Muric - Surely has to start on Sunday ?

[Vim Fuego]

It is a complete no brainer now

If Muric does not start Sunday then it is down to VK just being stubborn and not seeing the obvious. Or something else ?

We still may lose, but he will at least compliment the passing style that we have ambitions of playing.

He is an absolute genius with how he can spray a pass quickly

[CoolClaret]

It's the strangest managerial decision that I've ever seen at Burnley and can't think of many stranger in the wider sports world.

Absolutely pivotal to our style of play last season - even seen the difference with our buildup away at Spurs, looked like a different team.

[Superjohnnyfrancis]

It is a complete no brainer

Thats the problem

[bumba]

Not going to happen, Pace, VK and Nori have too much money invested 🫰🫰🫰

[ElectroClaret]

I don't think we're going to see a different keeper for the rest of the season, unless there's an injury.

[Superjohnnyfrancis]

Not going to happen, Pace, VK and Nori have too much money invested 🫰🫰🫰

I have never seen a man so hellbent on keeping his carvery privelages as the aforementioned

[evensteadiereddie]

The jury has delivered their verdict....

[CoolClaret]

It's going to be weird isn't it next season if Muric is still here sat on a bench in a league that he was voted (by the players) the best Keeper in that division, conceeding just 35 goals in 46 games (yes I know he didn't play in every single minute of every game).


Anything less than 1st place with the new squad would confirm that we have gone backwards.

[LincsWoldsClaret]

Absolutely pivotal to our style of play last season
This season our style of play has changed
Not saying he shouldn’t start - but that isn’t the reason why a change should be made

[CoolClaret]

Absolutely pivotal to our style of play last season
This season our style of play has changed
Not saying he shouldn’t start - but that isn’t the reason why a change should be made

Yet we're still trying to play out from the back with a back three that can't do it at all. Make that make sense.

[Vim Fuego]

One of the usual posters will be along at some point to say how he has got so much better since not playing

It is the absolute opposite. His development has stalled since being ruthlessly dropped by VK. He was our most improved player last season imo and for a club that has a strategy to develop talent - it is hard to understand

[LincsWoldsClaret]

Yet we're still trying to play out from the back with a back three that can't do it at all. Make that make sense.

Changing the keeper won’t help - much
We’re not going to change that back 2 or 3 - much
Muric had 5 to pass to - totally different system - still buggered up occasionally
Difficult to see where to go - Muric’s fast long ball seems the best option

[FeedTheArf]

One of the usual posters will be along at some point to say how he has got so much better since not playing

It is the absolute opposite. His development has stalled since being ruthlessly dropped by VK. He was our most improved player last season imo and for a club that has a strategy to develop talent - it is hard to understand

It’s actually not that hard to understand. Trafford is in because Kompany believes he has a higher ceiling than Muric. Now, whether he’s right in that assumption remains to be seen and we probably won’t know until next season when you can compare like for like.

[brexit]

Let it go

[CoolClaret]

Changing the keeper won’t help - much
We’re not going to change that back 2 or 3 - much
Muric had 5 to pass to - totally different system - still buggered up occasionally
Difficult to see where to go - Muric’s fast long ball seems the best option

As any team would playing out - it's just if the benefits outweigh the negatives. Even the best teams get caught out at times!

I mean more specifically with O'Shea, Esteve and Traff right now; I haven't anything that either of them have done to suggest that they have the ability needed to play out from the back with at least semi-regular success.

What the centre halves do have though is pace and strength, and the keeper does have good reactionary shot stopping - so rather than set them up for failure every week why not play to their strengths?

Play balls into the channel, have our defensive line push high, compact the middle of the pitch with a three man midfield/lower line of engagement and ask teams to beat us over the top.

Sitting back with our insanely slow buildup play and inviting pressure to ultimately lose the ball in our own half is leaving us on a hiding to nothing - if we're gonna persist with that then at least change the formation and play Ekdal, Delcroix and Muric. Differing skillsets but all as far as my eyes tell me are far, far better on the ball, both passing and receiving then our current defenders.

Oh and stop bloody dropping Berge deeper and deeper to help with the build up! He's best in space when he can run at people and drive the team up the pitch.

I don't understand what VK is trying to do. Does anyone?

[Carlos the Great]

Let it go[/quote

I don’t like to let things go that clearly aren’t working .. same as brexit Zz I won’t let that go either ..

[Carwin261]

It’s actually not that hard to understand. Trafford is in because Kompany believes he has a higher ceiling than Muric. Now, whether he’s right in that assumption remains to be seen and we probably won’t know until next season when you can compare like for like.

We live in an old house with 9’ ceiling ,but my sister lives in a house with 6’ 6” ceilings ,but ours is dropping in bits .

