Ashley Barnes and the system

[cricketfieldclarets]

Thought he was excellent today. Back to his best and a typical performance and the typical type of player we need in this fight. He frustrated Arsenal, pushed the boundaries (perhaps lucky at times) and got an excellent goal. Based on today and last week we need to persist with Barnes and A N Other.

If we can improve the midfield we SHOULD be OK.

The system and 5 at the back looks to suit us, especially against the top sides. But we need to freshen the midfield. We dont have enough options out wide and in the midfield we look to lack everything you need from a midfield - creativity, energy and drive. Cork looks slower every week.

We also need to get more streetwise. For the third Long should have taken the player out at least twice.

Arsenal are a phenomenal team though, especially on the break. Kolasinic is the ultimate left back. What we would do for a player like him.

Everton and West Ham are two huge games though. If the team and fans show the passion and fight Barnes did today we will be out of the bottom 3 in no time.

[Foulthrow]

I'd tend to agree with most of that. Barnes did play well but I'd pick Long or Westwood as my man of the match.

[cricketfieldclarets]

Westwood was the best midfielder. And he often is. Despite his size. The foul for the header he challenged for is what pisses me off about modern football. It was a perfect challenge IMO. But the modern game doesnt allow it. His crossing is also excellent.

Its going to have to be us against them though based on todays ref!

[Top Claret]

Aggre with cricketfield,a good performance.I thought Cork and Westwood had good games today though.

We are certainly improving all over the pitch including the managers tactics. It is good to see Taylor attacking the flanks and not sat back deep in his own half for 90 minutes.

Things are certainly more positive and I am sure the results will come

[JoeAM89]

Great name for a band

[SussexDon1inIreland]

Like the Spurs game We deserved a point today

[Spiral]

Thought it was weird how Sokratis shoved his head into Barnes' armpit for about five seconds and wouldn't move. Must be a Greek thing, I dunno.

[IanMcL]

Barnes.
Refs give me a card straight away...and I think...how many fouls does he have to do on me, before he (Sokratis) gets booked?

[Right_winger]

The system is better than 4-4-2 and suits us more.

Brady would be a better choice at LWB than Taylor.

Wood and Mee need to spend some time on the sidelines aswell.

We are desperate for some pace all over the park

[IanMcL]

Pundits...Burnley penalty for shove on Long.

[IanMcL]

Jamie Redknapp speaking passionately for Burnley.
Good lad.

[Bigvince]

It’s early days for this system, time will tell.
What I do know is, we always look a better side with Barnes in it

[MACCA]

Barnes and Vokes has to be the front 2, I can't help but feel Sam would have offered far more than wood in this game. He literally doesn't do anything of note.

[joey13]

Can’t see Arsenal getting top 4 , defensively poor

[ClaretRock]

I do think we tend to lose some in midfield as the game wears on due to the effort they put in and we do lack viable replacements from the bench with this system so mabe a shroud purchase in January wouldn't go a miss.

[Top Claret]

Barnes and Vokes has to be the front 2, I can't help but feel Sam would have offered far more than wood in this game. He literally doesn't do anything of note.

Wood was awful

[Roosterbooster]

Wood was awful

When was the last time he wasn’t? I can’t remember him doing anything in 2018

[SkiptonClaret]

When was the last time he wasn’t? I can’t remember him doing anything in 2018

Leeds sold us a couple of duds, don’t think Taylor isup to it - one footed carthorse...but still better than “The Plank”

[Top Claret]

Wood looks to me like he lacks passion and heart, something you are born with.

[diamondpocket]

Wood needs to go and get out of our club, a donkey I'm afraid; no interest, no fight, no presence. Barnes showed what we need: guts, strength and presence, and should never have been pulled off; we did nothing after he went off.

[Top Claret]

Leeds sold us a couple of duds, don’t think Taylor isup to it - one footed carthorse...but still better than “The Plank”

Taylor deserves a chance, he has only just been given the green light to bomb on down the flanks and play to his strengths, and in doing so the team performance is improving. I agree Skipton he is very left sided though

[cricketfieldclarets]

Main criticism of Westwood was the early chance. Cork had a similar one in the second half and also the one where he dallied before their third. Had so much time and space.

We definitely need that midfielder who can ping one in at the edge of the box. A Siggurdson type would have buried both of those today.

[Jakubs Tash]

I'm liking the 3/5 at the back but today highlighted how 'samey' our midfielders are. For example (and I know we don't have their funds), when Man City play 3 in there it's usually Silva, Fernandinho and KDB - two very attacking players with flair, pace and creativity flanking a defensive player. Dyche has to think outside the box a little when it comes to the 3 that play in there and certainly when it comes to January and potential incomings who could make a difference to us.

