Josh Laurent

[Lew200100]

First things first are we are far better this season than under Company in the premiership and we are in the main playing well.

One thing I’m not getting though is Josh Laurent. He never seems to get involved or contribute apart from covering for Walker. That being said when he does cover he never seems to be marking anyone or have a role.

Just seems strange when the rest of the team all seem to play well and contribute Laurent just seems to be the extra man who isn’t fast enough to cover runs, Distribution is pretty poor and doesn’t seem to have any purpose.

He wasn’t great in the championship so don’t quite understand why he seems to play 90 mins in every game.

[Murger]

We always looked better last season when the 3 Josh’s played.
A bit bizarre he’s playing at CB this season though.

[ClaretsPadiham]

Nowhere near Premierleague level. He was average in the Championship.

[Woodleyclaret]

A grafter who does his best but not good enough against £100m players.

[Vino blanco]

He couldn't get into our Championship team most games and now he's playing against City and Liverpool in thr PL. This is one of the reasons we will struggle this season. He is simply not good enough for the PL...he thinks and plays far too slowly and ponderously for this division.

[KRBFC]

Iv got to be honest, I don’t know what Parker is trying to do.

We saw Hannibal right wing at Old Trafford.
Brun Larsen at wing back.
Walker centre half.
Now we’ve got Laurent playing god knows where.

I don’t know why we’ve seemingly switched from a back 4 that was so successful for us and had us so organised to play a back 5 when we haven’t got 3 competent centre halves.

Just play the players in their natural position. So many square pegs in round holes. Playing 3 centre halves instead of 2 doesn’t make us more solid defensively, we look all over the place at times.

[KRBFC]

Also I don’t buy this better than Kompany stuff,

We lost 3-1 at Etihad under VK. 5-1 Parker.
Drew 1-1 at Old Trafford under VK, lost 3-2 Parker.
Lost at Spurs 2-1 under VK, lost 3-0 Parker.

Certain fans desperate to have a dig at Kompany.

[Goliath]

Also I don’t buy this better than Kompany stuff,

We lost 3-1 at Etihad under VK. 5-1 Parker.
Drew 1-1 at Old Trafford under VK, lost 3-2 Parker.
Lost at Spurs 2-1 under VK, lost 3-0 Parker.

Certain fans desperate to have a dig at Kompany.

Easy to say we aren't as good as the Kompany side when you ignore the win and draw along with failing to mention 2 of the goals being last minute penalties from daft handballs.

You might be right (although I highly doubt it) but lets at least be fair. Kompanys first 10 games were equally crap but i think we look a much more competitive outfit this time around.

[ervi34]

Everyone was saying Laurent was brilliant against Liverpool. Everyone agreed he did very well against Forest. And after one poor game (where he didn't do much wrong) he's suddenly not good enough. No need to pick him out, there were several players who did worse than him today.

Also I don’t buy this better than Kompany stuff,

We lost 3-1 at Etihad under VK. 5-1 Parker.
Drew 1-1 at Old Trafford under VK, lost 3-2 Parker.
Lost at Spurs 2-1 under VK, lost 3-0 Parker.

Certain fans desperate to have a dig at Kompany.

Let's not cherry pick stats. In the 3-1 defeat against City we were already 2-0 down after 22 minutes. We were lucky City slowed down after that. Today we were competitive for 60 minutes. Defeat at Spurs was one of the last games of the season - we had to win in order to stay up and we didn't. Let's not forget Spurs destroyed us at Turf in the reverse game.

[KRBFC]

Easy to say we aren't as good as the Kompany side when you ignore the win and draw along with failing to mention 2 of the goals being last minute penalties from daft handballs.

You might be right (although I highly doubt it) but lets at least be fair. Kompanys first 10 games were equally crap but i think we look a much more competitive outfit this time around.

It’s easy to blame decisions but let’s not rewrite history and pretend that Kompany side didn’t get shafted numerous times. Berge handball at Forest and the foul on Trafford at home to Luton cost us 4 points.

[KRBFC]

We’re currently leaking goals at an alarming rate away from home. 11 in 3 games.

I think we need to get back to basics and return to the solid foundations of last seasons system. This back 5 stuff is crap.

[BurnleyFC]

He slotted in nicely as a third centre back against Liverpool which I could understand and I’ve no issue with him doing that again against the powerhouse teams.

I just hope Parker isn’t planning on it becoming a regular fixture against the other sides because it feels a bit negative.

[warksclaret]

Said it on an earlier post but I think Parker is over loyal
Don’t see how Ugochukwu was not played at all yet Laurent played all game

[boatshed bill]

Everyone was saying Laurent was brilliant against Liverpool. Everyone agreed he did very well against Forest. And after one poor game (where he didn't do much wrong) he's suddenly not good enough. No need to pick him out, there were several players who did worse than him today.


