Striker

[Boss Hogg]

Whilst Right Wing is top priority do we need a new one in Summer ? Do we ship out both Barnes and JRod ? As a minimum I think we need to replace one of them.

[DCWat]

I’d like to see one come in but it would be lower down my list of priorities, which would be right wing, central midfield and right back.

I suspect though, with Bardsley signed on for another year, right back won’t be a position we see recruitment for.

[jdrobbo]

Not the priority but as I’ve said on other threads, Adam Armstrong is a player I’d love us to look at.

[KRBFC]

I’d like to see one come in but it would be lower down my list of priorities, which would be right wing, central midfield and right back.

I suspect though, with Bardsley signed on for another year, right back won’t be a position we see recruitment for.

and with 5 central midfielders, how do we fit another in? I think our problem is we have some Championship level players on PL wages, who is going to pay Stephens 40k a week in League One? We are stuck with him. Nobody in the Championship is paying 31 year old Rodriguez £50k+ per week. Thankfully Brady is on the way out.

[DCWat]

and with 5 central midfielders, how do we fit another in? I think our problem is we have some Championship level players on PL wages, who is going to pay Stephens 40k a week in League One? We are stuck with him. Nobody in the Championship is paying 31 year old Rodriguez £50k+ per week. Thankfully Brady is on the way out.

It’s an issue we’d need to find a solution for, if we are to improve a key area on the pitch. There is always an answer, if we are so inclined.

[jdrobbo]

Spoken to three Leeds fans since yesterday and they all said that we desperately lack a good CDM. Not surprising when they have Phillips!

[Bin Ont Turf]

Spoken to three Leeds fans since yesterday and they all said that we desperately lack a good CDM. Not surprising when they have Phillips!

We'd have to change formation for that and no doubt have to find a couple more midfielders to complement it.

[SouthLondonexile]

Spoken to three Leeds fans since yesterday and they all said that we desperately lack a good CDM. Not surprising when they have Phillips!

I agree and if it were my call I would ask JT to play in midfield as a defensive midfield player.
I think this will firm up the midfield enormously.

[Rileybobs]

I agree and if it were my call I would ask JT to play in midfield as a defensive midfield player.
I think this will firm up the midfield enormously.

Wow. I’m glad it’s not your call.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

I agree and if it were my call I would ask JT to play in midfield as a defensive midfield player.
I think this will firm up the midfield enormously.

Ablue, that you?

[Local cricketer]

Spoken to three Leeds fans since yesterday and they all said that we desperately lack a good CDM. Not surprising when they have Phillips!

We very nearly did have Phillips

[Elizabeth]

I’d like to see the young lad at the club given a chance to replace Barnes / Rodrigues next season .
CDM ? I’m not sure. Yes ,when you see the Leeds player scoring their first goal by running so far unchallenged. Has it happened too much this season?. I can remember maybe a couple more against top teams but not enough for me to make it a priority

[KRBFC]

I'd have that Anguissa on loan from Fulham, if they're loaning him out again.

[Steve1956]

Just a bit off topic what's happened to Josh Benson?

[thegoldengoatee]

With the space between our back line and midfield a true holding midfielder is looking essential. Cork, Westy and Brownhill are all allrounders. We need someone to sit and stop the counter attacks that have cost us so dear at home.

[CnBtruntru]

I think that there is a possibility we could lose Wood, one of the top scorers in the league for the last 3-4 seasons, people must have began to notice by now what a hell of a finisher he is when on form, I think any of the middle of the table clubs and would include Spurs if they lose Kane, he must be in the £20 to 30 million bracket by now, enough to bring in a young replacement and another position.

[Vino blanco]

Two good central midfielders and a right back please.

[DCWat]

Two good central midfielders and a right back please.

No right winger?

[Top Claret]

Central midfield is definitely the area we should invest in.
Brownhill and Benson not good enough and Corks legs have gone. We need to invest in the areas were we are weak and strikers isn't one of them

[Rileybobs]

Central midfield is definitely the area we should invest in.
Brownhill and Benson not good enough and Corks legs have gone. We need to invest in the areas were we are weak and strikers isn't one of them

Cork’s legs have gone? What a load of nonsense.

[Longtimeclaret]

Cork’s legs have gone? What a load of nonsense.

100 per cent he is too slow now for the Premier League

[Rileybobs]

100 per cent he is too slow now for the Premier League

His game has never been about pace, and I’ve seen nothing to suggest he’s noticeably slower now than he ever was.

Last season only 3 players in the PL ran further than Cork. So to suggest that his legs have gone is just nonsense.

[Claret_tinted]

Just a bit off topic what's happened to Josh Benson?

Wasn’t and isn’t good enough. Will be released without ceremony in a window or two.

