Trafford wins Championship Player of the Month

[ClaretTony]

https://www.efl.com/news/2025/february/ ... y-winners/

[GetIntoEm]

Great news.

[IanMcL]

Well done the lad. I assume it was decided by professional judges, rather than fan votes. I never saw it posted, on here, to vote.

[KRBFC]

Remember the fans on here last season telling us Muric was the better keeper and how useless Trafford was. They couldn’t say a good word about JT even after he played well. Destroyed a young lad new to the club.

Never forget

[Rick_Muller]

Remember the fans on here last season telling us Muric was the better keeper and how useless Trafford was. They couldn’t say a good word about JT even after he played well. Destroyed a young lad new to the club.

Never forget

let it go.gif (1.66 MiB) Viewed 2657 times

Congratulations to our great No 1

[BurnleyFC]

Really well deserved.

[daveisaclaret]

Could hardly be anyone else.

Got a lot to say about Parker, but when this lad goes on to better things I reckon he will be crediting Parker a lot more than anyone else who has managed him so far.

[Goliath]

Remember the fans on here last season telling us Muric was the better keeper and how useless Trafford was. They couldn’t say a good word about JT even after he played well. Destroyed a young lad new to the club.

Never forget

To be fair Muric is an incredible talent, maybe even more so than Trafford. He's just incredibly weak mentally and one mistake tends to lead into more.

You'd think that would improve with age but it doesn't look to be doing so far.

[boatshed bill]

To be fair Muric is an incredible talent, maybe even more so than Trafford. He's just incredibly weak mentally and one mistake tends to lead into more.

You'd think that would improve with age but it doesn't look to be doing so far.

To me he keeps goal a gambler.

[Andreshotboots]

Very well deserved, well done Traff...

Didn't realise he was such a tall lad too until I saw it today, 6'6" apparently. I'd have never have guessed he is only one inch shorter than Pope.

[jtv]

Who are the other guys in the photo please?

[rexe78202]

Very well deserved, well done Traff...

Didn't realise he was such a tall lad too until I saw it today, 6'6" apparently. I'd have never have guessed he is only one inch shorter than Pope.

His height seems be to different depending on where you look. 6ft 3 seems to be the most common listed, with the official site putting him at 6ft 4.

[boatshed bill]

To me he keeps goal a gambler.

Sorry, I meant like a gambler.

[Clive 1960]

Remember the fans on here last season telling us Muric was the better keeper and how useless Trafford was. They couldn’t say a good word about JT even after he played well. Destroyed a young lad new to the club.

Never forget

Kompanys fault in the first place should have started with Muric but like others they were discarded for the new players which in my opinion was wrong as they were the ones who got us up so should have been given a chance .

[Clive 1960]

Well deserved as he as come on leaps and bounds from last season which wasn't he's fault

[boatshed bill]

Kompanys fault in the first place should have started with Muric but like others they were discarded for the new players which in my opinion was wrong as they were the ones who got us up so should have been given a chance .

Though, for all we know, Trafford may thank VK for giving him the chance of PL experience. However we read it it doesn't look to have done Trafford much damage.

[bumba]

Remember the fans on here last season telling us Muric was the better keeper and how useless Trafford was. They couldn’t say a good word about JT even after he played well. Destroyed a young lad new to the club.

Never forget

Remember Muric performed better than JT last season, what he's doing at this lower level in a defence minded team isn't comparable.
He's having an improved season but I still personally don't think he's ready for premier league football but it's great watching him develop and fill with confidence.

Maybe you should give credit to Scott Parker and criticise your love VK for the difference.......

[Darthlaw]

Kompanys fault in the first place should have started with Muric but like others they were discarded for the new players which in my opinion was wrong as they were the ones who got us up so should have been given a chance .

Muric's performances and stats for the highest mistakes leading to a goal ratio for Ipswich, suggests VK might have been on to something with dropping him.

Nevertheless this is a celebration of Trafford's last month, in which he has been imperious in keeping clean sheets for us. Well done that man!

