Starting 11 against Bournemouth

[Anthonini]

Better than having 3/4 of the team from the bloody Belgian Pro League.

I wish you were joking...
Must hurt to have Belgian players as best of the league for over a decade... Kompany Lukaku Eden Hazard KDB.

Thanks so VK you're able to get the best in the league who snubbed Fulham and other clubs to come to us.

[Claretmisterg]

I hope

Trafford
Vitinho, AAD. Beyer(Delcroix), Taylor
Cork,Cullen
Redmond, Berge, Koleosho
Foster

[willsclarets]

Defence looks awful, really hope we see beyer and ekdal soon. Desperately need a shake up in cm too. Massengo gets a go for me, can actually win you the ball back and compete for 2nd balls.

Trafford
O shea
Al Dakhil
Delcroix
Taylor
Cullen
Massengo
Berge
Larsen
Koleosho
Foster

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

Defence looks awful, really hope we see beyer and ekdal soon. Desperately need a shake up in cm too. Massengo gets a go for me, can actually win you the ball back and compete for 2nd balls.

Trafford
O shea
Al Dakhil
Delcroix
Taylor
Cullen
Massengo
Berge
Larsen
Koleosho
Foster

I know nothing about Massengo and can’t be many Burnley fans who have seen him ever play. The general consensus I’ve read from Bristol City fans is he isn’t as good as Brownhill.

[taio]

Trafford
O'Shea Al-Dakhil Delcroix Taylor
Cullen Brownhill
Larsen Berge Koleosho
Foster

[willsclarets]

I know nothing about Massengo and can’t be many Burnley fans who have seen him ever play. The general consensus I’ve read from Bristol City fans is he isn’t as good as Brownhill.

I've seen him live 3 or 3 times with a Bristol pal. He's different to Brownhill, his strength when I've seen him anyway is off the ball. He's a little wasp. Wouldnt mind Brownhill in there of course, and much more likely he plays. But we are so passive without the ball in central areas I think we need someone to instigate a press, who's quick to close gaps. Massengo is the only one I can see who fits that brief.

[Newcastleclaret93]

I wish you were joking...
Must hurt to have Belgian players as best of the league for over a decade... Kompany Lukaku Eden Hazard KDB.

Thanks so VK you're able to get the best in the league who snubbed Fulham and other clubs to come to us.

I mean that’s a pretty stupid point, how many players have come from that league and failed? A hell of a lot more than did well.

VK has done well with recruitment but you can’t deny there is an element of truth to what KSR is saying. Signing players primarily from a league very rarely competes with premier league level teams is not a strategy for a success IMO. Not to say you can’t get some gems

[Newcastleclaret93]

I know nothing about Massengo and can’t be many Burnley fans who have seen him ever play. The general consensus I’ve read from Bristol City fans is he isn’t as good as Brownhill.

I’ve seen him play twice, however that was a little while ago.

He’s a terrier, not stand out on the ball. We might need a bit of bite in our midfield though

[ksrclaret]

I wish you were joking...
Must hurt to have Belgian players as best of the league for over a decade... Kompany Lukaku Eden Hazard KDB.

Thanks so VK you're able to get the best in the league who snubbed Fulham and other clubs to come to us.

We’re not getting the best Belgian players though are we? We’re getting substandard players who shouldn’t be starting ahead of some of our existing experienced players.

Not sure who snubbed Fulham for us? Tresor? Wish he hadn’t.

[willsclarets]

We’re not getting the best Belgian players though are we? We’re getting substandard players who shouldn’t be starting ahead of some of our existing experienced players.

Not sure who snubbed Fulham for us? Tresor? Wish he hadn’t.

I wouldn't be so quick to write off tresor after a handful of games. There's a player in there, give him a bit of time.

[CoolClaret]

Certainly not writing Tresor off - he just needs to get up to the speed of the PL and shouldn't be starting rn.

[RVclaret]

We’re not getting the best Belgian players though are we? We’re getting substandard players who shouldn’t be starting ahead of some of our existing experienced players.

Not sure who snubbed Fulham for us? Tresor? Wish he hadn’t.

Pretty poor from you ksr. The lad has started 2 games and both games out of the position he shined for Genk. Looked good in his cameo at Forest. I woulda hoped people might learn a thing or two about writing players off, particularly those who may need some time to adapt (Foster).

