ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

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ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by ClaretTony » Thu Jun 20, 2019 11:54 am

Time to vote two central midfielders into the team of the last ten years

See link
http://www.uptheclarets.com/search-for- ... ers-begins" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by NickBFC » Thu Jun 20, 2019 11:58 am

A few candidates there, but for me Marney and Barton. One partly for his great service to the club, the other for the impact he had in THAT season.

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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by Fretters » Thu Jun 20, 2019 12:01 pm

Marney and Defour for me. It was between Defour and Barton so I went for performances at the higher level.

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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by ClaretTony » Thu Jun 20, 2019 12:02 pm

I do think this one could be a much closer vote than we've had

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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by HieronymousBoschHobs » Thu Jun 20, 2019 12:06 pm

Very tricky. I'm a big Detour fan and I do think he's been our best midfield playmaker, even if others have probably had a more significant impact. It was between Marney and Barton for me after that. Not sure I made the right choice in the end!

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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by ClaretTony » Thu Jun 20, 2019 12:11 pm

I've not voted yet but I was a big fan of David Jones and thought he played a massive role in both promotions
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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by dsr » Thu Jun 20, 2019 12:16 pm

Marney and Cork for me. Barton had only half a good season in the Premier, and even then he was a little past his best. I was tempted by Alexander but Cork's one and a half really good seasons in the Premier swung it for me.

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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by Colburn_Claret » Thu Jun 20, 2019 12:26 pm

By far the hardest yet, for different reasons different players deserve the accolades.
I wanted to pick SD, but its hard to select someone who despite being technically gifted, has had such limited game time.

I went with the top man and Westy. If he'd played his whole career with us, as he did last season, hed be a shoe in for top two.

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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by ClaretTony » Thu Jun 20, 2019 12:28 pm

dsr wrote:Barton had only half a good season in the Premier, and even then he was a little past his best
Don't discount the damn good season in the Championship - such a key player in that promotion
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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by Swizzlestick » Thu Jun 20, 2019 12:33 pm

Barton is a must pick, surely. The influence he had on the team can't be underestimated.

Then there's reasonable arguments for at least 2/3 others.

Can see why people would be against it, but I'd probably go Defour as second pick - when he was on it, he was unbelievable and far beyond the quality I thought I would ever see in CM in a Burnley shirt.
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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by claret10 » Thu Jun 20, 2019 12:38 pm

Changed my mind about 5 times before voting....went for Barton and Grezza but felt really harsh on Marney & Jones. Then to add to that Defour is arguably our best technical player ever....then there is Cork who has had 1 bad season out of 4 for us.....there's a case for most of them....except Brian Stock & Marvin

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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by FactualFrank » Thu Jun 20, 2019 12:39 pm

Marney was a player where you were reminded of how important he was, when he was out injured.

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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by Longside4evr » Thu Jun 20, 2019 12:53 pm

It's a tight one this and I am humming & arring
But Barton rings out for my first choice
He played the governor in our promotion season and fit in again perfectly after his ban
Sorted out our midfield and knitted a lot together knew how to grip a game by the scruff and conducted himself perfectly well without him we would have been also rans that season
The second vote for me was very difficult to
decipher
But Westwood gets it for me he did a Barton job and if he would have not been Mr consistent this season with MOM displays week on week when we really had to dig in we would have gone down
His performances were instrumental for this bit for this we would be setting up to be playing Championshio football
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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by Tall Paul » Thu Jun 20, 2019 12:54 pm

Thought this was going to be an article about the transfer window.
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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by Bordeauxclaret » Thu Jun 20, 2019 12:57 pm

ClaretTony wrote:I've not voted yet but I was a big fan of David Jones and thought he played a massive role in both promotions
Brilliant signing was Jones.
Amazed with the way his career has gone since he left us.

Very good player at Championship level, probably that bit too slow for the next level in all honesty.
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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by claptrappers_union » Thu Jun 20, 2019 12:59 pm

Goes to show that we haven't been blessed with brilliant midfielders recently.

I went with Barton and Alexander

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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by ClaretTony » Thu Jun 20, 2019 1:03 pm

Bordeauxclaret wrote:Brilliant signing was Jones.
Amazed with the way his career has gone since he left us.

Very good player at Championship level, probably that bit too slow for the next level in all honesty.
I don't get what's happened to him at Sheff Wed, really don't. Fantastic for us for three years alongside Marney and then Barton. Outstanding Championship midfielder.