Let's not cherry pick stats. In the 3-1 defeat against City we were already 2-0 down after 22 minutes. We were lucky City slowed down after that. Today we were competitive for 60 minutes. Defeat at Spurs was one of the last games of the season - we had to win in order to stay up and we didn't. Let's not forget Spurs destroyed us at Turf in the reverse game.

i think it would be better , rather than criticise recent managers' performances, to accept that it is highly unlikely that we will be able to fund a team capable of genuinely competing with the likes of Man City, Chelsea etc.

[dougcollins]

I can see SP putting up a back 5 at home to Leeds, and it ending a draw. Or worse.

[ervi34]

Said it on an earlier post but I think Parker is over loyal
Don’t see how Ugochukwu was not played at all yet Laurent played all game

1) Ugochukwu played today
2) Laurent didn't play his position today because he was a CB.

[ashtonlongsider]

I don't recall many criticising Laurent last week end.

[Robbie_painter]

Cba reading the thread but if you’ve never kicked a ball you’ll never get it.Josh does a cracking job and he didn’t cost us 20 mill.

[Bacchus]

It's pretty easy to see why Parker rates and trusts Laurent but for everything he brings his use of the ball simply isn't good enough at this level. I would assume that Tuanzebe will slot into that role if / when fit enough as more of an orthodox defender with Walker having more licence to play further forward.

[RVclaret]

Laurent brings real humility to our squad, combined with a genuine desire to give 100% on the pitch. I think his physicality allows him to compete and he’s done ok so far. I do wonder what Parker plans to do, system wise, if he wants to play Ugochukwu (more talent than Laurent) on the pitch with the two today. And as well, Tuanzebe’s best position is right centre back in a 3, played 28 PL games las season and according to a general Ipswich fan consensus, looked one of few PL calibre players, so while Laurent has slotted in okay, I do wonder how much longer he’s got as a starter?

[Goliath]

It’s easy to blame decisions but let’s not rewrite history and pretend that Kompany side didn’t get shafted numerous times. Berge handball at Forest and the foul on Trafford at home to Luton cost us 4 points.

I didn't blame decisions.

[ClaretTony]

Easy to say we aren't as good as the Kompany side when you ignore the win and draw along with failing to mention 2 of the goals being last minute penalties from daft handballs.

You might be right (although I highly doubt it) but lets at least be fair. Kompanys first 10 games were equally crap but i think we look a much more competitive outfit this time around.

It’s his love in with Kompany - him & Pace

[expoultryboy]

He never picks a player up and he his contribution is minimal . We all have our personal options , mine is that he's not good enough to play at this level .

[warksclaret]

1) Ugochukwu played today
2) Laurent didn't play his position today because he was a CB.

Thanks for the correction-I was watching from a poor stream and had not realised Ugochukwu had come on. Still surprised Laurent started ahead of him. Surely Luis could offer more protection in the back line

[123EasyasBFC]

We’re currently leaking goals at an alarming rate away from home. 11 in 3 games.

I think we need to get back to basics and return to the solid foundations of last seasons system. This back 5 stuff is crap.

Don’t agree with how quick you are to defend kompany but I do agree with the back to basic comment.

We can’t persist with the 5 at the back now get back to 4-3-3 and get Cullen Lesley and Florentino as a 3

[warksclaret]

He never picks a player up and he his contribution is minimal . We all have our personal options , mine is that he's not good enough to play at this level .

Very good squad man and cover-but agree. Carry as little as one player who is not up to the level required and you are found wanting in the PL. To have any chance of staying up we need all 11 starting players at the top of their game EVERY GAME, ie delivering an 8, and at a push a 7, week in, week out.

[boatshed bill]

Iv got to be honest, I don’t know what Parker is trying to do.

. Playing 3 centre halves instead of 2 doesn’t make us more solid defensively, we look all over the place at times.

Particularly when one isn't even a defender

[ksrclaret]

Just read through the thread and I have to agree with those saying it's time to move back to the 433 system, especially now we've got a run of fixtures where we're not playing the superpowers. Luis, Cullen, and Ugochukwu could make a really powerful and technically adept midfield trio.

One potential problem is that I'm not sure we've got an ideal option for the RCB position. Ekdal has the shirt but there's question mark over his athleticism at this level without two players flanking him, and neither Tuanzebe or Worrall fill me with confidence.

[Goliath]

Parker said only the other day that he sees 3 at the back as our primary system this season. I think he's set on it for now.

