Am I right in suggesting that we could go into at least one game soon with Ashley Westwood as our only available specialist midfielder?

If so, it goes without saying that we're going to be struggling.

Thank the Lord for the points already in the bag!

Hope Barton's hearing is next month!!

don't worry, we've got Tarks

All them bloody midfielders and we could end up with Tarky and Arfield as the two.

It wouldn't be a Burnley season if there wasn't a crisis in CM at some stage.

Everyone is predicting a Barton ban, but it may not happen.

The number of games he can be punished for betting on isn't actually a massive amount is it?
The rules weren't introduced until a couple of years ago.

If we have to start a game or two with Arfield in the centre of midfield, it would not be a disaster. He's done the job before and he can do it, although it clearly isn't ideal. We'll miss Hendrick's physical presence and athleticism whoever replaces him in there.

I'm pretty sure Barton's hearing will be a couple of weeks away yet, so we're probably OK for now, but the game that we probably have a bit of a concern over is Hull away (would be the last of a 3 game ban), which is unfortunate because its clearly a pivotal game.

Sidney1st wrote:Everyone is predicting a Barton ban, but it may not happen.

The number of games he can be punished for betting on isn't actually a massive amount is it?
The rules weren't introduced until a couple of years ago.

That's not quite true. The rules were just different until two years ago... he may have broken them then too!

Some on here have mentioned a ten game ban

I just hope they're well wide of the mark!

How long is Defour expected to be out for?

Right_winger wrote:How long is Defour expected to be out for?

Dyche said it's not a question of days. I think that's 2/3 weeks minimum

Right_winger wrote:How long is Defour expected to be out for?

Same question?

I'd be concerned with a midfield two of Westwood and Arfield, especially away from home.

Really hope Barton can somehow escape this ban for a few more games yet.

Sidney1st wrote:Everyone is predicting a Barton ban, but it may not happen.

The number of games he can be punished for betting on isn't actually a massive amount is it?
The rules weren't introduced until a couple of years ago.

I suspect he will get a very long ban

I am praying we don't line up with Arfield in central midfield against Chelsea, could be embarrassing.

Jeff has really done us in today, was playing so well, there was no need to do it...

2/3 weeks is not good for Defour. Let's hope Barton avoids a ban. HE was immense today yet again. Don't want to think about Arfield/Westwood combo.... *shudder*

I don't think anyone has the first clue what sort of ban Barton will get. There appears to be very little clarity as to what he has actually done, the extent to which it is in breach of the rules at the time of each bet, or indeed what the precedents are in terms of bans. Therefore, anyone declaring he will either get a very long ban, or indeed no ban at all, seems to me to be overplaying their hand.

Westwood and Arfield in midfield would clearly not be ideal, but a unit of Brady, Westwood, Arfield Boyd isn't completely disastrous, if it comes to pass.

Not sure whether the Cup game against Lincoln will count as one of Hendrick's
three matches? If so he'll miss Chelsea & Lincoln (h) and Hull away and be back for the Swansea
away game. If not then he'll miss Swansea away too.

If Barton gets a ban which seems inevitable then he'll miss god knows how many games.
We've got some critical games coming up. Chelsea at home followed by Hull, Swansea, Sunderland and Liverpool away
and then Spurs at home on 1 April. Possibly another Cup match also presuming we manage to beat Lincoln.

We'll need to dig deep, really deep to avoid not losing most, if not all of those.

If Chelsea continue their current form they will batter us, but they'll batter everyone in the bottom half when they play them too

a midfield of Brady ,Tarks , Westwood and Boyd or put Arfield in as well and go 4-5-1

The cup tie counts. Hendrick will be back after Hull.

claretspice wrote:The cup tie counts. Hendrick will be back after Hull.

Indeed. Domestic bans cover all domestic competitions.

Even with Hendrick in the team it would be optimistic to expect anything from the Chelsea game. We shouldn't be reliant on him for Lincoln (he probably wouldn't have started anyway) so Hull is the big one of the three for which he is banned.

I'm sure this has been covered elsewhere but Barton has asked for a personal hearing. Whilst he's obviously committed an offence under the current rules the extent etc. doesn't appear to be entirely black and white - the upshot, I would have thought, is that even if he is banned it's going to take a while to sort out. So hopefully, one way or another he's available for Hull. After that Hendrick will be back and Defour should be there or thereabouts.

Agreed - the unexpected bonus of the Cup run is that it's one less league game that he's suspended for.

UTC!

Is there a recall clause in O'Neill's loan? Could we possibly tempt Lampard out of retirement?

Talks and Westwood it is then

All these Barton bet's could be almost all non football bets like rugby or golf bets he likes both, plus they only count over the last 4 years or so not 10 years and they only work out on average at 2 bets per week, we could be looking at a fine, but its Joey Barton and it's Burnley so we could see him sent to prison for 50 years and Burnley docked 40 points

AGENT_CLARET wrote:All these Barton bet's could be almost all non football bets like rugby or golf bets he likes both, plus they only count over the last 4 years or so not 10 years and they only work out on average at 2 bets per week, we could be looking at a fine, but its Joey Barton and it's Burnley so we could see him sent to prison for 50 years and Burnley docked 40 points

And how do you know the details of his bets?

