Defending tonite….

[bobinho]

Absolutely juvenile. No. Worse than that. School kids defend better.

Rotherham had us well sussed. Close down quickly when we play out from the back and our extremely suspect defenders panic and give the ball away. I include the championships greatest ever defender (to hear some talk) in that statement too…. Some blissful long passing that would make Glenn hoddle look useless, but the short passes and decision making under pressure in our own half by THB was embarrassing. Really really bad. Beyer is the only defensive player that comes away with any credibility tonite.

The high press screws us right up. We have absolutely no idea how to deal with it. I hope no one watches us regularly because if they do then this bubble will burst real quick.

How we walked off with all three points tonite will remain a mystery to me for as long as I live. Thank Christ we have game changers ready to come on and stretch the tired legs in the opposition, but without the sending off, we’d still be trying to score now.

Poor tonite, but all three points from a losing position. That’s championship winning form…. Here’s hoping.

[Vegas Claret]

there was defending ?

[TommyPicks]

Granted we were below par tonight with some sloppy passing and bad mistakes, but some of those comments are way over the top. Teams/players have off games it’s only natural. To call THB embarrassing after the season he has had so far is ridiculous.

We also had 24 shots and 71% possession. Barring their 2 goals both are which came from our mistakes they didn’t really test Muric much. Generally though I thought Rotherham were decent enough and credit to them, they surprised me.

If they actually tried to play more 2nd half and come at us I think they’d have got a result. Also fair play to their number 10. Don’t recall ever seeing time wasting as blatant. To down tools and literally sit down on the pitch, akin to a toddler throwing a tantrum and refusing to move will take some beating. Made the winner even sweeter after his 2nd half antics

[Colburn_Claret]

Left the back post unmarked again for the first, both Beyer and THB go near post duh.
It's not the first time, and I keep hoping we will do something about it, but apparently not.

I keep blaming THB for these 5 yard passes, to players with an opponent on their back, but is it just that at City he's used to players who can handle that situation. If it is then it needs pointing out that our players can't.

The misplaced pass from Vitinho was shocking, but it would be wrong to single him out because there was a lot of underhit, soft passes going on all night from most of the team.

We were lucky to get away with it. We were far the better team, but nearly blew it, because of our own mistakes rather than anything from Rotherham.

I'd add a good few players looked tired soon after kick off, they need a rest.

[boatshed bill]

I'd add a good few players looked tired soon after kick off, they need a rest.

Rotherham's looked energetic having played the same number of games.

But they faded rapidly later

[Gp8419]

Welcome to Rock and roll football! Our goals against column is good of course we are going to gift a odd goal playing this way I tell you what get used to it!

[Stayingup]

It stands out that they are all so young. A Mee would be a great guiding hand. But they are all skilfull and will improve.

[arise_sir_charge]

Element of fortune for their first with the way the ball broke for their defender but they played a good ball to the winger, good cross and a good header!

Their second came form a sloppy pass after a poor 5 mins for us but other than that, in poor conditions we did ok.

Also, look at the volume of chances and openings we created, to suggest we were any way lucky tonight is ridiculous.

[KRBFC]

Wouldn't have it any other way atm, this is incredibly exciting.

[Spiral]

Wouldn't have it any other way atm, this is incredibly exciting.

This.

I don't know how anyone can watch these last few games and think, "you know what I want to do? Analyse it."

Just inject this drama straight into my veins, please. Huge comeback against Sunderland, late pen against a promotion rival, and two comeback wins in injury time. If you're impelled to the critical analysis of any of that, you're not right in the head. This is just raw fun.

[Swizzlestick]

OP is a complete overreaction and to suggest we were lucky is a nonsense quite frankly. I mean, look, come on:

[RVclaret]

We had 3.82 xG v 0.66 xG, our largest of the season and the largest margin in our season, yet you have no clue how we won the game?