[CoolClaret]

Think he's playing 3 at the back because he doesn't rate any of our options to partner Esteve in a back 4.

Though I do think he needs to get Cullen Les, and Florentino playing together. We've splashed out on two of those and the other is our captain.... they simply have to play.

[IanMcL]

There was me thinking he is playing an entirely new position, the manager has asked and doung a decent job of it.

[Woodleyclaret]

Tuanazabe was ponderous and off the pace v Cardiff
I certainly wouldn't have played him v City
Again we need to feed these players in need of minutes into our U21 team .

[dougcollins]

Before the City game:

https://www.burnleyexpress.net/sport/fo ... se-5327045

[beeholeclaret]

We’ve got to realise that the manager sees a role for Laurent in our Premier League team either to carry out specific duties to the managers instructions. For me he’s always a 100% man and in all likelihood he is one of those players whose main attributes and contributions go unnoticed my many supporters.

It always sounds rubbish saying that but I get if you were to ask his colleagues they would be glowing in their references to Josh.

I remember years ago Geoff Nulty had been on fringe of first team but Dave Thomas always had the number 7 shirt. Most of those who remember DT will confirm he was one of the most talented players in the British game. However Thomas was sold to QPR and Nulty then stepped in and was virtually ever present as we marched to the 2nd Division title and took the First Division by storm the year after. I firmly believe this switched allowed Adamson’s team to gel / click. Hoping Josh can carry out a similar role.

[KRBFC]

It’s his love in with Kompany - him & Pace

You’re not wrong Tony, it’s no secret I saw the VK vision. I think many things went against us, the fact we got promoted with star loan players we couldn’t buy permanently, decisions cost us a lot, a horrific start, we played all season without a left back, missed out on key targets, we had a bad habit of conceding late goals.

Then the way it ended makes fans look back in anger and rewrite history, I think after the first 10 or so games we were very competitive. Aside from the Arsenal home game we didn’t get put to the sword at all.

[ClaretTony]

You’re not wrong Tony, it’s no secret I saw the VK vision. I think many things went against us, the fact we got promoted with star loan players we couldn’t buy permanently, decisions cost us a lot, a horrific start, we played all season without a left back, missed out on key targets, we had a bad habit of conceding late goals.

Then the way it ended makes fans look back in anger and rewrite history, I think after the first 10 or so games we were very competitive. Aside from the Arsenal home game we didn’t get put to the sword at all.

So competitive that we won two home games all season and went down with a whimper while Kompany left us with an unacceptable, unbalanced squad and looking after himself.

The vision was to get Kompany to a big club. I think we all saw the vision but, unlike you, we didn’t all misunderstand it.

[Jakubs Tash]

Cba reading the thread but if you’ve never kicked a ball you’ll never get it.Josh does a cracking job and he didn’t cost us 20 mill.

Great contribution to the thread.

Doesn’t want to read the opinions and talking points of the discussion but if you’ve never played the game (like he clearly has!) then you just don’t get it, lads. The worst kind of opinion - especially on a message board. Classic.

Well, I’ve ‘kicked a ball’ and I think it’s quite clear that Laurent is the weakest player in our current starting XI. Yes, he’s a great character and is very likeable. Yes, he gives 100%. But what if his giving 100% isn’t quite good enough at this level. He’s done ok the last few games but he’s not been outstanding and he is very poor on the ball which is a problem for someone playing his position who sees a lot of it. Case in point after about 2 mins yesterday when he had loads of time and tried to switch play over to Hartman but pulled the ball out of play. It was quite a simple pass really and given he’s a Premier League footballer being paid thousands of pounds a week to play the game he probably should have the ability to play that pass (or if he knows he hasn’t maybe he shouldn’t have attempted it).

Parker needs to now stop setting up so defensively and we need Cullen, Florentino AND Ugochukwu in a midfield 3. Yes, they’ve had ‘easier’ fixtures, but maybe the reason Sunderland and Leeds are picking up more points is because their managers aren’t trying to shoehorn an extra defender into the team to block gaps up and losing more presence further up the pitch.

[Goliath]

Great contribution to the thread.

Doesn’t want to read the opinions and talking points of the discussion but if you’ve never played the game (like he clearly has!) then you just don’t get it, lads. The worst kind of opinion - especially on a message board. Classic.

