Have we the best defence in the division?

ablueclaret · Post by **ablueclaret** » Sun Aug 21, 2016 6:59 pm

Maybe not from a launching attack point of view but there are few more solid units about.
It could just keep us afloat,all good sides are based on a strong defence.

nuttersuclan · Post by **nuttersuclan** » Sun Aug 21, 2016 7:05 pm

dougcollins · Post by **dougcollins** » Sun Aug 21, 2016 7:06 pm

The problem is, if we are worked like that again, in the majority of cases we will lose.

We have to have more about us.

Sidney1st · Post by **Sidney1st** » Sun Aug 21, 2016 7:07 pm

We had two solid banks of 4, all the pundits have said that.

It stopped Liverpool dead pretty much, but it may not work every game.

cutsy123 · Post by **cutsy123** » Sun Aug 21, 2016 7:07 pm

We have a good defense but no where nr the best

SGr · Post by **SGr** » Sun Aug 21, 2016 7:10 pm

Errrrr...no.

box_of_frogs · Post by **box_of_frogs** » Sun Aug 21, 2016 7:10 pm

Thanks for the laugh!

Estonhills · Post by **Estonhills** » Sun Aug 21, 2016 7:14 pm

I would say you have the second best defence of the promoted sides. Us (Boro) conceded 8 at home all last season and coincided less goals than any other side in the top 4 divisions, including the premier league with less games.

OSC Burnley '55 · Post by **OSC Burnley '55** » Sun Aug 21, 2016 7:17 pm

Estonhills wrote:I would say you have the second best defence of the promoted sides. Us (Boro) conceded 8 at home all last season and coincided less goals than any other side in the top 4 divisions, including the premier league with less games.

can't really disagree with that one abc .. as usual he typed before thinking.

Buxtonclaret · Post by **Buxtonclaret** » Sun Aug 21, 2016 7:17 pm

We'll be playing teams that, on the day, will have a lot more imagination than Liverpool showed yesterday.
We've a good defensive unit. But not the best.

Spijed · Post by **Spijed** » Sun Aug 21, 2016 7:18 pm

Certainly two centre halves miles better than what Arsenal have.

nil_desperandum · Post by **nil_desperandum** » Sun Aug 21, 2016 7:41 pm

No - but they'll probably get the most opportunities to prove themselves.

AshevilleNCClaret · Post by **AshevilleNCClaret** » Sun Aug 21, 2016 7:50 pm

I would also say no. However, it was not just our back four but our midfielders who were rock solid - I had never seen a such a collected concentrated defensive effort before. We can't sustain that week in/week out, but for this game, it worked to perfection.

While as good as liverpool is, teams like Chelsea/Man City would have been able to crack our defense. As the LT article stated, Liverpool ran out of ideas of what to do in the final third- nothing was working for them. The top clubs won't have that problem, but frankly, i don't expect to take any points from the top clubs in this league. I think more important was that we got our first goals/win early in the season, taking off loads of pressure and giving some hope/confidence in the long season ahead.

Steddyman · Post by **Steddyman** » Sun Aug 21, 2016 7:52 pm

BFC123 · Post by **BFC123** » Sun Aug 21, 2016 8:01 pm

Estonhills wrote:I would say you have the second best defence of the promoted sides. Us (Boro) conceded 8 at home all last season and coincided less goals than any other side in the top 4 divisions, including the premier league with less games.

Our defence before the Hull game was poor. From the point when we brought Mee into CB our defence was far superior to yours, and still is now.

Ginster2 · Post by **Ginster2** » Sun Aug 21, 2016 8:02 pm

ablueclaret wrote:Maybe not from a launching attack point of view but there are few more solid units about.
It could just keep us afloat,all good sides are based on a strong defence.

People need to calm the **** down!

Yes it was a great defensive performance, but we certainly can't play like that week in week out.

Vegas Claret · Post by **Vegas Claret** » Sun Aug 21, 2016 8:03 pm

ablueclaret wrote:Maybe not from a launching attack point of view but there are few more solid units about.
It could just keep us afloat,all good sides are based on a strong defence.

overreact much ??

One clean sheet and do we have the best defence ?? haha
We have more points than Arsenal - are we better than them?

Wile E Coyote · Post by **Wile E Coyote** » Sun Aug 21, 2016 8:05 pm

Yes we have, because Liverpool did actually have as much posession as the pundits said. They were therefore able to mount numerous attacks on our area. The fact that they failed proves it worked . Not many teams could have survived such an onslaught.
That was brillinat defending. Everybody had to remain tuned in for the full 90.

cricketfieldclarets · Post by **cricketfieldclarets** » Sun Aug 21, 2016 8:05 pm

We have a couple of steady full backs who know their limitations are decent going forwards, good on the ball and defend well.

We have a centre half in Mee who is as brave as they come. Doesn't try and do anything he's not capable of and first and foremost defends. Then Keane. He's like a young Ferdinand. Class on the ball. Reads the game so well. Is good in the air and on the deck and can run with it.a threat at both ends. He gets better with every game. He's better now than alongside older players like duff and shackles. He's thrived in on the responsibility.

