Burnley v West Ham - Player Ratings

[fungus_the_bogeyman]

Heaton 5
Lowton 6
Ward 6
Tarkowski 5
Long 5
Arfield 5
Hendrick 6
Westwood 7
Brady 6
Vokes 7*
Gray 6
Gudmundsson 5

[Beagleheart]

Heaton 5
Lowton 6
Ward 6
Tarkowski 6
Long 6
Arfield 5
Hendrick 6
Westwood 7
Brady 6
Vokes 7*
Gray 6
Gudmundsson 6

[strayclaret]

Heaton 5
Lowton 6
Long 4
Tarkowski 4
Ward 6
Arfield 3
Hendrick 6
Westwood 7
Brady 5
Vokes 6
Gray 6

Gudmundsson 5
What an anti climax that was. Pre game I thought the extra cash on offer would be an incentive, but then was told none of it could go to the players. So the only incentive was, don't get injured, nevertheless, thanks for a great season lads and enjoy the lagers.

[ClaretTony]

I agree with Spice. He was awful and even though westwood was on a tightrope he was far better. I know you pretty much scouted him for the club belgianclaret but today he was poor. I was suggesting he should have been on at half time with Ashley looking like he might pick up the red any time but I think if that had happened we would have been totally overrun.

I thought we had a gem in Defour but for whatever reason it's not worked out in the 2nd half of the season. His cameo today suggested either he's had enough of Dyche, he isn't fully fit or he's simply not got the engine for this league in a central 2. I hope it's the middle one but I suspect the latter.

He wasn't really on long enough to rate today but a 4 wasn't harsh

No, he doesn't require a rating but 4 certainly isn't harsh. Only surprise is he didn't decide to get injured and come off.

[quoonbeatz]

that was defour's only 12 minutes of football in 6 weeks and it came at the end of a dead rubber.

he was hardly going to have much effect on the game. he at least was involved more than barnes who was on for the same amount of time but doesn't appear to be getting panned.

[claretspice]

I wasn't sure if Defour and Barnes were on long enough or not. If they weren't, then the rating is irrelevant.

Quoon - for what it is worth, I gave Defour 4 and justified it, but gave Barnes a five, said he wasn't particularly in the game, ballsed up one opportunity to play in Arfield and was probably the wrong sub. There's been no further comment on that because no-one challenged it.

The reason Defour is getting further comment is that Belgian Claret queried my comments, which I stand by. I watched Defour closely, as we all did, because I think we all want him to succeed. Unfortunately, by my reckoning, in the 12 minutes he was on the pitch there could have been 3 goals scored by West Ham that would have left us pointing fingers squarely in Defour's direction.

[claretdons]

From tv

Heaton 6
Lowton 6
Ward 6
Tarkowski 5
Long 5
Arfield 5
Hendrick 5
Westwood 6
Brady 5
Vokes 6
Gray 6
Gudmundsson 4

[Culmclaret]

Heaton 5. One smart save in the first half. No chance with the first goal but the second was horrible.

Lowton 7. Possibly the most improved player this season A couple of good forward surges in the first half and one good cross in the second half

Long 5. Worked hard does not look comfortable at this level

Tarkowski 5. Good back up but not first choice

Ward 6. A phenomenal season but not quite at his best

Arfield 6. Did some things well but his touch and passing were too often poor. He also missed a couple of good opportunities to shoot.

Hendrick 6. Some good touches but not at his best

Westwood 6. Good start but less effective after the booking

Brady 5. Wasteful. Some good signs, but not cut out for the framework

Vokes 8. Battled gamely and with no little skill

Gray. 5. 6 for effort, 4 for technical ability. Made a hash of two presentable chances but played an important part in the goal. I wouldn't give him a job with Blue Circle

Subs

JBG. 5 Disappointing but we had lost interest and cohesion by the time he came on

Dyche 4. As it turned out this was a £6m game. He should have reacted quicker to West Ham getting a grip on the game from around the half hour mark. Difficult to be too critical after such a good season but we cannot afford to look to our laurels!

[Belgianclaret]

I wasn't sure if Defour and Barnes were on long enough or not. If they weren't, then the rating is irrelevant.

Quoon - for what it is worth, I gave Defour 4 and justified it, but gave Barnes a five, said he wasn't particularly in the game, ballsed up one opportunity to play in Arfield and was probably the wrong sub. There's been no further comment on that because no-one challenged it.

