Our summer signings

[colne-claret]

I’m not on the Laurent hype train at all. For the money we paid, he’s a good squad player. Is he somebody who will help drive us to promotion? Not in my eyes.

[Hipper]

Kind of agree, but I’d like to highlight that I feel the clubs signings were also influenced by getting good characters in, following last season & all the turmoil (using Connor Roberts’ description) the club was in at the start of this season. Laurent, Flemming, Worrall, Egan, Anthony, Hannibal - they all have 1. Experience at this level 2. Good personalities or 3. Leadership (3 captains in there). I think it was Williams at one of those breakfast clubs or evenings with dos, that said they were ‘putting right’ some of the lack of good characters in the dressing room. I do think this has contributed to our season so far and the fact is we are only 2 points off the ‘2 points a game’ target.

You make a good point about characters but I don't agree Hannibal should be in that list. It needed one of our other characters - Worrall - to pull him out of a 'fight' he had no reason to be in - the Roberts affair against Middlesbrough.

The bloke is a character, but not the sort I think you mean - leadership, setting examples etc.. Maybe he is good in the dressing room - I don't know - but he's not good on the pitch.

[GDK]

To be fair many of these signings would benefit from another season developing in the Championship. Just look at what a run of games has done for CJ and Humphreys.

I wouldn't write any of them off yet. It's not helpful for us to put pressure on them to immediately perform at their best in brief cameo appearances or after a long injury lay off. The team is definitely evolving, last night doesn't mean we're back to square one.

[burnley007]

Humphreys is a good player, especially at 21. In retrospect knowing that CJ was going to do so well, perhaps that 13 million could have been spent elsewhere given Ekdal amd Delcroix (and eventually Beyer) are to come back. Plus Egan amd Worrall. But he's been decent cover at LB as well as CB. Would I have rather spent 13 million on a striker? As much as I like Humphreys at his age, yup i think so.

I absolutely agree with you. Humphries looks a good prospect, but right now a defender with potential is not what we need, we need goals, we need flair, we need excitement.

[blatherwickstattoos]

Our stand out signing has been Laurent a 500k signing from stoke city. Kind of tells us what trajectory we are on.

[warksclaret]

Been lots of frustration on this site for a few months now, but we have to accept we are no where near the quality of Sheff Utd and Leeds. Both sides can put lower sides to the sword. Sheff Utd have a very good defence -Cooper, Soutter, Burrows, Gilchrist, all brought in this Summer, and then the two best central midfielders in the division with Hamer and Souza. Tyrese Campbell and O Hare were shrewd free signings. Leeds have a significant number of game changers -Piroe, Gnonto, Joseph, Solomon, Aaranson, Rothwell and several more. We lack that quality and for us to be third after 19 games is some achievement. We are playing with absolutely zero forward quality, so for all the tidy build up play we just dont threaten, which is why poor teams like Hull, Oxford, Derby,QPR have all got points and but for Trafford we could well have got beaten by both Boro and Derby. I watched Leeds play v Derby and Boro, and made them look very poor sides. Some serious work in this window, firstly in moving out half a dozen names and wage stealers, and bringing in some shrewd signings. We know where the shortcomings are and have done for a while so over to you Alan Pace and the recruitment team. WE do need to seriously question our recruitment team though the acquisition of players like Sambo and Hountondji

[DCWat]

We’ve gone from having an abundance of quality wingers to having a real lack of quality coming from out wide.

Everything comes back inside, into a congested midfield, where possession is all too often crowded out. Aside from flashes from Sarmiento, there is no guile through the middle of the park.

Even our ‘strikers’ are dropping deeper and further filling up the midfield.

On the rare occasions that we move it at pace or have someone break the lines, we look quite good, but all too often, we let ourselves down with a poor delivery / final ball or by having no one in the box.

It’s a big pitch out there, if you use it effectively.

