Game changer yesterday

[Quickenthetempo]

The general theme on here is that taking Gray off changed the game, in hindsight it didn't work out but for me Dembele coming on as a sub changed the game. This view was backed up by a Spurs fan I was talking to after the game who would of took a point at half time. It's no coincidence our central midfield were all at sea yesterday when he came on.

When Son came on we couldn't cope with his movement which was another game changer. Far more impact on the game than Gray going off.

[minnieclaret]

100%. The two subs just on HT made a major impact on the match.

[bfccrazy]

Dembele, alongside Kante are tge best CM in the Prem for me.

[cricketfieldclarets]

I was surprised son wasnt starting. Far better than janssen.

[Ashingtonclaret46]

Totally agree with the OP. Strange to think that the two injuries did them a favour on the day.
I also wonder if they had been made aware that Chelsea were losing to Palace at half time --who knows?

[claretspice]

I don't disagree but we were very much in the game until Gray went off. That was as significant a moment for me.

[Rileybobs]

Got to agree. Although Gray's withdrawal made us a lot more toothless, Spurs moved up a couple of gears in the second half and probably would have been out of sight with or without Gray on the pitch. And all 3 of their substitutions strengthened them.

[Devils_Advocate]

Spurs played a weakened team. In the first half it made it easier for our 11 defenders to hang on to 0-0. Grays substitution coincided with Spurs deciding to try and win the game. We missed our chance leaving our two best footballers on the bench when spurs had half their B team out in the first half

[Dyched]

Dembele is a class act. So underrated. His elegance and grace for such a big man is fantastic. He makes everything look so simple.

[3putt]

Spurs played a weakened team. In the first half it made it easier for our 11 defenders to hang on to 0-0. Grays substitution coincided with Spurs deciding to try and win the game. We missed our chance leaving our two best footballers on the bench when spurs had half their B team out in the first half

Completely agree that we had our best two footballers on the bench. But do not think for one minute that we were hanging on to 0-0 with 11 defenders. We made a game of it in the first half and showed some good attacking intent - didn't create that much in the way of chances, but neither did they. There is no doubt that our fate was sealed once the inexplicable substitution of Gray was made and Spurs were able to push up and attack more.

[Devils_Advocate]

Tell me one player in the starting line up who's primary role for the team is an attacking one. Even our two strikers are defensive in that Grays main role is to stop the opposition playing a high line and Barnes is in the team to hoof it up to and to try and win free kicks to give the defence a bit of rest bite

[Quickenthetempo]

I have watched all the highlight shows and not one has shown a single thing that Gray did. So how can he have been as effective as people on here are sayong?

[Belial]

I have watched all the highlight shows and not one has shown a single thing that Gray did. So how can he have been as effective as people on here are sayong?

Agree with you there. I don't think he did much either. He wasn't helped that all we seemed to do in the first half was hoof it down the flanks for him to chase (meaning he wasn't in the centre where he should have been, collecting crosses and through balls [what are those?])

I must miss what others have seen though because I saw a player who looked uninterested (and has for a number of games now)

[Devils_Advocate]

I have watched all the highlight shows and not one has shown a single thing that Gray did. So how can he have been as effective as people on here are sayong?

Because Dyche plays him as a defender. His role is not to do anything with the ball for us but to stop the other team pressing us in our half by making their defence play deeper

It's sad that this is how we have to achieve success but even I can't argue that it hasn't worked unbelievably well over the last 18 months

[3putt]

Agree with you there. I don't think he did much either. He wasn't helped that all we seemed to do in the first half was hoof it down the flanks for him to chase (meaning he wasn't in the centre where he should have been, collecting crosses and through balls [what are those?])

I must miss what others have seen though because I saw a player who looked uninterested (and has for a number of games now)

He is still our most attacking threat.

As you say his job consists of chasing hoofed balls down the flanks rather than running on to through balls and getting on the end of crosses.

I don't think he looks uninterested, more like disgruntled and frustrated and that is hardly surprising given our tactics. It must be pretty shi**y being a striker at Burnley with the way we play.

[Belial]

He is still our most attacking threat.

As you say his job consists of chasing hoofed balls down the flanks rather than running on to through balls and getting on the end of crosses.

I don't think he looks uninterested, more like disgruntled and frustrated and that is hardly surprising given our tactics. It must be pretty shi**y being a striker at Burnley with the way we play.

Agree with that too. I though Ings got that way when he had similar in his last season with us, and it is a fair point that it probably gets to you after a while when the service is so bad. I do see more interest from Vokes and Barnes though (not suggesting they are better). To me Gray hasn't looked right for weeks

[RocketLawnChair]

I have watched all the highlight shows and not one has shown a single thing that Gray did. So how can he have been as effective as people on here are sayong?

Gray did nothing spectacular that's a fair comment. But it was blatantly obvious too me as soon as he went off the Spurs back line went 10 maybe even 15 yards further up the pitch from that point we rarely got out of our half.

[jlup1980]

The Gray sub was the game changer, although I agree Dembele was also very good when he came on. Gray might not have done a great amount but he occupied their defence more than Barnes did all afternoon. I personally thought Barnes was as ineffective as I've ever seen yesterday. He didn't upset their back line or make a nuisance of himself at all. He was seriously dire. At least Gray was doing something.

[Rileybobs]

Tell me one player in the starting line up who's primary role for the team is an attacking one. Even our two strikers are defensive in that Grays main role is to stop the opposition playing a high line and Barnes is in the team to hoof it up to and to try and win free kicks to give the defence a bit of rest bite

What the hell is rest bite?

[CleggHall]

It's what Suarez does!

[Quickenthetempo]

The Gray sub was the game changer, although I agree Dembele was also very good when he came on. Gray might not have done a great amount but he occupied their defence more than Barnes did all afternoon. I personally thought Barnes was as ineffective as I've ever seen yesterday. He didn't upset their back line or make a nuisance of himself at all. He was seriously dire. At least Gray was doing something.

Yeah I agree Gray was a nuisance but not majorly effective to creating anything.

[Burnleyareback2]

Wouldn't mind a sneaky swap deal for Gray and Son

[k90bfc]

Andre Gray,needs some service,through balls to run onto and Score!

[warksclaret]

We keep talking about chances for Gray, but other than our two full backs no one is able to cross the ball in quickly JBG has been injured more than he has been fit, Defour is out of favour and Brady whilst being our record signing and captain of his country is not trusted to start. Having seen the form of Boyd lately I would sacrifice the work rate for someone who can take a free kick or corner to the level required in the PL If we continue to start with the team that has largely started since late Jan (and we haven't won a game since-plus knocked out of the Cup buy a non league side), then much as I love the club, we will deserve to go down.

Until recently I could name 4-5 clubs that we were likely to end up the season higher. Now it looks like Boro and Sunderland only for certs, as I suspect Swansea & Hull could both go on a mini run and Palace and Leicester should end up in the top half. Hope I am wrong, but I am a big believer in short term form, and we are slipping. This is a big test for SD's tactics and his ability to steady nerves.

[Woodleyclaret]

Awful substitutions.Gray should have stayed on as should Boyd.Hendrick was a passenger and should have been hooked for Tarks.
Arfield could have made room for Brady who actually is a left winger and Defour for Joey who had his worse game since signing.
Sean needs to get his head round attacking.ball to feet and no hoof ball.