Ignoring Esteve, who we’d already agreed to buy last January, which of last summers signings has regularly impressed this season?

I stayed awake in that second half last night by trying to go through them and I was struggling to come up with an answer. At best a few of them have played well in fits and starts. Some we’ve barely seen at all and others look miles off it.

Those of you who think we’re one “striker” away from opening up the flood gates may be disappointed if Mooney and Parker’s hit rates don’t improve.

Laurent and Humphries have been excellent, I like Hannibal aswell although he doesn’t get used enough. Anthony I think there is potential in a more attacking set up.

Anthony in fits and starts, same for Sarmiento. Laurent has been good for the outlay as a squad player.

Flemming has been a disaster - he’s the level of player we used to sign in the days before the Premier League.

Humphreys is a top signing and has impressed me. I think he’s got more potential than THB.

Hannibal I like his energy and attitude, he’s shown glimpses of skill but need more of it.

Sarmiento looks a good loan signing now he’s getting a run of games. If 2 others were at his level last night we’d have scored.

Flemming I expected way more from. I want him facing the goal more rather than constant back to goal. To be fair I don’t think he’s ever played as a lone striker in a possession team, it was as a second striker in a very direct team, basically the opposite.

Any team watching that will know how to certainly get a point at Turf Moor and maybe nick all three with a bit more composure in front of goal. High press 1st half and defend deep 2nd half. Sorted. We have no guile, are ponderous in possession and static upfront. Add to that we nearly always make the wrong choice if we do get space to attack at pace thus we are a toothless team. We don't look like a team that can challenge for promotion TBH.

Shaggy wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 11, 2024 6:50 am

Laurent and Humphries have been excellent, I like Hannibal aswell although he doesn’t get used enough. Anthony I think there is potential in a more attacking set up.

Humphries is definitely one for the future and has done well enough when he’s played.

Laurent gets a lot of credit I think because nobody expected much. He’s made a reasonable contribution, but he looks a very limited player to me.

I can’t agree on Hannibal. He’s possibly not yet been deployed in his best position, but he hasn’t contributed nearly enough beyond shithousery when he has started. To be a truly good shithouse, you also need to walk the walk.

Flemming has played 11 times, most as sub, some I suspect not fully fit, and always in a position he doesn't play his best. Especially, as RV said, in a control team who are trying to unlock deep defences.

Not only that, we are not creating chances for our striker, they've all struggled to a degree in most games. I will keep defending this guy, because he's done it in a struggling side in this division. He's also I think got a 1 in 3 record in eredivisie.

Sambo
Hountonji
Pires
Egan

Are 3 signings that have been a complete waste of money

Worrall - I understand the signing and was doing ok before his injury
Hannibal - clearly a talent but is yet to be played in his best position
Flemming - to stop start due to injuries and again hasn’t been played in his true position
Anthony and Sarmiento - typical loan wingers, show good signs then go quiet, that’s why they aren’t in their prem clubs squad
Humphreys - talent, much more comfortable on the left side but will be a useful player
Laurent - the only player who right now is showing value for money

agreenwood wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 11, 2024 7:12 am

Humphries is definitely one for the future and has done well enough when he’s played.

Laurent gets a lot of credit I think because nobody expected much. He’s made a reasonable contribution, but he looks a very limited player to me.

I can’t agree on Hannibal. He’s possibly not yet been deployed in his best position, but he hasn’t contributed nearly enough beyond shithousery when he has started. To be a truly good shithouse, you also need to walk the walk.

Depressingly Laurent has been our most creative player this season with 4 big chances.

I think that highlights just how poor the rest of them have been

agreenwood wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 11, 2024 6:40 am

Ignoring Esteve, who we’d already agreed to buy last January, which of last summers signings has regularly impressed this season?

I stayed awake in that second half last night by trying to go through them and I was struggling to come up with an answer. At best a few of them have played well in fits and starts. Some we’ve barely seen at all and others look miles off it.

Those of you who think we’re one “striker” away from opening up the flood gates may be disappointed if Mooney and Parker’s hit rates don’t improve.

Laurent has been very good. Sarmiento is settling in now and is enjoyable to watch. Humphreys is going to be a decent player I think.

Flemming and Houtondji so far have been disappointing, as has Hannibal somewhat.

Flemming worries me, I understand he's not playing in his position, it's his complete lack of effort, movement, strength, anything really.

