The strong spine

[claretandbluesky]

When we were good that is what we had. At present we’re a tad buckled but can we regain that strength or do we have to look at reinforcing that spine particularly in midfield.

[DCWat]

All we can do for this season is utilise the players that are in form and delivering. Presently, that isn’t Westwood.

Outside of this season, our midfield needs completely overhauling.

[ElectroClaret]

There's more spine in a bucket o jellyfish.

[PremierLeagueClass]

Strong jaw.

[NewClaret]

All we can do for this season is utilise the players that are in form and delivering. Presently, that isn’t Westwood.

Outside of this season, our midfield needs completely overhauling.

Ultimately it’s an abject failure of Garlick (mainly) and Pace (partly) to strengthen our utterly weak midfield. Realities, as Dyche would call them.

Not complaining- we’re a small team punching above our weight, but that’s where the issue lies. Compounded, in my opinion, by Dyche’s baffling decisions to pick Westwood over Cork, who propagates out hoofball.

[DCWat]

Ultimately it’s an abject failure of Garlick (mainly) and Pace (partly) to strengthen our utterly weak midfield. Realities, as Dyche would call them.

Not complaining- we’re a small team punching above our weight, but that’s where the issue lies. Compounded, in my opinion, by Dyche’s baffling decisions to pick Westwood over Cork, who propagates out hoofball.

I lay some of the blame with Dyche as well. I agree that he’s probably been hamstrung by our lack of recruitment, but I just can’t see why midfield wasn’t seen as a priority.

We could all see it was a glaring issue so surely he could.

[claretandbluesky]

One of the big differences has been that in the past we took a high proportion of our chances.
We’ve never created many but for a number of years we were efficient when we did.
The last couple of seasons we’ve rarely looked sharp or incisive in front of goal.

I’d pull Jay out on the right Cornet on the left and have McNeil and Brownhill attacking through the middle. With Weghorst up front, five potential scoring avenues. We need to attack from all angles and make things difficult for our opponents.

[Andreshotboots]

We're at our fittest and strongest in the second part of the season according to our leader and his stats

[KRBFC]

we're so poor in both boxes I'm not sure what I'd do

[Vegas Claret]

jaw is in bits

[thelaughingclaret]

We had a strong spine and jaw against Brighton, Spurs and palace. Then Dyche thought after them 3 excellent results the best thing to do would be to change our midfield and play a winger up front whilst reverting back to hoof ball.
No worries though. Only 3 and a half more years of this to go!

[Vegas Claret]

we're so poor in both boxes I'm not sure what I'd do

1 major defensive mistake in the defence, I thought we were ok at the back..........going forward it looked like Cornet and WW couldn't communicate all afternoon (I genuinely didn't see them talk to each other on the TV)

[KRBFC]

1 major defensive mistake in the defence, I thought we were ok at the back..........going forward it looked like Cornet and WW couldn't communicate all afternoon (I genuinely didn't see them talk to each other on the TV)

that 1 mistake loses you the game though, Tarkowski had 2 mistakes against Chelsea (backs off backs off until he's in his own penalty area and doesnt close down the cross for Havertz goal and then the wonderful assist for Pulisic).

[Taffy on the wing]

One of the big differences has been that in the past we took a high proportion of our chances.
We’ve never created many but for a number of years we were efficient when we did.
The last couple of seasons we’ve rarely looked sharp or incisive in front of goal.

I’d pull Jay out on the right Cornet on the left and have McNeil and Brownhill attacking through the middle. With Weghorst up front, five potential scoring avenues. We need to attack from all angles and make things difficult for our opponents.

You forgot to put Tarkowski & Kevin Long in midfield......maybe Vydra could replace Taylor at left back.

[Vegas Claret]

that 1 mistake loses you the game though, Tarkowski had 2 mistakes against Chelsea (backs off backs off until he's in his own penalty area and doesnt close down the cross for Havertz goal and then the wonderful assist for Pulisic).

Harry Maguire cost 26 times what Tarkowski cost and he makes more mistakes imho

Varane makes mistakes, Ramos makes mistakes. John Terry made mistakes, Ferdinand made mistakes - even VVD makes the odd mistake

You'll not find a player in the history of the game that hasn't made mistakes especially in defence. I'm really not sure how you are setting your expectation levels tbh ?

[Vegas Claret]

i'll add, look at how many mistakes John Stones and Nathan Ake make in one of the best teams in the world with one of the best managers there has ever been.

[leightonjameslegend]

In the last year we've won 6 PL games. Everton, Wolves and Fulham last season; Brentford, BHA and Spurs this season.
Jack Cork started 4 of them.
We've won 2 games in a year with a CM pairing of Brownhill and Westwood!

[Hibsclaret]

The strong spine includes Ben Mee as left centre back. As soon as he is out Tarks, our best outfield player, has to play in an unfavoured position as left centre back. That’s the biggest issue because it affects the whole team and the first goal yesterday is an example where the left centre back and left back are leaving a gap too wide for a simple finish. As others have said we need Cork back too.

[bobinho]

Ultimately it’s an abject failure of Garlick (mainly) and Pace (partly) to strengthen our utterly weak midfield. Realities, as Dyche would call them.