[GetIntoEm]

Just say well done and move on

[CoolClaret]

Well done JT and well deserved!

[Quickenthetempo]

It's a great award for a goalkeeper to win, it can't happen very often.

Well ďone James Trafford.

[daveisaclaret]

It's a great award for a goalkeeper to win, it can't happen very often.

Well ďone James Trafford.

First since Scott Carson in December 2017 I think

[Darnhill Claret]

Well done JT.
Love how you are constantly improving all aspects of your play.
You've really mastered that one on one upright body slide out.
Keep working hard, the football world is all yours.
I see how well you have put last season behind you, and moved on fantastically well.
Hope you'll be with us for at least another season, so that we can confound the football pndits/ experts/critics and survive and build in the Premier League. Pickford has proven that you don't need to be with a top 6 club to be England's first choice.

[Rileybobs]

Well done JT.

Many claiming that his confidence was shattered last season by VK, but I don't agree. He doesn't seem short of confidence to me, and I guaratee that if you asked him he would have been thankful for being 'thrown under the bus' last season. Most of his performances were decent, and whilst he wasn't the right keeper to sign for the challenge we had ahead of us, he didn't deserve the majority of criticism that came his way, or obviously the boos that came from the brain-deads in the crowd who had had their hearts broken because their favourite clown had been dropped.

I'm sure he'll be goalkeeping again in the PL next season, hopefully for us.

[Cirrus_Minor]

That's brilliant and well deserved for James Trafford.

Last season he was hung out to dry in front of a defence that didn't have the foggiest about how to defend. There were times when he should have been removed and replaced to aid with his development. It is a wonder he didn't leave in the close season. But credit to JT and the manager/coaching staff to see him developing at our club and long may it continue.

[equinox]

Could hardly be anyone else.

Got a lot to say about Parker, but when this lad goes on to better things I reckon he will be crediting Parker a lot more than anyone else who has managed him so far.

Perhaps but what he went through last season has accelerated his progress by 3 or 4 years and that was nothing to do with Parker.

Kompany gets absolutely no credit for anything on this board which is, at best, totally blinkered, at worst childish.

[equinox]

That's brilliant and well deserved for James Trafford.

Last season he was hung out to dry in front of a defence that didn't have the foggiest about how to defend. There were times when he should have been removed and replaced to aid with his development. It is a wonder he didn't leave in the close season. But credit to JT and the manager/coaching staff to see him developing at our club and long may it continue.

Maybe Kompany thought Muric was a complete idiot? Just a thought.

[Devils_Advocate]

Very pleased for Trafford but I find it disappointing our goalkeeper is getting the player of the month award when we should be pummelling most of the teams in this division.

[warksclaret]

Sadly the PL will expose any GK shortcomings as evidenced this season with Muric and the current Chelsea GK
A full season in the Championship with a good man manager will have helped Trafford immensely this season-his stats are showing it

[CoolClaret]

Well done JT.

Many claiming that his confidence was shattered last season by VK, but I don't agree. He doesn't seem short of confidence to me, and I guaratee that if you asked him he would have been thankful for being 'thrown under the bus' last season. Most of his performances were decent, and whilst he wasn't the right keeper to sign for the challenge we had ahead of us, he didn't deserve the majority of criticism that came his way, or obviously the boos that came from the brain-deads in the crowd who had had their hearts broken because their favourite clown had been dropped.

I'm sure he'll be goalkeeping again in the PL next season, hopefully for us.

SP himself has alluded to Traff having a 'tough time of it' last season.

It could have totally ruined him, as it has done to many a player but credit to JT for taking it in his stride and bouncing back this season.

[Row x]

SP himself has alluded to Traff having a 'tough time of it' last season.

It could have totally ruined him, as it has done to many a player but credit to JT for taking it in his stride and bouncing back this season.

People at the club would know his mentality, and his ability to cope with the pressure

Congratulations James

[chekhov]

Well done. Not a fan of his delaying and play-acting antics however. Hope he grows out of it.