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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by dsr » Thu Jun 20, 2019 1:06 pm

ClaretTony wrote:Don't discount the damn good season in the Championship - such a key player in that promotion
Oh, I agree. If I'd been voting on the midfielder who has played the most vital role, I would have gone for Barton ahead of Cork; but I was going more on the basis of who, based on their performance for Burnley, I would put in the team. And I reckon Cork's Premier League performances have been better than Barton's, and Premier League performance are the highest test.

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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by Foulthrow » Thu Jun 20, 2019 1:12 pm

I've gone with Marney and Jones. Simply for the consistency they offered for such a long period of time.

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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by Blackrod » Thu Jun 20, 2019 1:12 pm

ClaretTony wrote:I've not voted yet but I was a big fan of David Jones and thought he played a massive role in both promotions
Couldn’t agree more. Very under appreciated by many.

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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by IanMcL » Thu Jun 20, 2019 1:28 pm

Very difficult!
Went for Graham Alexander and Steven Defour, for different reasons. One dazzles and controls the game, the other used his football brain to control the midfield and organise his troops.

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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by claretonthecoast1882 » Thu Jun 20, 2019 1:46 pm

Went for Marney & Barton.

Marmey was my first choice and then it was a choice between Barton & Cork with Joey just edging it.

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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by NottsClaret » Thu Jun 20, 2019 1:48 pm

This is tricky for the same reasons as above. Marney and Jones delivered week in, week out for a long time.

Or is it Barton and Defour because of Joey's inspirational leadership dragging us to promotion when we were floundering a bit, and Defour simply because he's the most talented footballer I've seen play for us. But he especially was only a fleeting star.

I've already thought about this more than Brexit or what school to send the kids.

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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by Quicknick » Thu Jun 20, 2019 2:02 pm

Tall Paul wrote:Thought this was going to be an article about the transfer window.
So did I.

Who the hell voted for Bartley?
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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by TVC15 » Thu Jun 20, 2019 2:13 pm

I`m voting for Marney and Jones.
I don't think Jones was a better player than Defour, Westwood or Barton I just think he had a bigger impact. As soon as Jones signed for Dyche we changed our style of football and that partnership between Jones and Marney was a massive part of our success. David Jones hardly gave away the ball and he had a range of short and long passing but his great decision making meant he mostly chose the right pass.
I thought that team with Ings, Trippier and Sam Vokes at his very best was the some of the best football we have played in many years. Marney played the best football in his career and so did Jones, Vokes and it was also Ings best ever season.

Barton, Defour, Cork and Westwood all had brilliant periods for us too - we`ve been lucky to see some very good players in this position.

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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by IanMcL » Thu Jun 20, 2019 2:18 pm

Quicknick wrote:So did I.

Who the hell voted for Bartley?
Probably Joey Bartley!

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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by MACCA » Thu Jun 20, 2019 2:20 pm

My 2 picks lead the way, thought it was a tricky choice and the results so far show that.
Think those 2 will get the majority though.

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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by aggi » Thu Jun 20, 2019 2:32 pm

I'm surprised that Marney isn't way out ahead given the impact that he had for us. I'm also surprised that Barton is out in front. He did well in the Championship for us but he was definitely past his best when he returned from Rangers.

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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by AndyClaret » Thu Jun 20, 2019 2:37 pm

Marney and Cork, they've made the most appearances, with Defour and Barton just behind.

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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by MDWat » Thu Jun 20, 2019 2:55 pm

Easiest one yet for me. Barton and Defour by miles.

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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by Belial » Thu Jun 20, 2019 3:05 pm

Tricky one to pick two..but plumped for Alexander for being a consistent workhorse, along with Marney for being the same with more bite.

I wonder which three posters picked Bartley and McDonald as their 2 picks...hmm...

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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by Cleveleys_claret » Thu Jun 20, 2019 3:15 pm

Bordeauxclaret wrote:Brilliant signing was Jones.
Amazed with the way his career has gone since he left us.

Very good player at Championship level, probably that bit too slow for the next level in all honesty.
Probably shows how much of an impact Arfield and Boyd had on the midfield with there ability to track back and tuck in when needed. Allowing him a little more time on the ball. Think he was one of several players that just fit with us

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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by elwaclaret » Thu Jun 20, 2019 4:04 pm

ClaretTony wrote:I've not voted yet but I was a big fan of David Jones and thought he played a massive role in both promotions
Jones and Marney for me

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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by Marney&Mee » Thu Jun 20, 2019 4:16 pm

Jones for me. He made that midfield tick. So much time on the ball. Started many a move with the wand of a left foot.

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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by Conroy92 » Thu Jun 20, 2019 4:38 pm

As a partnership, it's impossible to look past Jones and Marney.

However Bartons performances that promotion season were something else.

I went Barton and Marney.
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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by cricketfieldclarets » Thu Jun 20, 2019 4:47 pm

Best is probably easier. But most influential more subjective.

