cam Pring in an auxiliary role, that covers the left side of the middle of defence, although Bristol Live understands the Robins are still considering making a move for an orthodox left-back after the collapse of the Joe Bryan deal.
This does start to re-open the debate around City's system moving forward as with an abundance of centre-backs, all with varying attributes, and wing-backs on both sides, Pearson could be tempted to switch back to a 3-5-2, having preferred a flat-back four throughout 2023, switching between a 4-3-3 and diamond.
It also means that the Robins are likely to remain in the market for a defensive midfielder as despite the presence of Matty James, Joe Williams and Andy King - who the club hope to retain as a player/coach - as deeper players in that department, Pearson has bemoaned the lack of a true destructive, holding midfielder.
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