TRAFFORD

[Superjohnnyfrancis]

After seeing this in real time from about 10 yards away last night, I finally rewatched it.

It’s absolutely shite goalkeeping from Trafford. There’s no need to even think of coming for that ball at all and he goes down like a sack of spuds. Weak as ****.

I’d want that given if it was for us.

Dived on the floor like Klinnsmann ,hopefully Kompany gave him a bollocking after the match. Absolutely no need for him to come for it was miles out of his reach. It was the defenders job to deal with it not his!

[Wokingclaret]

Dived on the floor like Klinnsmann ,hopefully Kompany gave him a bollocking after the match. Absolutely no need for him to come for it was miles out of his reach. It was the defenders job to deal with it not his!

Oh it worked for Villa the other week

[Casper2]

Dived on the floor like Klinnsmann ,hopefully Kompany gave him a bollocking after the match. Absolutely no need for him to come for it was miles out of his reach. It was the defenders job to deal with it not his!

You would have a point if our defenders were capable of dealing with it

[Superjohnnyfrancis]

Your underestimating the power of Adebayo's arse, it blew him away

His farts must be like mustard gas the way the boy went down.

[BurnleyFC]

I’m not going to mock Trafford, because I think the three games previous he’s been really good, and he was good up until the incident last night.

It’s dreadful goalkeeping on his part, though.

[Wokingclaret]

I’m not going to mock Trafford, because I think the three games previous he’s been really good, and he was good up until the incident last night.

It’s dreadful goalkeeping on his part, though.

His lack of experience if anything, he wasn't expecting Abeybao to target him

[South West Claret.]

As you say he’s relatively young so has things to learn but so far he seems very safe in his handling which I think is at least expected of a keeper.

[Darthlaw]

As markedly improved his passing has become (noteably picked a Muric-esque ground pass to JBG I think in the first half), his dealing with crosses seems to have deteriorated massively of late. In the first half he pawed at two crosses again and I haven’t seen as weak a GK effort from a Burnley GK since Beast against rovers in the PL. it was almost as if Trafford thought ‘if I make contact with their lad and hit the deck, it’ll get ruled out’.

That said, I do think their guy blocked Trafford, I do think it was a foul and it did blot what was otherwise a decent performance from Trafford.

I still can’t shake Muric’s giving the ball away so cheaply against Tottenham, which on another day costs us four goals instead of the one he played a part in.

So we are where we are, we have one goalkeeper who’s a shot stopping vampire and one who nailed on will cost us goals but will give us a bit more confidence in the air.

Toss a coin.

[Rileybobs]

It was a flawless performance according to one poster who also thought Muric should have saved that worldie last week

I said it was a flawless performance until the 92nd minute. But maybe you read like a small child in the same way that you write like one - and yes, you are clearly one of those I refer to who wants Trafford to fail.

I’m not sure why me thinking that Muric should have stopped the goal against Spurs has any relevance. Some people don’t have to make every issue into a binary choice, but I do appreciate that is what simple people do.

[Superjohnnyfrancis]

I said it was a flawless performance until the 92nd minute. But maybe you read like a small child in the same way that you write like one - and yes, you are clearly one of those I refer to who wants Trafford to fail.

I’m not sure why me thinking that Muric should have stopped the goal against Spurs has any relevance. Some people don’t have to make every issue into a binary choice, but I do appreciate that is what simple people do.

Someone with a username named after an engine in Thomas the tank engine calling them childish, what a classic

Tell me are we playing Dyche's advanced 4-4-2 this season

You probably thought Tiebe was the best goalkeeper under Ferguson

[equinox]

The difference in 3 months x the rest of Joe's career = best goalkeeper ever.

History has shown we make great keepers, he's next.

[Tinribs]

Terrible decision to make him our number 1,he may well turn out to be a great keeper but to promote him from league 1 to premier league and to think he will save US pints rather than cost us was extremely naive

[Tinribs]

Terrible decision to make him our number 1,he may well turn out to be a great keeper but to promote him from league 1 to premier league and to think he will save us points rather than cost us was extremely naive

[Ric_C]

The baffling decision to not go for the keeper that our defence and midfield are most comfortable with, and who was a major factor in our style of play last season, has been one of the major factors that will eventually send us down.

