Jordan Beyer can't be too far away from being match fit. Would you have him back in the team if he is? Esteve has been impressive so far and O'Shea has really improved over the last few months. As good as Beyer is, I'm not sure I would drop either of those two.

I was wondering how he would do at right back with Assignon playing further upfield. Assignon looks very comfortable on the ball and it would give us a pretty solid right side. What does anyone else think?

Also on a positive note ...if we go down, we could be picking a defense from O'Shea, Esteve, Beyer, Delcroix, Taylor and Ekdal. I think whatever combination is picked out of that group, it would be a very good defense in the Championship.

Missed but as others have alluded to and I agree with play Jordan in cm.He reads the game well , good ball winner and drives forward well. At present we dither too much with nonsense side and back passing.

Not unless he can play left back.

He’s one who I thought would step up with ease but it hasn’t proved the case. On the bench for me.

No

Must be a Burnley thing ,every time we get a ball playing centre half we want to put them in midfield a la Tarkowski ,probably because we haven’t been strong there for years,it seems to work the other way round with us with the likes of Dobson dropping back to CH .

We've been crying out for a good right back all season, we sign Assignon who looks a good addition then for some reason you want to move him?
Beyer has never played midfield he's been poor and caught on the ball at centre half this season so why would he be a premier league midfielder?
Needs to come back on the bench, improve and fight for his place he's got a lot of work to do

Trafford
O Shea Ekdal Esteve Delcroix
Assignon Beyer Berge Taylor
Foster Fofana

Definitely doesn't get back into the defence right away as it picks itself now in my opinion. As for CM, I would be bringing Cullen back ahead of Beyer to push Berge further up the pitch.

We've spent all season experimenting with stupid team selections and tactics, we need to pick our best 11 and stick to the basics til the end of the season if they want any chance of survival.
If they manage to do it then VK can regroup, assess and make changes over the summer

One thing we don't need to do now on is play a left sided centre back on the right side and vise versa, they look so uncomfortable when doing so. Especially Ekdal in the 1st half against Fulham

Ric_C wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 14, 2024 9:21 am

One thing we don't need to do now on is play a left sided centre back on the right side and vise versa, they look so uncomfortable when doing so. Especially Ekdal in the 1st half against Fulham

I wanted Ekdal to be given a chance after how poor we'd been but I doubt we'll see him start again or if everybody's fit I doubt he'll even make an appearance again. I think his Burnley career is done

Beyer ought to return with a stint on the bench. He's struggled with the physicality of the Premier League massively, and he's lost the ball numerous times in dangerous positions trying to run out with it and getting caught.

Before we signed Assignon, there was a strong case of moving him to right back where he's played before, but we now seem to have found someone competent to play there.

The only snag might be if Esteve came off injured and requires a period of recovery himself.

bumba wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 14, 2024 9:19 am

We've spent all season experimenting with stupid team selections and tactics, we need to pick our best 11 and stick to the basics til the end of the season if they want any chance of survival.
If they manage to do it then VK can regroup, assess and make changes over the summer

Ah, don't worry about that. Any player can play in any position, says Pep.

Keeps 'em on their toes.

ksrclaret wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 14, 2024 9:29 am

Beyer ought to return with a stint on the bench. He's struggled with the physicality of the Premier League massively, and he's lost the ball numerous times in dangerous positions trying to run out with it and getting caught.

Before we signed Assignon, there was a strong case of moving him to right back where he's played before, but we now seem to have found someone competent to play there.

The only snag might be if Esteve came off injured and requires a period of recovery himself.

Why do people assume that running the ball out, and losing possession, is all on the players head.
We've made this same mistake, so often, that it should be obvious that players are instructed to play this way by VK. Most of our players would probably love to put their laces through the ball, but if the man who picks the team says 'no', what are you supposed to do.

Colburn_Claret wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 14, 2024 10:33 am

Why do people assume that running the ball out, and losing possession, is all on the players head.
We've made this same mistake, so often, that it should be obvious that players are instructed to play this way by VK. Most of our players would probably love to put their laces through the ball, but if the man who picks the team says 'no', what are you supposed to do.

1. Our other CBs don't run out with the ball in the way Beyer does

2. Whilst VK sets the style of football, players make the decisions on the field about how to execute each phase of the game. The management team can't script and instruct 90 minutes of football.

ksrclaret wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 14, 2024 10:37 am

1. Our other CBs don't run out with the ball in the way Beyer does

2. Whilst VK sets the style of football, players make the decisions on the field about how to execute each phase of the game. The management team can't script and instruct 90 minutes of football.

I disagree, mainly because we still give away cheap, avoidable goals by overplaying the ball at the back.
As fans we've bemoaned it all season. The pundits highlight it week after week on MOTD. Yet do we change our ideology, have we made changes to avoid the same mistakes again. No.
There is no way the players would continue to do that unless the manager has insisted. I've yet to see VK on the touchline, or in post match interviews, mention our players not getting rid of the ball in dangerous situations. Everyone else mentions it constantly.

Colburn_Claret wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 14, 2024 11:13 am

I disagree, mainly because we still give away cheap, avoidable goals by overplaying the ball at the back.
As fans we've bemoaned it all season. The pundits highlight it week after week on MOTD. Yet do we change our ideology, have we made changes to avoid the same mistakes again. No.
There is no way the players would continue to do that unless the manager has insisted. I've yet to see VK on the touchline, or in post match interviews, mention our players not getting rid of the ball in dangerous situations. Everyone else mentions it constantly.