[ksrclaret]

I wouldn't be so quick to write off tresor after a handful of games. There's a player in there, give him a bit of time.

Yes fair enough. I did write in my earlier post that there has to be more to Tresor than we’ve seen so far.

Not impressed at all so far though and it’s his apparent passiveness off the ball that worries me more than other things. Technique etc can be put down to difference in league quality.

[ksrclaret]

Pretty poor from you ksr. The lad has started 2 games and both games out of the position he shined for Genk. Looked good in his cameo at Forest. I woulda hoped people might learn a thing or two about writing players off, particularly those who may need some time to adapt (Foster).

See my most recent post

It’s his off the ball stuff that’s concerning

[Dodobdobodobo]

Trafford
Vitinho Al-Dakhil Cork Taylor
Cullen Brownhill Massengo
Berge Zaroury
Foster

We need to pack midfield a bit more hence playing the three in there!!

[Newcastleclaret93]

We’re not getting the best Belgian players though are we? We’re getting substandard players who shouldn’t be starting ahead of some of our existing experienced players.

Not sure who snubbed Fulham for us? Tresor? Wish he hadn’t.

Tresor has ability

I think it’s more tactical decisions that are hindering him

[ksrclaret]

Tresor has ability

I think it’s more tactical decisions that are hindering him

That maybe true, but as the old saying goes about the minimum requirement…

[Newcastleclaret93]

That maybe true, but as the old saying goes about the minimum requirement…

Fair point, I think it’s very fair to say that he’s looked a tad lazy

[taio]

Pretty poor from you ksr. The lad has started 2 games and both games out of the position he shined for Genk. Looked good in his cameo at Forest. I woulda hoped people might learn a thing or two about writing players off, particularly those who may need some time to adapt (Foster).

Struggle to see the case for starting Tresor today. That's not writing him off - it's based on him needing to be eased in and his performances to date. I'd potentially use him from the bench.

[equinox]

I've had enough of being overun and ultimately getting beat, so I'd make us more robust and difficult to play against:


...................................Trafford....................................

............O'Shea..................Beyer................Delcroix..........

Roberts.........Brownhill.....Cullen......Berge..........Taylor........

............................Andouni...............Foster.......................

3-5-2 in possession becomes 5-3-2 out of it.

[Carwin261]

Beyer is nowhere near being fit and Roberts is suspended.

[brexit]

-- Farrell --
Wildgoose Cooper Paul Walsh
Hamer Miller Welsh Reidford
Embley Elford

Best team we have at the moment.

[Iloveyoubrady]

Trafford
Vitinho AAD delcroix Taylor
Cullen Berge
Zaroury Amdouni Odobert
Foster

[FCBurnley]

Beyer Ekdal JGB Obafemi Benson all unavailable according to BBC
Bournemouth also have injury and suspension problems. Goalkeeper making debut

[Anthonini]

Struggle to see the case for starting Tresor today. That's not writing him off - it's based on him needing to be eased in and his performances to date. I'd potentially use him from the bench.

Because he's the most likely to be able to carry the team? Koleosho and Odobert are still too young. Benson and Larsen need to get better physically.

Zaroury could also be a candidate. Tresor however is technically the best and known for his decisive passing and set pieces.

My pick would be Zaroury and Tresor with Koleosho and Benson coming on.

[Newchurch Claret]

I’ll be very pleasantly surprised if the team is anything other than what I expect VK to pick, which is:

Trafford

Vitinho
AAD
O’Shea
Taylor

Cullen
Berge

Tresor
Amdouni
Foster
Odabert

I fear another long afternoon ahead but live in hope!

[Anthonini]

We’re not getting the best Belgian players though are we? We’re getting substandard players who shouldn’t be starting ahead of some of our existing experienced players.

Not sure who snubbed Fulham for us? Tresor? Wish he hadn’t.

Tresor is technically obviously above standard. You can see that after 10 minutes. Very gifted player but you have to give him some time to get used to his new team and vice versa. Thought he looked quite good last game tbh. Technically he was the best player on the pitch.

[Dark Cloud]

Beyer Ekdal JGB Obafemi Benson all unavailable according to BBC
Bournemouth also have injury and suspension problems. Goalkeeper making debut

No need to read further than the first two words of your post to know it's going to be a very, very long and difficult afternoon!! I'm not yet convinced either of those two is capable of shoring up an extremely leaky PL defence, but I'm absolutely certain they're our only chance. Massive loss.