[Elizabeth]

Wasn’t and isn’t good enough. Will be released without ceremony in a window or two.

Did you intend to be as dismissive of this young player as your post reads?

[Longtimeclaret]

His game has never been about pace, and I’ve seen nothing to suggest he’s noticeably slower now than he ever was.

Last season only 3 players in the PL ran further than Cork. So to suggest that his legs have gone is just nonsense.

You can run all day, but if you are continually half a yard behind the opposing player, it’s not much use is it.Suggest you watch the game and not review the stats

[Rileybobs]

You can run all day, but if you are continually half a yard behind the opposing player, it’s not much use is it.Suggest you watch the game and not review the stats

I watch the games, which has led to my conclusion that Cork does a hell of a lot of running so therefore his legs haven’t gone. Thankfully the statistics back that up.

[taio]

I don't believe Cork has lost his legs either. Has been a key player and continues to be.

[Longtimeclaret]

Obviously you watch the games with your eyes closed, if you feel Jack Cork is a strong enough central midfield player to command a regular starting berth and ensure we improve next season
He can’t track back quick enough when we lose the ball upfield which contributes to us being wide open to counter attacks .

[DCWat]

I watch the games, which has led to my conclusion that Cork does a hell of a lot of running so therefore his legs haven’t gone. Thankfully the statistics back that up.

He’s by far and away our most intelligent footballer. He’s never been blessed with a lot of pace and his ground coverage is right up there during every game, so I too wonder on what basis his legs have gone.

Our midfield wasn’t overrun yesterday, or indeed on other day because Cork or anyone else’s legs have gone, it’s simply been because of poor performances or more often than not, teams being able to find space in between. Our set up allows that and on occasion, we pay the price.

Do we need better players, yes. Have Cork’s legs gone, no.

[DCWat]

Obviously you watch the games with your eyes closed, if you feel Jack Cork is a strong enough central midfield player to command a regular starting berth and ensure we improve next season
He can’t track back quick enough when we lose the ball upfield which contributes to us being wide open to counter attacks .

How about debating the reasons rather than playing the man in each post. I think you’ll find it leads to better debate.

[taio]

There's a debate to be had about whether Cork should start next season. I think there's a good chance he should and will depending of course on what happens in the transfer window. The suggestion his legs have gone is just a baseless and therefore unnecessary criticism.

[warksclaret]

Think the problem is "too much loyalty and protection from SD"

With a business hat on the current squad needs to be split into three groups, of

1. MUST STAY at all costs ie Pope, Tarks, Mee, McNeil,Taylor,Westwood,Vydra, Wood, Brownhill, Lowton with a priority to ensure we are not exposed on contracts

2.LET GO IF WE GET A BUYER, otherwise they form part of the squad, and cover, ie Cork, Rodriguez, Barnes, Stephens

3.MUST GO and get off the books ie Brady, JBG, Dunn,

It assumes Pope, Tarks and McNeil are not leaving. Means our big priority is a CH who could step in and provide good cover, two central midfielders,a right footed right winger, and a good quality striker to challenge Wood and Vydra

[Vegas Claret]

Our recruitment will depend on how ambitious the new owners are.

[Gordaleman]

Spoken to three Leeds fans since yesterday and they all said that we desperately lack a good CDM. Not surprising when they have Phillips!

Bring back Marney. (Or someone very like him.)

[Norfolk Claret]

I think a formation change is required for next season, 451 /4321/433 dependent how you view it. I love the 442 but in my opinion none of our central midfielders are strong or good enough to play in a central 2. It pains me to say but I think we will sacrifice one of the forwards, I’ve been loving the Wood & Vydra partnership, Cork, Westwood even maybe Stephens could play the holding midfielder position with Brownhill and preferably Westwood or a new athletic technician in the other 2. Wide players (right footed) is where I think the priority investment is needed with Brady going (assuming) leaving McNeil and JBG. Strikers I think we’ll go with what we have although I have a feeling 1 or 2 will be going if their wages will be covered. Obviously if we sell Tarks or any other players then they will need replacements in. Either way my season ticket is squared away and I look forward to the 500 mile round trips to finally watch the Super Clarets.

[Stayingup]

Bring back Marney. (Or someone very like him.)

And Joey with him.

[Gordaleman]

And Joey with him.

Maybe. I hated the idea of us signing him, but he certainly did a top job for us whilst he was here. Just goes to show what a top man manager Sean is.

[Chester Perry]

Our recruitment will depend on how ambitious the new owners are.

I don't think many would question the new owners being ambitious, they bought the club believing that they could grow it substantially when their Private Equity colleagues didn't see a way to do that. It maybe that those ambitions are not wholly aligned with many of those on this board. That would place them in a parallel yet different scenario to the previous ownership in the eyes of many.

