Survival

[NewClaret]

Would be grateful if those with a depressive disposition could avoid this thread. If you don’t think we can survive at all, there’s plenty of other threads you can say so. This is one of hope and belief.

Simple question: what do we need to do now to survive?

I’ll start.

1. Start Cornet every game. No over protecting him or fitness stuff. Every game counts. We must play him every minute he’s available.

2. Play Roberts RW. We didn’t strengthen this position in the window so I’d say that’s our best shot. Dropping Lowton is also a risk since Roberts got caught out of position vs Arsenal a few times, so playing him further up allows him to have a freer role.

3. Keep Vydra fit. I’d go WW & Cornet up front but also quite like the idea of having Vydra buzzing around Wout. Also works really hard so I think he could play a key role in the remainder of the season. If he needs his operation it’d be a big loss imo.

[Milltown1882]

Protect Cornet from injury, hope WW and Cornet click quick. Utilise Roberts’ long throws well, continue to stop conceding soft goals.

I’ve been as negative as most on the negative side towards the end of the window and especially yesterday but there’s nothing we can do now but back the team.

[NewClaret]

Will add one more, promoted by milltown.

4. Cut out the errors at the back. Again, no specific targeting of Roberts here, but he played a very risky pass across goal vs Arsenal. Tarks and Mee have both played players in this year. A simple “no risks, safety first” approach needed even if it means watching some punts to row z.

[jedi_master]

Start Cornet and Weghorst from Watford onwards.

Play on the front foot.

Get McNeil playing as a winger, putting crosses in endlessly like he used to do.

Consider playing Pieters more often instead of Taylor in the games where we are expecting to (at best) draw.

[Jakubclaret]

Would be grateful if those with a depressive disposition could avoid this thread. If you don’t think we can survive at all, there’s plenty of other threads you can say so. This is one of hope and belief.

Simple question: what do we need to do now to survive?

I’ll start.

1. Start Cornet every game. No over protecting him or fitness stuff. Every game counts. We must play him every minute he’s available.

2. Play Roberts RW. We didn’t strengthen this position in the window so I’d say that’s our best shot. Dropping Lowton is also a risk since Roberts got caught out of position vs Arsenal a few times, so playing him further up allows him to have a freer role.

3. Keep Vydra fit. I’d go WW & Cornet up front but also quite like the idea of having Vydra buzzing around Wout. Also works really hard so I think he could play a key role in the remainder of the season. If he needs his operation it’d be a big loss imo.

Are people with a realistic disposition invited to contribute? I think realistic often gets confused with negative & depressive when they aren’t part of the same family.

[Tall Paul]

Collect more points by the end of the season than three other teams. It doesn't matter how we do it.

[daveisaclaret]

We just need a spark imo. The midfield is weak but I don't think we're a worse team than we were in 2018-19. That season it was McNeil and Heaton coming into the team that turned things around and gave the rest of the team the impetus. This season it could be any or all of Cornet, Weghorst and McNeil. Or it may not happen.

I think we've likely got the 18th best team in the league but the manager is worth a big boost to that as he always has been.

[Lancasterclaret]

The stats show we are a long way away from our usual solid selves

I think we've actually played a lot better than we have at times in previous survival years, so if we can keep the spark up front and cut out the problems at the back, then we've got a chance

But if we are going to survive, we need to look at getting 35-40 points from here, and I suspect we'll have to rely on a team completely imploding that is currently quite a way above us

I just don't see our last games being a "winner stays up" scenario sadly, we'll either be safe by then, or already down

[Claretforever]

Are people with a realistic disposition invited to contribute? I think realistic often gets confused with negative & depressive when they aren’t part of the same family.

Are you saying that regardless of his request you want to politely turn this into a negative, no point trying thread?

In terms of this thread and my thoughts, I wonder whether McNeil might be that central player needed to unlock a defence? Gudmundsson and Lennon wide?

[Pearcey]

We need to keep the feel good factor and spirit they showed against Arsenal. Some games we’ve only lost due to unforced errors so we need to stop that asap. Right wing is a problem but our best one is Cornet. Get him involved in the game as much as possible along with McNeil and get WW and Jay/Vyds up front to bang the chances in. I’d like to see Roberts starting at full back and getting forward allowing Cornet to go inside when the chance comes. I think it would be more exciting to watch too.

[Dark Cloud]

Start winning home games. There's plenty of games left and a more than even number are at home. Of the 5 postponed matches to be replayed 4 are home games (starting this Saturday) If TM can again be a fortress where we win somewhat scabbily for a series of 1-0s, anything is possible.

[willsclarets]

We need to be miraculously lucky and keep everyone fit, and we need to find a solution that makes our midfield more competitive. Cork cannot start, and for me neither can Gudmonsson - neither are at this level any more.