I like Hannibal. Lots of energy and harassment. Able to offer more but may be shackled by instructions. A bit like a head on a stick scenario.

GetIntoEm wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 11, 2024 7:35 am

Flemming worries me, I understand he's not playing in his position, it's his complete lack of effort, movement, strength, anything really.

He is a worry but he’s had 7 minutes in his actual position away at hull and scored

Valid question this.

Anthony, Sarmiento, Pires, Laurent, Hannibal and Humphreys have all done fine in flashes without suggesting that they're the calibre you'd want to underpin a promotion challenge. At best they look like good padding to an already promising squad. Humphreys looks like he's got a high ceiling to improve, Hannibal might have, but that's about it.

What I will say is that I really don't think they're being helped by our set up. If you add Flemming to that list you've got 7 signings, of which at least four have been routinely played out of position. Of the rest Pires has has 4 different left wing partners in about 12 starts, Sarmiento has played in fits and starts, and Laurent has been used as a genuine utility midfielder. I can't see how that gives any of them a platform to succeed, particularly given (as Parker is fond of reminding us) they largely arrived late in the window.

As for Egan and Worrall, if they play many games for us you suspect it will be because we've reverted to being a fairly regular Championship team.

dandeclaret wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 11, 2024 7:33 am

Laurent has been very good. Sarmiento is settling in now and is enjoyable to watch. Humphreys is going to be a decent player I think.

Flemming and Houtondji so far have been disappointing, as has Hannibal somewhat.

Sarmiento is starting to look the part after a quiet start. Needs to play centrally though.

I think Laurent gets a free pass because he was a value signing. I’m not sure he makes a huge difference when it really matters though. There were a few occasions where he ended a positive driving run from midfield with a poor ball last night. That kind of sums him up for me.

agreenwood wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 11, 2024 7:48 am

Sarmiento is starting to look the part after a quiet start. Needs to play centrally though.

I think Laurent gets a free pass because he was a value signing. I’m not sure he makes a huge difference when it really matters though. There were a few occasions where he ended a positive driving run from midfield with a poor ball last night. That kind of sums him up for me.

Sarmiento was the most central player on our team last night (7). Agree on Laurent, he’s fine but not a starter for me.

I am absolutely convinced that Parker had very little say in the majority of signings this summer.

My main reasoning is that barely any of him actually fit his playing style.

Is this the difference between a manager and a head coach?

RVclaret wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 11, 2024 7:49 am

Sarmiento was the most central player on our team last night. Agree on Laurent, he’s fine but not a starter for me.

Sarmiento was and he wasn’t. He seemed to occupy a weird inverted winger role early on, with Brownhill the more orthodox CAM, which gave us little width on the left. Then he was moved into the middle when Koleosho came on, before going back to the hybrid role when Anthony was withdrawn.

The best half of football I’ve seen from Sarmiento all season was last Friday night in that free role behind Jay. It allowed him to drift all around the front line and it caused Boro issues.

I couldn’t work out why we didn’t stick with that last night.

Newcastleclaret93 wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 11, 2024 7:50 am

I am absolutely convinced that Parker had very little say in the majority of signings this summer.

My main reasoning is that barely any of him actually fit his playing style.

Is this the difference between a manager and a head coach?

Not convinced that’s true.

He’s worked with Anthony before and he’s been open in admitting that some of the players we’ve signed were his targets at his previous clubs.

It’d be a major coincidence if we had just so happened to sign players that he likes without his input.

Newcastleclaret93 wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 11, 2024 7:50 am

I am absolutely convinced that Parker had very little say in the majority of signings this summer.

My main reasoning is that barely any of him actually fit his playing style.

Is this the difference between a manager and a head coach?

Parker referenced trying to sign Laurent before, Anthony he’s worked with before, Worrall and Egan are Scott Parker signings. Hannibal, Flemming Pires and Sarmiento don’t feel like Parker signings

agreenwood wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 11, 2024 7:48 am

Sarmiento is starting to look the part after a quiet start. Needs to play centrally though.

I think Laurent gets a free pass because he was a value signing. I’m not sure he makes a huge difference when it really matters though. There were a few occasions where he ended a positive driving run from midfield with a poor ball last night. That kind of sums him up for me.