Not complaining- we’re a small team punching above our weight, but that’s where the issue lies. Compounded, in my opinion, by Dyche’s baffling decisions to pick Westwood over Cork, who propagates out hoofball.

I agree with almost every part of that. The part I’m NOT having is Pace bearing any blame. He’s tried his best to get players in, and barring a change of heart (coupled with a huge pay rise no doubt) by one player who could possibly have changed our fortunes, he’s been very active in the market.
Hennessy
Collins
Roberts
Cornet
Weghorst
The blame lands firmly at the door of Garlick with regards to allowing this to happen. Nothing more than dereliction of duty and he put his own pocket before doing the right thing for the club.
And Dyche bears some of the blame too for his poor team selections, poor tactics, poor team talks and poor substitutions.

For the record, I want Dyche to stay, but he’s a stubborn old goat and no mistake.

[bobinho]

The strong spine includes Ben Mee as left centre back. As soon as he is out Tarks, our best outfield player, has to play in an unfavoured position as left centre back. That’s the biggest issue because it affects the whole team and the first goal yesterday is an example where the left centre back and left back are leaving a gap too wide for a simple finish. As others have said we need Cork back too.

And that’s a decision the manager should be getting right. Tarks should remain in his most effective role. Collins should be in for Mee at LCB. As it is now we have two concerns. 1. Tarks is out of position. 2. Mee isn’t on the pitch. Playing Tarks where he is colossal leaves only one of those things to worry about.

[Hibsclaret]

Definitely agree that it’s the manager’s choice, probably because of the experience levels of the 2 players. He thinks Tarks is more adaptable to the left centre half position. I think most of the 8 goals we have conceded in the last 2 weeks have been in some way caused by this issue and the manager should have seen it in the Leicester game and most definitely the Chelsea game. It should have been changed for Brentford but Sean just does not do this sort of thing.

[NewClaret]

I agree with almost every part of that. The part I’m NOT having is Pace bearing any blame. He’s tried his best to get players in, and barring a change of heart (coupled with a huge pay rise no doubt) by one player who could possibly have changed our fortunes, he’s been very active in the market.
Hennessy
Collins
Roberts
Cornet
Weghorst
The blame lands firmly at the door of Garlick with regards to allowing this to happen. Nothing more than dereliction of duty and he put his own pocket before doing the right thing for the club.
And Dyche bears some of the blame too for his poor team selections, poor tactics, poor team talks and poor substitutions.

For the record, I want Dyche to stay, but he’s a stubborn old goat and no mistake.

To be fair though, Pace has had three windows. That’s enough to buy a midfielder & he hasn’t. That’s why I said partly. I think everyone at the club needs to ask themselves if they could have done more. And I think it’s fair to say Pace could in that respect. Not to say he hasn’t tried though.

[tiger76]

Strong spine is evident when Mee/Tarks are together at the heart of the defence, and Brownhill/Cork pair up in the centre of midfield.

Pieters has also been a big miss as he was playing decent prior to his injury.

Take those key pieces out of the jigsaw, and it impacts badly on us.

Now injuries we can't do much about, but Cork should have started yesterday in a key fixture, no guarantee we'd have got a result with him alongside Brownhill, but the stats suggest we'd have a much better chance than Westwood starting, I'm still baffled by Sean's thinking there.

But midfield is definitely an area we need to recruit in over the summer, Stephens will be on his way, so that should free up funds to hopefully get a free transfer or two over the line.

[NewClaret]

Agree tiger, totally baffling.

Read today we’ve won 6 in a year and a bit & Cork has played 4 of those. Tells you all you need to know. Although I agree that Mee and Pieters are also a big miss.

[Spijed]

Had we managed to hold on against both Leicester and Brentford those two extra points might be crucial come the end of the season.

[tiger76]

Had we managed to hold on against both Leicester and Brentford those two extra points might be crucial come the end of the season.

Could equally say the same about our early games at home to Leeds and away at Leicester, the amount of vital points we've blown in the dying minutes of games is gonna bite us on the butt big time, and yesterday summed up our season, great chance to take the lead from Cornet, he fluffs his lines, and then Brentford nab 2 in the closing stages.

[bobinho]

If. Maybe. Yeah but. What it were reyt.

Anything other than points means fuckall.

Points win prizes. And we have won and deserved fuckall. Occasionally we have shown some spirit, but not anywhere near close to a what we needed to.

We don’t have a strong spine. The jaw is now like amir khans, Crystal. We are FOOKED! Gone. Done. Finished. Beaten.

We’re done, and you know it.

[Leisure]

If. Maybe. Yeah but. What it were reyt.

Anything other than points means fuckall.

Points win prizes. And we have won and deserved fuckall. Occasionally we have shown some spirit, but not anywhere near close to a what we needed to.

We don’t have a strong spine. The jaw is now like amir khans, Crystal. We are FOOKED! Gone. Done. Finished. Beaten.

We’re done, and you know it.

Bob - But do you think we can stay up?

[claretandbluesky]

We potentially still have a strong defensive part of the spine, the rest is wobbling.

[Blatherwickstattoo]

Mee is the strong spine. That’s it. The rest aren’t.

[claretandbluesky]

Tarkowski Mee Pope are a very strong spine.
We need steel or numbers in midfield
And of course someone who can put the ball in the net or contributions from everyone.

At present neither midfield or attack has that ring of confidence.