Jack Cork’s absence on Saturday

[paulatky]

No Cork in the squad against Palace
Anyone know why
Is he injured ?

[Dark Cloud]

Piles apparently. Too much sitting on his ass!!! (I'd have started picking him weeks ago just to see if this experience and know how could make the difference)

[IanMcL]

The fans called fie his selection and Muric. Manager then does the opposite.

[ClaretTony]

When Jack came on at Everton with just few minutes to go it was greeted with cheers from the Burnley fans that were every bit as pointed as the cheering of Muric every single time he touched the ball. With Muric, it was like that at Forest and at Salford too.

[summitclaret]

When Jack came on at Everton with just few minutes to go it was greeted with cheers from the Burnley fans that were every bit as pointed as the cheering of Muric every single time he touched the ball. With Muric, it was like that at Forest and at Salford too.

That's a shame. The more they do it the more stubborn he will get. It's crying out for some defensive organisation. Start Cork and at least begin games at half-time.

[bumba]

That's a shame. The more they do it the more stubborn he will get. It's crying out for some defensive organisation. Start Cork and at least begin games at half-time.

The more stubborn a manager gets when losing game after game the more he loses the fans and that will only end one way.
If he wants this atmosphere he bangs on about he should pick the right team and players the fans want then it'll give the crowd a boost.
The atmosphere would of gone up a few notches Saturday at 2pm if Muric was announced in goal

[Buxtonclaret]

We all know Jack's in the twilight of an excellent career but he can still do a job. We're crying out for his qualities at the mo.
Agreed with a poster on the match thread before ko, it would have been good to see him start with Brownhill and Berge forward of them two.
We're just being overrun through the middle so often.

[Nori1958]

When Jack came on at Everton with just few minutes to go it was greeted with cheers from the Burnley fans that were every bit as pointed as the cheering of Muric every single time he touched the ball. With Muric, it was like that at Forest and at Salford too.

I think you commented at the time you didn't like the ironic cheering of Muric at Forest, I don't think it helps anyone, but it was obvious it would happen at Everton, but not so obvious they would also boo McNeil

[ElectroClaret]

We're just being overrun through the middle so often.

We are. Probably our main weakness.
Jack's experience would be welcome.

[Nori1958]

We are. Probably our main weakness.
Jack's experience would be welcome.

I don't think it happened on saturday

[northeastclaret]

I am astonished that Jack has been ignored like he has when we have been so short of his attributes in central midfield. His experience, tight control, height and physicality etc etc.

[warksclaret]

Feel for Jack. Said on another post that he needs to start planning a loan move for Jan. Dont suppose anyone will pay his wages in full so it may be a 50/50. If not he will struggle in June to find a club. With so few options in midfield and with our disastrous form, surprised he has not played a part.Looks like JBG is preferred to him, and that in itself is strange, as JBG has always been a wide player and we have some new players who cannot get a game, and have far more pace

[IanMcL]

When Jack came on at Everton with just few minutes to go it was greeted with cheers from the Burnley fans that were every bit as pointed as the cheering of Muric every single time he touched the ball. With Muric, it was like that at Forest and at Salford too.

That would be enough to get hom excluded!

(I would hope not)

[ClaretTony]

I think you commented at the time you didn't like the ironic cheering of Muric at Forest, I don't think it helps anyone, but it was obvious it would happen at Everton, but not so obvious they would also boo McNeil

I did and it was dismissed at the time although all three cup games have been the same with the message that Muric should be in the team.

[FeedTheArf]

You'd have to think that Cork was injured given he didn't even make the bench when Cullen wasn't available either.

If he isn't injured then that's very worrying especially given we had 5 wingers on the bench.

[Silkyskills1]

If he wants this atmosphere he bangs on about he should pick the right team and players the fans want then it'll give the crowd a boost.

Sounds like you are suggesting that the manager should choose his team based on the popularity of players. That can't be right at any level.

[NewClaret]

Feel for Jack. Said on another post that he needs to start planning a loan move for Jan. Dont suppose anyone will pay his wages in full so it may be a 50/50. If not he will struggle in June to find a club. With so few options in midfield and with our disastrous form, surprised he has not played a part.Looks like JBG is preferred to him, and that in itself is strange, as JBG has always been a wide player and we have some new players who cannot get a game, and have far more pace

I’d like to have seen more of Jack. He’s one of my favourite players. Loved watching him at Salford at the back, dictating play.