Well, I’ve ‘kicked a ball’ and I think it’s quite clear that Laurent is the weakest player in our current starting XI. Yes, he’s a great character and is very likeable. Yes, he gives 100%. But what if his giving 100% isn’t quite good enough at this level. He’s done ok the last few games but he’s not been outstanding and he is very poor on the ball which is a problem for someone playing his position who sees a lot of it. Case in point after about 2 mins yesterday when he had loads of time and tried to switch play over to Hartman but pulled the ball out of play. It was quite a simple pass really and given he’s a Premier League footballer being paid thousands of pounds a week to play the game he probably should have the ability to play that pass (or if he knows he hasn’t maybe he shouldn’t have attempted it).

Parker needs to now stop setting up so defensively and we need Cullen, Florentino AND Ugochukwu in a midfield 3. Yes, they’ve had ‘easier’ fixtures, but maybe the reason Sunderland and Leeds are picking up more points is because their managers aren’t trying to shoehorn an extra defender into the team to block gaps up and losing more presence further up the pitch.

Ironically I think it's the total opposite as well. If you understand the game or have played to a good standard you're probably more likely to notice the things that he just isn't good enough at. For example, his 'scanning' is nowhere near sufficient for a midfielder at this level, and he doesn't receive the ball on the half turn well so he doesn't have enough awareness of what's around him meaning he's really easy to press.

[dougcollins]

The way SPs mentality works, I think.it was predictable he was going to opt for a back five as soon as we got into the PL.

I don't believe it helps us defend any better- worse, if anything, and it certainly doesn't help going forward.

[KRBFC]

So competitive that we won two home games all season and went down with a whimper while Kompany left us with an unacceptable, unbalanced squad and looking after himself.

The vision was to get Kompany to a big club. I think we all saw the vision but, unlike you, we didn’t all misunderstand it.

As Dyche used to say, fine margins. Decisions and conceding late goals. Easily cost us 10+ points. Example West Ham home and away we were winning both games with 5 minutes to go and we picked up 1 point from
Both games combined .

[KRBFC]

There was me thinking he is playing an entirely new position, the manager has asked and doung a decent job of it.

Is that not an issue though?

You get promoted with a solid framework where every players knows their job in the team. Now you do a 360 and start playing square pegs in round holes, putting players in new unfamiliar roles in a new league.

[boyyanno]

Is that not an issue though?

You get promoted with a solid framework where every players knows their job in the team. Now you do a 360 and start playing square pegs in round holes, putting players in new unfamiliar roles in a new league.

I think Parker is trying to do what he did last season-- Make a foundation that he can build off/evolve as we get to grips with the challenge.

We've had 4 horrible fixtures in our first 6 games, it's no surprise to me that we've lined up defensively to try and stay in games, I don't really have an issue with what Parker has done so far, if it doesn't evolve as the season goes on then there might be cause for concern but if I'd have done a points predictor I'd have probably had us on a maximum of 5 (with maybe a flukey point against United.

In the 6 games we've played this year we've beaten Sunderland, drawn with Forest, could have taken a draw against Liverpool and Man United, and been fairly well walloped by City and Spurs- we seem to have been competitive so far for a newly promoted club which imo was Parkers first task, let's see if we can build on it before we start saying its rubbish just because we've been beaten by some much better sides.

[RVclaret]

Parker needs to now stop setting up so defensively and we need Cullen, Florentino AND Ugochukwu in a midfield 3. Yes, they’ve had ‘easier’ fixtures, but maybe the reason Sunderland and Leeds are picking up more points is because their managers aren’t trying to shoehorn an extra defender into the team to block gaps up and losing more presence further up the pitch.

Funny enough Leeds fans wanted Farke out after he failed to tweak his system in their 5-0 hammering at Arsenal!

Incidentally, that game is the only fixture, out of a combined 12, where they’ve played 1 of the ‘big 6’, we’ve played 4 out of 6, including 3 away - it probably explains why Parker has set us up to try and be hard to beat, and a very stupid 93rd min handball away from being the first club to stop Liverpool scoring in 12 months, so arguably justified in keeping that system since then?

Definitely keen to see how we can get the 3 you mentioned together. In the out of possession 5-4-1 you’d probably need Ugochukwu as a right sided midfielder in a 4, and JBL/Tchaouna dropping into the back line… then it flips to a 4-3-3 on the ball.

[ecc]

Everyone was saying Laurent was brilliant against Liverpool. Everyone agreed he did very well against Forest. And after one poor game (where he didn't do much wrong) he's suddenly not good enough. No need to pick him out, there were several players who did worse than him today.


Let's not cherry pick stats. In the 3-1 defeat against City we were already 2-0 down after 22 minutes. We were lucky City slowed down after that. Today we were competitive for 60 minutes. Defeat at Spurs was one of the last games of the season - we had to win in order to stay up and we didn't. Let's not forget Spurs destroyed us at Turf in the reverse game.

Totally agree with you, ervi34. So short memories.