[box_of_frogs]

* tonight



Spelling police available on other threads

[TheFamilyCat]

I think scrapping a way of playing they has put us five points clear at the top of the league, because of one under-par performance is probably the right thing to do.

Kompany out, Bobinho in.

[pushpinpussy]

the only stat i am ever interested in is the final score and it shows that we won. Not remotely interested in anything else.

[agreenwood]

We weren’t great and the spine looks jaded.

On a positive note we won, dominated possession again, created lots of chances, are 5 points clear at the top of the league and, crucially, still have room to develop further.

[Lancasterclaret]

We did look a bit not on it, certainly at the back

But it was the finishing and the final ball that almost cost us tonight

Tella, Jay, Brownhill all look in need of a rest

[LTUK89]

We had enough chances to have the game put to bed by half time. Some of the defending was poor though, no disputing that. Rotherham came and tried Burnleying Burnley and it very nearly worked.

[arise_sir_charge]

They didn’t try to Burnley Burnley, if they had they’d have played possession based probing football with width and flair.

They did however try to ‘Dyche’ Burnley.

[TheFamilyCat]

We did look a bit not on it, certainly at the back

But it was the finishing and the final ball that almost cost us tonight

Tella, Jay, Brownhill all look in need of a rest

Brownhill will be getting a rest on Saturday, Jay may well too. Hopefully the rest can get us through two more games before the break.

[RVclaret]

We did look a bit not on it, certainly at the back

But it was the finishing and the final ball that almost cost us tonight

Tella, Jay, Brownhill all look in need of a rest

Agree, all 3 are key men for that ‘final’ moment and all look jaded. Big question marks over who starts on Saturday, Brownhill out and Jay went off injured.

[summitclaret]

One of the most ott opening posts I have ever read.

[Burnley1989]

Beyer backed off and gave far too much room for the 2nd, however he wasn't the one at fault really.

I just felt we were sloppy and not at the races, and the energy from the crowd wasn't great considering we have been brilliant almost all season and know we can turn it around.

We shouldn't moan and groan at misplaced passes too much after watching long balls punted forward for so many years, when you're making twice as many passes as most sides, you're always likely to misplace a few.
Patience is needed and we shouldn't get carried away, there will be defeats this season when we aren't at the races

[bfcjg]

We are a continental possession based team, when we get used to this horrible east lancashire weather we will get even better.

[Woodleyclaret]

Yes persistent rain is a feature in Winter in East Lancs.I used to look forward to this when so called top 6 teams full of foreign players came to the Turf on a wet weekdays as it was a leveller for us.
Now we have fast ball players who will have to adapt, Benny showed this to aplomb with his instant control and shot in horrendous conditions

[1914tyrone]

Absolutely juvenile. No. Worse than that. School kids defend better.

Rotherham had us well sussed. Close down quickly when we play out from the back and our extremely suspect defenders panic and give the ball away. I include the championships greatest ever defender (to hear some talk) in that statement too…. Some blissful long passing that would make Glenn hoddle look useless, but the short passes and decision making under pressure in our own half by THB was embarrassing. Really really bad. Beyer is the only defensive player that comes away with any credibility tonite.

The high press screws us right up. We have absolutely no idea how to deal with it. I hope no one watches us regularly because if they do then this bubble will burst real quick.

How we walked off with all three points tonite will remain a mystery to me for as long as I live. Thank Christ we have game changers ready to come on and stretch the tired legs in the opposition, but without the sending off, we’d still be trying to score now.

Poor tonite, but all three points from a losing position. That’s championship winning form…. Here’s hoping.

Totally agree

[SydneyClaret]

We lose, the whingers start. We win the whingers start. VK really can’t win. Thank god not all our supporters are whingers and most enjoy the ride.

[KRBFC]

This.

I don't know how anyone can watch these last few games and think, "you know what I want to do? Analyse it."

Just inject this drama straight into my veins, please. Huge comeback against Sunderland, late pen against a promotion rival, and two comeback wins in injury time. If you're impelled to the critical analysis of any of that, you're not right in the head. This is just raw fun.