I do like Sarmiento and he's a worthy replacement for JBG, albeit a right footed version who plays from left to right.

Laurent feels fine to me and if he's ultimately been bought with an eye on replacing Brownhill then I cam get on board with that. He's slightly more muscular, and slightly less a goal threat, but ultimately he's in a similar bracket - perhaps less stand out in the Championship but more effective should we get promoted. The problem is that we didn't need all of him, Hannibal and Brownhill in the same squad and I'm not sure more than one can play if you are looking to play the sort of football Parker wants to play.

123EasyasBFC wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 11, 2024 7:28 am

Sambo
Hountonji
Pires
Egan

Are 3 signings that have been a complete waste of money

Worrall - I understand the signing and was doing ok before his injury
Hannibal - clearly a talent but is yet to be played in his best position
Flemming - to stop start due to injuries and again hasn’t been played in his true position
Anthony and Sarmiento - typical loan wingers, show good signs then go quiet, that’s why they aren’t in their prem clubs squad
Humphreys - talent, much more comfortable on the left side but will be a useful player
Laurent - the only player who right now is showing value for money

I'm not so good at maths, but I make those 3 waste of money signings add up to 4

I actually think Pires is good going forward and it would have helped last night if we had put someone on the left in front of him instead of having him totally exposed at both ends of the pitch
Egan cost us nothing but wages at a time when we had CB's still injured
Hannibal - what is his best position cos I am not sure
Anthony and Sarimento are not good enough to get into their parent club's squads, and were never considered good enough to hold down regular places in the Championship last season which sums them up and thankfully they are only loans
Flemming has never played in his best position of No 10 - clueless decision from the manager when all others he has tried there have not worked
Worrall - past his best
Laurent - this is his level with a mid table side

jedi_master wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 11, 2024 6:55 am

Anthony in fits and starts, same for Sarmiento. Laurent has been good for the outlay as a squad player.

Flemming has been a disaster - he’s the level of player we used to sign in the days before the Premier League.

Flemming is way better than this. It would help his cause if he was played in his favoured position.

jojomk1 wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 11, 2024 8:03 am

I'm not so good at maths, but I make those 3 waste of money signings add up to 4

I actually think Pires is good going forward and it would have helped last night if we had put someone on the left in front of him instead of having him totally exposed at both ends of the pitch
Egan cost us nothing but wages at a time when we had CB's still injured
Hannibal - what is his best position cos I am not sure
Anthony and Sarimento are not good enough to get into their parent club's squads, and were never considered good enough to hold down regular places in the Championship last season which sums them up and thankfully they are only loans
Flemming has never played in his best position of No 10 - clueless decision from the manager when all others he has tried there have not worked
Worrall - past his best
Laurent - this is his level with a mid table side

Worrall is only 27. Hardly past his best.

jojomk1 wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 11, 2024 8:03 am

I'm not so good at maths, but I make those 3 waste of money signings add up to 4

I actually think Pires is good going forward and it would have helped last night if we had put someone on the left in front of him instead of having him totally exposed at both ends of the pitch
Egan cost us nothing but wages at a time when we had CB's still injured
Hannibal - what is his best position cos I am not sure
Anthony and Sarimento are not good enough to get into their parent club's squads, and were never considered good enough to hold down regular places in the Championship last season which sums them up and thankfully they are only loans
Flemming has never played in his best position of No 10 - clueless decision from the manager when all others he has tried there have not worked
Worrall - past his best
Laurent - this is his level with a mid table side

Sorry 4.

I can’t get behind the Pires is good going forwards, what has actually created going forward, other than a straight forward pass and corner against a poor Luton side. Since that game he’s created absolutely nothing, he turns back rather than crossing, he gets the ball caught under his feet. I just think he’s a low end championship player. Going from Charlie Taylor to Pires is scary

Sarmiento getting better with every game

Laurent excellent - find it odd he’s not first name on sheet. Brings a physicality to the centre of the park

Humphreys - going to be a top player

Hannibal - aside from his wind up antics I’ve not seen anything to make me think he’s anything more than a bang average player at this level

Anthony - fits and starts of a player

Pires - floats from prime Stephen Ward to prime Wayne Dowell…

Flemming - I think he’s a dud, I really do. Was at Millwall a long time ago- there’s a reason nobody came in for him. This whole he’s playing out of position argument is ok, until you look at the basics - poor touch, poor anticipation, poor hold up play, no pace. That doesn’t go away by playing at number 10…

Houtonji - I’ll Just say he’s underwhelming on the few appearances he’s made

Worrell - seasoned pro

We have wasted a lot of money.