[ksrclaret]

Kind of agree, but I’d like to highlight that I feel the clubs signings were also influenced by getting good characters in, following last season & all the turmoil (using Connor Roberts’ description) the club was in at the start of this season. Laurent, Flemming, Worrall, Egan, Anthony, Hannibal - they all have 1. Experience at this level 2. Good personalities or 3. Leadership (3 captains in there). I think it was Williams at one of those breakfast clubs or evenings with dos, that said they were ‘putting right’ some of the lack of good characters in the dressing room. I do think this has contributed to our season so far and the fact is we are only 2 points off the ‘2 points a game’ target.

That’s fair, I don’t think anyone would have complaints about the effort and attitude of the players this season compared to last. The defensive record speaks for itself.

[GetIntoEm]

He is a worry but he’s had 7 minutes in his actual position away at hull and scored

A professional footballer doesn't need to be in their own position to show some appetite to get into the game. I'd have done a better job up top last night, certainly would have put more effort in

[123EasyasBFC]

A professional footballer doesn't need to be in their own position to show some appetite to get into the game. I'd have done a better job up top last night, certainly would have put more effort in

Flemming was clearly putting effort in and he has in every game but the point in how he has only played a limited amount of time in his actual position

[Wokingclaret]

Flemming hasn't work out so far, so that we are left too reliant on Foster and Jay Rod. Then there is Hountonji who hasn't proved he's good enough at this level. The rest are not natural goal scorers hence more than not we don't score. Simples really..

[Luppy]

The argument that Flemming dropping back 10 yards or so from his current position will magically fix his lack of pace, lack of touch, lack of anticipation, lack of fitness (seemingly - either that or effort) doesn’t wash with me. The basics are not there with this player. What has he offered to justify us deploying him in the main creative outlet of this team and building our attacking strategy around him? That has to be Sarmiento’s role on the basis of what he offered against Middlesbrough.

I really do think a younger, more mobile version of a Rodriguez and a threat from the bench when we’re chasing a win (I.e, a fit Manuel Benson - I think many forget how many times he snatched us victory from the jaws of a draw in 22/23 with either a goal or an assist. We just don’t have that player currently at all) changes things for us massively. The defence is absolutely rock solid and if we had a bit more anticipation and desire through the middle, along with more impetus to bring on in the 70th when not ahead, so many of these 0-0’s would be 1-0’s/2-0’s.

Pretty much summed up my thoughts on our current situation to a tee

[dandeclaret]

Our stand out signing has been Laurent a 500k signing from stoke city. Kind of tells us what trajectory we are on.

it's almost like when some of our best signing was a free transfer from lowly Huddersfield, or a free transfer from QPR, or a free transfer from relegated Cardiff, or a couple of cheap signings from relegated Charlton

It was so easy to see the trajectory we were on then......

[Quicknick]

it's almost like when some of our best signing was a free transfer from lowly Huddersfield, or a free transfer from QPR, or a free transfer from relegated Cardiff, or a couple of cheap signings from relegated Charlton

It was so easy to see the trajectory we were on then......

Great point.

[warksclaret]

On a positive Fleming has had several good games ie Leeds and Sheff Wed, however he looked totally devoid of confidence last night and as a result not even doing the basics right. I would stop playing him in the No 9 role and hope Foster is close to fitness, otherwise people will write Flemming off. Sarmiento played very well when he played as the No 9, maybe v WBA, and short term I think he would trouble defenders more than Flemming, Jay or Hountondji. Its a very dire situation we are in with strikers-lets hope for an inspired signing or two

[blatherwickstattoos]

it's almost like when some of our best signing was a free transfer from lowly Huddersfield, or a free transfer from QPR, or a free transfer from relegated Cardiff, or a couple of cheap signings from relegated Charlton

It was so easy to see the trajectory we were on then......

We weren’t the biggest spenders in the league then with a wage bill like we have now so expectations weren’t as high.

Cannot compare the two.

[hoosier-daddy]

Any team watching that will know how to certainly get a point at Turf Moor and maybe nick all three with a bit more composure in front of goal. High press 1st half and defend deep 2nd half. Sorted.

If only management was that simple, everybody would be countering eachother and every game would be 0-0

[dandeclaret]

We weren’t the biggest spenders in the league then with a wage bill like we have now so expectations weren’t as high.

Cannot compare the two.

Conversely, some of our worst signings have been the **** poor charachters that cost fortunes. Money's only useful if you spend it right.