[ksrclaret]

Tresor is technically obviously above standard. You can see that after 10 minutes. Very gifted player but you have to give him some time to get used to his new team and vice versa. Thought he looked quite good last game tbh. Technically he was the best player on the pitch.

I think the way he receives the ball and distributes it, in terms of his balance and position, does suggest he has a good degree of technicality.

However, some of his basic passing has been abject so far. Against Chelsea in particular, he literally couldn't find a 10 yard pass for a 10 minute spell in the second half. Against Brentford, again his passing was found wanting on more than one occasion. I think close to 100% of his set pieces so far have been rancid. Thinking back to the Man Utd game as well, he had two opportunities to put a good ball into the box and managed to land both exactly into Onana's hands without him having to move for it.

Now some of his poor basic passing and inability to create anything can be put down to adapting to the pace and physicality of a league known for its high intensity.

But what I can't get my head around is his passiveness off the ball. If he's going to be that poor for us, at least get some sweat on your shirt and look like you mean it.

[daveisaclaret]

We need to play someone who can defend at right back instead of Vitinho. If we aren't going to play someone who can defend I think just play Redmond there anyway.

[expoultryboy]

Same as Taio but maybe switching Delcroix and Taylor.

[taio]

Because he's the most likely to be able to carry the team? Koleosho and Odobert are still too young. Benson and Larsen need to get better physically.

Zaroury could also be a candidate. Tresor however is technically the best and known for his decisive passing and set pieces.

My pick would be Zaroury and Tresor with Koleosho and Benson coming on.

Not from I've seen of him so far. Of course he should improve and be given time to improve. But I wouldn't start him today in this important game.

[Anthonini]

I think the way he receives the ball and distributes it, in terms of his balance and position, does suggest he has a good degree of technicality.

However, some of his basic passing has been abject so far. Against Chelsea in particular, he literally couldn't find a 10 yard pass for a 10 minute spell in the second half. Against Brentford, again his passing was found wanting on more than one occasion. I think close to 100% of his set pieces so far have been rancid. Thinking back to the Man Utd game as well, he had two opportunities to put a good ball into the box and managed to land both exactly into Onana's hands without him having to move for it.

Now some of his poor basic passing and inability to create anything can be put down to adapting to the pace and physicality of a league known for its high intensity.

But what I can't get my head around is his passiveness off the ball. If he's going to be that poor for us, at least get some sweat on your shirt and look like you mean it.

The last paragraph is just the type of character he is. He's more like Benson in that sense. More offensively minded, but learning under VK more how to position himself without the ball, when to press, this is most likely why he's been searching a bit, overthinking, while this is a player that does things intuitively, like he's playing in the park. This adjustment alone will take a few months for this to become a habit so he can start focusing more on the things he's actually best at.

He had a good coach last year at Genk but the thing is Genk is usually a dominant side. Burnley is coming up against stronger opponents where they are the underdog. Same will go today if you look at the Bournemouth squad.

Concerning his passing you can see the glass half empty or half full. He's made some silly mistakes Vs Chelsea losing the ball cheaply. He's also made some marvelous runs and given beautifully timed balls with the right speed. Also showed some flicks and short passes, one two's, that were beautifully executed.

We all want to see goals and assists, and a more direct impact from an expensive player. He's a slow starter that needed an average season at Genk before he started carrying the team.

All I'm saying is lower your expectations, give the lad some courage instead of (not entirely unjust yet not really constructive) criticism. I understand you don't know him or his career and are disappointed with what you've seen so far.

He's one who needs confidence and a pat on the back. But it will pay off I'm sure. He can give the team the creativity that we were lacking at the start of the season. Think he's a better version of Zaroury and Benny, bit more technically gifted, two footed, more playful like a street footballer. More vision of the game better long passing. Better at set pieces. For me a joy to watch. Really a typical Anderlecht footballer, flashy player that you go to the stadium for. Hope he can convince the fans this afternoon.

[jedi_master]

Tresor should be nowhere near the starting lineup purely on the basis of being terrible in the last two games and the likes of Zaroury/Larsen being afforded barely any game time from the start. It’s as simple as that - out of position or not he has offered absolutely nothing. Not writing him off in the slightest as he simply HAS to be a million miles better than what we have seen with his pedigree, but he has no justification whatsoever for starting when we’re so well stocked in those areas.