[Jakubs Tash]

Funny enough Leeds fans wanted Farke out after he failed to tweak his system in their 5-0 hammering at Arsenal!

Incidentally, that game is the only fixture, out of a combined 12, where they’ve played 1 of the ‘big 6’, we’ve played 4 out of 6, including 3 away - it probably explains why Parker has set us up to try and be hard to beat, and a very stupid 93rd min handball away from being the first club to stop Liverpool scoring in 12 months, so arguably justified in keeping that system since then?

Definitely keen to see how we can get the 3 you mentioned together. In the out of possession 5-4-1 you’d probably need Ugochukwu as a right sided midfielder in a 4, and JBL/Tchaouna dropping into the back line… then it flips to a 4-3-3 on the ball.

I’m not blaming yesterday’s defeat on Laurent playing. I can understand why Parker deployed this system yesterday as it worked to a degree v Liverpool. However, if I’m being honest, I’m not quite sure with the logic behind Laurent being chosen to play as a third centre half ahead of the likes of Worrall. What does he bring to the table that Worrall doesn’t? It’s not like he’s stepping into midfield with the ball. And even if he was, that is not his strong suit as already mentioned.

It concerns me that we set up like that v Nottingham Forest at home. I appreciate Ugochukwu wasn’t available for that one but it was still a very defensive set up for a home game against a team we should be looking to take maximum points from.

Understand what you’re saying re getting Ugochukwu in the team but JBL is certainly not the answer to “dropping into the backline”. All players need ability at this level but then also need at least one of two things (if not both) - pace and physical presence. JBL has neither of these unfortunately. I felt this way about him two years ago and nothing has changed since then. He’s a good footballer but doesn’t have the attributes to be effective in the EPL.

[KRBFC]

I think Parker is trying to do what he did last season-- Make a foundation that he can build off/evolve as we get to grips with the challenge.

We've had 4 horrible fixtures in our first 6 games, it's no surprise to me that we've lined up defensively to try and stay in games, I don't really have an issue with what Parker has done so far, if it doesn't evolve as the season goes on then there might be cause for concern but if I'd have done a points predictor I'd have probably had us on a maximum of 5 (with maybe a flukey point against United.

In the 6 games we've played this year we've beaten Sunderland, drawn with Forest, could have taken a draw against Liverpool and Man United, and been fairly well walloped by City and Spurs- we seem to have been competitive so far for a newly promoted club which imo was Parkers first task, let's see if we can build on it before we start saying its rubbish just because we've been beaten by some much better sides.

I don’t disagree we’ve done well points wise.

Why start building a new system now though when he clearly doesn’t have the players to play that way?
Square pegs round holes.

Feels like we’ve just binned the system that worked so well defensively last season, now we look a bit all over the place defensively. Leaking soft soft goals.


Also I don’t agree that playing 5 at the back makes you better defensively.

[Goody1975]

Our strongest central midfield (I don't think we have seen them together yet) on paper is Luis, Cullen and Ugochukwu. It appears to have a good balance and something we can build the team around. IMO this is where we start with our team selection and then fit the other elements of the side around them.

[CoolClaret]

Our strongest central midfield (I don't think we have seen them together yet) on paper is Luis, Cullen and Ugochukwu. It appears to have a good balance and something we can build the team around. IMO this is where we start with our team selection and then fit the other elements of the side around them.

Totally agree, those three, our two fullbacks and Jaidon Anthony. They are key to our success.

[Goody1975]

Totally agree, those three, our two fullbacks and Jaidon Anthony. They are key to our success.

I've seen Foster taking some stick about not being in the right place at the right time or not playing like an out and out number nine.

The way we are setting up means he is having to run channels and press from the front. I believe this suits his game anyway, picking the ball up in the left channel and driving forward with it but ideally we'd have a body in the centre of the park making runs to support the forward lads, my hope would be that Ugochukwu could provide this role, even if it's the nuisance value to create space for the front three.

[CoolClaret]

I've seen Foster taking some stick about not being in the right place at the right time or not playing like an out and out number nine.

The way we are setting up means he is having to run channels and press from the front. I believe this suits his game anyway, picking the ball up in the left channel and driving forward with it but ideally we'd have a body in the centre of the park making runs to support the forward lads, my hope would be that Ugochukwu could provide this role, even if it's the nuisance value to create space for the front three.

Exactly that, he isn't being instructed to play anything like a trad number 9.

Yeah, I do believe we have enough firepower in the middle to dictate play a bit more than we have, I'd take those three over a lot of teams' midfields in the PL, which I'd have last said when we had Cork, Defour and Hendrick fit and firing.