That’s uncanny - you know when you have that dream when things appear in a blur and in slow motion? Well, there was a scramble in the first half that when replayed looked quite similar to what I described! But then dreams are usually the opposite of reality and so we didn’t score this time.
Actually I think that Sarr does do a fair bit of defensive work when he is on song, probably more than you would think. Furthermore I'm not sure Etebo is a good choice as a winger, as I believe he is a DMF player. And as for CB I think Nkoulou if he regains full fitness would be the best answer. Having said that we are all entitled to have our own opinions and we don't have to agree, that's what a forum is about
I think we tend to underestimate the way that a team has multiple "link" points - with surrounding players. We all know how say a Striker will bemoan a lack of supply / support, and this true throughout any team, but when you've got average players, low on confidence, sprinkled with new players, in the relegation zone, our current game is what you get. That's why it's so vital we seek a manager who can pull a team together, beat the drum and coach a team to be a proper unit. Burnley got it bang on with Dyche despite his time now running out, but I guess we'll never have a settled manager/squad under GP....
Ken continues to look hopelessly out of his depth. My favourite bit was him almost losing a foot race with that lumbering Dutch monstrosity in the first half. Poor lad had to make a desperate right footed tackle just to save face. Possibly the slowest winger we've had since Neil Ardley
It is worth remembering that Burnley have lost only two league games at home this season: against Brighton on 14 August and against Arsenal on 18 September. Their away record is much worse than their home results, although they did draw at Chelsea in November and at Arsenal in January.
We only gained 15 points from 14 games under Javi in his first season, a PPG that won’t keep us up. The main reason for that was our away form - we didn’t pick up a single point on the road between Stoke and the Burnley game the following season. So if we are to have any hope of staying up we have to start picking up away points. I think the problems in this department stem from the league game at Leicester - we played very well for much of it and caused them some problems but still ended up conceding four goals and losing 4-2. From then on my belief is that the team became afraid to attack much for fear of being caught on the counter, hence the largely defensive and passive displays we’ve seen since at Brentford, Newcastle and even Burnley.
I suspect the match last night will prove to have been played between the sides who will finish bottom two, but we shall see. The optimist in me agrees with LeedsOrn’s point about this was how the Gracia reign started, a dullish 0-0 on the road that gave us both a point and a clean-sheet. That’s two unbeaten on the road now. It’s a base to build on. The pessimist in me says we only took two points from that important run of matches against Burnley, Norwich and Newcastle. Fair enough, we didn’t lose to two of our rivals, but it now puts more pressure on us to try to find an unlikely win against a higher side. More of the same, a dull draw, on Tuesday against a side who went 120 minutes yesterday, and a long-awaited home win on Saturday and I might just start believing. We will have Sarr back next weekend too. What a loss he’s been. We’ve not won since his injury. It’s crazy when you think how amazing we were at home last season that last night’s point means we’ve taken more points on the road this season (8) than at the Vic (7). Five straight defeats. We have to end this miserable run. Let’s hope Brighton will be it. A nice bit of symmetry if the first team we played this season that made us realise how potentially bad this season could be, then become to first side we beat to give us all hope that it might not be so bad after all.
We got a clean sheet ! I only saw the first half hour which was turgid stuff . The clean sheet is encouraging but let’s see how we do vs teams with a bit more guile . From the highlights it looked like we had the better of the (mainly half) chances , but we didn’t look much like scoring . Still Sarr and Dennis to come in so the attacking play can improve.
Sarr has to play when he is available, but Roy has to get him believing in his ability, particularly his speed. If he keeps running at the opposition defence he will not only create chances but terrified defenders will foul him resulting in cards and free kicks/penalties.
It will be great to have Sarr back, but ironically he was not really playing that well leading up to his injury. However just having him on the pitch really helps our team even when he is not particularly playing well. That is because teams are so **** scared of him they often double team him, which gives more space for our other guys to nip in and score.
Last night I dreamed Bruce Willis put a gun to my head. I said “do you realise who I am?” And at that point he got to his knees and started enthusiastically licking my ankle. I woke up and it was the dog.
I think when he’s having a poor game and refusing the take on his man, the opposition players/manager soon realise and adjust accordingly.
If you say so! Though I don't think that is strictly true as the opposition managers cannot really take that risk, as they know well that Sarr being Sarr he is likely to burst into life and produce a game winning flash of genius at any moment
Yea, I agree Etebo isn't a winger but I thought Roy played Kucko there in order to help defensively. So I felt if Roy wants a midfielder that can help defensively to play there, Etebo is a far better choice than Kucko considering he played on the right wing and RWB in some games for Getafe. I think he will offer more to the team both defensively and when we are attacking. But if Sarr can really be bothered about us surviving this season, he definitely will be the perfect choice. Sent from my TECNO P701 using Tapatalk
Almost drifting into Gracia territory with midfielders as wingers, come to think of it Quique did it as well.
When discussing King I feel like I’ve watched a different game last night to most of you. I thought he was really good, very hard working and did pretty well at holding the play up (as did Pedro). Pedro I can’t work out if he’s going to be a superstar me day or end up in the Championship. He appears to have so much talent, yet never really looks like scoring. Anyway, overall I thought the pair of them did well with little support from behind. Sarr and / or Dennis will help that. Would love both to be the wide players, but suspect Roy will stick with one of the defence minded wingers on one side.
JP still looks very imperious when he's on the ball/moving with it, and he's very technical/tricky, so he can lead defenders in a merry dance. He's also one of very few players we have who is happy at all to run at opponents and try and beat them. But his decision making is currently pretty awful, and in the end he's pretty hesitant, so he doesn't release the ball on time or, often, actually beat the opponents in impactful areas. That's not to slate him, and it's likely at least as much down to his age and extreme paucity of top level games as anything else, but it becomes far more visible both when he displays the impressive side of his game (raising expectations and showing the talent he has) and when he's relied on to potentially provide so much of any possible flair and attacking drive/guile (playing in a team this turgid, and in the absence of Sarr and Dennis).
Yes but he makes Andre Grays goalscoring record seem reasonable. Add goals and he's a very very good player
Plenty of sensible summaries and suggestions on here. But I do think a lot of you have forgotten about the conditions: Horizontal squalls of rain and a wind strong enough to move the ball about when it was supposed to be stationary for corners and free kicks really will make a deleterious difference to any game of football.
Not our usual forum language Forza. Seeing your post only brought one memory to mind... Ding! Tell us about "deleterious" Frank.
Yep, even Dyche admitted it was the worst conditions he's seen at that hell hole. I fully expected to be *********d by them so a point is rather satisfying after the Norwich debacle
JPs only 20 years old and still learning, he's going to have games he drifts in and out of, and games he makes mistakes If he hasn't improved in the next 2 years then is the time to question
Two things wrong with that clip, 1 didn’t get to hear what deleterious means, 2 didn’t see enough of Judy Gleeson
JP makes mistakes but always immediately works hard to win the ball back and often does. This is what I like about him. As you say over time hopefully he makes less mistakes.
This is an objectively hilarious tweet - I genuinely had to go over it a few times to make sure it was serious and not obvious satire.
I thought I supported Watford, but maybe I’m just a “mere” fan. It’s going to be awfully confusing next time someone asks me who I support.
10/10 for Call My Bluff! I also liked the radio quiz RR did,was it 'Brain of Britain'? " Two to Mr F***pig,four to Mr Dent and seven to Mr Beeblebrox". Very fine.