[Claret Till I Die]

Tresor or Scott Arfield?

Money spent has no guarantees. FACT

[claretspice]

I think there are some harsh comments on Flemming. He's had some decent games for us but it's abundantly obvious he's not naturally a number 9 and he's struggling to adapt right now. He's also struggled with a number of injuries and not had a pre-season as a result.

Last night, everything became so congested in that central area it became impossible for him to impose himself - their 3 centre halves had noone else to mark for long periods. A false 9 can work if you have lots of runners beyond them but the only player we have who does that naturally is Brownhill and he does it better when it's occasional rather the focus of his role.

I understand that Jay is quite similar these days and that the jury is out with Hountondji. But the problem was obvious last night and either we needed to bring Koleosho on with a brief to play as a quasi striker (not something he does naturally) or give Hountondji a proper 35-45 minute burst to play as an out and out striker. He showed in his cameo last night the pace and power to unsettle defenders and whilst he doesn't appear to be much of a target in the box yet, I struggle to believe that aaking him to lead the line and giving Flemming a chance to play off him in a proper 4231 wouldn't have massively improved us yesterday. Generally playing round pegs in round holes equals a better outcome than lots of square pegs in round holes even if the square pegs might individually be better players. When players are out of form or struggling with something, simplify what you are asking of them.

Just as this is a bit unfair on Flemming, by the way, so the way we've set up has been unfair on Hountondji. He clearly doesn't have a refined enough game to link play on his own and yet the only time he's had a start- at Millwall - the rest of the team might as well have been on the other side of the Thames for all the support they gave him. Since then he's been given 5 minute cameos. Whilst performances in training also matter, if he's part of the first team squad we've got to try and give him a chance to establish himself as an asset, particularly on nights when things palpable aren't working.

[Wokingclaret]

If only management was that simple, everybody would be countering eachother and every game would be 0-0

They aren't that far off are thee

[leelad]

Of our summer signings, the only players to have impressed me so far are Humphries, Laurent and Sarmiento.

With Flemming and Hannibal, I don't think SP has a clear idea of their best position yet, they are not being played to their full potential so it would be unfair to judge.

Egan & Worrall are experienced defenders who are backups to Esteve and Egan Riley (when fit)

Anthony had a poor game last night and for me is clearly a confidence player, he doesn't look like he can take a player on and get to the byline and get a cross away. And as for taking corners.....

Hladky is back up to Trafford - can't judge that one.

[KRBFC]

Humphreys has been good.

Aside from that, Parker’s strike rate looks awfully bad and worryingly he seems to be targeting quite expensive experienced Championship players who simply aren’t PL level.

[Walt]

Humphreys has been good.

Aside from that, Parker’s strike rate looks awfully bad and worryingly he seems to be targeting quite expensive experienced Championship players who simply aren’t PL level.

You can't judge him on that window alone. See how he gets on when he's had time and a normal window to make judgements on who he wants. 3 of them we know for definite were nothing to do with him.

There's also the Mooney and Pace factor. Who will be very influential with what he can target, ability and finance wise.

Worral and Egan were very sensible signings at the time for leadership and experience. Who could have seen the role Egan-Riley would have played.

Flemming was clearly a bit rushed and he's been disappointing for various reasons. Most folk seemed pretty happy with him initially signing from what I recall.

Humphreys looks a good signing. Although the reported future fee seems a bit high to me, guess we'll see if that's value or not.

Hannibal looks a poor signing to me. However, he's not being utilised correctly either.

Anthony and Sarmiento, on the face of it seemed sensible and good in spells, poor in others. I dont want to sign either of them now but not sure we have a choice with Anthony.

Back up keepers, nothing to say they're good or bad signings yet. Green, we'll probably never know either way.

Laurent a good signing especially when you consider his fee.

Then there's the much discussed injured players who have had a massive impact on things.

[Elizabeth]

Still some room on the Flemming Train. Wait until he's match fit!

[ksrclaret]

I just hope that today shows the fans that Flemming has a lot to offer Burnley if he's played in his actual position.

It felt like he'd been written off as not good enough on this and other threads last week.