Our first choice midfield?

[Im_not_Robbie_Blake]

Boyd, Hendrick, Westwood, Barton, Arfield, Gudmundsson, Marney, Brady, Defour, Tarkowski (as his second position). A tremendous squad of midfield players. You could play ANY of the 4 (or 5) in our first team and it would be superb.

Is it possible to select a 'first choice' (4 or 5) for our strongest team? It's really difficult, which is great news, and .... Dyche has to find a way of keeping them all happy!

Maybe a different 4 (or 5) home and away? Maybe different depending on who we play?

My answer? I couldn't choose at the moment (yes, big cop-out!) Just leave it to the great man to do his job.

[Im_not_Robbie_Blake]

Maybe also try with or without Marney?

[claretspice]

Brady, Barton Hendrick and Boyd for me.

But the choice between Barton, Westwood and Defour for the second central berth is incredibly tough.

[ClaretTony]

Oops, delete the 's' from Jeff's surname!

You can do it youself by pressing the edit button

[Sidney1st]

Brady, Hendrick, Barton, Defour, Gudmundsson.

For occasions when a 5 man midfield is needed, that would hopefully scare the crap out of some people at TM.

[boiledclaret]

Midfielders get knocks and carded so you need a few of them. On Sunday the midfield picked itself with 2 injured and one suspended prior to the game.

Two years ago we went into the season with two CM ers and ended up with one who was accompanied by the unavoidable 'needs must makeshift' scenario.

It's seems ludicrous in comparison to now.

[Right_winger]

On ability I'd rate them in order as follows
Defour
Brady
Barton
JBG
Hendrick
Boyd
Arfield
Westwood
Tarkowski

As a 4 I'd like to see Brady, Defour, Barton/Hendrick, JBG

Tough on Hendrick but Barton the last couple of Games looks the complete midfielder and I think he works well with Defour from what Iv seen. JBG has a super dead ball delivery and crossing, plus he is more of a handful going forward than Boyd/Arfield.

Dyche won't play that though as he likes defence first which means Boyd will always play and he will partner Hendrick up with Barton.

[cricketfieldclarets]

I like 442 and it works for us. But we could pose more of a threat with JBG And Brady but would go with a 5 with Hendrick off Gray or Barnes. Barton and Defour sitting. That said Westwood has more energy than Defour and probably Barton. Its tough but its a great conundrum to have.

I hope im wrong but expect Defour will leave.

Its the position that sees most injuries and suspension so we need the numbers we have now.

[claretspice]

I tend to agree that 4-4-2 suits the psyche of the players we have, and I'm not sure we're ever going to be able to afford the sort of striker who is both capable of stretching a defence, and holding the ball up with his back to goal, that you need to make 4-5-1 work as a first choice option.

It will be interesting to see what we do in midfield next season, and much might depend on the extent of Barton's ban. Westwood, Barton and Defour are all slightly different, but they are all relatively similar players and I'm not sure that in an ideal squad you'd have the 3 of them - perhaps 2 of the three. Westwood has been signed for the long haul, so I suspect much might depend on what happens with Barton: on current form he's worth an extra year, but presumably much depends on his betting punishment. If he doesn't get a long ban, I suspect Defour's future will be up for debate, to make a vacancy for us to recruit a more athletic, physical midfielder to compete with Hendrick for his place and replace Marney.

Out wide, one assumes Boyd will get offered an extra year and I can't see us shipping out any of the other 3 wide options, so it may be that we're looking for a pacey, wildcard option who can develop from the bench and possibly offer us something different if we do go 4-5-1.

But we're stronger in that department than we've ever been before and we've a vast more depth than I can remember us having in that area before.

[Blackrod]

We need to retain some flair ie Defour and in a 5 he is outstanding. We need to retain all
Midfielders as don't know how long Barton will be out for and just sign a new additional striker in summer who can play in a 4 -5-1.

[claretandy]

I tend to agree that 4-4-2 suits the psyche of the players we have, and I'm not sure we're ever going to be able to afford the sort of striker who is both capable of stretching a defence, and holding the ball up with his back to goal, that you need to make 4-5-1 work as a first choice option.

It will be interesting to see what we do in midfield next season, and much might depend on the extent of Barton's ban. Westwood, Barton and Defour are all slightly different, but they are all relatively similar players and I'm not sure that in an ideal squad you'd have the 3 of them - perhaps 2 of the three. Westwood has been signed for the long haul, so I suspect much might depend on what happens with Barton: on current form he's worth an extra year, but presumably much depends on his betting punishment. If he doesn't get a long ban, I suspect Defour's future will be up for debate, to make a vacancy for us to recruit a more athletic, physical midfielder to compete with Hendrick for his place and replace Marney.

