Cardiff v wolves

[ClaretAndJew]

It’s been a good three years. Shame we wasted it but who knows what will happen.

[ElectroClaret]

Liverpool's a free hit.

That will apply to most of the fixtures between Liverpool and the bottom teams.

[Spijed]

Liverpool's a free hit.

That will apply to most of the fixtures between Liverpool and the bottom teams.

The thing is with those 'free hits' is that we still need to get points in lesser games for them to remain 'free hits', otherwise we get into the territory of starting to need points in those matches, which isn't good.

[EarbyClaret]

Some people seem to be viewing the remainder of our season through the prism of Cardiff v Wolves on a Friday night before a ball has been kicked on Saturday and coming out with some outlandish observations

Are we under-performing - yes
Are there obvious problems which need addressing - yes
Are we in a relegation scrap - yes
Will we be relegated - maybe - it's happened to bigger clubs than us recently

However, on the flip-side we have players capable of keeping us in this division. We have a manager whose spent 4 of the last 5 years managing at this level. We have big players coming back to full-fitness in Pope, Tarkowski, Gibson and Ward(?) who could massively bolster our defensive options.

Hopefully, after Monday and bearing in mind we are away tomorrow SD will realise a midfield pairing of Cork and Defour is woefully inadequate and will address that. It's not like we don't have options to change either the shape of the team or the personnel in the attacking two thirds of the pitch.

Of course it's all about SD's management style and selections - through the week and on Saturdays - but some of the defeatist comments posted on this thread are totally out of proportion with the bigger picture.

The only thing that surprises me is that I'm surprised.

Every sensible supporter knows it's a mess and it needs sorting for us to survive but the massively exaggerated over-reaction and the clamour to use every development, whether within the control of BFC or otherwise, as a stick to beat the club with is becoming increasingly tedious.

[bodge]

We're obviously in a grim position and this could be the kick up the jacksy we require but by God the nonsense about not getting out of the bottom 3 all season and tomorrow defining our season is patently ridiculous.

The number of white flag waving, towel throwing knee jerk Nigels never ceases to amaze.

[Jamesy]

They were and very good as well, we on the other hand have maintained a level of poor consistency and not changed our style despite everyone knowing how to stop us playing.

However, many posters on here still maintain there are several teams in Premier League worse than us. Can’t think of one at the moment. All of these supposed inferior teams nicking points here and there. As you say we are so predictable. Sadly I don’t think Dyche has a plan B.

[Dyched]

Sadly I don’t think Dyche has a plan B.

The second half on Monday was evidently clear he doesn’t. From doing nothing to Joe Hart playing number 10 in a blink of an eye.

[jrgbfc]

Even Warnock managed to make a tactical change and go 3 at the back to combat Wolves tonight. As others have said every single manager we come up against know exactly what we are going to do. Unfortunately Dyche is being outwitted and out thought by every manager he comes up against.

[ElectroClaret]

....but by God the nonsense about not getting out of the bottom 3 all season and tomorrow defining our season is patently ridiculous

Isn't it just.

[Safron]

So come tomorrow and team news has our midfield unchanged, will you still be so supportive of dyche?

[Colburn_Claret]

It's not the fans waving the white flag, it's the players.
Cardiff are crap, Huddersfield little better, but what they do have is character. A never say die attitude and togetherness that had defined Burnley since SD came.
Where the hell has it gone. More than once this season I've described our performances like rabbits in front of the head lights. I don't doubt the players effort, or that they care, but sometimes you can try too hard. It takes courage to remain focussed and concentrate when things aren't going for you. To keep doing the right things. We are a headless chicken and like many others I fear for us.
Is there time to turn it around, of course there is, but there isn't a glimmer of hope coming from the pitch. We've been told that things are getting better for the last 2 months, the reality is we've probably regressed over that period.

[Goobs]

If we are not careful all we will have to play for is beating Derby County's all time points record

Well played. At least someone still has a sense of humour amongst all this drama queenery

[bodge]

Hyperbole Colburn - "there isn't a glimmer of hope", don't agree at all.

Defour and Cork back in tandem, it takes 5 or 6 games to be truly back at it after a long lay off which Defour will be now, same applies to Brady shortly, granted he was appalling against Newcastle.

There's two thirds of the season left yet and some of you need to understand that.

Think we will be down amongst it for a little while but have full confidence that this strong manager will sort it.

[Safron]

Wish I had your optimism ,I hope dyche can turn it around,but sign's arnt good ,

[Colburn_Claret]

Hyperbole Colburn - "there isn't a glimmer of hope", don't agree at all.

Defour and Cork back in tandem, it takes 5 or 6 games to be truly back at it after a long lay off which Defour will be now, same applies to Brady shortly, granted he was appalling against Newcastle.

There's two thirds of the season left yet and some of you need to understand that.

Think we will be down amongst it for a little while but have full confidence that this strong manager will sort it.

You haven't seen any glimmer either, you're just hoping that Defour and Cork will turn up.
I think Defour and Brady will be ok, but Jack Cork has been poor all season, and I can't see him getting better with more games under his belt. HE needs a break for his own sake.
We played well the first 2 games of the season, despite only picking up a point. Sadly we changed the system and we've never gone back, despite performances that have been truly awful at times. It's possible to play well and lose, but we haven't played well. We haven't been robbed by poor refereeing. We haven't been unlucky. We've actually got more than we should have. We rode our luck against Cardiff and Bournemouth. I want to see these green shoots that SD does, but try as I might, I can't.

[Murger]

We could get annihilated by Palace and people will still make up excuses.

[EarbyClaret]

"You haven't seen any glimmer either, you're just hoping that Defour and Cork will turn up.
I think Defour and Brady will be ok, but Jack Cork has been poor all season, and I can't see him getting better with more games under his belt. HE needs a break for his own sake.
We played well the first 2 games of the season, despite only picking up a point. Sadly we changed the system and we've never gone back, despite performances that have been truly awful at times. It's possible to play well and lose, but we haven't played well. We haven't been robbed by poor refereeing. We haven't been unlucky. We've actually got more than we should have. We rode our luck against Cardiff and Bournemouth. I want to see these green shoots that SD does, but try as I might, I can't."

I think that's a pretty accurate assessment. To be fair to Cork he's suffered more than anyone from the 4-4-2 with either Westwood, who has no real physical presence and Defour whose playing his way back - so there's been a heavy burden on him.

The recovery has to come from playing three in there with Hendrick. That would improve our passing options going forward and hopefully create better service for the wide players whilst at the same time offering a better screen in front of the back four.

Personally I hope we're looking at a player like Danny Drinkwater in January - even if it has to be a loan. We need someone of proven PL ability who's better than what we've got already.

[warksclaret]

Earby-agree with many of your points

It occurred to me that SD is probably the only manager in the PL who has not tried a back 3. Right now with Gibson back and Mee /Tarkowski alongside him, with 5 in midfield and the ability for lets say play Barnes & Wood up front seems more likely to get a result, and just as important not get a mauling