[taio]

It's refreshing to see a subject that hasn't been, or has rarely been, discussed on here

[Carwin261]

Changing the keeper won’t help - much
We’re not going to change that back 2 or 3 - much
Muric had 5 to pass to - totally different system - still buggered up occasionally
Difficult to see where to go - Muric’s fast long ball seems the best option

Changing the keeper won’t help ! How do you know it’s never been tried .

[Enola Gay]

Stands the Church clock at ten to three?
And is there honey still for tea?
And is there yet another new thread on UTC about how surely this must be Muric's week to start?

[Vim Fuego]

It’s actually not that hard to understand. Trafford is in because Kompany believes he has a higher ceiling than Muric. Now, whether he’s right in that assumption remains to be seen and we probably won’t know until next season when you can compare like for like.

In terms of distribution, Muric has a ceiling that Trafford could not even dream of. And this is precisely the point, the Muric ceiling is huge. Why don't some fans see this ?

[blatherwickstattoos]

Vk clearly sees something we all don’t. It’s bizarre that he keeps picking this league 1 kid over muric. Muric and benson start Sunday and he’s learning, if they don’t he’s clearly too stubborn to be a top level manager.

[Carwin261]

Not bad 34 mins and already a shed load of posts ,I wonder why .

[dsr]

He is an absolute genius with how he can spray a pass quickly

With Brownhill being suspended, surely the ideal time to play Muric.

[Superjohnnyfrancis]

Vk clearly sees something we all don’t. It’s bizarre that he keeps picking this league 1 kid over muric. Muric and benson start Sunday and he’s learning, if they don’t he’s clearly too stubborn to be a top level manager.

I dont know if you remember Alex Ferguson dropping his expensive new goalkeeper after 1 major mistake letting the ball through his legs, He was an Italian called Massimo Tiabi, reacted to a situation and put it right instantly. Thats what a good manager does.

[Goliath]

Im not a huge Muric fan, i think hes a mistake waiting to happen most of the time but if Trafford starts tomorrow its incredibly brave decision.
Any sense of hesitation will get derided, a mistake and he will get booed a mistake causing the team to lose could signal the end of Kompany. I do sense its on the verge of turning nasty and Kompany must also know this, he seemed to be aware of it at the end v Palace.
The right thing to do for all parties, most noticeably Trafford himself would be to give him a break and protect him. To not do so raises serious questions as to the reasoning behind it as it.

[HahaYeah]

Happen Muric makes all sorts of clangers in training that we don't see.

Don't you think the other guys would pull Vinnie to one side if he was much better than Trafford?

Same goes for the other players who some seem to have a thing for, just not good enough.

[CoolClaret]

Must have been an strange coincidence then to concede less than a goal a game for all of last season with such a mistake prone keeper.

[blatherwickstattoos]

The longer he carries on picking him the more the contractual obligation to play Trafford rumours make sense . He’s awful on the ball , weak at crosses and is quiet on the field. How he’s been signed for a suspected 14-19 million is beyond me. We are down anyway but carrying on playing Trafford is going to ruin the poor kid

[Spiral]

Don't you think the other guys would pull Vinnie to one side if he was much better than Trafford?

Honestly don't think 90% of this squad has the character to pull the manager aside.

[dsr]

Must have been an strange coincidence then to concede less than a goal a game for all of last season with such a mistake prone keeper.

Are you implying that a goalkeeper who concedes less than a goal a game in a lower league, can't be a mistake-prone keeper?

[Vegas Claret]

handful of games to go, maybe Muric has already said he's 100% off in the summer. We are down, no point playing a player that isn't going to be here (but it seriously ***** me off as he deserved to be our number one)

[CoolClaret]

Are you implying that a goalkeeper who concedes less than a goal a game in a lower league, can't be a mistake-prone keeper?

I'm implying that they can't be as regular as some are making out - especially for a team that played so expansively!

[dsr]

I'm implying that they can't be as regular as some are making out - especially for a team that played so expansively!

And by the same definition, Trafford's mistakes can't be as regular as some are making out. He also let in less than a goal a game. Or is it suggested that playing in the PL is different?

[Superjohnnyfrancis]

handful of games to go, maybe Muric has already said he's 100% off in the summer. We are down, no point playing a player that isn't going to be here (but it seriously ***** me off as he deserved to be our number one)

I can see it now Muric goes off to higher highs and we go off to lower lows. A sliding doors moment.

I hope someone (Pace) intervenes before it is too late.

Has to be one of the best ball playing goalies in europe and we give him away for £1-2m or something completely stupid like that.

[CoolClaret]

And by the same definition, Trafford's mistakes can't be as regular as some are making out. He also let in less than a goal a game. Or is it suggested that playing in the PL is different?

It's not just about the obvious 'mistakes' for me it's just the strengths and how each keepers meshes with the team.