[jedi_master]

We need to play someone who can defend at right back instead of Vitinho. If we aren't going to play someone who can defend I think just play Redmond there anyway.

Decent shout this.

[Newcastleclaret93]

Wonder if Jay Rod is starting

Noticed he’s the main person on the graphic the club have put out. I would necessarily be against that, could give us an out with the long ball.

[daveisaclaret]

VK ringing up the social media team on a Friday to say put Rodriguez in your graphic cos I'm starting him.

[ksrclaret]

The last paragraph is just the type of character he is. He's more like Benson in that sense. More offensively minded, but learning under VK more how to position himself without the ball, when to press, this is most likely why he's been searching a bit, overthinking, while this is a player that does things intuitively, like he's playing in the park. This adjustment alone will take a few months for this to become a habit so he can start focusing more on the things he's actually best at.

He had a good coach last year at Genk but the thing is Genk is usually a dominant side. Burnley is coming up against stronger opponents where they are the underdog. Same will go today if you look at the Bournemouth squad.

Concerning his passing you can see the glass half empty or half full. He's made some silly mistakes Vs Chelsea losing the ball cheaply. He's also made some marvelous runs and given beautifully timed balls with the right speed. Also showed some flicks and short passes, one two's, that were beautifully executed.

We all want to see goals and assists, and a more direct impact from an expensive player. He's a slow starter that needed an average season at Genk before he started carrying the team.

All I'm saying is lower your expectations, give the lad some courage instead of (not entirely unjust yet not really constructive) criticism. I understand you don't know him or his career and are disappointed with what you've seen so far.

He's one who needs confidence and a pat on the back. But it will pay off I'm sure. He can give the team the creativity that we were lacking at the start of the season. Think he's a better version of Zaroury and Benny, bit more technically gifted, two footed, more playful like a street footballer. More vision of the game better long passing. Better at set pieces. For me a joy to watch. Really a typical Anderlecht footballer, flashy player that you go to the stadium for. Hope he can convince the fans this afternoon.

You obviously really like him as footballer from his time in Belgium and you’ve put forward some really good points.

Personally, I’m dubious that a team like Burnley in the PL will ever have the luxury of being able to play someone like Tresor who is more about expression and freedom than moulding into a team.

I really hope I’m wrong though and like you I hope he can convince me and others if he plays this afternoon.

UTC

[Newcastleclaret93]

VK ringing up the social media team on a Friday to say put Rodriguez in your graphic cos I'm starting him.

Very strange to heavily feature a player that never plays. We will soon know

[CoolClaret]

Trésor has that casual demeanour about him that might rub fans the wrong way a bit.

He’s skilful but still has to adapt to the English game.

Shouldn’t be starting right now at all; we can’t really afford to wait for any players to ‘come good’ - we need our best possible XI available right now to ensure we give ourselves the best chance of picking up points.

I mean - we do have 4 from 9 games as it stands.

[Ampth7]

I’m going for the following-

Trafford
Vitinho. Al-Dakhil. O’Shea. Taylor
Cullen. Brownhill. Berge
Bruun Larsen. Zaroury
Foster

No doubt I am nowhere near what team will actually be picked!

[FCBurnley]

Todays game will give us a great idea whether or not we can survive in this league. It appears we are in a mini league of 5. Bournemouth are genuine relegation contenders. Today we will see how we compare to them UTC

[wilks_bfc]

No Foster in the squad

[Newcastleclaret93]

No Foster in the squad

That backline

Let’s hope some added midfield steel gets us over the line

[Carwin261]

That backline

Let’s hope some added midfield steel gets us over the line

No Lyle Foster,definite a shortage of physicality in the team.

[Newcastleclaret93]

No Lyle Foster.

That’s a big worry. Fancied him to bag a couple today

[FCBurnley]

I despair!!!!

[Clive 1960]

5 changes i make it

[willsclarets]

Poor Bruun, astounded he's not had a start. I hope to goodness I'm proved wrong but that line up looks horrible. That said, despite losing Foster will hopefully get more out of amdouni, and good to see zaroury have a start.

[daveisaclaret]

All that money spent and Gudmundsson is in our midfield.