Westwood and Brownhill are the best we've got, but they need help. I'd put Roberts wide right in a 5, with brownhill playing behind Westwood and McNeill, with Cornet on the left and Wout up front.

[Jakubclaret]

Are you saying that regardless of his request you want to politely turn this into a negative, no point trying thread?

In terms of this thread and my thoughts, I wonder whether McNeil might be that central player needed to unlock a defence? Gudmundsson and Lennon wide?

No I’m simply asking do we abandon reality or is it a thread designed for we’ll be ok no matter what without discussing the severity of the situation.

[warksclaret]

Start and play with our best 11 every game. Roberts and Cornet have to both start if fit

[NewClaret]

No I’m simply asking do we abandon reality or is it a thread designed for we’ll be ok no matter what without discussing the severity of the situation.

If you don’t believe we can survive, you’re politely asked not to contribute. If you think we can, and would like to offer your thoughts on that, go for it.

But to be clear, it’s about what we need to do to survive, so if you “realistically” think that’s not achievable then there’s no point sharing your thoughts. As I said, it’s a thread of hope and belief.

[Jakubclaret]

If you don’t believe we can survive, you’re politely asked not to contribute. If you think we can, and would like to offer your thoughts on that, go for it.

But to be clear, it’s about what we need to do to survive, so if you “realistically” think that’s not achievable then there’s no point sharing your thoughts. As I said, it’s a thread of hope and belief.

Thanks for the clarification that it’s not a thread for people with any sense of reality, as the dragons in the den say I’m out.

[Tall Paul]

Win on Saturday (and we're clear favourites to do so), we're up to 18th, one point behind 17th with games in hand and the picture looks a whole lot rosier.

[timel0veandtendayi]

Let Lennon focus on attacking. Not saying he's the answer to our problems but is probably the best we've got on the right (over Gudmundsson who hasn't beaten a fullback for years). For too long he's been used as a second full back but recently showed that he's useful if you let him run at players.

[SalouClaret]

I’m out.

Thank **** for that.

[CrosspoolClarets]

At home only City and Liverpool have conceded fewer. OK, we have only played seven games, but it remains context for those who think we are very leaky compared to normal.

Lots of the stats are in our favour - we just need to get that “detail” at both ends Dyche refers to.

I think his survival plan (probably changed after not being able to get Barkley done in time late on) will be to go big to Wout and use Cornet on the knock downs. It may be ugly, but it may work. I don’t see a new expansive style given the lack of additions, it will be stick to what we know. I see Wout and Roberts adding something to what we had before.

[RVclaret]

At home only City and Liverpool have conceded fewer. OK, we have only played seven games, but it remains context for those who think we are very leaky compared to normal.

Lots of the stats are in our favour - we just need to get that “detail” at both ends Dyche refers to.

I think his survival plan (probably changed after not being able to get Barkley done in time late on) will be to go big to Wout and use Cornet on the knock downs. It may be ugly, but it may work. I don’t see a new expansive style given the lack of additions, it will be stick to what we know. I see Wout and Roberts adding something to what we had before.

From what I’ve seen and read, WW is anything but just a hit and hope for flick ons player.

Give this a read: https://t.co/Ud4ytRRIgP

[SalouClaret]

I'd like to see something like:

-------------------- Pope

Lowton -- Mee -- Tarks -- Taylor

------------ Westwood -- Cork

Roberts ---------------------- McNeil

‐----------------- Cornet

----------------- Weghorst

[Claretforever]

No I’m simply asking do we abandon reality or is it a thread designed for we’ll be ok no matter what without discussing the severity of the situation.

Come on Jakub, I’m pretty sure you knew what this was before asking. We’re all a bit annoyed with the situation so we’re brainstorming how to focus positive energy into an escape plan…even if it’s slight. We don’t need any more negativity, and rather than throw the towel in we’re trying to remain a little upbeat rather than defeatist.

[Elizabeth]

Hopes - the new striker hits the ground running
- Dyche reacts more quickly to opposition and game changes
- Cornet has no more injury problems
- Roberts fills the troublesome left midfield position
- Tarkowski continues his good form at Arsenal
- McNeil is allowed to create more chances
- Brownhill practises shooting in training
- We play the ball forward in many more ways


Belief - if all the above happens we will avoid relegation ( narrowly)

[NewClaret]

Hopes - the new striker hits the ground running
- Dyche reacts more quickly to opposition and game changes
- Cornet has no more injury problems
- Roberts fills the troublesome left midfield position
- Tarkowski continues his good form at Arsenal
- McNeil is allowed to create more chances
- Brownhill practises shooting in training
- We play the ball forward in many more ways


Belief - if all the above happens we will avoid relegation ( narrowly)

Is left midfield a typo?

[Elizabeth]

It is indeed NC