With time he will play for england. He's as good as Cahill was when we had him. Hopefully he sees that by playing with less pressure, under a manager who played his position and guaranteed to start he wil, thrive this year.

We won't keep him next summer. So hopefully we manage to get a fantastic season out of him, groom tarkowski to replace him and get £30+m + add ons next summer.

boatshed bill · Post by **boatshed bill** » Sun Aug 21, 2016 8:06 pm

Ginster2 wrote:People need to calm the **** down!

Yes it was a great defensive performance, but we certainly can't play like that week in week out.

We showed fantastic discipline and shape, helped by the fact that Liverpool's wing play was virtually non-existent, and they would nave had no one capable of heading a goal even if they'd had a decent winger

Vino blanco · Post by **Vino blanco** » Sun Aug 21, 2016 8:07 pm

No, but it's the best I've seen at Burnley for a long, long while and it is good enough for the pl.

Diesel · Post by **Diesel** » Sun Aug 21, 2016 8:22 pm

Well ours is better than Liverpool's

Stupid, German 'Super Coach' thinking he can take us on with Milner at left back!

Estonhills · Post by **Estonhills** » Sun Aug 21, 2016 8:31 pm

BFC123 wrote:Our defence before the Hull game was poor. From the point when we brought Mee into CB our defence was far superior to yours, and still is now.

Totally disagree. When gibson and Ayala played last season our record was outrageous.

P23 W15 D8 L0 GA 8

They have lost 2 games when playing together since Dec 13. One v norwich in the play off final 2015 when team never turned up and fulham away 2015 when dimi went up for a corner in the last minute and McCormack scored on the break with no keeper to beat.

No league side has scored 2 goals at the riverside since August 2014. 2 Callander years.

Claretmatt4 · Post by **Claretmatt4** » Sun Aug 21, 2016 8:49 pm

9th January 2016

Middlesbrough 1-2 Burnley

Venue: Riverside Stadium.

Estonhills · Post by **Estonhills** » Sun Aug 21, 2016 8:58 pm

Claretmatt4 wrote:9th January 2016

Middlesbrough 1-2 Burnley

Venue: Riverside Stadium.

Wasn't a league match and gibson never played. We made 7 changes.

boatshed bill · Post by **boatshed bill** » Sun Aug 21, 2016 9:03 pm

Estonhills wrote:Wasn't a league match and gibson never played. We made 7 changes.

8 actually,

must have made a nice change losing for once!

Claretmatt4 · Post by **Claretmatt4** » Sun Aug 21, 2016 9:13 pm

Estonhills wrote:Wasn't a league match and gibson never played. We made 7 changes.

Sounds like excuses to me!

In the championship with Ben Mee at centre half Burnley have never lost a game in their entire history.

nil_desperandum · Post by **nil_desperandum** » Sun Aug 21, 2016 9:52 pm

Claretmatt4 wrote: In the championship with Ben Mee at centre half Burnley have never lost a game in their entire history.

I very much doubt that that is true - (without actually checking the stats as what position he played in every game.)
Edit: It's definitely not true.

South West Claret. · Post by **South West Claret.** » Sun Aug 21, 2016 10:06 pm

Ask in May 2017.

jdrobbo · Post by **jdrobbo** » Sun Aug 21, 2016 10:17 pm

What we had yesterday, other than two excellent banks of four, was an early goal. It helped us to sit rather than stretch. Perfect situation for us.

CumbrianClaret · Post by **CumbrianClaret** » Sun Aug 21, 2016 10:26 pm

Pretty sure that after listening to SD in his post match interview he said that he'd studied how Liverpool play with no up top striker and he felt that if we played narrow with 2 banks of 4 that was the best way of beating them . He pointed out that their midfield 5 more often than not becomes 6 because Firmini often drops deep . Playing narrow he felt would congest the space normally available to cross into and he got it spot on . They never got into good scoring positions hence the shots from distance .

Doesn't mean it's a tactic he'll use regularly .

taio · Post by **taio** » Sun Aug 21, 2016 10:38 pm

CC, playing narrow has been a regular tactic for some time. I regularly hear supporters shouting at our individual wide players to mark their man probably without realising they are clearly following Dyche's instructions.

CumbrianClaret · Post by **CumbrianClaret** » Sun Aug 21, 2016 10:46 pm

We played narrower than normal yesterday .

Estonhills · Post by **Estonhills** » Sun Aug 21, 2016 11:35 pm

boatshed bill wrote:8 actually,

must have made a nice change losing for once!