No one is going to convince me otherwise

[CoolClaret]

Young goalkeepers are not yet the best. Only potentially the best. Older keepers - 30 plus - know what they are doing.

Trafford is agile. Lacking in most other departments.

The point I was trying to make is that it isn't a given that he's going to blossom into some world-class keeper like somethink it's a sure fire right of passage.

I didn't understand the signing at the time nor the persistent inclusion. I think we're notably a worse outfit when we play Traff

[Swizzlestick]

The baffling decision to not go for the keeper that our defence and midfield are most comfortable with, and who was a major factor in our style of play last season, has been one of the major factors that will eventually send us down.

No one is going to convince me otherwise

Agreed. I could accept relegation more if we carried on the style we’d fostered oven the last season. But I watched Luton dominating the ball on Friday night and was thinking what the hell are we trying to do now? I find when Trafford has the ball he’s so slow in getting things moving again and, for some reason (I can only think tactical instruction) pretty regularly, eventually chose to launch it. He is NOT the only issue, he has the potential to be a very good keeper, but it’s completely derailed us.

[CoolClaret]

Agreed. I could accept relegation more if we carried on the style we’d fostered oven the last season. But I watched Luton dominating the ball on Friday night and was thinking what the hell are we trying to do now? I find when Trafford has the ball he’s so slow in getting things moving again and, for some reason (I can only think tactical instruction) pretty regularly, eventually chose to launch it. He is NOT the only issue, he has the potential to be a very good keeper, but it’s completely derailed us.

Exactly like, what even are we now?

Really strange and extremely turgid.

[StayingDown4Ever]

It’s so frustrating that Vincent persists with him.

[CoolClaret]

As markedly improved his passing has become (noteably picked a Muric-esque ground pass to JBG I think in the first half), his dealing with crosses seems to have deteriorated massively of late. In the first half he pawed at two crosses again and I haven’t seen as weak a GK effort from a Burnley GK since Beast against rovers in the PL. it was almost as if Trafford thought ‘if I make contact with their lad and hit the deck, it’ll get ruled out’.

That said, I do think their guy blocked Trafford, I do think it was a foul and it did blot what was otherwise a decent performance from Trafford.

I still can’t shake Muric’s giving the ball away so cheaply against Tottenham, which on another day costs us four goals instead of the one he played a part in.

So we are where we are, we have one goalkeeper who’s a shot stopping vampire and one who nailed on will cost us goals but will give us a bit more confidence in the air.

Toss a coin.

It's not toss a coin though.

We aren't good enough defensively nor clinical enough to be a team that tries to keep it tight and grind out some results, we've had a handful of results this way, but we're 21 games in, on 13 points and it's proper, proper turgid.

Why not go with our natural play style with the big man between the sticks trying to get things going?

Yeah we'll no doubt concede a few but I think we'll score more as well - certainly taking the game to other teams will at least get the atmosphere going.

I'd prefer to go down swinging than in this tepid way - Spurs in the Cup was quite easily the best we've moved the ball through the lines in ages and that was away against a team (admittedly with Son / Maddison missing) thats pushing top 4 - not to mention we didn't have all our regulars fit and firing.

At least have a go at it? Some horrific viewing at the moment.

I could be mad, but I really do think a keeper change will give us the best chance of winning some games.

What left is there to lose?!

[Carlos the Great]

I agree that our performance against a lowly Luton at home was nowhere near the level we should expect .At one point in the first half just before we scored Luton had 70 % possession and we looked clueless while they moved the ball around with swagger … The spurs game we were a completely different side and looked like we were at least competing and causing them problems all over the pitch ..It’s no coincidence Muric was controlling his area and all the great football we played started with a pass or a lightning quick throw from him

[Robbie_painter]

I agree that our performance against a lowly Luton at home was nowhere near the level we should expect .At one point in the first half just before we scored Luton had 70 % possession and we looked clueless while they moved the ball around with swagger … The spurs game we were a completely different side and looked like we were at least competing and causing them problems all over the pitch ..It’s no coincidence Muric was controlling his area and all the great football we played started with a pass or a lightning quick throw from him

A lightning quick throw that resulted in us losing the game.

[CoolClaret]

A lightning quick throw that resulted in us losing the game.

1) It's debatable if it really 'lost us the game' but that isn't the point.

