If we don't bring in a winger this window we should stick Taylor on the left and Brady on the right with cork, Defour and Hendrick in the middle, Taylor and ward could over lap each other down the wing and cover each other in left back position when one runs forward, those two tackling on the left with be fantastic.

I was impressed with Taylor on Wednesday but I'm never convinced full backs as wingers works.

Remember the much maligned Graham Branch ! Right Back/Winger extraordinaire !

Nah bale disappeared from the game when he was moved forward.

Had we signed Andrew Robertson, I would have advocated him doing that ahead of Ward. As we have Taylor, worth a try.

Burtonwoodclaret wrote:Remember the much maligned Graham Branch ! Right Back/Winger extraordinaire !

Would rather not

Trippier, Darikwa and now Taylor - what is this weird obsession with playing full backs as wingers?

Agree entirely with OP and so do a few people around me at the match yesterday including Turf Topper. JBG doesn't quite cut it at this level but Brady does. Taylor has pace and a great delivery from the left as we saw v Rovers plus defensive instinct so will track back.

Burtonwoodclaret wrote:Remember the much maligned Graham Branch ! Right Back/Winger extraordinaire !

He could catch pigeons.

Not the wing but definitely a left sided midfielder. Too good to be on the bench every week.

Should definitely be worked on in training.

What I watched off Taylor at deadwood I wood like to c Him play up top with Chris woods no each other from dirty Leeds days might make a grate partnership ideal replacement for lad who went to Watford then we have got pace and power going forward utc

ClaretTony wrote:Trippier, Darikwa and now Taylor - what is this weird obsession with playing full backs as wingers?

Not sure it's an obsession. Think it may stem from our reluctance over the past couple of years to get to the bye line and whip crosses in. We all like wingers surely? I sort of understand the op. It's recognising how we play, along with realising the defensive qualities of these players further forward. Taylor was always bombing forward from left back for Leeds. Not having gray to think about may help us massively.

For me, I wonder how long players of these qualities will be happy sitting on our bench. Dyche won't swap out ward and lowton until injuries/suspensions kick in. Strength in depth is great, and a very unusual position for us to find ourselves in.

ClaretTony wrote:Trippier, Darikwa and now Taylor - what is this weird obsession with playing full backs as wingers?

Probably the reverse process of the wingers playing full back.

Once Dyche fit he will slot in at left back. I can see him playing on the wing though as he looks far better at attacking than defending. Could be looking at 5-10 goals a season from him on the wing.

bobinho wrote:Not sure it's an obsession. Think it may stem from our reluctance over the past couple of years to get to the bye line and whip crosses in. We all like wingers surely? I sort of understand the op. It's recognising how we play, along with realising the defensive qualities of these players further forward. Taylor was always bombing forward from left back for Leeds. Not having gray to think about may help us massively.

For me, I wonder how long players of these qualities will be happy sitting on our bench. Dyche won't swap out ward and lowton until injuries/suspensions kick in. Strength in depth is great, and a very unusual position for us to find ourselves in.

How many teams get to the bye-line and whip crosses in? I don't get this obsession with wingers having to beat a man and get to the bye-line. You rarely see it at the top level of the modern game so why should we look to do it?

Another one in the 'not so sure' camp. What I've seen of Taylor, was his ability at Leeds to whip a cross on while still in full flight and from deeper positions. He is strong and capable but not sure he's a winger. A strong alternative to Ward, yes; who incidentally was excellent yesterday.

Rileybobs wrote:How many teams get to the bye-line and whip crosses in? I don't get this obsession with wingers having to beat a man and get to the bye-line. You rarely see it at the top level of the modern game so why should we look to do it?

Yes, another obsession to go with the full backs playing as wingers.

ClaretTony wrote:Trippier, Darikwa and now Taylor - what is this weird obsession with playing full backs as wingers?

Darikwa went the other way...at Chesterfield he very much started there as a winger. Hence I guess his defending frailties. I think Taylor may very well have the qualities to do a great job on the left hand side of the midfield.

turfytopper wrote:Darikwa went the other way...at Chesterfield he very much started there as a winger. Hence I guess his defending frailties. I think Taylor may very well have the qualities to do a great job on the left hand side of the midfield.

I think Taylor is far more likely to be utilised as a central defender should it be needed.

Rileybobs wrote:How many teams get to the bye-line and whip crosses in? I don't get this obsession with wingers having to beat a man and get to the bye-line. You rarely see it at the top level of the modern game so why should we look to do it?

Ok. Maybe not getting to the bye line. But whipping balls in to the box to exploit the skills of those making the right run. That hasn't been our first (or second, or third) option for a long time. Maybe now we aren't restricted to slipping in the pacey guy at every opportunity, we might catch a few teams on the hop.

It's nice as an option, but as 1st or even 2nd, nah

Don't forget that Ward could play in front of Taylor as a left sided midfielder (in certain circumstances). He has not always played left back in his career, he has had spells in left midfield and up front. He can pass a ball and has a decent cross and shot on him.
I could imagine a scenario where Taylor and Ward could interchange down the left. Not saying that we shouldn't sign a quality left sided player, but we certainly have options down that side now.

