ARTICLE: Injury problems for Clarets ahead of Spurs

[ClaretTony]

A number of injury problems ahead of Saturday

See link
http://www.uptheclarets.com/injury-prob ... d-of-spurs

[tim_noone]

Bardsley got a bang in the back from tarkowski and he felt it ..... Would love to see vydra given a full game if your reading Sean

[Quickenthetempo]

Both full backs need replacing from Tuesday night so it's great news Taylor could be back.
Bardsley was at fault for both Jesus goals and Pieters couldn't pass water.

[Quickenthetempo]

Bardsley got a bang in the back from tarkowski and he felt it ..... Would love to see vydra given a full game if your reading Sean

He's already a Leeds player according to some in the press. £7.2m deal already agreed.

[Spijed]

Doesn't "Touch and go" usually mean out for the season?

[ClaretLoup]

Both full backs need replacing from Tuesday night so it's great news Taylor could be back.
Bardsley was at fault for both Jesus goals and Pieters couldn't pass water.

Pieters pass completion rate on Tuesday was 83% successful, the highest in the Burnley team.

https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/13760 ... ester-City

[AlargeClaret]

Thankfully our stronger squad can handle injuries better . Taylor /Drinkwater/Jay Rod/Lowton were very much likely regular starters in SD’s early season outlook. Multiple changes are never good but if those are our 4 “changes” ( I know DD played City) they should all seamlessly fit in .

[Quickenthetempo]

Pieters pass completion rate on Tuesday was 83% successful, the highest in the Burnley team.

https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/13760 ... ester-City

I was thinking more of the two early passes that went out of play under no pressure. They set the tone.

I don't get excited over them stats as I expect professional footballers to be able to pass 5 yards to a teammate.

[FCBurnley]

Full backs need to be Lowton and Taylor. We need to play 2 upfront preferably Wood/Barnes. Drinkwater and Lennon offer nothing. Westwood has been a big miss and it sounds like he will be missing again. So my starting XI would be
Pope
Lowton Tarks Mee Taylor
Brady Cork Hendrick Mcneil
Wood Barnes

[jrgbfc]

We carried no attacking threat whatsoever on Tuesday with 1 upfront, and Wood isn't suited to playing as lone striker. I think we need to just go with 2 up top and accept it will leave us more open.

[dougcollins]

Poor performance from both full backs, as mentioned.
Bardsley still traumatised from his afternoon with Zaha.

[claretspice]

Must say that on the evidence of the last week, I'd not be unhappy to see Lowton replace Bardsley. He's been exposed a bit.

If Westwood is unavailable, I'd imagine that we'd move Hendrick back into the middle. We could then stay 4411 and move McNeil in behind Wood and leave Brady and Lennon wide, or bring in Jay with one of those two (probably Brady) dropping out. Couple of interesting options.

[dougcollins]

On almost every occasion Wood's second touch was a tackle. Painful.

[tiger76]

We carried no attacking threat whatsoever on Tuesday with 1 upfront, and Wood isn't suited to playing as lone striker. I think we need to just go with 2 up top and accept it will leave us more open.

Totally agree their defence is shaky and we need to pressure them,Wood and Barnes up front will hopefully bully their centrebacks,and if Aurier plays McNeil could have a field day,there's no point sitting in against their quality as they'll break us down sooner or later,so we might as well have a go.

[Bertiebeehead]

If Lowton is the answer we’re ******.

[boatshed bill]

Must say that on the evidence of the last week, I'd not be unhappy to see Lowton replace Bardsley. He's been exposed a bit.

If Westwood is unavailable, I'd imagine that we'd move Hendrick back into the middle. We could then stay 4411 and move McNeil in behind Wood and leave Brady and Lennon wide, or bring in Jay with one of those two (probably Brady) dropping out. Couple of interesting options.

We rarely do any good with Lennon playing, he hardly affects the game.
If Barnes is fit:

Pope,
Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Pieters,
McNeil, Hendrick, Cork, Brady,
Wood, Barnes

[TheOriginalLongsider]

Good central defence, good keeper, good forwards. Everything else meh ! (Westwood excepted). That said, Taylor would be good , if consistent.