But equally I think you have to trust the staff with this one, who’ll have all the data. Maybe he just doesn’t have the pace to cover the ground in the way he did? He plays such a key position, any lack of pace might be hugely exposed. He was picking up a yellow a game in the Championship due to his lack of pace, tbf.

If we go down though, I’d like to see him offered a contract. Still feel his experience would be invaluable, even if I don’t think he’d get so much game time.

[Goobs]

The more stubborn a manager gets when losing game after game the more he loses the fans and that will only end one way.
If he wants this atmosphere he bangs on about he should pick the right team and players the fans want then it'll give the crowd a boost.
The atmosphere would of gone up a few notches Saturday at 2pm if Muric was announced in goal

The manager should let the fans pick the team? Really? Surely one of the more ridiculous things that has been posted recently.

[Burnley Ace]

He’s too slow and given the score not what we neefed

[Nori1958]

The manager should let the fans pick the team? Really? Surely one of the more ridiculous things that has been posted recently.

It's not even the most ridiculous thing posted from that particular poster

[fidelcastro]

He wasn't good enough the last time we played at this level two seasons' ago!

The only reason I can think people want him in is that we've tried everything else and therefore he can't be any worse!

Desperate stuff.

[Nori1958]

I did and it was dismissed at the time although all three cup games have been the same with the message that Muric should be in the team.

I didn't dismiss it, I totally agreed with you

[ClaretTony]

I didn't dismiss it, I totally agreed with you

I meant generally dismissed on here, not by yourself. It was ridiculous at Forest and more so at Everton I thought.

[Nori1958]

I meant generally dismissed on here, not by yourself. It was ridiculous at Forest and more so at Everton I thought.

Sorry badly worded, should have said not dismissed by everyone including me
It was knowing it would happen I decided not to go to everton

[Big Vinny K]

The manager should let the fans pick the team? Really? Surely one of the more ridiculous things that has been posted recently.

Why not ?
In the world of up the clarets posters we already have the public deciding on criminal sentences.

[bumba]

Sounds like you are suggesting that the manager should choose his team based on the popularity of players. That can't be right at any level.

No not at all but if he wants an atmosphere creating he shouldn't be stubborn and stick with players that aren't performing when he's replaced a fans favourite with them.
If you had a top scorer with 15 goals by January then brought in somebody who doesn't score goals you'd be angry about the change.
We've a good goalkeeper that suits our system that is a fans favourite and he's replaced him with a keeper that isn't as good.

[martin_p]

He was injured. Know someone who spoke to him outside the ground on Saturday and he’s got some sort of muscle tear.

[Dark Cloud]

He was injured. Know someone who spoke to him outside the ground on Saturday and he’s got some sort of muscle tear.

Must have got it mowing his lawn then, because he's not kicked a ball in anger all season and initially I had no problem with that given his age and lack of pace these days, but after seeing the games how can VK not think he's worth trying?? Poor by him imo.

[ClaretLoup]

We started with Berge, Brownhill and Gudmundsson in midfield on Saturday and we need more experience?

I don’t think so, instead what we need is defenders who don’t cough up the ball easily and forwards who can shoot.

[Cirrus_Minor]

I am struggling to understand what the plan is with Jack Cork. If the manager thinks his contribution will be minimal then why wasn't he moved on in summer? I was amazed that he wasn't even included in the squad against Palace when Cullen was suspended. Berge, who I thought had his best game on Saturday, was clearly struggling later in the match, needed to come off, Cork would have been ideal. But instead he was played on with the risk of aggravating any injury.

[FeedTheArf]

He’s too slow and given the score not what we neefed

Cullen isn't exactly Usain Bolt

[Lord_Bob]

Love Jack Cork, but if he's not going to play, then a move to Swansea might make sense in a lot of ways.

[Kilson810]

I love him but I suspect his legs are gone at PL level, he looked far too slow last season.

[fidelcastro]

I love him but I suspect his legs are gone at PL level, he looked far too slow last season.