Not sure of the percentage but I thought we played a lot more long balls against Liverpool,and although losing we looked a much improved side.

I'd have Jordan Beyer over Ekdal and O'Shea.

Foshiznik wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 14, 2024 12:41 pm

I'd have Jordan Beyer over Ekdal and O'Shea.

And play with ten men?

Nori1958 wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 14, 2024 12:43 pm

And play with ten men?

Maybe you missed it but we bought French fella called Maxine Esteve who is very good.

You said you'd have Beyer over oshea AND Ekdal.... Lighten up

Foshiznik wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 14, 2024 12:46 pm

Maybe you missed it but we bought French fella called Maxine Esteve who is very good.

Woah Joay Barton will be all over this

Bar LWB we have all the personal to play 3-4-3 / 3-5-2

Beyer-O'Shea-Esteve would be a solid back three, with Delcroix/Chaz being able to provide cover at LCB and Ekdal for the central CB position

CoolClaret wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 14, 2024 1:33 pm

Bar LWB we have all the personal to play 3-4-3 / 3-5-2

Beyer-O'Shea-Esteve would be a solid back three, with Delcroix/Chaz being able to provide cover at LCB and Ekdal for the central CB position

In theory, having Beyer in a back three/defensive midfielder role in certain scenarios gives us flexibility.

We MUST NOT continue with Berge in that role, he is the only option in central midfield who is up to the job as a Premier League quality midfielder and playing him deep is criminal.

If we had time to work on it then it could be a goer, but too often in recent weeks we seem to be trying things on a Saturday afternoon that are obviously not ready.

Personally i think our best 2 centre backs are Esteve and Delcroix but playing two left footers together seems unlikely.
Weve got great balance there now though.

Beyer v O'Shea on the right with Ekdal and Al Dakhil as backup
Esteve v Delcroix on the left and obviously the other centre backs can fill in there in an emergency.
I get the feeling its an important part of Kompany's tactical plans and explains why he stuck Taylor in at left centre back last season so often.

I think it's been difficult to judge Beyer fairly this season at this level because he's not had settled partners and fellow defenders alongside him, he's had a young rookie goalie learning his trade and inevitably making mistakes behind him and I'm not certain he's ever been fully fit even when he's been selected (because we were proper stuck). I could be wrong, but as far as I'm concerned, the jury's out. He was absolutely brilliant last season, but as we all know, the standard in the championship is way lower.

Dark Cloud wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 14, 2024 5:08 pm

I think it's been difficult to judge Beyer fairly this season at this level because he's not had settled partners and fellow defenders alongside him, he's had a young rookie goalie learning his trade and inevitably making mistakes behind him and I'm not certain he's ever been fully fit even when he's been selected (because we were proper stuck). I could be wrong, but as far as I'm concerned, the jury's out. He was absolutely brilliant last season, but as we all know, the standard in the championship is way lower.

That's all valid, my biggest issue with him and the others in the back four this season has been doing the basics well.

Too often last season we weren't having to defend, so it was difficult to judge our defensive prowess.

I like the thought of bringing him back in a defensive midfield role but have no idea if we are capable of making it work, especially at this stage of the season.

While we arent overly blessed with Left Backs especially, i wouldnt mind see us try a solid back 3 of maybe O'Shea, Esteve and one of Ekdal/Beyer and drill the **** out of them on defending set pieces.

A fit Beyer can only be a boost to our squad.

A team containing:

Muric
Assignon
O'Shea
Esteve
Taylor
Beyer
Berge
Fofana
Foster

...would be as good as we could hope to be defensively from set pieces.

Add two extras, which one would probably be Odobert and we don't quite look like the pushovers physically we've been up to now.

We have a few winnable home games but some very tough away fixtures, we need to find a way of being harder to beat in these fixtures.

Goody1975 wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 14, 2024 4:17 pm

In theory, having Beyer in a back three/defensive midfielder role in certain scenarios gives us flexibility.

We MUST NOT continue with Berge in that role, he is the only option in central midfield who is up to the job as a Premier League quality midfielder and playing him deep is criminal.

If we had time to work on it then it could be a goer, but too often in recent weeks we seem to be trying things on a Saturday afternoon that are obviously not ready.

Only guy that can pick a pass forward in centre mid with quality , i agree. You’d have thought they’d have picked up on that!

Saw this come up on my twitter feed and thought I'd check if it's correct.


Here's another version on aerial duels, so not correct but we have the worst percentage in the league of duels won.

I'd go to a back three and start Esteve Beyere and OShea - with wingers/fullbacks in a midfield 5 personally.

My view is that last season Beyer looked really good, but when he got to the PL as a right-footed CB playing on the left side, he got exposed. Now that we have Esteve, I think Beyer would be awesome as a RCB along side Esteve.

BUT, O'Shea has certainly stepped up and can't see him being replaced anytime soon.

Hard on Beyer, but great to have a quality RCB in reserve.

Nori1958 wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 14, 2024 12:50 pm

You said you'd have Beyer over oshea AND Ekdal.... Lighten up

Why you so angry sir?

claretonthecoast1882 wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 14, 2024 9:13 am

Trafford
O Shea Ekdal Esteve Delcroix
Assignon Beyer Berge Taylor
Foster Fofana

Shame we don’t still have Kevin Long. He’d have been perfect playing alongside Fofana.