Looks small in the net, has no command, woeful distribution. We concede over 2 goals a game and also don't even score a goal a game - of course that isn't entirely on the goalkeeper but I have seen nothing from him that indicates his inclusion is helping our style of play one jot.

[boatshed bill]

I can see it now Muric goes off to higher highs and we go off to lower lows. A sliding doors moment.

I hope someone (Pace) intervenes before it is too late.

Has to be one of the best ball playing goalies in europe and we give him away for £1-2m or something completely stupid like that.

Twice we've seen Muric not even try for goals he's conceded.
I'm not condemning him but it's there to be seen, and may just sway things in favour of Trafford in the scheme of things

[Superjohnnyfrancis]

Twice we've seen Muric not even try for goals he's conceded.
I'm not condemning him but it's there to be seen, and may just sway things in favour of Trafford in the scheme of things

Id bet my house on Muric having a better career than Trafford. Ive seen enough of both of them to know who should be currently playing, for me.

Im sure a lot of fans have now.

I will excuse world class goals for both like Porros, what was the other one Muric let in, he's hardly played this year!

[boatshed bill]

Id bet my house on Muric having a better career than Trafford. Ive seen enough of both of them to know who should be currently playing, for me.

Im sure a lot of fans have now.

I will excuse world class goals for both like Porros, what was the other one Muric let in, he's hardly played this year!

In the eyes of the coaching staff: is it not making the save or not trying to make the save that influences decisions?

[Superjohnnyfrancis]

In the eyes of the coaching staff: is it not making the save or not trying to make the save that influences decisions?

If they were getting anything right this season i would side with their opinion, definitely.

[CoolClaret]

Twice we've seen Muric not even try for goals he's conceded.
I'm not condemning him but it's there to be seen, and may just sway things in favour of Trafford in the scheme of things

Such strange logic this.

"Not try" for a ball that was still yard or two above the crossbar at the point of passing him in the air. Who cares?

I'd prefer that and standing strong, taking up a large portion of the goal and remaining committed at one on ones rather than constantly moving about, being caught wrong footed and closing their eyes if potential contact is coming.

[boatshed bill]

If they were getting anything right this season i would side with their opinion, definitely.

Superjohnny, I think we need two new goalkeepers. I'd keep Trafford as what you might call an apprentice.

[Poulton-le-Claret]

It should happen, but won't.

I don't really understand people making the case for JT to play. The vast majority want him to succeed, but surely that same majority can also see he needs pulling out of the team to benefit his long term development.

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

It’s March the time for changing keeper and anyone else is long gone. I do think the crowd will turn this Sunday if we go behind and he’s picked the usual ones.

[Superjohnnyfrancis]

Superjohnny, I think we need two new goalkeepers. I'd keep Trafford as what you might call an apprentice.

If it was up to me I'd hand Muric the no.1 shirt with a massive apology and say have the last 12 games and lets see how you do.

[CoolClaret]

I still can't believe this is a point of contention in a season that's been as bad as it has been tbh.

The manager has literally chopped and changed everyone bar the young league one goal keeper that's been bullied in the air on multiple occasions, lobbed from distance twice and has Pope level distribution ability (at best) in a side that's meant to play progressive passing football.

Someone make it make sense.

[alwaysaclaret]

Superjohnny, I think we need two new goalkeepers. I'd keep Trafford as what you might call an apprentice.

I'm absolutely clueless as to why vk can't see it, but muric is very close to being the best keeper that he's likely to manage in he's managerial career imo, had he been backed in the same way Trafford has I very much doubt we'd be in the position we're in, every goalkeeper makes mistakes but Trafford has made plenty this season, should have been murics shirt to lose at the start, but as I say should also have been given the same backing from that starting point as Trafford has been given. I'd guess we're also very close to the point that if vk continues to make the same mistake of selecting Trafford, people will vote with their presence on the turf on matchday, lot's have simply had enough of the obvious.

[beeholeclaret]

In terms of distribution, Muric has a ceiling that Trafford could not even dream of. And this is precisely the point, the Muric ceiling is huge. Why don't some fans see this ?

I don’t think it’s the fans who can’t see it. All we do is pay out money and roll up each week. We have no influence on what is going on. Perhaps as well really.

I can’t understand why Muric has not had more opportunities? What I don’t see is any other clubs hammering on our door with multi million offers for his services? Does that not tell a tale? Some perplexing decisions this season.

[ecc]

Honestly don't think 90% of this squad has the character to pull the manager aside.

That is another problem.

[StayingDown4Ever]

I don’t usually comment much on the goalkeeper situation but I did say back in early October we needed Trafford out the side and Muric putting back in.

It’s frustrating to see those last few stragglers continue to back Trafford when it’s clear as day the lad has been useless.

I can’t believe we wasted £19 million on this boy. I can’t believe he continues to get picked after multiple errors.