Andre Gray.

[Garnerssoap]

I'll do the fat one if no other fair to middling Prem stars want it

[MACCA]

Southgate would be crazy not to look at him, there are only around 5/6 English forwards playing at the moment.
He HAS to be looking at him or he wouldn't be doing his job.

Andre and Burnley need to decide what the future holds.

He/Burnley need to get him on a long term deal, then work hard with him, invest the time trying to turn him into a 15 goal premiere league player and build our attack around him.
or
He/Burnley need to decide if he wants to put the graft in and become a top player, or a want to be famous gangster and live his life in the media. If he/Burnley think it is the latter, then he will need to be sold this summer and start a fresh with a new forward or 2, to build our team around.

[wilks_bfc]

"With Jamie Vardy off form and Andros Townsend not playing regularly for Crystal Palace, a space could open up for Gray"

Can see link in Gray replacing Vardy, but Townsend??
Unless Southgate is going to do what usually happens and play players out of position just to get them in the team

[taio]

He/Burnley need to decide if he wants to put the graft in and become a top player, or a want to be famous gangster and live his life in the media. If he/Burnley think it is the latter, then he will need to be sold this summer and start a fresh with a new forward or 2, to build our team around.

WTF. That's the type of thing you'd read from a rival supporter envious of our rise, or a sensationalist article from a shoddy writer who knows little about our club and players.

[Blackrod]

Nowhere near that level yet. So mcgreal of his game needs to improve. I wonder if players or agents ever pay journalists.

[boiledclaret]

Why was only Gray sent to the Brit awards as punishment?

Everyone else in a claret shirt last Saturday was just as bad.

[MACCA]

WTF. That's the type of thing you'd read from a rival supporter envious of our rise, or a sensationalist article from a shoddy writer who knows little about our club and players.

That's what he needs to decide though doesn't he?

That's the difference between getting to the top and not most of the time.

He often says he wants to reach the top, will work tirelessly to get there. With his last half a dozen displays he has looked nothing like a premier league starter.


Maybe it's just the look he gives off, but he looks like he can't be arsed.

[minnieclaret]

Maybe it's just the look he gives off, but he looks like he can't be arsed.

Seems to me he's a streak player and currently he's not in sync.
He ran his socks off last week but his every touch was awful.
The thing with streak players is you can't afford to drop them cos you don't know when the next streak is coming. I'm going for tomorrow against a paceless Ull backline.

[The Enclosure]

He should be practicing his first touch and ball control at every opportunity....that is the only thing letting him down.....i wonder if they actually do that on a daily basis in training rather than playing 5 a side games and the like.

[MACCA]

Like cricketers and to a lesser extent tennis players, He should have balls booted at him from various angles/heights and try and bring them under control in a meter by meter square before either, Laying it off, or turning the dumy/shadow player and shooting.

Won't take long to get the touch back.

You hear of how many of the greats worked at both what they were good at but also what they wasn't so good at. A little extra work on the training field maybe just the spark he needs to get firing again.

[The Enclosure]

Fully agree Macca....cannot believe that the coaches dont do that.....or if they do then they need to do it a lot more.....
Its just the same as practicing crossing balls into the goal area...should practice until it becomes second nature to them.
Should take a lead from pro golfers.....they practice one shot time after time until they perfect it....

[Diesel]

Yes that's it, it's as simple as that....he needs to have balls booted at him.

[MACCA]

Need to replicate a match situation as much as possible.

No point playing 2 touch 5 aside, or 3 touch half size matches into unguarded mini nets...
If you can't do the basics of getting the ball under control the above drills are of little relivence, as the opposition will have the ball.

I'd never ever be allowed, but I would love to watch a weeks worth of sessions to see what drills are done with which players and if any are 1 on 1 sessions and if/how many players get in early or stay late to practice on other things.

[Funkydrummer]

Well no matter what people think on here seems like the England Manager might rate him

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... -Gray.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

the reaction to this should be interesting

Only because they are allowed one male in the ladies international team. If
he gets a call for the full international squad I think I will pack in football
altogether.

[KefkaClaret]

I refuse to believe anyone could right now could make an argument that Gray should be in the England squad.