Poor recruitment, poor manager, poor tactics.

Please don't let them waste anymore money in January.

RVclaret wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 11, 2024 7:49 am

Sarmiento was the most central player on our team last night (7). Agree on Laurent, he’s fine but not a starter for me.

So much for making the pitch big. I know Sarmiento's map will be distorted by the various roles he played, but it bears out that for long periods we had 6 players in the centre over whom you could throw a tea towel and precious little support for whoever was out wide. Meanwhile if you imposed their 3 centre halves onto thet graphic they'd be sat 10 yards off our gaggle of midfielders, completely unengaged by a Burnley player. It's absolutely no wonder we created very little- the three centre halves were free to watch the build up snd pick off the few runners that came their way.

willsclarets wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 11, 2024 7:18 am

Flemming has played 11 times, most as sub, some I suspect not fully fit, and always in a position he doesn't play his best. Especially, as RV said, in a control team who are trying to unlock deep defences.

Not only that, we are not creating chances for our striker, they've all struggled to a degree in most games. I will keep defending this guy, because he's done it in a struggling side in this division. He's also I think got a 1 in 3 record in eredivisie.

I remember (sheepishly) that I posted back in the Autumn that Fleming could possibly turn out to be our ‘best’ player.

I was possibly getting carried away with the win at Leeds and after he got off the mark with his goal at Hull.

I certainly still have high hopes for his career at Burnley but he will need to stay clear of injury and get a prolonged run in the side to regain his sharpness.


Laurent - good for me

Sarmiento - has been very good

Hannibal - he’s had an impact in some games but not enough end product in truth.

Anthony - has had some very good games but disappointing in others where he doesn’t seem 100% ‘at the races’ as Stan used to say.

123EasyasBFC wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 11, 2024 7:59 am

Parker referenced trying to sign Laurent before, Anthony he’s worked with before, Worrall and Egan are Scott Parker signings. Hannibal, Flemming Pires and Sarmiento don’t feel like Parker signings

I think we signed 13 first team players in the summer, that suggests Parker had a say in 4 of them.

I think that’s probably about right. I am absolutely convinced that the vast majority of players signed are ones he either doesn’t want or don’t fit his style.

Houtondji, Hannibal etc…. Are exactly why I am convinced of this. They are never in a million years Parker players

claretspice wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 11, 2024 8:10 am

So much for making the pitch big. I know Sarmiento's map will be distorted by the various roles he played, but it bears out that for long periods we had 6 players in the centre over whom you could throw a tea towel and precious little support for whoever was out wide. Meanwhile if you imposed their 3 centre halves onto thet graphic they'd be sat 10 yards off our gaggle of midfielders, completely unengaged by a Burnley player. It's absolutely no wonder we created very little- the three centre halves were free to watch the build up snd pick off the few runners that came their way.

I guess the design was to give Pires more space to attack and get crosses across. I felt he was really poor last night. Slow, weak and took way too long in his decision making.

Newcastleclaret93 wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 11, 2024 8:18 am

I think we signed 13 first team players in the summer, that suggests Parker had a say in 4 of them.

I think that’s probably about right. I am absolutely convinced that the vast majority of players signed are ones he either doesn’t want or don’t fit his style.

Houtondji, Hannibal etc…. Are exactly why I am convinced of this. They are never in a million years Parker players

Hladky
Green
Egan
Worrall
Humphreys
Laurent
Anthony

All Parker signings

Sambo, Pires, hountonji are data signings which again has failed

Sarmiento, Hannibal, Flemming are players who have championship experience singings that Parker probably said ok to

Whether they are his signings or not, a good ‘coach’ would be able to get that group of players creating clear cut chances week in week out

RVclaret wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 11, 2024 8:18 am

I guess the design was to give Pires more space to attack and get crosses across. I felt he was really poor last night. Slow, weak and took way too long in his decision making.

He doesn’t do anything with any real conviction. He’s not alone either.

agreenwood wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 11, 2024 8:26 am

He doesn’t do anything with any real conviction. He’s not alone either.