[Row x]

Well done. Not a fan of his delaying and play-acting antics however. Hope he grows out of it.

You do realise that's what he's being asked to do, and not something he does off piste. So nothing to grow out of.

[chekhov]

You do realise that's what he's being asked to do, and not something he does off piste. So nothing to grow out of.

Do we know that? If so then apologies to Traff. However, personally I really hate these sort of tactics. It’s very corrosive behaviour, not just for football but as an example of how you can gain advantage in life by deception and dishonesty.

[Row x]

Do we know that? If so then apologies to Traff. However, personally I really hate these sort of tactics. It’s very corrosive behaviour, not just for football but as an example of how you can gain advantage in life by deception and dishonesty.

If he wasn't being told to do it, then you'd see him stop, or the coaches shouting at him to stop, neither are happening.

[KRBFC]

SP himself has alluded to Traff having a 'tough time of it' last season.

It could have totally ruined him, as it has done to many a player but credit to JT for taking it in his stride and bouncing back this season.

What could have ruined him? Idiotic fans slagging him off months into his Burnley career as a young lad? Booing and jeering at games?

You know, fans like yourself came on here after his great game against Brighton and STILL slagged him off.

[Robbie_painter]

Do we know that? If so then apologies to Traff. However, personally I really hate these sort of tactics. It’s very corrosive behaviour, not just for football but as an example of how you can gain advantage in life by deception and dishonesty.

I personally believe he should’ve been dropped after the Sunderland game for rescuing us a point with his “deception and dishonesty”.

[taio]

What could have ruined him? Idiotic fans slagging him off months into his Burnley career as a young lad? Booing and jeering at games?

You know, fans like yourself came on here after his great game against Brighton and STILL slagged him off.

I've never known on this messageboard, or the previous one, as much relentless criticism of a young player, or any player for that matter, from a single poster.

[chekhov]

I personally believe he should’ve been dropped after the Sunderland game for rescuing us a point with his “deception and dishonesty”.

You missed my point.

[CoolClaret]

What could have ruined him? Idiotic fans slagging him off months into his Burnley career as a young lad? Booing and jeering at games?

You know, fans like yourself came on here after his great game against Brighton and STILL slagged him off.

No, what could have ruined him was suicidal tactics, being badly exposed and conceding 3/4 goals every game and not having the skillset to play as an aggressive sweeper keeper.

As for the Brighton game, I thought he played well and gave him kudos, but I still don't believe he should have played PL football last season.

Our setup this year is much more suited to maximising his attributes as a goalkeeper.

[Rileybobs]

SP himself has alluded to Traff having a 'tough time of it' last season.

It could have totally ruined him, as it has done to many a player but credit to JT for taking it in his stride and bouncing back this season.

He did have a tough time of it last season. All of our players did. But my point was I bet he would rather have been playing than not, and I bet he’s developed more as a player because of it.

On winning promotion we needed to sign an upgrade on Muric, which we did. I don’t think a young James Trafford was what Burnley needed at that point in time, but for his own development as a player I would say he gained invaluable experience.

[boatshed bill]

He did have a tough time of it last season. All of our players did. But my point was I bet he would rather have been playing than not, and I bet he’s developed more as a player because of it.

On winning promotion we needed to sign an upgrade on Muric, which we did. I don’t think a young James Trafford was what Burnley needed at that point in time, but for his own development as a player I would say he gained invaluable experience.

Absolutely.
Great post.

[Rileybobs]

Just to add, if anyone is responsible for knocking Trafford’s confidence it is the supporters who relentlessly slagged him off, particularly those who jeered and booed him at the ground. And I sit right behind the goal in the JMU and it’s clear from his body language that he hasn’t forgot, and doesn’t hold our support in high regard. He turned around and eye-rolled at those chanting ‘we scored a goal’ on Tuesday night.

[CoolClaret]

He did have a tough time of it last season. All of our players did. But my point was I bet he would rather have been playing than not, and I bet he’s developed more as a player because of it.

