Who are the weakest links?

[Hbclaret007]

Thinking of the disappointment of the transfer window, I'd be interested to know which players in our current squad we think are not up to our required standard for the PL? Who would you be looking to replace?

[Devils_Advocate]

It'll be quicker to make a list of who's good enough

[Hbclaret007]

It'll be quicker to make a list of who's good enough

Let's see it then.

[Devils_Advocate]

Let's see it then.

I havent got time unfortunately

[Hbclaret007]

I havent got time unfortunately

Such a pity

[cricketfieldclarets]

Our right side for me. Right backs both need upgrading. And we have no right footed wingers.

[Devils_Advocate]

Go on then, just for you

Pope
Taylor
Tarks
Mee
McNeil
Cork
Westwood
Jay Rod
Wood

A fit JBG is good enough but he's not that good thats he's worth carrying through his endless injury problems
Brownhill has potential but done nothing to prove he's Premier League standard yet

The rest just arent simply good enough for the Premier League and owe a massive debt to Shaun Dyche's brilliance

[Dyched]

I always find these types of questions hard to answer.

DA lists is probably correct in the sense that only those would play at over PL clubs. But most others not including the Top 6 would have a similar amount.

Or just take a random player at a club eg James McArthur. He’s a bit crap. Doesn’t pull up many trees or owt but for them his a vital player. Like Westwood is here, yet Palace fans would think the same about him, bit crap etc.

[Giftonsnoidea]

We need to bring players with more quality than what we have through the door pronto

We need a defour type and a rapid right winger

[NewClaret]

Thinking of the disappointment of the transfer window, I'd be interested to know which players in our current squad we think are not up to our required standard for the PL? Who would you be looking to replace?

Of the “first team squad”, by that I mean the 17-18 experienced pro’s, I’d say all are up to the required standard to compete in the PL. As they have been for many years. Outside that we have limited depth and, in some cases, no depth at all.

My concerns are:

- RW. JBG injury record is a concern. Would like a right footed RW. Someone quick, who will drive in to the box.

- RB. Bardsley likely entering final year. Need an attacking RB that can defend in the Taylor mould to compete with Lowton going forward.

CB cover - Nearly lost Tarks in summer. Unlikely we can hold on much longer if he keeps playing well. Need an adequate replacement.

Midfield creativity - love Westy & Brownhill, but can’t really say we create a lot from central midfield outside of set pieces. Possibly unnecessary if we sorted the right side.

Age of squad - just generally needs to be brought down a bit so we’re not left with too much to do in one window. Also need to ensure we have a constant production line saleable assets coming through.

By no means expected all of the above to be resolved in one window. Had hoped we might’ve picked at least one off.

[jrgbfc]

Right back has been an issue for a while and should have been sorted. Probably right midfield as well, if we carried a genuine threat down that side it would take some of the pressure of McNeil. I like JBG but I fear all his injuries have taken their toll on him.

[dsr]

Go on then, just for you

Pope
Taylor
Tarks
Mee
McNeil
Cork
Westwood
Jay Rod
Wood

A fit JBG is good enough but he's not that good thats he's worth carrying through his endless injury problems
Brownhill has potential but done nothing to prove he's Premier League standard yet

The rest just arent simply good enough for the Premier League and owe a massive debt to Shaun Dyche's brilliance

You're very quick to write off Bailey Peacock Farrell. I haven't seen him for Burnley much, but what I have seen for us and for N.Ireland looks pretty good.

Barnes simply not good enough for the PL? The evidence overwhelmingly suggests you're wrong.

Brownhill has done nothing to prove he's PL standard? Are you saying you haven't seen him play, or just that his performances as a whole haven't been up to scratch? He's looked OK to me.

Several of the reserves are up to PL standard reserves. Long, Pieters, Bardsley/Lowton, Vydra all meet that standard IMO.

[Inchy]

I think the way to look at this is to look at the players who will likely leave (or there will be interest in them) when we go down (when not if).


Pope
Tarks
Wood (and I think he would be far less effective in most teams so he would be soon found out elsewhere)
McNeil
Taylor


That’s it.

Mee is a cracking defender but lacks the ball playing skills most teams want these days (wrongly IMO)

Cork and Westwood may get some interest

[Rileybobs]

I think the way to look at this is to look at the players who will likely leave (or there will be interest in them) when we go down (when not if).


Pope
Tarks
Wood (and I think he would be far less effective in most teams so he would be soon found out elsewhere)
McNeil
Taylor


That’s it.

Mee is a cracking defender but lacks the ball playing skills most teams want these days (wrongly IMO)

Cork and Westwood may get some interest

Well what you’ve done is listed our biggest assets. But you’ve grossly underestimated the number of players who would be subject to interest from PL teams if (not when) we go down. Rodriguez, Barnes and Mee being the obvious omissions.

[Im_not_Robbie_Blake]

They are all good enough! If they weren't, they wouldn't be employed by a Premier League club!

[Belgianclaret]

The recruitment is our weakest link - we have a managed who gets the very best out of each player but we are desperately short of quality.
Brownhill for me is an improvement on Hendrick, but we miss a player in the Defour ilk to make the team tick and someone who can unlock defenses with a quality pass.
Plenty of players on the continent who could fulfill that role on affordable prices, but we seem determined not to exploit that route.

[bfcjg]

Weakest link ?
The boo boys.

[Wellsy1882]

Go on then, just for you

Pope
Taylor
Tarks
Mee
McNeil
Cork
Westwood
Jay Rod
Wood

A fit JBG is good enough but he's not that good thats he's worth carrying through his endless injury problems
Brownhill has potential but done nothing to prove he's Premier League standard yet

The rest just arent simply good enough for the Premier League and owe a massive debt to Shaun Dyche's brilliance

Cork not good enough. Brownhill is

[DAVETHEVICAR]

Another pathetic negative thread
Lowton was as good as anyone against Spurs .

[jrgbfc]

Well what you’ve done is listed our biggest assets. But you’ve grossly underestimated the number of players who would be subject to interest from PL teams if (not when) we go down. Rodriguez, Barnes and Mee being the obvious omissions.

Maybe if they were a bit younger. Aren't they all 31 now? I'd be amazed if Barnes in particular got a move to another Premier league side tbh.

[Burnley1989]

Another pathetic negative thread
Lowton was as good as anyone against Spurs .

I'm with you on that, its the sort of thread you'd expect from a rival fan who's on the wind up.

[Hbclaret007]

I'm with you on that, its the sort of thread you'd expect from a rival fan who's on the wind up.

As the OP, I intended to illustrate that we are not desperate for replacements across the team. Had we signed some of the names suggested, I'm not sure how easily they would have displaced players and started games for us - Harry Wilson - for example? - options from the bench and cover in case of injuries perhaps?

Not intended as a negative thread at all.