2) We're hardly winning any games as it is - we're just tepidly heading to relegation.

3) That's the entire point, it's high risk, high reward, but we're down anyway - why not go down swinging, and you never know we may just pick up a few wins?

To me, it's like watching two different sides and I know that i'm not the only one that thinks this way.

[RVclaret]

At least have a go at it? Some horrific viewing at the moment.

Appreciate the Luton game wasn’t great but it wasn’t exactly horrific. For someone who was a big advocate of Dyche’s football I’m surprised you describe the other night as horrific! 1.2xG which could have been over 2 if JBG and Foster laid on simple passes. And anyway, weren’t you posting lots of encouragement for recent performances before then? Liverpool, Villa etc… fact is we’ve been cheated out of 3 points in these past 2 games and that’s the reality. I’m quite sure had we not been cheated, and these points were collected, we wouldn’t have these type of posts! As a wise man (SD) used to repeat ‘there are fine margins in this league’.

[Newcastleclaret93]

Appreciate the Luton game wasn’t great but it wasn’t exactly horrific. For someone who was a big advocate of Dyche’s football I’m surprised you describe the other night as horrific! 1.2xG which could have been over 2 if JBG and Foster laid on simple passes. And anyway, weren’t you posting lots of encouragement for recent performances before then? Liverpool, Villa etc… fact is we’ve been cheated out of 3 points in these past 2 games and that’s the reality. I’m quite sure had we not been cheated, and these points were collected, we wouldn’t have these type of posts! As a wise man (SD) used to repeat ‘there are fine margins in this league’.

And in hindsight the decisions that went our way could have meant we had less points.

These crap refs balance out over a season.

Let’s stop being like Liverpool fans and blaming our league position on refs

[RVclaret]

And in hindsight the decisions that went our way could have meant we had less points.

These crap refs balance out over a season.

Let’s stop being like Liverpool fans and blaming our league position on refs

That’s the thing, there haven’t been any ‘levellers’ yet for us. When/if there are, happy to accept that.

[Newcastleclaret93]

That’s the thing, there haven’t been any ‘levellers’ yet for us. When/if there are, happy to accept that.

The issue for us is when decisions do go our way we are usually losing by a couple of goals so they don’t matter.

I believe I read the other day we have had the 4th most goals disallowed against us this season.

However when one goes against us it usually means we have the lost the game.

The consequences for right and wrong decisions are dramatically different for us and that’s why you can only remember the ones that go against us.

[CoolClaret]

Appreciate the Luton game wasn’t great but it wasn’t exactly horrific. For someone who was a big advocate of Dyche’s football I’m surprised you describe the other night as horrific! 1.2xG which could have been over 2 if JBG and Foster laid on simple passes. And anyway, weren’t you posting lots of encouragement for recent performances before then? Liverpool, Villa etc… fact is we’ve been cheated out of 3 points in these past 2 games and that’s the reality. I’m quite sure had we not been cheated, and these points were collected, we wouldn’t have these type of posts! As a wise man (SD) used to repeat ‘there are fine margins in this league’.

I liked Dycheball when we were relentless with our pressing and got on the front foot; can't say the Luton performance was that - more a poor imitation if anything.
I had, yes but we can't seem to kick on with it and after watching the team with the big man between the sticks it just again refreshed my mind to how much better we can play.

xG wasn't super high - expect to not be hanging on at home against Luton and giving up possession to them like we did - like what are we meant to be?

[Row Z]

I liked Dycheball when we were relentless with our pressing and got on the front foot; can't say the Luton performance was that - more a poor imitation if anything.
I had, yes but we can't seem to kick on with it and after watching the team with the big man between the sticks it just again refreshed my mind to how much better we can play.

xG wasn't super high - expect to not be hanging on at home against Luton and giving up possession to them like we did - like what are we meant to be?

We’re all frustrated at conceding late, but I can’t help but think if we win that 1-0, or if we’d have taken one or two of our other chances and won 2-0/3-0 then everyone would have commended VK on changing his style to get results.

We can’t dominate every game and he was criticised early in the season for being too rigid and stubborn in his principles. Now he’s criticised for tweaking this in favour of trying to get us results.

There’s also plenty of arrogance on here, Luton have caused many teams problems this season.