[cricketfieldclarets]

I'm liking the 3/5 at the back but today highlighted how 'samey' our midfielders are. For example (and I know we don't have their funds), when Man City play 3 in there it's usually Silva, Fernandinho and KDB - two very attacking players with flair, pace and creativity flanking a defensive player. Dyche has to think outside the box a little when it comes to the 3 that play in there and certainly when it comes to January and potential incomings who could make a difference to us.

Drinkwater, Defour and Loftus Cheek would be exceptional.

Perhaps more realistic would be Ward Prowse and another to support what we have?

[piston broke]

Wood has a record of starting well at a new club and then going backwards. Probably why he’s had so many clubs. His confidence has packed the bags and gone back to NZ for Xmas.

[Ilkley claret]

Big mistake from Dyche not playing Barnes from the start of the season imo

[tiger76]

Wood needs to go and get out of our club, a donkey I'm afraid; no interest, no fight, no presence. Barnes showed what we need: guts, strength and presence, and should never have been pulled off; we did nothing after he went off.

I think Ash was hooked as a precaution in case he picked up a 2nd yellow,the last thing we need is suspensions.

Agree with the rest Wood has to benched we need all hands on deck to pull away from the bottom 3.

[JohnMac]

We really are a squad of one footed players, not just Taylor.

[IndigoLake]

I thought Barnes was better than Wood today.

I'm here most of the evening if any more in-depth analysis is required.

[Jakubs Tash]

Drinkwater, Defour and Loftus Cheek would be exceptional.

Perhaps more realistic would be Ward Prowse and another to support what we have?

You're right; Loftus Cheek is completely unrealistic.

Maybe Ward Prowse and Will Hughes....?

One things for certain, we need more pace and zip in there. There were two or three occasions today when Cork was away from the opposing player but got easily caught up. Think he's wearing Robbie's divers boots....

[Jakubs Tash]

I thought Barnes was better than Wood today.

I'm here most of the evening if any more in-depth analysis is required.

Wood was awful. If someone wants to explain to me how he was even just ok today then I'm all ears...

[TomtheClaret]

Have to say I liked the formation today. Think if we could get Defour , Brady, and jbg in that system at home. On to winner! Vokes has to start over Wood.
Hart
Long Tarky Mee

Jbg Brady

Westwood Defour Cork


Vokes Barnes

[Hipper]

Westwood was the best midfielder. And he often is. Despite his size. The foul for the header he challenged for is what pisses me off about modern football. It was a perfect challenge IMO. But the modern game doesnt allow it. His crossing is also excellent.

Its going to have to be us against them though based on todays ref!

That was a definite foul. Westwood was looking at the player, not the ball.

However, he was the only midfielder who had some movement and sense of urgency about him.

[Jakubs Tash]

No chance Dyche will play wingers as wing backs. It's more a back 5 than a back 3 so he will always look to the wing back being a full back before a winger. I can't think of many wing backs that are wingers as opposed to full backs - can you?

[Dark Cloud]

Barnes was actually very good last week too imo.

[Roosterbooster]

No chance Dyche will play wingers as wing backs. It's more a back 5 than a back 3 so he will always look to the wing back being a full back before a winger. I can't think of many wing backs that are wingers as opposed to full backs - can you?

A number of modern full backs were wingers converted into full backs at the start of their careers. Ashley Cole is the perfect example. Valencia and Young did it later in their careers.
And Brady has played LB at other clubs.

[EarbyClaret]

I've probably missed this somewhere else as I haven't read everything post-match but in defence of Wood - his one moment of quality was a perfect set-up for Cork which should have been buried. It came to Cork on his stronger foot under no challenge he had more than half the goal to aim at and the 'keeper was rooted to the spot.

That should have been an assist and 2-2. Fully agree Wood should offer more but that moment showed exactly what he can do and it should have been a game changer.

The 3-5-2 seems to suit the personnel available. Barnes played well. We desperately need a quick and physical midfielder. If any one of Brady, JBG or Lennon had been available you sense decent crosses into he right areas would have yielded something more today.

[Jakubs Tash]

A number of modern full backs were wingers converted into full backs at the start of their careers. Ashley Cole is the perfect example. Valencia and Young did it later in their careers.
And Brady has played LB at other clubs.

But we don't have any full backs that used to be wingers..... the point being that some supporters are calling for JBG and Lennon to be wing backs and I just can't see Sean Dyche doing that.

Take your point on Brady (loosly) as he has played full back and wing back on rare occasions but this was probably caused by default. I'm still not convinced he's an out and out winger (just my opinion) - I think he's more productive when he's in the position of a forward/No 10/attacking midfielder.