Vitinho

[warksclaret]

Today was the first time I have seen the clarets this season, though have seen them 5 times on SKY. Surprised to see Roberts not starting, but have to say Vitinho looked the real deal at RB. Showed some real quality and composure. Well done VK

[Cleveleys_claret]

Love VK! Love what is happening with the team/squad. But...to say well done VK for playing Vitinho in his actual preferred position is a little over the top

[Bowclaret]

Vitinho was awesome today - what a player we have on our hands.

[jen1066]

I actually prefer him on the left. But nice that we can play him either side.

[Shaggy]

If we are going to be using the fullbacks as Aux wingers then Vitinho is a much better choice than Roberts. His pace alone makes it difficult for anyone to get past him.

I’d like to see Charlie Taylor out at Left back as well as he is a better defender than Maatsen and I prefer Beyer in the middle plus he also has pace.

[Jakubs Tash]

Would genuinely like to know what other supporters saw in todays performance from Vitinho to give the levels of praise he looks to have received?

Not having a dog at him by the way - I’ll support all the lads - I personally think Vitinho is a good squad player and a handy versatile sub to have as he can fill many different positions.

The irony is of course that Roberts would’ve loved to have been able to play the role Vitinho was playing today as an attacking full back - a very different role to the one Roberts has been playing all season.

[welsbyswife]

Vitinho was awesome today - what a player we have on our hands.

He had a decent game but "awesome"? Let's not get carried away.

[BurnleyFC]

Vitinho did OK today but I thought it was harsh on Roberts to be dropped.

He was one of our better players against Stoke and scored our goal.

[welsbyswife]

He got skinned right at the death and it very nearly led to a chance for them. Awesome wasn't the word on my mind at that point.

[jen1066]

He had a decent game but "awesome"? Let's not get carried away.

We get it. You don' think he's good enough

[boatshed bill]

Vitinho did OK today but I thought it was harsh on Roberts to be dropped.

He was one of our better players against Stoke and scored our goal.

i think we need to stop using the word "dropped".
It's a squad game, VK rotates it a bit.

[quoonbeatz]

I think today and Wigan have been his best games for us which is interesting as he played on opposite sides. I think he's a better right back than left back mainly as he's right footed. He's definitely not a winger though so hopefully that experiment has ended.

Lucky to find himself in the team today I thought but he did very well indeed.

[deanothedino]

Vitinho did OK today but I thought it was harsh on Roberts to be dropped.

He was one of our better players against Stoke and scored our goal.

I thought despite scoring a goal he still managed to be one of our worst performers

[Red Fox Rocks Socks]

He’s so smooth and cool on the ball. It’s no panic with a step over or a drop of a shoulder to buy him half a yard. Quick so he can recover a mistake too. Fantastic buy. Everything you think of from a Brazilian.

I liked today that we shifted the shape so the RB was a wingback. I wonder if it was because we’ve been caught out with balls over the LB head recently. If you’re the oppo and you’ve planned your right side to be where you’re hurting us cos we’re exposed it must be disappointing to see our team balanced the opposite way

[Garnerssoap]

He’s my favourite. That effortless balance and ability on the ball is Jean Louis Valoisesque.

[Woodleyclaret]

Connor Roberts has only himself to blame for getting dropped. At fault for Stokes goal and guilty of multiple back or side passes slowing down our attacks
I expected him to bomb down the wing providing decent crosses into the box as he does for Wales

[jen1066]

Connor Roberts has only himself to blame for getting dropped. At fault for Stokes goal and guilty of multiple back or side passes slowing down our attacks
I expected him to bomb down the wing providing decent crosses into the box as he does for Wales

True. Scoring that goal did it for him. Pathetic.

[superdimitri]

He is a bit naive at times and it doesn't fill you with confidence when he's doing Cruyff turns just outside our box but he seems good enough to pull it off.

I think he's both better in defence and attack than Maatsen. He has a better work rate but his weakest area is decision making.

Played much, much better than Roberts.

[warksclaret]

The new Cucurella

[Cooclaret]

i think we need to stop using the word "dropped".
It's a squad game, VK rotates it a bit.

I hope he gets dropped into the Premier League with a move in January. Don’t rate him in this system at all.

[Targetman]

Vitinho did OK today but I thought it was harsh on Roberts to be dropped.

He was one of our better players against Stoke and scored our goal.

You may be right but I thought it was harsh on Lowton being dropped for Roberts. Lowton was playing pretty well at the time.

[Dingo]

I've not seen anything of yesterday's game yet due to work but curious as to whether Vitinho played significantly differently to Roberts in terms of team strategy. For instance, was he dropping into a back three as Roberts does? Was he tucking in centrally when we're going forward rather than going down the wing? Did he pass back to THB to start the plays as Roberts does? Did having Tella on the right change the RB role?

[RVclaret]

I've not seen anything of yesterday's game yet due to work but curious as to whether Vitinho played significantly differently to Roberts in terms of team strategy. For instance, was he dropping into a back three as Roberts does? Was he tucking in centrally when we're going forward rather than going down the wing? Did he pass back to THB to start the plays as Roberts does? Did having Tella on the right change the RB role?

Very different role. He played quite high and wide. Cullen was dropping into a right sided of defence role in the build up while Vitinho pushed higher. Tella then came infield to almost be alongside Jay (see the goal).

[Devils_Advocate]

We played a much more standard 4-2-3-1. It meant Maatsen had less space to go into as Zaroury stayed a lot wider than Tella has been doing but meant Vitinho was able to get up and down the right rather tucking in both defensively and in attack like Roberts has been doing.

I thought we looked less fluid and the football wasnt as good but at the same time we looked a bit more balanced and more structured in our play.

Id stick with that team for the next game barring Muric coming back in if he is fit

[Bowclaret]

Welsbyswife - Yes, I would say he was awesome yesterday.

A new club, a new team, a new country, learning a new language, played in various positions but his preferred position until yesterday. I could go on !

So yes, in my opinion he was “awesome” yesterday and will only get better.

Forgive me and many many others for getting excited about this player AND this team.