[Westleigh]

I’d like to know the stats but would need a sleuth to find out if any relegate team has ever played the same keeper all season ,VK has left every other player in the squad out for a least one league game ,but never Trafford.

[CoolClaret]

We’re all frustrated at conceding late, but I can’t help but think if we win that 1-0, or if we’d have taken one or two of our other chances and won 2-0/3-0 then everyone would have commended VK on changing his style to get results.

We can’t dominate every game and he was criticised early in the season for being too rigid and stubborn in his principles. Now he’s criticised for tweaking this in favour of trying to get us results.

There’s also plenty of arrogance on here, Luton have caused many teams problems this season.

No arrogance, don't expect to dominate every game and respect Luton massively - just think we aren't going to 'click' and we're just a bit ****, but not even entertaining either.

Early season different again, some strange setups.

[Darthlaw]

Why not go with our natural play style with the big man between the sticks trying to get things going?

Yeah we'll no doubt concede a few but I think we'll score more as well - certainly taking the game to other teams will at least get the atmosphere going.

I'd prefer to go down swinging than in this tepid way - Spurs in the Cup was quite easily the best we've moved the ball through the lines in ages

A couple of points here.

Spurs in the cup wasn’t even the best we’d moved the ball in that 7 day period, Villa away was where we took the game to a team - scoring goals and putting them under the cosh, for a good slice of the game with 10 men.

Also worth bearing in mind that for the games Muric has started we have scored a total of one goal in three games against PL opposition, which doesn’t exactly advocate that he’s the missing link in unlocking ‘our style of play’ (which I assume means the type of football we played last season against vastly inferior opposition?).

The one thing we can agree on is there is nothing left to lose. We’ve hit 12 points so won’t have Derby’s record in the PL so for all I care can mess around with the team and see if last seasons ‘style’ which decimated the likes of Wigan and Huddersfield will hold up against Liverpool, Man City team et al. Seeing how Cullen has clearly shown that the quality chasm is so huge I doubt it but hey ho, chucking Muric in goal will play some nice music as the water comes over the bow…

[CoolClaret]

A couple of points here.

Spurs in the cup wasn’t even the best we’d moved the ball in that 7 day period, Villa away was where we took the game to a team - scoring goals and putting them under the cosh, for a good slice of the game with 10 men.

Also worth bearing in mind that for the games Muric has started we have scored a total of one goal in three games against PL opposition, which doesn’t exactly advocate that he’s the missing link in unlocking ‘our style of play’ (which I assume means the type of football we played last season against vastly inferior opposition?).

The one thing we can agree on is there is nothing left to lose. We’ve hit 12 points so won’t have Derby’s record in the PL so for all I care can mess around with the team and see if last seasons ‘style’ which decimated the likes of Wigan and Huddersfield will hold up against Liverpool, Man City team et al. Seeing how Cullen has clearly shown that the quality chasm is so huge I doubt it but hey ho, chucking Muric in goal will play some nice music as the water comes over the bow…

I don't think we moved the ball effectively from the back against Villa and out of our own half in anywhere near the same fashion - more Foster absolutely bullied their backup CB and their high line and got on to some good balls from midfield.

Those three games being what, Everton away, Spurs away and ? Hardly fair Had some good chances at Spurs as well!

Cullen I feel got left hung out to dry early season in some of them midfields/setups.

He was good at Spurs, play him, Berge and Brownhill together and I think we'll be sound.

[Darthlaw]

Those three games being what, Everton away, Spurs away and ? Hardly fair Had some good chances at Spurs as well!

He was good at Spurs, play him, Berge and Brownhill together and I think we'll be sound.

I think they’re a fair barometer. We scored one against a poor Forrest side, none against a reasonable Everton and none against Spurs who are a top eight side.

The chasm in quality is there whether you choose to see it or not. Taking evertons deduction out of it, the teams that finished 1st and second in the championship would now be 7 points adrift of safety (in our case having played two games more).

We’ve seen Naaarwich do something similar a few years back in decimating the championship then turned over every week in the PL trying to continue attacking teams. VK has clearly tried something different but the gap is still there, albeit with an ill advised injection of 45 wingers.

Chuck Muric in though and see if our Championship winning football will then turnover PL teams. I doubt it but then I’m increasingly watching from a position of apathy with each passing game.