[claretspice]

We rarely do any good with Lennon playing, he hardly affects the game.
If Barnes is fit:

Pope,
Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Pieters,
McNeil, Hendrick, Cork, Brady,
Wood, Barnes

Carried a threat on Tuesday night with the scraps of ball he had, and of course it was his cross which carved out our one big chance for McNeil. Assist there and this is a different discussion. Bright against Palace too.

[Burnleyareback2]

Good grief. We lose against the current champions, a club now valued at several billions and slate half the team and the manager.

Wow. Get behind the lads.

[Claret-On-A-T-Rex]

Chuffed that Taylor is back, he's the best player in that position imho.

[FeedTheArf]

Lennon and Brady are too lightweight. Let’s stick Hendrick back on the wing in the Arfield role and if Westwood isn’t fit enough to come back then leave Drinkwater in and get Barnes back up top alongside Wood.

Goes without saying that Taylor needs to come back in if he’s 100%. Lowton normally needs a break of at least 5-6 games for his mid-season kick up the arse.

[Jakubs Tash]

From SD's interview it sounds like Taylor has next to no chance of playing....

We have a £15m defender who can play lett back and is bursting for a chance sat on the bench.... I'd rather see Gibson play LB than Pieters at the moment. This would also increase our threat at set pieces.

And as for right back, there's a cigarette paper between the two of them. We're desperate for an upgrade!

[jojomk1]

Currently playing with two of the oldest full backs in the entire league and a lightweight midfield with no strength in tackle or ability to hold onto the ball
Time to try five at the back
Pope
Bards Tarks Mee Gibson Pieters
Hendrick DD Westwood/Cork McNeil
Wood

I get that people are saying forget the game against City but what about the abject performance against Palace (fortunate that the messageboard went down, otherwise would have been plenty of negative comments on that dire display)

[Longsidebogs]

Sean getting his excuses in early then.

[Top Claret]

Can't believe how anyone can be asking for the return of Lowton, he has been woeful for the last 2 seasons.

[Jakubs Tash]

Carried a threat on Tuesday night with the scraps of ball he had, and of course it was his cross which carved out our one big chance for McNeil. Assist there and this is a different discussion. Bright against Palace too.

To say that Lennon carried any sort of threat on Tuesday night is laughable. He was a passenger who offered nothing when in possession and very little out of possession.

[BOYSIE31]

This team / squad needs a major overhaul this summer - lets hope we are still in this league to be able to do just that

[jojomk1]

This team / squad needs a major overhaul this summer - lets hope we are still in this league to be able to do just that

Spot on

You can't go two seasons without signing any first team starters and expect to remain on the top table

[jrgbfc]

Spot on

You can't go two seasons without signing any first team starters and expect to remain on the top table

Problem is we're now in a position where this summer we need 2 or 3 players who are good enough to come into our starting XI. I'd say right back, centre mid and right midfield. With our efforts in the transfer market in recent years I'm not overly confident.

[FactualFrank]

Taylor to come back in and Wood/Barnes to start is vital.

[Corky]

At the moment it doesn't matter who plays and in what formation. What the players need is help with ball aversion therapy. City players played like the ball was a long lost lover, Burnley players played like it was an IED.

[MDWat]

I know that January is a notoriously tough time to purchase players but we have to prioritise signing two players in January - a central midfielder and a right back. Bardsley has come in and been pretty awful - twice he's backed off so far he's had a front row seat on the Jimmy Mac to watch us fall behind in games. He hasn't had the desired impact. Lowton started ok, as he usually does, and has faded, like he usually does. Central midfield is a real worry as it doesn't look like Drinkwater will be staying and as soon as Westwood is out, we look infinitely weaker. Don't mind Hendrick as a wide player but he's looked short in central midfield and was dreadful on Tuesday in the 10 role.

Assuming Taylor and Barnes are fit and Drinkwater isn't I'd do the following:

Pope
Lowton Tarkowski Mee Taylor
Brady Drinkwater Cork McNeil
Wood Barnes