However for influence alone it has to be Barton and Alexander for me.

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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by cricketfieldclarets » Thu Jun 20, 2019 4:49 pm

ClaretTony wrote:I've not voted yet but I was a big fan of David Jones and thought he played a massive role in both promotions
don't disagree. Would fit in to any midfield we have had. Was speaking to a Wednesday fan earlier this week who did not rate him at all. But said he had been playing alongside a deep lying, left sided player which says it all to me.

Alongside a more energetic, box to box player he was far better. Very underrated for me.

Marney and Jones were a fantastic partnership and complemented each other perfectly.

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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by Jakubs Tash » Thu Jun 20, 2019 4:49 pm

Barton and Defour, for me.

Barton was an incredible driving force in the Championship winning season. Such a massive will to win and dragged us over the line in quite a few games.

Defour is simply the most gifted midfielder I have seen in a Burnley shirt.

But I feel so guilty for not choosing Jones, Marney and Alexander....
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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by Murger » Thu Jun 20, 2019 4:54 pm

Jakubs Tash wrote:Barton and Defour, for me.

Barton was an incredible driving force in the Championship winning season. Such a massive will to win and dragged us over the line in quite a few games.

Defour is simply the most gifted midfielder I have seen in a Burnley shirt.

But I feel so guilty for not choosing Jones, Marney and Alexander....
Snap. When Defour is fit and on song, there's no better player.

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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by ClaretTony » Thu Jun 20, 2019 4:57 pm

Murger wrote:Snap. When Defour is fit and on song, there's no better player.
I don’t think anyone would disagree with that Murger

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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by FactualFrank » Thu Jun 20, 2019 4:57 pm

ClaretTony wrote:I don’t think anyone would disagree with that Murger
Give it time.

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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by claretspice » Thu Jun 20, 2019 5:10 pm

If you're judging it on the quality they've shown whilst playing for us, it's hard to look beyond the pair who were the engine room that launched us into European contention - Cork and Defour.

I'm sure others will vote on other factors, like longevity and legacy - can absolutely see the arguments for the likes of Barton and Marney based on this, not to mention Grezza and Jones; but for the levels that they reached in Burnley shirts they don't come close to Cork and Defour.

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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by boatshed bill » Thu Jun 20, 2019 5:17 pm

dsr wrote:Marney and Cork for me. Barton had only half a good season in the Premier, and even then he was a little past his best. I was tempted by Alexander but Cork's one and a half really good seasons in the Premier swung it for me.
Same here.

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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by elwaclaret » Thu Jun 20, 2019 5:18 pm

[quote="FactualFrank"]Give it time.[/quote

So you think there is some then?

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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by Falcon » Thu Jun 20, 2019 5:31 pm

DEAN MARNEY

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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by bobinho » Thu Jun 20, 2019 5:40 pm

After much deliberation, I studied the question hard and answered the question as it was asked. “Our” best it said, not “the” best. With that in mind, I had no option but to go for Marney and Barton.
Barton was the key player who was THE difference in the midfield when he came. Another captain out in the middle where it's needed to reach all areas with his ability, vision and his verbal influence. Simply superb. Better footballer than Defour? No, I don't think so, but still technically very good.
Marney was a Laws signing - and WHAT a signing. Wonderful energy and effort, and no shortage of ability. Took a pay cut to stay here if I remember rightly? Dean Marney has been one of my favourite players ever. As good as Defour? Clearly not.

If it had asked for “the” best, Defour and Barton would’ve got the nod. Barton because of his ability and influence, Defour because he's the best player I have ever seen play for Burnley. I can't imagine anyone my age or younger thinking they have seen anyone technically better. I didn't vote for D4 tho because of the actual question.
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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by Bin Ont Turf » Thu Jun 20, 2019 5:50 pm

Defour hasn't played anywhere near enough to be chosen ahead of 3 or 4 of the others.

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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by Blackrod » Thu Jun 20, 2019 7:11 pm

Defour is the most talented but he’s not been our best midfielder - yet. Jones and Marney did really compliment each other and Barton just transformed that team with all the work he put in. I actually don’t think we would have been promoted without him. They are the top 4 easily imo and I’ve put Barton first. Then it’s one of Jones or Marney. We need to see more of Defour but he is a wonderful player.

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Re: ARTICLE: Search for central midfielders begins

Post by SGr » Thu Jun 20, 2019 7:25 pm

Barton is a definite for me, then it’s between Marney and Defour.

Marney because he was the more influential central midfielder in our second place finish, or Defour for objectively being the best player I’ve ever seen in the middle of the park for us.

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