[alwaysaclaret]

I've just watched the goal again, watched it umpteen times now. And the more I watch I can absolutely see why it's been given, there was allsorts wrong from a Burnley defending point of view, and from a Carlton Morris point of view he sees it as perfectly good goal, why should it not be given. It's simply one that could have gone either way and either team depending on which way would be aggrieved, the thing that comes out of it is that var is not consistent, pretty much the same thing is given as a foul in the Everton v Fulham game. So to break the whole thing down,
1, Time and time again we fail to stop these crosses.
2, Once we've allowed the cross, there's no way Trafford should be coming for a cross of that nature, hanging, crowded box, too far out, we had gone to a back 5, let he's defender's deal with it, by coming out he just added to the melee, but he continues to make poor decisions and this is another one to add to the list.
3, To be fair to Trafford and I know the Trafford fan's will pick up on this, not one of our defender's get off the ground to get a telling header in, or if they do its very minimal, so our defence fall short again.
4, Once Trafford has left he's line, where's the cover, it's a basic error, at Sunday league as soon as your keeper leaves he's line you break your neck to cover.
5, And the most critical, once Trafford has come off he's line and for the ball, he simply has to make it he's, no 2 way's about it, no doubts got to make it his ball, at the point of impact it's the same as the defender's he's feet are glued to the floor, imo at that point he should be in flight so to speak, so he was never going to get there, and as usual it just ends up a hopeless flap, arms everywhere, body shape all wrong and simply no conviction in getting to the ball, because he's too young, too weak, no bulk to stand up to the rigours of the top strikers in this league, and has simply not enough experience or know how to be thrown in to arguably the best league in the world having come from a season in league one at he's age. Not he's fault mind, all on vk for putting him there.
As lots are saying the best place for him would have been a season loan in the championship, and review he's position at the end of the season.
So to summarise it is what it is, we're not good enough, we're not learning, and neither is vk imo, worrying times.

[bumba]

I've just watched the goal again, watched it umpteen times now. And the more I watch I can absolutely see why it's been given, there was allsorts wrong from a Burnley defending point of view, and from a Carlton Morris point of view he sees it as perfectly good goal, why should it not be given. It's simply one that could have gone either way and either team depending on which way would be aggrieved, the thing that comes out of it is that var is not consistent, pretty much the same thing is given as a foul in the Everton v Fulham game. So to break the whole thing down,
1, Time and time again we fail to stop these crosses.
2, Once we've allowed the cross, there's no way Trafford should be coming for a cross of that nature, hanging, crowded box, too far out, we had gone to a back 5, let he's defender's deal with it, by coming out he just added to the melee, but he continues to make poor decisions and this is another one to add to the list.
3, To be fair to Trafford and I know the Trafford fan's will pick up on this, not one of our defender's get off the ground to get a telling header in, or if they do its very minimal, so our defence fall short again.
4, Once Trafford has left he's line, where's the cover, it's a basic error, at Sunday league as soon as your keeper leaves he's line you break your neck to cover.
5, And the most critical, once Trafford has come off he's line and for the ball, he simply has to make it he's, no 2 way's about it, no doubts got to make it his ball, at the point of impact it's the same as the defender's he's feet are glued to the floor, imo at that point he should be in flight so to speak, so he was never going to get there, and as usual it just ends up a hopeless flap, arms everywhere, body shape all wrong and simply no conviction in getting to the ball, because he's too young, too weak, no bulk to stand up to the rigours of the top strikers in this league, and has simply not enough experience or know how to be thrown in to arguably the best league in the world having come from a season in league one at he's age. Not he's fault mind, all on vk for putting him there.
As lots are saying the best place for him would have been a season loan in the championship, and review he's position at the end of the season.
So to summarise it is what it is, we're not good enough, we're not learning, and neither is vk imo, worrying times.

I've tried watching it with claret tinted specs to convince myself it's a foul but I just think if that was us scoring we'd be saying it's the keepers fault he's too soft.
Glenn Whelan and many others have said the same that keepers get too much protection and he has to be stronger and it's true if you watch it properly you can see in Traffords eyes he's misjudged the flight of the ball he was going to miss it then soon as he feels Adebayo he crumbles like a pack of cards thinking he'd get the foul but I agree we the referee and pundits who have said a keeper should be stronger.
Stay on your line or come and take everything simple as that. He left the defenders in limbo, people are saying how great he was up until then but he never made a save any other keeper doesn't make but we lost so much more in our play for having him in goal.