100% not a central defender. I think Dyche was perhaps sending the board a message when he came out with that. And I remember when Gareth Bale was pushed forward - some football fans were screaming that he wasn't a winger.

ClaretTony wrote:Would rather not

So Tony, I guess you'd rather remember DiBranchio as a centre half/centre forward?

It's not an obsession and we don't play wingers in the traditional sense. We play narrow wide midfilders. Taylor is tailor made for left side midfield away from home. Brady to the right and Taylor on the left.

Rileybobs wrote:How many teams get to the bye-line and whip crosses in? I don't get this obsession with wingers having to beat a man and get to the bye-line. You rarely see it at the top level of the modern game so why should we look to do it?

We have the players in the middle who can make the most of it. Lots of teams do not.

Saw the thread title and thought abc had been let back in early - board has been so much better this last week or so

Burtonwoodclaret wrote:Remember the much maligned Graham Branch ! Right Back/Winger extraordinaire !

I think you're pigeonholing him there. He was also a centre back and striker

Chester Perry wrote:Saw the thread title and thought abc had been let back in early - board has been so much better this last week or so

I guess that's one lengthier version of, "I disagree".

And Tarkowski should replace Heaton because he's taller.

I don't see why there have been so many dismissive and sarcastic comments on this thread.
Playing the system we tend to use, I don't think there's any doubt that Taylor or Ward, could be quite effective playing left sided midfield, and it wouldn't surprise me if we see it in certain games this season.

nil_desperandum wrote:I don't see why there have been so many dismissive and sarcastic comments on this thread.
Playing the system we tend to use, I don't think there's any doubt that Taylor or Ward, could be quite effective playing left sided midfield, and it wouldn't surprise me if we see it in certain games this season.

Some people are very dismissive of change. They don't like it. They'll have rubbished any idea of Gareth Bale playing left wing or upfront. But, there have been some outlandish suggestions in the past of moving players - such as Hennings left wing! So we've certainly seen worse.

Taylor will turn out to be one of our best players and he's virtually been a left winger for Leeds in the past when it was one way traffic.

DavidFishwicksDad wrote:What I watched off Taylor at deadwood I wood like to c Him play up top with Chris woods no each other from dirty Leeds days might make a grate partnership ideal replacement for lad who went to Watford then we have got pace and power going forward utc

Please tell me you are joking? You are joking, right?

uwe wrote:So Tony, I guess you'd rather remember DiBranchio as a centre half/centre forward?

I'd rather remember him as a player who was not good enough to play in a team that's nowhere near the level we are now no matter which position he played. The whole DiBranchio thing was nothing more than mocking him.

I still cant understand cotterills reluctance to play valois over him who was clearly a better player.

ClaretTony wrote:The whole DiBranchio thing was nothing more than mocking him.

There was mockery yes, but there was also a level of affection and an acknowledgement that although he wasn't a star he did his best. A little bit like the "Whoooosh" for Ray Deakin.

Branchy provided us with professionalism and had many good moments for Burnley. He was integral to our rise in the late 90s and early 2000s.

It's that thing again where some Burnley fans can't get their heads around having two decent players for one position.

ClaretTony wrote:I'd rather remember him as a player who was not good enough to play in a team that's nowhere near the level we are now no matter which position he played. The whole DiBranchio thing was nothing more than mocking him.

Speak for yourself.

I certainly didn't mock him. I supported him. At the time we had him in our squad, he was extremely versatile and vastly underrated. For some reason, he was unfairly singled out for abuse by "the great unwashed".

There is always a whipping boy at Burnley, and branch held that accolade. Shame really. Did many jobs for us. Not the best at anything, but good at most and incredibly versatile.

bobinho wrote:Speak for yourself.

I certainly didn't mock him. I supported him. At the time we had him in our squad, he was extremely versatile and vastly underrated. For some reason, he was unfairly singled out for abuse by "the great unwashed".

There is always a whipping boy at Burnley, and branch held that accolade. Shame really. Did many jobs for us. Not the best at anything, but good at most and incredibly versatile.

I'm not speaking for anyone, it was there for all to see and hear. I didn't say you did mock him but the whole DiBranchio thing was mocking and came from the fact that he was always the whipping boy. As for him as a player, I just didn't rate him at all to be honest no matter which position he played. But in fairness, moving him from left wing (his real position), to up front, to midfield, to left back, to centre half was not his decision.

Chester Perry wrote:Saw the thread title and thought abc had been let back in early - board has been so much better this last week or so

Oh, I suspect that Ablue is already here lurking long under a fresh identity.

gandhisflipflop wrote:I still cant understand cotterills reluctance to play valois over him who was clearly a better player.

Bloody hell, remember the days when Jean Louis Valois (or "Valloy" as we used to dub him) was our closest thing to a bit of flair. He scored at least one decent goal, think it was the third in a 3-1. I said something similar on another thread, but look at how far we've come!

With the way we play though the full-backs are the one putting the crosses in, not the midfielders. The midfielders come inside leaving space for the full-backs to get up and put the cross in. Tactically we're not looking for wingers to hit the byline and whip a cross in.