Al Dakhill

[Winstonswhite]

Sorry if I’ve missed it, not seen anything mentioned, but does anyone know if he was injured or was it tactical?

[NewClaret]

Would love to know. It was a bizarre one.

[BurnleyFC]

Surely it must’ve been an injury.

[ksrclaret]

I bloody hope it was injury and not a “tactical” switch because the hapless O’Shea ought to be nowhere near the team.

[Funkydrummer]

Can only assume an injury or a falling out do.

I'll opt for the former.

[Winstonswhite]

Just seems a bit harsh if not an injury.

Played well enough first half, own goal, subbed. This, after being hung out to dry being played out right vs Spurs.

Hope I’m wrong and it was a niggle.

[Vincent'sCap]

The two central defender's that we had on the pitch at the end filled me with fear,both not very good,to many wingers in our squad and not enough quality defender's,money has been spunked in the wrong areas.

[quoonbeatz]

Can't have been tactical cos there's no way any sane person would take him off ahead of Delcroix.

[alwaysaclaret]

The two central defender's that we had on the pitch at the end filled me with fear,both not very good,to many wingers in our squad and not enough quality defender's,money has been spunked in the wrong areas.

Filled everyone with fear I'm sure, Al dakill if tactical has been made a scapegoat yet again imo, he has vitinho right delcroix left and a keeper that has now shipped 20 goals in he's first 8 games. Nothing against vitinho or delcroix but we've had what I believe to be a capable and settled back 4 that ad has become used to playing with of late, so to have changes on each side of him and expect to stay cool with an also suspect keeper behind him is for me a tall order.

[n_ero]

At the start of the second half I was (metaphorically) spitting feathers. Don’t care what was said (yes, I am assuming something was said) but you don’t take off an 18 year old defender who has performed quite well so far this season 5 minutes after he’s scored an own goal. And that’s before you take into account who you replace him with.

I thought al dakhil had actually marshalled the defence quite well in the first half. He dealt with Broja which left sterling and palmer quite isolated on the wings. If it was obvious in the stands that broja would be taken off, don’t take off your best defender (which in itself is a ridiculous statement cos the lad is so young) and let them dictate the play around the box. Not helped by taking Cullen off as well btw who did well helping the two centre backs

[gawthorpe_view]

Can't have been tactical cos there's no way any sane person would take him off ahead of Delcroix.

... and replace him with O'Shea.

[dsr]

The two central defender's that we had on the pitch at the end filled me with fear,both not very good,to many wingers in our squad and not enough quality defender's,money has been spunked in the wrong areas.

O'Shea was quite expensive, wasn't he? A lot o money for a fifth choice defender anyway. I don't think there is any reasonable complaint that we have spent too little on the defence, but you can if you like complain that it was spent on the wrong man or men.

[BurnleyFC]

O'Shea was quite expensive, wasn't he? A lot o money for a fifth choice defender anyway. I don't think there is any reasonable complaint that we have spent too little on the defence, but you can if you like complain that it was spent on the wrong man or men.

£9m, which currently looks about £8m too much.

[Anonymous Claret]

Surely it can't have been tactical. I think over the last few weeks since we had a settled back 5 of Trafford, Roberts, Taylor, AAD and Beyer we looked a lot more solid defensively.
Before the game started I was a little worried when I saw the line up. Decroix for Beyer is understandable as I can only assume Beyer was injured. I can understand that VK may have preferred Vitinho to Roberts as he may have been able to deal with Sterling's pace a little more. As was seen for the penalty he couldn't deal with Sterling but then again neither could Roberts who was skinned for the 4th goal.
At half time we were still well in the game but that second half our defence was all over the place. They looked like they had never played together and in all honesty they may never well have done as I can't be bothered checking all our previous games.

[dougcollins]

Seeing as Al Dakhil was our last remaining proper CB it would surely have been suicidal to remove him for tactical reasons?

[mkmel]

After Al Dakhil went off we were left with back four of Vitinho/Roberts O'Shea Delcroix Taylor

Not good to put it mildly

[Woodleyclaret]

Delcroix and Taylor played well OShea and non tackling Roberts were dire