[taio]

I've just watched the goal again, watched it umpteen times now. And the more I watch I can absolutely see why it's been given, there was allsorts wrong from a Burnley defending point of view, and from a Carlton Morris point of view he sees it as perfectly good goal, why should it not be given. It's simply one that could have gone either way and either team depending on which way would be aggrieved, the thing that comes out of it is that var is not consistent, pretty much the same thing is given as a foul in the Everton v Fulham game. So to break the whole thing down,
1, Time and time again we fail to stop these crosses.
2, Once we've allowed the cross, there's no way Trafford should be coming for a cross of that nature, hanging, crowded box, too far out, we had gone to a back 5, let he's defender's deal with it, by coming out he just added to the melee, but he continues to make poor decisions and this is another one to add to the list.
3, To be fair to Trafford and I know the Trafford fan's will pick up on this, not one of our defender's get off the ground to get a telling header in, or if they do its very minimal, so our defence fall short again.
4, Once Trafford has left he's line, where's the cover, it's a basic error, at Sunday league as soon as your keeper leaves he's line you break your neck to cover.
5, And the most critical, once Trafford has come off he's line and for the ball, he simply has to make it he's, no 2 way's about it, no doubts got to make it his ball, at the point of impact it's the same as the defender's he's feet are glued to the floor, imo at that point he should be in flight so to speak, so he was never going to get there, and as usual it just ends up a hopeless flap, arms everywhere, body shape all wrong and simply no conviction in getting to the ball, because he's too young, too weak, no bulk to stand up to the rigours of the top strikers in this league, and has simply not enough experience or know how to be thrown in to arguably the best league in the world having come from a season in league one at he's age. Not he's fault mind, all on vk for putting him there.
As lots are saying the best place for him would have been a season loan in the championship, and review he's position at the end of the season.
So to summarise it is what it is, we're not good enough, we're not learning, and neither is vk imo, worrying times.

None of the errors immediately prior are relevant..The incident needs judging on its own merits. It was a clear foul and would be given nine times out of ten.

[alwaysaclaret]

I've tried watching it with claret tinted specs to convince myself it's a foul but I just think if that was us scoring we'd be saying it's the keepers fault he's too soft.
Glenn Whelan and many others have said the same that keepers get too much protection and he has to be stronger and it's true if you watch it properly you can see in Traffords eyes he's misjudged the flight of the ball he was going to miss it then soon as he feels Adebayo he crumbles like a pack of cards thinking he'd get the foul but I agree we the referee and pundits who have said a keeper should be stronger.
Stay on your line or come and take everything simple as that. He left the defenders in limbo, people are saying how great he was up until then but he never made a save any other keeper doesn't make but we lost so much more in our play for having him in goal.

All correct, and I believe he's the fundamental reason why our defence is just simply shot of confidence in their ability, and would probably take the rest of the season even with muric in to build that back up.

[quoonbeatz]

5, And the most critical, once Trafford has come off he's line and for the ball, he simply has to make it he's, no 2 way's about it, no doubts got to make it his ball

And if he isn't fouled, he does make it his and with ease. He'd judged the flight well and was about to jump for it. He'd have claimed the ball no problem at all if he hadn't been deliberately blocked by the forward. It looks a worse decision from the officials every time you see it.

That foul is given at every level of football, week in week out, and everyone knows that.

[Darthlaw]

All correct, and I believe he's the fundamental reason why our defence is just simply shot of confidence in their ability, and would probably take the rest of the season even with muric in to build that back up.

About the eighth different defence lineup that’s played in front of him, at a guess.

And don’t forget the financial crisis. He was probably to blame for that too…

[alwaysaclaret]

None of the errors immediately prior are relevant..The incident needs judging on its own merits. It was a clear foul and would be given nine times out of ten.

I get the issue of relevance in terms of whether a foul or not, but some of which var will I think have taken into consideration once the cross comes in. Yes, it could be deemed a foul on the one hand, but on the other it could also be said not enough attempt on Traffords part to get the ball, so a very soft decision to give a foul. Biggest problem is var need to be consistent, and in this case and in most with us unfortunately it's gone against us. No one likes us.