How about signing leon osman until end of season he is out of contract, ok he is 35, but comes with
Plenty of premiership experience

fidelcastro wrote:And how do you know the details of his bets?

He doesn't, AGENT says they could be.

Think we'll be fine for the 2/3 games. Real shame about the red card as Barton and Hendrick were looking like a really strong partnership. Unlikely they'll play together now for quite some time with Barton's likely lengthy ban.

One positive; I was impressed with Westwood when he came on yesterday. His quick one touch passing helped us retain the ball really well. I'd heard him compared to *Michael Carrick and can see why.

*it may actually have been a poor man's Michael Carrick.

MattBFC wrote:Think we'll be fine for the 2/3 games. Real shame about the red card as Barton and Hendrick were looking like a really strong partnership. Unlikely they'll play together now for quite some time with Barton's likely lengthy ban.

One positive; I was impressed with Westwood when he came on yesterday. His quick one touch passing helped us retain the ball really well. I'd heard him compared to *Michael Carrick and can see why.

*it may actually have been a poor man's Michael Carrick.

Agree. His passing was quick and clever and he wasnt afraid to go back to keep the ball.

So it's looking the Hull(a) game is the one that's really not looking good and it could be pivotal. This is why I mentioned on other threads that the 10 points (now 9) we had clear is basically naff all. It's a cushion but it's not much of one. Can we still bring players in on loan? I'm not liking the sound of Arfield being back into central midfield, at all.

FactualFrank wrote:So it's looking the Hull(a) game is the one that's really not looking good and it could be pivotal. This is why I mentioned on other threads that the 10 points (now 9) we had clear is basically naff all. It's a cushion but it's not much of one. Can we still bring players in on loan? I'm not liking the sound of Arfield being back into central midfield, at all.

Strewth, considering Boro have only taken 11 points in their last 14 matches & Leicester 9, I'd say it's massive tbh!

I wouldn't go anywhere near any sharp knives if I were you!

There are of course no guarantees at this stage and we still have a lot of work to do, but a 9 point gap is far from naff all - it's significant.

9 points is a massive margin. 6 is still pretty comfortable. Especially given our goal difference is better than Hull's.

As it stands, we'll go to Hull with 4 from Westwood, Barton, Arfield and Tarkowski in the centre of midfield, with Brady a further option. That's a better set of options than, for example, we had when we went to United 2 seasons ago with Jones and Arfield our only options - and battered them.

Hull have got their tails up, Grosicki will be on a mission, we will have no midfield, we can't win away.

Sounds like the sort of challenge this team have loved taking on to be honest. Hopefully we'll win it.

Barton has requested a personal hearing - that takes at least a month to set up then they take a few days to decide a punishment, if any, after which Joey appeals which takes several more weeks. End of April early May before you know it

If we really got stuck you could play Ward there-did a great job v Leicester when we were last in the Prem-move Ben to LB and Tark to centre half

It'll only be a crisis if Barton's hearing is sorted before Jeff's ban is up, hopefully we'll have Barton and Westwood in the middle until Hendrick and Defour are back.

I'm sure I read that Brady has played in the middle of the park and of course Tarks, Arfield and Ward are all options.

JBG and Brady could do a job in a centre midfield 3 for a couple of games if needed. Westwood, one of them and Arfield/ TarKs would be fine if necessary. We ahd zero optons last time.

9 points most certainly isn't a massive margin. It's 3 wins. With 14 games still go to go (almost a third of the season), that says it all. The thread from the other day suggests I'm far from alone in that thinking either.

As for the personal hearing with regards to Barton, if he gets a ban, does anybody know if he can then dispute it and drag it on a bit longer?

9 points is a big margin. Over the course of the season so far the teams in the relegation zone have taken 11 games to pick up 9 points on average. Of course those patterns could change but it does provide context. And there are also 5 other teams in between us and the relegation zone which obviously can't be ignored either. Our form would have to become catastrophic while those that are really struggling see a huge upturn in their results. As I said this can happen but a 9 point gap most certainly isn't naff all. Chelsea are 9 points clear and the general view is that they will win the title.

If you believe 9 points is naff all I suggest you lump on us getting relegated because you'll get excellent odds - about 14/1.

What's up with Gudmundsson?

FactualFrank wrote:9 points most certainly isn't a massive margin. It's 3 wins. With 14 games still go to go (almost a third of the season), that says it all. The thread from the other day suggests I'm far from alone in that thinking either.

As for the personal hearing with regards to Barton, if he gets a ban, does anybody know if he can then dispute it and drag it on a bit longer?

If 9 points is nothing, do you see us catching anyone above us up to nine points ahead?

If having two midfielders play in central midfield is a crisis we must of been in crisis for the last 35 years.

Quickenthetempo wrote:If 9 points is nothing, do you see us catching anyone above us up to nine points ahead?

No.

FactualFrank wrote:No.

Absolutely correct, Frank.

FactualFrank wrote:No.

Then your logic is questionable Frankly.