Gimme the late rollercoaster 5 goal thriller or the 2nd half comeback 4 goal flurry over a 1-0 win, all day long. If you really wanna deeply analyse the 2nd goal, neither central defender does much wrong, Beyer forces him wide and the striker miskicks in and it ends up perfect.

[Gibbboblue]

Sometimes you get good sex, sometimes it's bad. As long as you get an orgasm who cares

[blake's wand]

We've conceded a number of goals now from the back post after the oppo have broken our left side. If our fullbacks keep bombing forward (which is what we want them to do) we're always going to be susceptible to a fast break unfortunately

[warksclaret]

The defending is not great and for many goals we concede just look at our full back positioning as teams break. WE don't sit tight on their wide attackers so that on a break when the ball is slipped wide it becomes an easy one on one, and then look at the goals from the cross delivered-ie Birmingham, their first goal last night and many more. However a bit like when we won the Championship about 7 years ago we are finding a way to win despite playing poorly at times in the game. Still think last night could easily have been 6-2

[It Is What It Is]

They just thought..at home, top of the league, Rotherham mid table...no problem. Every game is a problem with that attitude.
They did not give any respect to Rotherham who to be honest, gave us a good game.

[Cleveleys_claret]

They just thought..at home, top of the league, Rotherham mid table...no problem. Every game is a problem with that attitude.
They did not give any respect to Rotherham who to be honest, gave us a good game.

Wow!!! We have fans that can read minds

[Swizzlestick]

They just thought..at home, top of the league, Rotherham mid table...no problem. Every game is a problem with that attitude.
They did not give any respect to Rotherham who to be honest, gave us a good game.

This message board has been something else today.

I actually think that's quite an offensive thing to say about a team managed by Vincent Kompany.

[Nori1958]

One of the most ott opening posts I have ever read.

You must have missed a few this morning...

[NRC]

Sometimes you get good sex, sometimes it's bad. As long as you get an orgasm who cares

It’s like that when trawling the porn pages, eh Gibbo? Sometimes you just pick boring ones, but to fap is to fap

[fatboy47]

Cover at the back can be a bit thin occasionally when you've got lads up the other end scoring goals.

[NewClaret]

We had 3.82 xG v 0.66 xG, our largest of the season and the largest margin in our season, yet you have no clue how we won the game?

Have to say, despite the lapses, last night was the first game I felt really confident we’d score a fair few goals. Seems to be reflected in our Xg which is interesting. Thought we cut them open at will and we’re just let down by some dodgy final balls/finishing.

[bobinho]

I think scrapping a way of playing they has put us five points clear at the top of the league, because of one under-par performance is probably the right thing to do.

Kompany out, Bobinho in.

Who suggested scrapping a way of playing? No one has have they, so enough of trying to rewrite the op.

The defending was pulled up as being below par and that’s because it was. The rigid set up was pulled up because sometimes it contributes to us putting ourselves under immense pressure in and around our box. It’s perfectly acceptable to suggest there are times when the answer is to simply put the laces thru the ball and get it out of the danger zone.

For the record, I’m delighted with the way things are going, with the way we play and with our new manager. I do however reserve the right to call a spade a spade. Me doing so doesn’t mean I think I can do better, and it doesn’t mean I want to see us abandon everything VK has brought to our game.

[Juan Tanamera]

A bit strange people commenting on some of our players looking jaded, yet we seemed to get stronger and stronger in the second half and it was Rotherham players going down with cramp.
One guy in front of me is forever shouting "stop this effing sideways passing"
Yet it is this sideways passing that wears down the opposition, we pass the ball, they chase it.
Then Benny comes on and the rest is history as they say.

[NewClaret]

A bit strange people commenting on some of our players looking jaded, yet we seemed to get stronger and stronger in the second half and it was Rotherham players going down with cramp.
One guy in front of me is forever shouting "stop this effing sideways passing"
Yet it is this sideways passing that wears down the opposition, we pass the ball, they chase it.
Then Benny comes on and the rest is history as they say.