Out wide, one assumes Boyd will get offered an extra year and I can't see us shipping out any of the other 3 wide options, so it may be that we're looking for a pacey, wildcard option who can develop from the bench and possibly offer us something different if we do go 4-5-1.

But we're stronger in that department than we've ever been before and we've a vast more depth than I can remember us having in that area before.

We could do with 1 like Rondon at WBA, absolutely beasted us at the Hawthorns and only cost the same as Brady.

[IWOODLOVETT]

I think at some stage Brady will be played up front - as an alternative strike pairing with Sam. Maybe this weekend?

[claretspice]

We could do with 1 like Rondon at WBA, absolutely beasted us at the Hawthorns and only cost the same as Brady.

They aren't easily found though, certainly not within our wage budget (which may be the difference between what Brady and Rondon cost).

[Holtyclaret]

Rating JBG ahead of Hendrick is baffling unless I've missed something.

JBG (who I rate and like) will hopefully grow into Premier League life but Hendrick is already up to speed, learning fast and getting better with every game. (except the brain fart at Watford).

[Holtyclaret]

I think at some stage Brady will be played up front - as an alternative strike pairing with Sam. Maybe this weekend?

Bradys cup-tied.

[Holtyclaret]

As an aside isn't Hendrick awaiting an assault court date or has that been dropped??

[Tall Paul]

As an aside isn't Hendrick awaiting an assault court date or has that been dropped??

It wasn't that bad a tackle.

[Firthy]

I would like to see Hendrick, Barton, Defour and Brady. A good balance of workrate and skill there.

[ClaretTony]

If all fit then for me I'd go with Boyd - Hendrick - Barton - Brady

[andyh]

Depends... on a good day against opposition we should beat it would be Hendrick, Barton, Defour and Brady

Against a Chelsea away it would be Boyd - Hendrick - Barton - Brady

JBG very unlucky in both line ups... not done a lot wrong in my eyes.

[ablueclaret]

. Tarka
Barton Hendrick Defour. JBG.

or Barton
JBG Hendrick Defour Brady

[minnieclaret]

As an aside isn't Hendrick awaiting an assault court date or has that been dropped??

http://www.thejournal.ie/jeff-hendrick- ... 9-Mar2016/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Couldn't find the date but I believe it's June.
Only charged with violent disorder so unlikely to get time.

[Holtyclaret]

Thanks minnie, hadn't heard anything in a while.

[DCWat]

. Tarka
Barton Hendrick Defour. JBG.

or Barton
JBG Hendrick Defour Brady

Didn't you mean:

Tarka
Tarka Tarka Tarka Tarka

[DCWat]

I tend to agree that 4-4-2 suits the psyche of the players we have, and I'm not sure we're ever going to be able to afford the sort of striker who is both capable of stretching a defence, and holding the ball up with his back to goal, that you need to make 4-5-1 work as a first choice option.

It will be interesting to see what we do in midfield next season, and much might depend on the extent of Barton's ban. Westwood, Barton and Defour are all slightly different, but they are all relatively similar players and I'm not sure that in an ideal squad you'd have the 3 of them - perhaps 2 of the three. Westwood has been signed for the long haul, so I suspect much might depend on what happens with Barton: on current form he's worth an extra year, but presumably much depends on his betting punishment. If he doesn't get a long ban, I suspect Defour's future will be up for debate, to make a vacancy for us to recruit a more athletic, physical midfielder to compete with Hendrick for his place and replace Marney.

Out wide, one assumes Boyd will get offered an extra year and I can't see us shipping out any of the other 3 wide options, so it may be that we're looking for a pacey, wildcard option who can develop from the bench and possibly offer us something different if we do go 4-5-1.

But we're stronger in that department than we've ever been before and we've a vast more depth than I can remember us having in that area before.

I get that Westwood and Barton are similar but wouldn't really put Defour into that category. It will definitely be interesting to see what the intention is with midfield though, we have the players for a successful midfield five but as you say, not really the forwards to complement it, unless perhaps we adopt more of a 3-5-2 which might work with Brady but would require a similar player for the other side.

[Colburn_Claret]

. Tarka
Barton Hendrick Defour. JBG.

or Barton
JBG Hendrick Defour Brady

I've been wanting Tarks to play in front of the back 4 for ages, but Barton would be a good shout to fill that position. He has the bonus of reading the game so well.
It would free up the players in front who would be
Brady Defour JBG for me. We need some creativity up there and Boyd as much as I love the guy, and his effort, just doesn't create enough chances for me.

I'd still play 2 up top.

[KRBFC]

Gudmundsson Defour Barton Brady
Hendrick