The team sort of reflects the manager 'in that sense'. He lacks a certain conviction in every press conference he does. I've never known a worse Burnley manager in press conferences, he seems nervous constantly.

123EasyasBFC wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 11, 2024 8:23 am

Hladky
Green
Egan
Worrall
Humphreys
Laurent
Anthony

All Parker signings

Sambo, Pires, hountonji are data signings which again has failed

Sarmiento, Hannibal, Flemming are players who have championship experience singings that Parker probably said ok to

Whether they are his signings or not, a good ‘coach’ would be able to get that group of players creating clear cut chances week in week out

I just honestly don’t agree, I think we have signed a group of players that have never really performed at this level.

Go through the list:

Hdlaky - one decent season in his career
Green - no idea
Egan - end of career
Worrall - potential to be a good signing but unlikely to feature again this season.
Humphrey’s - potential but never proven it
Laurent - very average career at this level
Anthony - very average career at this level (best season happened 4 years ago and hasn’t got close to that form since)
Sarmiento - very average career at this level (probably showing his career best form now and even that’s not particularly sparkling at this level)
Hannibal - average career
Flemming - he was the marquee signing but perhaps that injury has done more lasting damage then we could appreciate. Looks a shell of the player that was at Millwall

So in reality we are expecting the vast majority of this summers signings to do something they have never done. Which is perform at the top end of the table. You could argue only Anthony, Egan and Worrall (2 of which will never play) have any kind of form for playing at the top end.

It’s expecting a lot

The worst signing the club made in the summer was Scott Parker.

Newcastleclaret93 wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 11, 2024 7:50 am

I am absolutely convinced that Parker had very little say in the majority of signings this summer.

My main reasoning is that barely any of him actually fit his playing style.

Is this the difference between a manager and a head coach?

We aren't Scott Parker FC, we're Burnley FC. The manager/coach's job is to win games with the players he has, not to play a particular style of football. He's got to be able to play whatever style suits the players.

This style will suit a team that has a centre forward who is highly prolific as a lone striker. When that is not working, it needs to change. Yesterday it did not change and we did not score.

The argument that Flemming dropping back 10 yards or so from his current position will magically fix his lack of pace, lack of touch, lack of anticipation, lack of fitness (seemingly - either that or effort) doesn’t wash with me. The basics are not there with this player. What has he offered to justify us deploying him in the main creative outlet of this team and building our attacking strategy around him? That has to be Sarmiento’s role on the basis of what he offered against Middlesbrough.

I really do think a younger, more mobile version of a Rodriguez and a threat from the bench when we’re chasing a win (I.e, a fit Manuel Benson - I think many forget how many times he snatched us victory from the jaws of a draw in 22/23 with either a goal or an assist. We just don’t have that player currently at all) changes things for us massively. The defence is absolutely rock solid and if we had a bit more anticipation and desire through the middle, along with more impetus to bring on in the 70th when not ahead, so many of these 0-0’s would be 1-0’s/2-0’s.

Someone posted earlier in the season that with the summer signings we’ve basically tipped the balance to having a squad that is more suited to direct, second balls football. The sort that Dyche employs.

Worrall is a good leader and organiser but isn’t a progressive passer from CB. Laurent is a midfielder who will back up play and be physical, but won’t be recycling the ball 50 times a game. Anthony is a winger who will keep the shape, but won’t be isolating a full back all game. Flemming has a great record as a second striker in a direct team at this level, but is definitely not the number 9 we use him as. Hannibal is being badly misused but I think even he would suit a more direct and in your face style of football.

The likes of Humphreys and Sarmiento could work for a team that wants to play with the ball, but they are about the only ones I think.

As time goes on, it’s looking like we’ve had another summer where the recruitment has been really below par.

RVclaret wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 11, 2024 8:18 am

I guess the design was to give Pires more space to attack and get crosses across. I felt he was really poor last night. Slow, weak and took way too long in his decision making.

Pires was crap last night but I'm not sure that was entirely of his making. He was effectively 1v1 with their right wing back and generally expected to try and beat him, which isn't his game (Pires is a nice user of the ball at his best but he's not quick enough or tricky enough to beat someone in that way - he's a conventional full back in that sense). We didn't work overloads against the wing back at all (on either side but especially down the left) - as the pitch map shows.