The reason Defour is getting further comment is that Belgian Claret queried my comments, which I stand by. I watched Defour closely, as we all did, because I think we all want him to succeed. Unfortunately, by my reckoning, in the 12 minutes he was on the pitch there could have been 3 goals scored by West Ham that would have left us pointing fingers squarely in Defour's direction.

I'm not Defour's brother or manager, and will still support Burnley after he's gone. However, it seems many are now jumping on the bandwagon to slag off someone who was hailed as a hero up to mid-season. He's obviously fallen out of Dyche's favor, and was cast aside after WBA away. That's not the way you treat an 8 million pound investment if you ask me. What signal does that give to other international players who we are looking to attract (SD even acknowledging that we need eyes on the continent)?

In my opinion, there were plenty of opportunities to involve him in earlier games, many times he could (and perhaps should) have come on when our play was one-dimensional and ineffective. Certainly if, as was often stated, he was still adapting to the English game. Fit for the bench means fit to play in my book.

Maybe if that had been the case, we wouldn't be faced with a 12 minute cameo in a lost game on which he is now apparently considered to be worthless...

Incidentally, referring to the incident on the touchline where he got brushed off you may recall that in fact he was the only player who attempted to chase back.

Frankly, knowing the player, I'm surprised he has kept so quiet over the whole period.

[Im_not_Robbie_Blake]

Heaton 7
Lowton 6
Ward 6
Tarkowski 6
Long 6
Arfield 5
Hendrick 6
Westwood 7
Brady 6
Vokes 8
Gray 6
Gudmundsson 5

[IanMcL]

All 6 except Vokes and Arfield 7.

[claretspice]

I'm not Defour's brother or manager, and will still support Burnley after he's gone. However, it seems many are now jumping on the bandwagon to slag off someone who was hailed as a hero up to mid-season. He's obviously fallen out of Dyche's favor, and was cast aside after WBA away. That's not the way you treat an 8 million pound investment if you ask me. What signal does that give to other international players who we are looking to attract (SD even acknowledging that we need eyes on the continent)?

In my opinion, there were plenty of opportunities to involve him in earlier games, many times he could (and perhaps should) have come on when our play was one-dimensional and ineffective. Certainly if, as was often stated, he was still adapting to the English game. Fit for the bench means fit to play in my book.

Maybe if that had been the case, we wouldn't be faced with a 12 minute cameo in a lost game on which he is now apparently considered to be worthless...

Incidentally, referring to the incident on the touchline where he got brushed off you may recall that in fact he was the only player who attempted to chase back.

Frankly, knowing the player, I'm surprised he has kept so quiet over the whole period.

Waste of time debating his burnley career Belgian. Been and done it. But Ive not jumped on any bandwagon, thanks. Ive been consistent in recognising Defour's abilities but also his weaknesses right from the moment he was dropped after the West Brom game (for reasons ive tried to identify and explain many times over). So when i gave him a 4 yesterday, it was because if he was on the pitch long enough, he was pretty poor. I've explained it long enough.

To be honest, i'll be glad when we can draw a line under his burnley career now. It does sound as though he's going, and when he does perhaps we'll stop having these debates, and perhaps some of the Burnley crowd and some on this messageboard too will move away from deifying one player who isnt in the team. Its not been healthy.

[Vegas Claret]

Good enough for the Belgian nation team but not good enough for Burnley is quite frankly ridiculous - it's down to the manager to get the best out of him unless the players attitude is awful

[Belgianclaret]

The strange thing in whole this affair is that it has been quiet on both sides, neither SD or the player showing any sign of reaction.

I presume all will become clear, and we can draw a line under this after hearing both sides of the story. Until then it has all been hearsay, meaning neither of us know the full extent of the issue.

I just find it a real shame that a player of his abilities can't get a place in the side, after the player stated on 29th October 2016 that it was the manager himself who convinced him to join Burnley, as he really wanted him to be a key player for the clarets.

For me, the WBA game signaled the end for him after he was substituted at half time. Ironically, the official website shows a picture of Defour in discussion with SD on the match report.

I am not trying to defend or attack anyone on this, and also respect everyone's opinion, I just think its a real shame and I hope that we can attract players of his ilk in future as we desperately need more quality on the ball in the long run.

Don't see why this discussion isn't healthy as long as it is held in a respectful manner (which I think it has been), that's what a messageboard is meant for isn't it?

Onwards and upwards eh?