[taio]

I refuse to believe anyone one on here could coach Gray better than Dyche and his coaching staff.

[claretdom]

I refuse to believe anyone one on here could coach Gray better than Dyche and his coaching staff.

You mean Dyche has a better idea what goes on in training than somebody on here who has no idea at all ?

Not convinced by that.

[Walton]

I refuse to believe anyone one on here could coach Gray better than Dyche and his coaching staff.

To quote the Anfield Rap, if anyone can, Macca can

[Sidney1st]

When Ings was here people were adamant he should be playing for England.
Same with Austin.

Jay Rod got in there during his 2nd full season in the PL at Saints.

Gray however is apparently not good enough for some reason.

[The Enclosure]

You mean Dyche has a better idea what goes on in training than somebody on here who has no idea at all ?

Not convinced by that.

Then why cannot Gray do a basic skill like trapping and controlling a football and why cant our backs or "wingers" put an accurate cross onto Sam or Ashleys bonce.?

[KefkaClaret]

When Ings was here people were adamant he should be playing for England.
Same with Austin.

Jay Rod got in there during his 2nd full season in the PL at Saints.

Gray however is apparently not good enough for some reason.

That's because all 3 of them are/were better then Gray.

[Sidney1st]

That's because all 3 of them are/were better then Gray.

So if Gray goes on and scores another 6 goals then that's more then Ings did in his PL debut season.
He's already scored the same number as Jay did in his debut PL season.

Austin's was a freak season considering where QPR finished, but he's not been able to replicate it since due to picking up injuries.

Are we allowed to take into consideration the disruption to his season due to his past behaviour?

[cricketfieldclarets]

younger than vardy when he broke through and already has as good a record as he did after his first prem season.. lets knock our own eh

[Walt]

Purely from an England perspective we're not blessed with any great young strikers at the moment. On that basis I'd say Gray deserves a call up even if he doesn't get a cap. Obviously Rashford has potential to develop but he's not getting too much playing time currently.

Southgate wouldn't be doing his job if he didn't look at his options. Vardy should not be in the next squad in my opinion.

[Walt]

Kane is young but he's tried and tested

[KefkaClaret]

So if Gray goes on and scores another 6 goals then that's more then Ings did in his PL debut season.

Gray is playing in a much better side. It's an actual miracle that Ings managed to score 11 PL goals considering the midfield we had that season.

[The Enclosure]

The chances that Andre is missing are nothing at all to do with which division we are in....he is missing relatively easy goal scoring opportunities because at the moment he lacks a basic skill....which is controlling a football.

[claretdom]

1 less than Deeney
same as Negredo & Austin
1 less than Rondon
2 less than Benteke & Giroud
1 more than Vardy & Slimani


At the start of the season had we been offered this as for Grays goals everyone would have taken it. Not bad for someone who suddenly seems to be the latest whipping boy.

Still though if it makes people happy flogging your own, crack on.

[Sidney1st]

The chances that Andre is missing are nothing at all to do with which division we are in....he is missing relatively easy goal scoring opportunities because at the moment he lacks a basic skill....which is controlling a football.

Did he have that skill last season?

[The Enclosure]

No one is flogging him.....certainly not me...all i am saying is that he needs to improve his ball control and then we will have some player on our hands.

[Funkydrummer]

I refuse to believe anyone one on here could coach Gray better than Dyche and his coaching staff.

I completely agree, so why is he not improving ?

[jrgbfc]

First touch and a football brain are an even bigger requirement at international level. Not what Gray needs at the moment IMO, would be absolutely miles out of his depth.

[minnieclaret]

First touch and a football brain are an even bigger requirement at international level. Not what Gray needs at the moment IMO, would be absolutely miles out of his depth.

Even a weeks training with England could do him the world of good.

[Chester Perry]

IF (and it is questionable) Gray was called up - that would be 3 clarets in the squad at the same time - besides being in dreamland for most of us - surely it would encourage other young British players want to subscribe to the Dyche philosophy and play for us - knowing that we are a club recognised for getting players international recognition, especially those that are coming up from the lower divisions