In terms of crosses, it has become pretty obvious that Parker does not want the team putting in early crosses. I find that bewildering because if you are not committing loads of men to the attack an early ball against a back peddling defence seems to me more potent than trying to thread the eye of a needle. But as a result I'm pretty sure by instruction (and on other occasions because there was literally no-one in the box), Pires coughed up several excellent crossing positions (as did Anthony on the right). We passed inside, tried something intricate, and when that failed put a hopeful ball in as a last resort.

Our basic problem last night was we had one too many midfielders on the pitch and one too few forwards offering a target in the box and bothering their centre halves, and we didnt make the pitch big enough. Everything stemmed from that problem.

Newcastleclaret93 wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 11, 2024 8:31 am

I just honestly don’t agree, I think we have signed a group of players that have never really performed at this level.

Go through the list:

Hdlaky - one decent season in his career
Green - no idea
Egan - end of career
Worrall - potential to be a good signing but unlikely to feature again this season.
Humphrey’s - potential but never proven it
Laurent - very average career at this level
Anthony - very average career at this level (best season happened 4 years ago and hasn’t got close to that form since)
Sarmiento - very average career at this level (probably showing his career best form now and even that’s not particularly sparkling at this level)
Hannibal - average career
Flemming - he was the marquee signing but perhaps that injury has done more lasting damage then we could appreciate. Looks a shell of the player that was at Millwall

So in reality we are expecting the vast majority of this summers signings to do something they have never done. Which is perform at the top end of the table. You could argue only Anthony, Egan and Worrall (2 of which will never play) have any kind of form for playing at the top end.

It’s expecting a lot

A players ability doesn’t determine if Parker signed them or not, it’s a completely different argument

Using the player ratings scheme - 3-10.

Shurandy Sambo - hardly seen him so no comment.

Lucas Pires - 6 - Defending OK but needs to be better. Attacking usually good. Free kicks and corners not good.

Andreas Hountondji - 5 - Not ready but hints at having potential

Vaclav Hladky - 7 - Looked solid in friendlies and his two senior games. As he played all 46 games at Ipswich last season I would think he must be disappointed not to get more games.

Joe Worrall - 7 - A good Championship centre back with limitations, notably pace.

Hannibal Mejbri - 5 - I don’t like him. I’ve had enough of his petulance which by now he should know better and his contributions have been OK but nothing special.

Josh Laurent - 7 - I like him. Solid but unspectacular player that reads the game well, fills in gaps, defends, can get us forward and has a defence splitting pass in him.

John Egan - 6 - Looks a solid Championship defender in the few moments we’ve seen him, but no more.

Loans

Bashir Humphries - 8 - Clearly a talented player that is getting better before our eyes. Not quite there yet but little doubt he will succeed. If we’ve bought him, I reckon we have a gem.

Jaidon Anthony - 7 - Looks limited but quietly effective and with a goal threat.

Jeremy Sarmiento - 6 - He looks more flash then effective. Is there better to come?

Zian Flemming - 4 - Seen hardly anything remotely useful from him. I don’t know if that’s his fault or what he’s being asked to do.

Conclusion. Apart from Flemming the signings are overall pretty good but not very exciting for Championship football, which is where we are. If they show the inconsistencies they have so far we will be one of a few teams that are promotion challengers. If they play consistently to their limited levels we could be more convincing promotion contenders. Apart from Humphries none have shown the potential for future profitable sales or Premier League level abilities, a radical change in transfer policy.

Your last point spice is so clear as day, I just don't understand why Parker isn't more bold at home. Away, I get it, and because the opposition is having a go (besides oxford) the 3 midfielders have space to break into.

At home, we know almost without exception, teams are going to sit in, close gaps and make us play in front of them. And with 3 central midfielders, that's exactly what we do all game. We have a really good defence and the league's best goalkeeper, we have to gamble a bit more.

Houtondji might be raw, but he gives defenders a positional headache. He runs wide and beyond the last man. For me, at home, you have to at least try Flemming behind Houtondji from the start. Derby are poor, and their psychology is a lot different if they see a striker plus Flemming lining up against them.

A striker stretching their defence does so many things for us. It creates a gap between their defence and midfield. If Sarmiento plays wide, Houtondji hitting the channels allows sarmiento to come inside. Flemming will actually get the ball facing the opposition goal, which he's barely done since arriving.

