Tarkowski

[conyoviejo]

What a player ..

[Stalbansclaret]

Yep.....composure, physical presence and great attitude. We all knew he'd be good though didn't we....I remember him coming on and absolutely locking down the last few minutes at St Andrews in the "strong jaw" game near the end of the season.

[South West Claret.]

Yes he was superb tonight from start to finish and the booking was "pathetic" there's no other word for it.

[whiffa]

I have to admit pre-season I was part of the "I've not seen enough of him to have any sort of confidence in his ability" crew. Has seriously proved me wrong, thought he was outstanding tonight (and Mee to be fair) - personally I think he's been our best player so far this season.

[gawthorpe_view]

Tarkowski is Polish for Colossus.

[WestMidsClaret]

I honestly think we have the best well drilled defense in the prem. Tark's has been brilliant.

[IanMcL]

Defence

[what_no_pies]

Nobody likes a smarty pants.

[Rileybobs]

Excellent player and will get an England call up before the season's out.

[Wile E Coyote]

very assured, ropey start due to nerves probably, but once he gained confidence his abilities shone through.
waited patiently too and its paid off .

[Bin Ont Turf]

Cruyff turns when under pressure though.

[Wile E Coyote]

just adds to the excitement Bin, will he pull it off or won't he, fortunately for us, the last minute turns invariably work.

[claretfern]

For instance, would Michael Keane get back in if he returned? Think many would say 'no' as things are at the moment......

[Wile E Coyote]

no he wouldn't, Tarks has become very reliable in this particular 11, little point in risking upsetting the applecart for some everton dud.

[boatshed bill]

Defence

back four

[ablueclaret]

Should have been playing all last year. Why people couldn't see the quality he had beats me.

[TheFamilyCat]

I've been surprised by his strength - to look at him and watch how he plays, he just looks like a bit of a soft touch. Clearly not the case.

[CrosspoolClarets]

Done excellently after a wobbly start and a crucial error (WBA?), now he is showing the benefits of being Dyched behind the scenes with the occasional cameo. I consider him our best defender now and the next one to be targetted by a bigger club. We need to get him tied down because after Southgate comes sniffing other clubs will too.

[claretblue]

'...being Dyched behind the scenes...'

could be painful!

[jurek]

If he continues performing as well as he has
then he'll be worth 15m+ by the end of the season.

[CaptainClaret]

Agreed he’s been truly outstanding at the back so far and hopefully we’re doing all we can to sign him up for a contract extension.

One thing we’re maybe missing from Keane is his goal threat from set pieces... would love to see Tarky develop in that area.

[welsbyswife]

I love that he seems to be a great exponent of the old fashioned 'block tackle'. We all know you can't go sliding in these days but he has a way of tackling that puts his physical presence on the opposing player without committing a foul.....perhaps he could do a couple of training sessions with Ashley Barnes.......

[Yearofthefox]

Fanastic again, i personally now prefer Mee & Tarks over keane and Mee last season.

[Firthy]

Obviously a gifted and natural player but I do believe playing alongside Mee makes him even better.

You only have to compare his form to Keanes this season to see the difference having a good partnership makes.

I wonder what sort of partnership Keane and Tarks would have.

[IanMcL]

back four

Back 5!

Or perhaps...back 11!

[Cheats]

now he is showing the benefits of being Dyched behind the scenes with the occasional cameo.

Why abc can't understand this concept beats me.

[Sidney1st]

Should have been playing all last year. Why people couldn't see the quality he had beats me.

You wanted him in midfield though, or as part of a back 3

We didn't, and probably still don't, have the quality in the rest of the team for a back 3 formation.
We didn't need him in midfield either and Keane/Mee were playing so well they didn't need to be dropped.

[ablueclaret]

I wanted him in the side because he was amongst the top 5 players at the club and should have been used.
People couldn't see his talent even though it was staring them in the face.

[ClaretTony]

I wanted him in the side because he was amongst the top 5 players at the club and should have been used.
People couldn't see his talent even though it was staring them in the face.

Firstly - you really are a fool ablueclaret

Secondly - I had concerns at the start of this season but he's getting better and better and certainly proving me wrong. He's turned in some absolutely outstanding performances this season.

[claretandy]

If he continues performing as well as he has
then he'll be worth 15m+ by the end of the season.

He's worth more than that already, need to get him signed up to a new 4 year deal though.

[piston broke]

.
One thing we’re maybe missing from Keane is his goal threat from set pieces... would love to see Tarky develop in that area.

If Brady could get a FK or corner within 10yds of him maybe he would score. Our deadball delivery this season is atrocious.

[mkmel]

Should have been playing all last year. Why people couldn't see the quality he had beats me.

Just like Remy Smith that you rated highly

[ecc]

I really can't see in what way Michael Keane is better than Tarky.

[lucs86]

I really can't see in what way Michael Keane is better than Tarky.

Keane's fast for a CB and carried more goal threat from set pieces than Tarks has shown so far.

I'm a massive fan of Tarks and could see him becoming a better, more commanding CB than Keane, but he'll never have Keane's pace.

[bobinho]

And that reason alone lucs, is why we won’t see him play for England. He’s done well, and no mistake. But he’s no England centre half. He lacks that initial burst of pace that all great players have. Yeah he can travel when he gets moving, but international strikers (wales excluded) would leave him standing.

Having said that, in his cameos before MK left, you could see how good a player he was, so reading he had an iffy start, or that he has improved since the start if the season is a little baffling to me. (Ok, so yes he’s improved, but only like everyone else has improved due to regularly playing in the team. It’s not like he was crap and now he’s good)

He’s doing great, and he has done since he came into the side.

Anyone still convinced MK hasn’t been replaced???

[Brunlea]

I like this lad. When he was on the premier league show with Ben Mee he talked about the commitment that was expected from SD giving the example that if you had to take a ball in the face to stop it then that’s what you do.The next game was city away and one of the many shots he blocked was one that hit him full in the face! Proper defender and will only get better.

[gandhisflipflop]

I think it's more of a case of the SD system suiting the players. Tarks and Keane are both fantastic players make no mistake but if you take each individual and put them in a new system they won't look the same player as we have seen with Keane. Each of our players knows each other's strength and weakness and that is key to their performance.