Doesn't really matter anyhow, it's a new season. Totally different kettle of fish. Ayala, Gibson and friend have all signed new deals in the last 2 weeks. Barragan looks a bargin at 3m from Valencia as a right back and has played centre half the last 2 games. Espinosa is getting rave reviews And getting back to fitness and on a free. Ayala came on as a sub today and fabio has been signed for 2m as cover for friend. Karanka converted nsue from a right winger to a right back last season, which turned out to be a masterstroke. We are looking for a 4th centre half also after subotic deal fell though, all looks rosey.
Just need the Injurys back in midfield, 4th choice forshaw was playing today and did well. Get the injured players back and think at least 2 more will come in and hopefully we can stay up and build next year.

mybloodisclaret · Post by **mybloodisclaret** » Mon Aug 22, 2016 12:28 am

Estonhills wrote:Doesn't really matter anyhow, it's a new season. Totally different kettle of fish. Ayala, Gibson and friend have all signed new deals in the last 2 weeks. Barragan looks a bargin at 3m from Valencia as a right back and has played centre half the last 2 games. Espinosa is getting rave reviews And getting back to fitness and on a free. Ayala came on as a sub today and fabio has been signed for 2m as cover for friend. Karanka converted nsue from a right winger to a right back last season, which turned out to be a masterstroke. We are looking for a 4th centre half also after subotic deal fell though, all looks rosey.
Just need the Injurys back in midfield, 4th choice forshaw was playing today and did well. Get the injured players back and think at least 2 more will come in and hopefully we can stay up and build next year.

You are one boring brother. Good result today though fella. Night all

Saxoman · Post by **Saxoman** » Mon Aug 22, 2016 12:31 am

I think the best will likely be man u under mourinho.

Estonhills · Post by **Estonhills** » Mon Aug 22, 2016 12:41 am

mybloodisclaret wrote:You are one boring brother. Good result today though fella. Night all

To be fair we played poorly today, yet won away. Played a lot better last week and came away with a draw from a great free kick.

RPH · Post by **RPH** » Mon Aug 22, 2016 12:45 am

ablueclaret wrote:Maybe not from a launching attack point of view but there are few more solid units about.
It could just keep us afloat,all good sides are based on a strong defence.

Yes.....Nearly.

Dyche has made us no mugs. Last premier league, no one battered us. This season, probably the same. As each season, he's added a greater attacking threat, who've also defended when not with the ball, we've nothing to fear if real football is played.

Wile E Coyote · Post by **Wile E Coyote** » Mon Aug 22, 2016 1:08 am

Burnley will probably fail dramatically, I suspect Chelsea or some lesser team , will annihilate us out of the blue.
Our defence was not an impenetrable wall of steel when we were a division lower.
Nothing can detract from what the team managed on Saturday though, That was strong and efficient.I loved the match. Burnley on that day were so good. A combination of many things, but ultimately , brilliant as a team.

ablueclaret · Post by **ablueclaret** » Mon Aug 22, 2016 8:15 am

Obviously in one sense you defend as a team and what is in front of the defence is as important as the defence itself, but I was thinking of the defence purely as a unit, and for me it is the robust nature of that which gives this side its strength.
Partly of course is its balance, then it's relative youth and adaptability, true it lacks a little in pace and it might be argued height at its heart, but for me it has a the requisites of the model defence, defensive qualities first attacking ones the icing on the cake.
Having that solidity of shape and understanding gives this defence the edge over most other clubs in the League.
Yes it is quite possible that it could be overwhelmed at times once clubs realise the way is round rather than through and yes the protection offered by midfield is likely to be increasingly breached as the season progresses but at its heart this is a very stable solid and well organised defence of a very high quality.

Colburn_Claret · Post by **Colburn_Claret** » Mon Aug 22, 2016 9:51 am

I don't buy the idea we will be annihilated by anyone. That goes back to Judas days.
Last time in the prem we kept 9/10 clean sheets. Were beaten by the odd goal on numerous occasions, but the annihilations weren't (apart from WBA away which had other causes).
Have we the best defence in the division, obviously not, but it's a lot better than most and is our best chance of staying up, as it was last time.
We just need to find a way of feeding Andre and Sam.

OSC Burnley '55 · Post by **OSC Burnley '55** » Mon Aug 22, 2016 9:55 am

"way is round "

that would be around abc

unless you've thought of some devilish new tactic for unlocking our defence ?

ablueclaret · Post by **ablueclaret** » Sun Feb 12, 2017 6:43 pm

Still think so and its improving.

KRBFC · Post by **KRBFC** » Sun Feb 12, 2017 6:51 pm

Middlesbrough's defence is excellent because they put 11 men behind the ball, the only problem is they focus on defending too much and offer no attacking threat. The balance is fine, you can be less defensive and put more men ahead of the ball, that's when your defence is tested and you see how good it really is. Keane for example, good defender for us, in a compact defensive system where its a group effort. Would he be that great for City, who offer no support to Stones and focus on attacking? isit possible to really compare Stones/Keane when both play for different clubs with different ambitions and different systems. Our system is more suited to defenders where as defenders at City are left out to dry. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being defensive, we have got that balance right at home but away from home we certainly don't have the best defence in the league. It doesn't matter how good you are at defending as a team if it's hindering your attacking capabilities (ask Boro), where as it doesn't matter how great you are at scoring goals if your system leaks goals. 1 goal from open play away from home all season and 1 clean sheet suggests we certainly haven't found that balance.

cricketfieldclarets · Post by **cricketfieldclarets** » Sun Feb 12, 2017 7:08 pm

Keane was excellent today. Got left isolated against Costa a couple of times and absolutely marshalled him!