And the season before

[JohnMcGreal]

He wasn't good enough the last time we played at this level two seasons' ago!

You could say the same about Taylor, Roberts, Brownhill and Rodriguez.

Maybe he has a knock and didn't make the squad on Saturday.

[Stalbansclaret]

Don’t know whether Cork was fit or not on Saturday but the major reason for playing him (or even Massenga) would have been to get Berge playing further forward. He (Berge) is easily our best ball-carrying and creative midfielder yet we seem to persist in playing him sitting deep.

[fidelcastro]

You could say the same about Taylor, Roberts, Brownhill and Rodriguez.

Maybe he has a knock and didn't make the squad on Saturday.

I agree, and I think someone further up the thread has said he'd heard Cork had picked up an injury, but the clamour for him to be playing when fit I find hard to understand.

Unless, as I've said before, it's because we've tried everyone else and therefore he can't be any worse!

[Superjohnnyfrancis]

We only started winning matches in Dyche’s sacked season when he came back into the team. Seems to be underrated, can’t do any worse than Jay so maybe Vinny should give him a game or two.

[fidelcastro]

We only started winning matches in Dyche’s sacked season when he came back into the team. Seems to be underrated, can’t do any worse than Jay so maybe Vinny should give him a game or two.

You want to play him upfront now?

[Superjohnnyfrancis]

You want to play him upfront now?

Why not everyone else plays in the wrong position

Course not screening this awful defence with Cullen would be ideal

[martin_p]

Must have got it mowing his lawn then, because he's not kicked a ball in anger all season and initially I had no problem with that given his age and lack of pace these days, but after seeing the games how can VK not think he's worth trying?? Poor by him imo.

Or in training of course.

[ArmchairDetective]

I did and it was dismissed at the time although all three cup games have been the same with the message that Muric should be in the team.

I meant generally dismissed on here, not by yourself. It was ridiculous at Forest and more so at Everton I thought.

I remember offering an alternative interpretation to you after the Forest game, CT. I still maintain that there was some genuine support shown to Muric at the time that could have been interpreted as ironic cheering - that's certainly why I was cheering anyway. Thought the same at Salford and showed my support for Muric then. Looking back at those games and from what you and Nori1958 have said I'd guess that the truth was probably somewhere in the middle. Can't comment on the Everton game, however.

Re Cork: As with Muric, I think he would be justifiably disappointed in seeing such little game time. We look like we could do with an experienced head or two at the moment.

[ClaretTony]

I remember offering an alternative interpretation to you after the Forest game, CT. I still maintain that there was some genuine support shown to Muric at the time that could have been interpreted as ironic cheering - that's certainly why I was cheering anyway. Thought the same at Salford and showed my support for Muric then. Looking back at those games and from what you and Nori1958 have said I'd guess that the truth was probably somewhere in the middle. Can't comment on the Everton game, however.

Re Cork: As with Muric, I think he would be justifiably disappointed in seeing such little game time. We look like we could do with an experienced head or two at the moment.

In all three games, the mere picking up of the ball has been greeted with MURIC chants. God knows what Trafford must make of it when he's sat on the touchline.

[jojomk1]

The only reason I can think people want him in is that we've tried everything else and therefore he can't be any worse!

Many a true word spoken in jest

And we certainly didn't miss Cullen on Sat

[warksclaret]

We only started winning matches in Dyche’s sacked season when he came back into the team. Seems to be underrated, can’t do any worse than Jay so maybe Vinny should give him a game or two.

Then Mike Jackson needs to convince VK

[warksclaret]

We only started winning matches in Dyche’s sacked season when he came back into the team. Seems to be underrated, can’t do any worse than Jay so maybe Vinny should give him a game or two.

Then Mike Jackson needs to convince VK

[ArmchairDetective]

In all three games, the mere picking up of the ball has been greeted with MURIC chants. God knows what Trafford must make of it when he's sat on the touchline.

I suppose my point after the Forest game was that people, myself included, might want to show support for Muric in his first game of the season without intending to criticise Trafford or VK. I do agree with you that the longer those pro-Muric chants go on, the more it feels like a point is being made that could be unhelpful for Trafford to sit there listening to and isn't something I'd want to get behind.