We really are an uncultured lot when it comes to understanding football I think.

Vinny’s got his work cut out to turn us all around

Nights like last night will help.

[quoonbeatz]

There was an air of expectancy last night which did seem to affect the team. That's both a good and bad thing but it's a fine line. Good because it keeps things calm when we go behind but also bad in that it can lead to complacency, which we saw a bit of last night. Everyone expected us to win - fans, media and sometimes that feeds through to the team. Weller on the radio before the game kept saying he couldnt see anything but a burnley win; the sort of thing that always amazes me from a former pro. Obvs right in the end but he was talking like it would be a comfortable night.

Another good learning experience, a reminder that nothing is a given in this division and a superb reaction in the face of being behind twice.

[IanMcL]

I agree that the defending for the first was non existent and for the 2nd, the player was not forced wide to narrow his shooting angle, despite the dender running alongside. No tackle attempted. Ball placed neatly in corner.

Considering the manager's history, I am surprised and perturbed.

[claretspice]

A bit strange people commenting on some of our players looking jaded, yet we seemed to get stronger and stronger in the second half and it was Rotherham players going down with cramp.
One guy in front of me is forever shouting "stop this effing sideways passing"
Yet it is this sideways passing that wears down the opposition, we pass the ball, they chase it.
Then Benny comes on and the rest is history as they say.

I think the subs had a lot to say about that. To be honest, whilst we had a lot of the ball and were probably more dominant in the first half of the second half than we were the first 45 minutes , I'm not sure we created the same quality of chance and I did think that reflected a bit of fatigue, notably from Tella who had a night to forget (unsurprisingly, he's an explosive player and he's not played so much first team football before) and Vitinho (again simply reflecting that he is adapting to this league) and to a lesser extent Rodriguez. The changes up top and on the right side added zip that we'd hitherto lacked. Given he rotated for an at least equally tough assignment at Sunderland incase surprised we didn't see some rotation last night and we might have benefited from it.

First half was just basic complacency. When we engaged in the game we created chances easily. We just weren't sharp enough often enough and I agree with everything Quoon says about that.

As to defending, one thing I would say is that Beyer has been surprisingly suspect a few times recently when opponents run straight at him. Pukki did so against Norwich and would have laid on a goal but for JBG's intervention at the back stick, and it was apparent both for the goal (when he had to shepherd the forward out of the box) and on a couple of other occasions last night. He'll have to sharpen up in that regard, good player though he is.

[quoonbeatz]

I agree that the defending for the first was non existent and for the 2nd, the player was not forced wide to narrow his shooting angle, despite the dender running alongside. No tackle attempted. Ball placed neatly in corner.

Considering the manager's history, I am surprised and perturbed.

I wouldnt be too perturbed, Ian, these are young players who barely have 100 first team appearances in their careers to date. They'll get better.

[JohnMac]

I personally wouldn't change anything if we keep producing results like last night. Is it good for my wellbeing jolting my heart rate up and down? Certainly felt like it afterwards

I had to have a quick blast on my meds during the game though to keep me from getting too excited

[basil6345789]

Can you teach common sense? The slack back post thing was there under Dyche. If people are oblivious to the danger, well, how can you help them? Even Tarks/Lowton used to fall for it. It just needs a bit of alertness.
I could go in there mesen as Numpty Coach.

[Clive 1960]

The defending against Rotherham was a shambles all the back four , sloppy passing for there second goal and the first all over the place , got to be better come Saturday that's for sure .

[superdimitri]

It's kinda to be expected when most of the game we run with 2 players in defence.
Funny really because it's kinda of turning back the time with halfbacks and wing halves.

[IanMcL]

I wouldnt be too perturbed, Ian, these are young players who barely have 100 first team appearances in their careers to date. They'll get better.

I am sure they will. Sooner rather than later, welcomed!
Bad for my constitution!