[Nonayforever]

It now appears that VK has two choices.
He plays Muric and copies last seasons formation and style.
He has clearly dropped that project by not playing Muric ( Trafford can't) and not picking Cullen ( until recent injury / suspension)
He has now gone for a completely different style of play.
Trafford now plays it long.
He distributed the ball over 35 times.
30 were long balls of which about 8 were picked up by our players.
6 were short balls which all were to our players.
That's the reason our possession has dropped so much.
We have no strong tall midfield to win long balls. Only Foster can challenge for a long ball.
If VK persists with Trafford hitting it long, not only has he changed the personnel he has also changed the style of play, which is why we are so muddled.

[Clive 1960]

None of the errors immediately prior are relevant..The incident needs judging on its own merits. It was a clear foul and would be given nine times out of ten.

At first I'm thinking it's a foul but looking at it over and over again i think Trafford as made a error like all players do , he was never going to get the ball and should in my view stayed on is line and let is defender's deal with it..

[alwaysaclaret]

It now appears that VK has two choices.
He plays Muric and copies last seasons formation and style.
He has clearly dropped that project by not playing Muric ( Trafford can't) and not picking Cullen ( until recent injury / suspension)
He has now gone for a completely different style of play.
Trafford now plays it long.
He distributed the ball over 35 times.
30 were long balls of which about 8 were picked up by our players.
6 were short balls which all were to our players.
That's the reason our possession has dropped so much.
We have no strong tall midfield to win long balls. Only Foster can challenge for a long ball.
If VK persists with Trafford hitting it long, not only has he changed the personnel he has also changed the style of play, which is why we are so muddled.

Be interested which way you think he should go now, and muric or no muric. ?

[quoonbeatz]

At first I'm thinking it's a foul but looking at it over and over again i think Trafford as made a error like all players do , he was never going to get the ball and should in my view stayed on is line and let is defender's deal with it..

He catches it easily if he isn't fouled, bizarre that anyone thinks he was never going to get it, he judged the flight of the ball really well.

[CrosspoolClarets]

That’s the thing, there haven’t been any ‘levellers’ yet for us. When/if there are, happy to accept that.

Not even against sides no bigger, or even smaller, than we are.

One can only presume the common denominator is inexperience, on the pitch and on the touchline, our biggest error as many have said. I suspect, and I find this despairing and capable of making me pack in watching the game, that people are employed by these clubs to scrutinise the rulebook and the interpretations then find ways tactically to bend or break them. Thus making it virtually unwatchable for fans who hate that stuff.

That is why we get so much impeding, holding, pulling, diving, arguing, tripping and injury simulation. That is also why those who said Harrington’s performance was excellent on Friday could not be more wrong. He let so much of that stuff go, and clearly saw it. His last Premier League game was Burnley vs Man Utd in September, he is very inexperienced at this level, and we paid the price.

Trafford should clearly have sensed danger and stayed on his line on that basis, but Muric is even rasher and he would have come for it too, I recall the Sheff Utd away game when Muric was pummelled in that way. So all this fouling is probably why modern keepers stay on their lines a lot.

[ClaretLoup]

I’ve watched it a number of times and my conclusion is this. Back in day when fouls had to be intentional, play on. Now, when there is “contact” usually blame has to be apportioned. In this case the Luton player’s movement is away from the ball and towards Trafford, plainly he is not attempting to play the ball. Trafford is moving towards the ball attempting to play it and the Luton player obstructs his movement. Therefore it’s a foul.

However as some other posters have mentioned, I can’t help thinking that the referee was possibly influenced by Trafford continually unnecessarily deliberately flopping to the floor when catching the ball and blatantly time wasting which is a pet hate of mine. People pay good money to watch a bunch of highly paid professionals to play football, not to lie on the grass. The ref probably thought here is a bit of karma for you mate I’ll give the goal and let VAR sort it out. He booked Trafford as well.

[Newcastleclaret93]

He catches it easily if he isn't fouled, bizarre that anyone thinks he was never going to get it, he judged the flight of the ball really well.

Wasn’t even remotely close to it

[Leisure]

https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/sport/240 ... g-players/

[quoonbeatz]

Wasn’t even remotely close to it

Because he was fouled.

[Leisure]

Wasn’t even remotely close to it

Because he was blocked off! Just as Muruc would have been.