[Dark Cloud]

A striker is something we definitely don't need, unless somebody is chucking an extremely good one out for free. If they are then I'd free up space and take him. Otherwise it's midfield where we really need to spend, as we aren't short of numbers, but they are all too slow and too much of a muchness. We need a couple of players who can do something different in there. Naturally if Taky goes, then we'll need to a bring in a top quality CB and same re Pope, but if they stay put we just need to strengthen our 3rd choice CB as the immediate back up isn't good enough and was exposed as such early season.

[Newcastleclaret93]

A striker is something we definitely don't need, unless somebody is chucking an extremely good one out for free. If they are then I'd free up space and take him. Otherwise it's midfield where we really need to spend, as we aren't short of numbers, but they are all too slow and too much of a muchness. We need a couple of players who can do something different in there. Naturally if Taky goes, then we'll need to a bring in a top quality CB and same re Pope, but if they stay put we just need to strengthen our 3rd choice CB as the immediate back up isn't good enough and was exposed as such early season.

I would argue the complete opposite. One player has scored 33% of all of our goals this season. If that doesn’t highlight we desperately need someone else to share the burden then I don’t know what will.

I said it on another page but the club needs to make a minimum of five signings this summer. At least 3 must be good enough to go straight into the starting eleven. We need to start the season with a starting eleven something like the below:

Pope
Lowton, Tarks/New, Mee, Taylor
New, New, Westwood, McNeil
Wood, New

If we don’t then I imagine Dyche will leave and we will be relegated.

[kentonclaret]

Only 3 sides have currently scored fewer goals than Burnley and they have been relegated.

[KlyBfc]

I’m of the view we need to ship a striker out and get one in who can push for a start if we are to persist with 4-4-2. Vydra’s movement is class however in my eyes he’s nowhere near clinical enough at this level, especially 1v1 when he has time to think. If we are to persist with 4-4-2 and leave ourselves open / outnumbered in the middle we have to be taking the golden chances (Like yesterday) more often than not. I understand it won’t be every time but it has to be much more than it currently is.
If we are shifting (which is like us to) to a 4-5-1 / 4-3-3 then I’d settle with what he have up top for now and concentrate on quality in midfield areas.

[Dark Cloud]

I would argue the complete opposite. One player has scored 33% of all of our goals this season. If that doesn’t highlight we desperately need someone else to share the burden then I don’t know what will.

I said it on another page but the club needs to make a minimum of five signings this summer. At least 3 must be good enough to go straight into the starting eleven. We need to start the season with a starting eleven something like the below:

Pope
Lowton, Tarks/New, Mee, Taylor
New, New, Westwood, McNeil
Wood, New

If we don’t then I imagine Dyche will leave and we will be relegated.

I certainly agree that signings this summer have to be primarily aimed at strengthening the starting XI and not bench warmers or "ones for the future" who are in the U23s for a couple of years and then simply released. And I do see where you're coming from re getting a new striker. I've long been one of Barnes' biggest fans, but increasingly there's speculation as to whether he will come back from his injury plagued season and remain a force and maybe, like big Sam before him, it might be time to move him on and create some room for an upgrade. I don't know tbh, because whenever I write anyone off in our team, they always seem to come back stronger and make me look silly and I'd love Barnes (and Jay) to do the same.

[Vegas Claret]

I don't think many would question the new owners being ambitious, they bought the club believing that they could grow it substantially when their Private Equity colleagues didn't see a way to do that. It maybe that those ambitions are not wholly aligned with many of those on this board. That would place them in a parallel yet different scenario to the previous ownership in the eyes of many.

As with anything, pretty much everybody on here operates in "guess mode", none of us have the full information of anything. Time will tell.

[Vegas Claret]

because whenever I write anyone off in our team, they always seem to come back stronger and make me look silly and I'd love Barnes (and Jay) to do the same.

Please feel free to create a post writing off all our players if that is the outcome !!

[Hedontplayforyou]

As much as he’s been a warrior and the ultimate sh1thouse for us, I’d upgrade on Barnes if we have the means to do so. Of a championship club fancies him then I’d sell, if of course we had a replacement lined up

[Dark Cloud]

As much as he’s been a warrior and the ultimate sh1thouse for us, I’d upgrade on Barnes if we have the means to do so. Of a championship club fancies him then I’d sell, if of course we had a replacement lined up

I tend to agree with this, but feel such a traitor to Barnes who really has been absolutely brilliant for us.

[Hedontplayforyou]

I tend to agree with this, but feel such a traitor to Barnes who really has been absolutely brilliant for us.

always hard to see a player leave, who you’ve watched become part Of the furniture at your club . But for us to develop I think we need to have better then him.