Ben Mee

[Vegas Claret]

Ben Mee epitomises everything I want to see in a player in terms of determination and will. So many supremely talented footballers haven't had the career he has because they lack those qualities

[Darnhill Claret]

But superdimitri you also fall into the trap of thinking that a club like Burnley can look to strengthen by constant updating and upgrading of players. In my opinion the 3 strongest clubs/teams are Man City, Liverpool and Spurs. Spurs are currently out of their usual position and out of form. Man City have dropped more points at this stage than most people would have expected. Only Liverpool are playing as strongly as expected. In my opinion only those 3 clubs and maybe Leicester and Wolves have the financial capacity to perhaps adopt your strategy. However, if you notice these top clubs only strengthen their pool with only 1 or 2 signings at a time because team spirit trumps individual skills. Team spirit is the bedrock of Burnley and all the other clubs in the Prem. So first team strengthening policy has to be slow and sure, so as not to disrupt all the progress that continues to be made season on season. We also have to recognise that we strengthen year on year by continuing to play in the Prem and that our season end table position is not the only thing to measure our progress by. Me an Tarks do not at this point require improving on. The requirement is to ensure that they remain Burnley players.

[spt_claret]

Every non Burnley fan I know who has seen us play adores Ben Mee. A mate of mine is a Watford fan- start of the season he was hoping they could compete for the Europa League and his dream signing was Ben Mee. Needless to say that's only increased now.

He's not the best footballer (though he has moments that are overlooked, such as a superb through ball in the first half on Saturday for Pieters) and he can make mistakes or concede own goals but that's because he's so defensively oriented and faces so many 1 on 1 situations that it's bound to happen. I've had a friend liken him to Carlos Puyol in terms of being a limited but ironclad defender and while that may be a bit hyperbolic it's not a bad comparison. The idea that defenders HAVE to have other attributes to be top class is a very very recent one, and for me there's very few better in world football at the pure essentials of defending than Ben. I'm perpetually delighted that other clubs overlook him every transfer window.

[claretnproud]

Not a big fan of Mee. A basic defender who needs to be playing very well just to keep up.

Matron,Matron, Right_Winger is rambling again. More medication please .

[claretnproud]

Ben Mee makes every defender who plays alongside him look better than they are. Tarks is improving all the time and turning into a top class cb but if he was to move ever he would never have a Ben Mee to rely on.

[Right_winger]

Some on here have serous claret tinted specs on.

You’ve got to ask yourself why no one is interested in him if he’s such a good defender?

He’s committed and puts himself about but apart from that absolutely bang average and doesn’t have the physical attributes or ball playing ability to be a good modern centre half.

Decent player for us but no more than that.

[Bosscat]

Some on here have serous claret tinted specs on.

You’ve got to ask yourself why no one is interested in him if he’s such a good defender?

He’s committed and puts himself about but apart from that absolutely bang average and doesn’t have the physical attributes or ball playing ability to be a good modern centre half.

Decent player for us but no more than that.

why don't you add the "h" to your name

You are a "Right Whinger"

[Right_winger]

why don't you add the "h" to your name

You are a "Right Whinger"

So giving an opinion is whinging right I see.

Away baaaaack to the sheep.

[Darnhill Claret]

How do we know there have been no enquiries for Ben during his time with us?

[Stalbansclaret]

Right winger...are you serious when you say Ben Mee is "bang average" ?
I ask because, if so, you will have demonstrated to me the stupendous range of human opinion which is possible. I genuinely cannot believe that anyone who has supported Burnley this last 6 years could possibly think that.

[Colburn_Claret]

This idea that CBs need to be ball players is a recent fad. As teams keep giving away goals like Norwich or Citeh on Sunday, it's a fad that will die a natural death fairly soon. What these teams gain in attacking options is minuscule to the problems they create by not doing the basics.

[superdimitri]

Damn, that's one hell of a long fad then! A hell of long fad that has bought a lot of success to teams.

I think we should just revert to the days of no offside and one defender. Everyone on the pitch should have one job and one skill and variation should be banned.

God forbid any change for better or the beauty of the game.

[CharlieinNewMexico]

Every non Burnley fan I know who has seen us play adores Ben Mee. A mate of mine is a Watford fan- start of the season he was hoping they could compete for the Europa League and his dream signing was Ben Mee. Needless to say that's only increased now.

He's not the best footballer (though he has moments that are overlooked, such as a superb through ball in the first half on Saturday for Pieters) and he can make mistakes or concede own goals but that's because he's so defensively oriented and faces so many 1 on 1 situations that it's bound to happen. I've had a friend liken him to Carlos Puyol in terms of being a limited but ironclad defender and while that may be a bit hyperbolic it's not a bad comparison. The idea that defenders HAVE to have other attributes to be top class is a very very recent one, and for me there's very few better in world football at the pure essentials of defending than Ben. I'm perpetually delighted that other clubs overlook him every transfer window.

I get this point! I really like my accountant but if my gardener didn't show up could he fill in? Probably yes, would he be as good, almost certainly no. So why are we expecting specialists in defending to suddenly develop all these other skills?

[superdimitri]

Sorry but Ben Mee is not similar to Puyol, Puyol had moments where he would dribble past men, often doing using trickery...the only similarity he has with Puyol is the fact hes smaller and has good last ditch defending skills.

Puyol was part of the Barcelona and Spain side that were famous for Tiki Taka football..

Ball playing centre halves are not a new phenomenon at all, just to name a few; Charles, Hulshoff, Bonucci..

Remember the days when Total football was introduced? Or when every player in early Brazil teams could play up-front?

Please check the facts before you make statements about a ball playing centre halve being something new.

As for Ben Mee's mistakes. He should be making less mistakes as a more limited defender, not more. If you play the ball out from the back you are prone to make more mistakes..

If we carry on thinking that the likes of Mee don't need to be improved upon, then our team will never improve. Mee is no exception, just the same as every position in our team, there are players who are a lot better.

There's a reason ball playing centre halves are in all the top teams you know. The top managers understand the value of keeping the ball and its reflected in their tactics.

You know, the opposition can't score if you keep the ball.