Does anyone else think that SD was doing a little bit of experimenting today with Tarks at RB? Obviously he is not overly impressed with Lowton at present and Bardsley is not exactly the quickest so maybe, just maybe SD is thinking of trying this in a Prem match with Long and Mee as CBs.
Just a thought

When I saw the starting lineup, my immediate thoughts was that he was perhaps doing two things at once. Experimenting to see if he could play the role there (with the thoughts that Gibson is too good to leave out), and but also not risking Lowton/Bards.

He seemed to lose his man a few times down their left, and I think against Premier League wingers he could struggle.

Our best player today in my view. But I don't think his selection at right back was with a view to him playing there again. Bardsley and Lowton were injured.

taio wrote:Our best player today in my view. But I don't think his selection at right back was with a view to him playing there again. Bardsley and Lowton were injured.

You're probably right, Taio. But I'm sure he thought he was the 'best of the rest' to play that position with a 'who knows' possibility. Afterall he's suggested Taylor at cb in the past.

Tarks is not a rb , a modern rb is expected to sprint down the wing overlap and cross! A great cb leave him there

Ooogeorgeorgeoghani wrote:Tarks is not a rb , a modern rb is expected to sprint down the wing overlap and cross! A great cb leave him there

He was almost upfront at one point, what more do you want!

Took half an hour to work out what the hell he was supposed to be doing out there, during which time Barnsley had plenty of joy around and behind him, but after that it worked fine.

I suspect Dyche was largely protecting the two recognised right backs, but I'm sure he was having a look at something just in case we need it in the future. On the evidence of the last hour, it's a viable option, although we lose plenty by comparison to Lowton and to a lesser extent Bardsley in terms of delivery into the box.

He's built for heading the ball clear. You don't have to do that much at full back.
The only short coming he had though was his crossing when he got forward.

He was there because we didn't want to get an injured "proper" right back.
He's a decent player and will be able to fill in in a few positions but can't suddenly become a Premier standard right back. Showed he was an adequate fill-in there though, if needs arise.

Played well today. My motm

LeadBelly wrote:He was there because we didn't want to get an injured "proper" right back.
He's a decent player and will be able to fill in in a few positions but can't suddenly become a Premier standard right back. Showed he was an adequate fill-in there though, if needs arise.

I agree. My post was more about Dyche's thinking. He's clearly a strong central defender, but he did a job, so always an option in the next cup game.

Seemed an obvious selection to me. If Bardsley and Lowton were both to be unfit next week then he is most likely the best option at RB, so why not experiment with it today? (If not him then who? -I guess it would have to be Hendrick or Gudmundson, but we need JBG as a forward option next week.)
We're pretty well covered in all the other positions once Brady completes his ban.

nil_desperandum wrote:Seemed an obvious selection to me. If Bardsley and Lowton were both to be unfit next week then he is most likely the best option at RB, so why not experiment with it today? (If not him then who? -I guess it would have to be Hendrick or Gudmundson, but we need JBG as a forward option next week.)
We're pretty well covered in all the other positions once Brady completes his ban.

I'd have personally had Cork down to fill in there should it have been necessary - he played there quite a lot as a young player - with Hendrick slotting into the midfield. But Tarks did fine there today and it does make sense to keep the continuity in the back 4 should we need it.

claretspice wrote:I'd have personally had Cork down to fill in there should it have been necessary - he played there quite a lot as a young player - with Hendrick slotting into the midfield. But Tarks did fine there today and it does make sense to keep the continuity in the back 4 should we need it.

You really believe Dyche would take Cork out of midfield? Not a chance in my book.

Thought he was regularly beaten down the wing. Not sure how he's anyone's motm when he looked so clearly out of position

claretspice wrote:I'd have personally had Cork down to fill in there should it have been necessary - he played there quite a lot as a young player - with Hendrick slotting into the midfield.

With Cork at RB, you'd have Hendrick in front of Defour? I get that Defour struggles somewhat in a two but I think we've seen all we're ever going to see of Hendrick, Spice, and factoring in consistency (putting aside standout games which all players eventually have), his "best"' over any given period isn't near good enough to justify a start in a serious game despite Defour's deficiencies in a two-man midfield. In such a scenario with Cork at RB, Westwood and Defour would be the only option. There's no way Hendrick should be starting league games unless injury forces it.

Bardsley was watching behind usin the JHL today - injured from Huddersfield methinks. Not sure why Lowton wasn't in. Experimenting going on, I agree, but JT not a RB

CaptJohn wrote:Does anyone else think that SD was doing a little bit of experimenting today with Tarks at RB?

No - he had no fit right backs and so someone had to play there

If it needed on saturday then hendrick could play rb. No way tarks won't play cb against Mitrovic. However i think i would play wardy rb. Whoever it is will have to deal with Sessonon

Spiral wrote:With Cork at RB, you'd have Hendrick in front of Defour? I get that Defour struggles somewhat in a two but I think we've seen all we're ever going to see of Hendrick, Spice, and factoring in consistency (putting aside standout games which all players eventually have), his "best"' over any given period isn't near good enough to justify a start in a serious game despite Defour's deficiencies in a two-man midfield. In such a scenario with Cork at RB, Westwood and Defour would be the only option. There's no way Hendrick should be starting league games unless injury forces it.

We'll have to agree to disagree on that one. I've seen him have plenty of good games, particularly in a midfield 2 (City at home last season, anyone?), and if Cork were to have to drop into cover at full back, he'd be the correct man to slot into midfield alongside Westwood to the fetching and carrying role. Westwood and Defour are simply too similar in statute and physicality and we'd not win enough second balls.

However, I agree with nil-desperandum that having seen how that worked yesterday, I'd expect Tarks to get the nod at right back, and Long at right centre half. Apart from anything else, Fulham have shown again today that they're a bit vulnerable at set plays and having the three big lads in the team gives us an extra threat in that department, as well as helping us defend our own box.

It might be an idea to try Hendrick at right back in the next round. It could save his Burnley career if he plays well there.