Against a Derby at home, you just have to back yourself. Cullen and one of Brownhill/Laurent/Hannibal cam easily deal with the middle of the park, and they'd have more options ahead of them. Under the cosh, flemming drops in a bit. It baffles me.

Hapag Lloyd wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 11, 2024 8:32 am

The worst signing the club made in the summer was Scott Parker.

this.

Bit of a mixed bag. I guess caveats are some were brought in before the manager, some were last minute desperation signings.

Hits
Sarmiento - Looks a player
Humphreys - Is improving and still young
Laurent - Has surprised me, good squad player

Just ok
Hladky - Steady backup for Trafford
Anthony - Very hit and miss. After last. night I'm starting to lose patience with him
Worrall - Solid journeyman
Hannibal - Needs more game time in his natual position
Pires - jury's out

Miss
Flemming - Maybe not his fault, but he just doesn't suit our system, what algorithm said that he would be a good fit for Parker's way of playing?
Sambo - Waste of a wage if the manager doesn't rate him.
Hountondji - we can't afford to let him develop, he's way too raw for us

It's clear now that not buying any real decent firepower in the summer was a grave mistake.

Would you pay £13m for Humphries now?
Not sure how much we're committed to paying for Anthony, but it's too much.

ksrclaret wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 11, 2024 8:44 am

Someone posted earlier in the season that with the summer signings we’ve basically tipped the balance to having a squad that is more suited to direct, second balls football. The sort that Dyche employs.

Worrall is a good leader and organiser but isn’t a progressive passer from CB. Laurent is a midfielder who will back up play and be physical, but won’t be recycling the ball 50 times a game. Anthony is a winger who will keep the shape, but won’t be isolating a full back all game. Flemming has a great record as a second striker in a direct team at this level, but is definitely not the number 9 we use him as. Hannibal is being badly misused but I think even he would suit a more direct and in your face style of football.

The likes of Humphreys and Sarmiento could work for a team that wants to play with the ball, but they are about the only ones I think.

As time goes on, it’s looking like we’ve had another summer where the recruitment has been really below par.

Kind of agree, but I’d like to highlight that I feel the clubs signings were also influenced by getting good characters in, following last season & all the turmoil (using Connor Roberts’ description) the club was in at the start of this season. Laurent, Flemming, Worrall, Egan, Anthony, Hannibal - they all have 1. Experience at this level 2. Good personalities or 3. Leadership (3 captains in there). I think it was Williams at one of those breakfast clubs or evenings with dos, that said they were ‘putting right’ some of the lack of good characters in the dressing room. I do think this has contributed to our season so far and the fact is we are only 2 points off the ‘2 points a game’ target.

burnley007 wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 11, 2024 9:11 am

Would you pay £13m for Humphries now?
Not sure how much we're committed to paying for Anthony, but it's too much.

Humphreys is a good player, especially at 21. In retrospect knowing that CJ was going to do so well, perhaps that 13 million could have been spent elsewhere given Ekdal amd Delcroix (and eventually Beyer) are to come back. Plus Egan amd Worrall. But he's been decent cover at LB as well as CB. Would I have rather spent 13 million on a striker? As much as I like Humphreys at his age, yup i think so.

willsclarets wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 11, 2024 9:17 am

Humphreys is a good player, especially at 21. In retrospect knowing that CJ was going to do so well, perhaps that 13 million could have been spent elsewhere given Ekdal amd Delcroix (and eventually Beyer) are to come back. Plus Egan amd Worrall. But he's been decent cover at LB as well as CB. Would I have rather spent 13 million on a striker? As much as I like Humphreys at his age, yup i think so.

You would assume that Esteve will leave at some stage over the next twelve to eighteen months and that Humphreys will be his natural replacement.

Goody1975 wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 11, 2024 9:20 am

You would assume that Esteve will leave at some stage over the next twelve to eighteen months and that Humphreys will be his natural replacement.

Fair enough, I don't think he's a bad signing as I say. No one knew how well CJ would do. It's only with hindsight I say for this season, 13 million (which is a lot for us) might have been better used to try and get promotion given the more than adequate cover we have at CB. But even then, I'd have to caveat that by saying we have no other LB.

Basically, the summer has left us a little unbalanced again. Despite the style of play and system, which obviously has problems. With injuries and the sell off its fair to say it'll take a few more transfer windows to find a nice balance in the squad.