On winning promotion we needed to sign an upgrade on Muric, which we did. I don’t think a young James Trafford was what Burnley needed at that point in time, but for his own development as a player I would say he gained invaluable experience.

I don't think we could have afforded anyone to be an upgrade on Muric to suit that insane style of play tbh. He's nuts, but half made it work when he wasn't blundering - shame he can't erase that side of his game. For me, Traff was not an upgrade at that moment in his career, and I don't believe being an aggressive sweeper is his game. He's far more suited to our setup right now. But I don't like crying over spilt milk too much...

Just saying that being hung out to dry like JT was has ruined many a player, so it's a testament to him for not letting it get to him and kicking on. I think he'd have developed better playing in the Championship last season.

I certainly agree with the state of some of the support at the ground. One year I had a ST in the JML (2014-15) before moving, and the vitriol made by some of the supporters - youngsters seemingly being encouraged by their parents was nothing short of a disgrace.

[Newcastleclaret93]

To this date I can’t understand how grown adults actually thought Muric was a better keeper than Trafford.

Said it last year when he was getting pelters but Trafford is probably the one player in our squad that is destined to play premier league football for the rest of his career and will likely be England keeper in the next year or so.

[DingleDangle]

Who are the other guys in the photo please?

Kersten Kuhl (GK coach); Etienne Green; Vaclav Hladky; JT; SP; Charlie Casper; Connor King (GK coach)

[boatshed bill]

I don't think we could have afforded anyone to be an upgrade on Muric to suit that insane style of play tbh. He's nuts, but half made it work when he wasn't blundering - shame he can't erase that side of his game. For me, Traff was not an upgrade at that moment in his career, and I don't believe being an aggressive sweeper is his game. He's far more suited to our setup right now. But I don't like crying over spilt milk too much...

Just saying that being hung out to dry like JT was has ruined many a player, so it's a testament to him for not letting it get to him and kicking on. I think he'd have developed better playing in the Championship last season.

I certainly agree with the state of some of the support at the ground. One year I had a ST in the JML (2014-15) before moving, and the vitriol made by some of the supporters - youngsters seemingly being encouraged by their parents was nothing short of a disgrace.

I'm sick of hearing this "hung out to dry" comment, and you can add "thrown under a bus" which gets aired so often.
How about "given a golden opportunity"?
It may have been the making of young Trafford.... and we are getting the benefit now.

[Jakubclaret]

I'm sick of hearing this "hung out to dry" comment, and you can add "thrown under a bus" which gets aired so often.
How about "given a golden opportunity"?
It may have been the making of young Trafford.... and we are getting the benefit now.

It's not often on here to own mistakes. That muric debate went for a long while & never at any point pros & cons any real distinguishable difference overall. Both had their own individual strengths.

[SirBob]

It’s crazy he was thrown into premier league football at such a young age straight from league one. He really was thrown under the bus a far as I’m concerned.

There were lots of knee jerk reactions, but for the most part people could tell he was a very talented goal keeper in over his head, he’s getting experience at the level he needs right now in a system that protects him from unnecessary pressure.

I think he’d do fine for a team like Newcastle and can see why they are after him, he will only develop and get better.

People forget that goal keepers peak at a later age to outfield positions.

He also knows how to wind up the opposition fans and has a bit of character about him.

[Jakubclaret]

It’s crazy he was thrown into premier league football at such a young age straight from league one. He really was thrown under the bus a far as I’m concerned.

There were lots of knee jerk reactions, but for the most part people could tell he was a very talented goal keeper in over his head, he’s getting experience at the level he needs right now in a system that protects him from unnecessary pressure.

I think he’d do fine for a team like Newcastle and can see why they are after him, he will only develop and get better.

People forget that goal keepers peak at a later age to outfield positions.

He also knows how to wind up the opposition fans and has a bit of character about him.

It's not crazy how he's matured since. It's a legacy VK left only if it's harnessed in the right way. VK left the club with lots of potential & sellable assets that said with not in harmony with the manner he left.