• The Edward’s Effect….

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 8:33 am**

2 goals and 1 assist…… is the reality of the Edward’s effect that it actually allowed the best winger, to go into his natural position on the left, and be our most effective attacking force?

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 8:37 am**

I thought this was going to be about the misuse of apostrophes.

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 8:44 am**

Can I blame grammar checks on the phone for getting it wrong?

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 8:52 am**

I think his effect is more marked than just the two 'goal contributions' - he's very often the one driving into the box and causing mayhem - many times he's been the initial impetus that's lead to a goal - JBs first v Sheff U and the winner at Watford being recent examples

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 8:52 am**

dandeclaret wrote: ↑
Fri May 02, 2025 8:44 am
Can I blame grammar checks on the phone for getting it wrong?

Only if you use grammar check's

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 8:56 am**

How often does you're granny check on her phone? and why would you blame her ?

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 8:59 am**

Since Marcus Edwards played: 2.6pts/game
Before that: 1.93pts/game

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 9:00 am**

The fact that he is often double marked frees up space for others.

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 9:02 am**

dandeclaret wrote: ↑
Fri May 02, 2025 8:33 am
2 goals and 1 assist…… is the reality of the Edward’s effect that it actually allowed the best winger, to go into his natural position on the left, and be our most effective attacking force?

Teams know his threat, they double up and sometimes triple up on him. Leaves space elsewhere. If we were drawing and losing and he had those figures I’d be worried, but stats can tell you any truth you are looking for so I’m not concerned.

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 9:05 am**

Anthony played on the left when we failed to score against PNE at home, QPR at home and Millwall away.

So I think that nullifies that argument.

I like Anthony a lot but Edwards is a Champion’s League player who commits defenders, often multiple defenders, and causes chaos. In the Premier League he will have more space and his trickiness will get free kicks and give time for the team to push up.

2 goals and 1 assist is misleading - many are pre-assist involvements and being right footed Flemming prefers to attack crosses with his head from the left wing so he can propel off his right foot. So many of our goals coming from midfielders also mean Edwards gets involved in the build up play more than the final pass.

The good thing is though, there is clearly improvement to be made too in those goal volumes, which is a good thing.

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 9:08 am**

Edwards’ underlying attacking numbers are ranking up there with the top championship wingers / attackers, even if assists / goals aren’t. The ‘Shot Creating Actions’ at 4 per game implies how involved he is before the final shot:

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 9:10 am**

WWWDWWWDWWWW

In league games he’s started

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 9:13 am**

Yeah. I didn’t get the impression that Edwards was fully fit. He did well, but excited to see him with a full pre season under his belt.

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 9:17 am**

Predictive text wrecks much.

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 9:17 am**

CrosspoolClarets wrote: ↑
Fri May 02, 2025 9:05 am
Anthony played on the left when we failed to score against PNE at home, QPR at home and Millwall away.

Anthony has improved dramatically since Humphreys injury. He has formed a superb partnership with Pires. Before the injury he didn’t know which wing he’d be on and who would be lining up behind him.
SP has said, as did VK two years ago, it takes time for the team to develop. Both of them have been shown to be right.

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 9:18 am**

Are we signing him btw? Was it built into the loan deal?

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 9:20 am**

Anthony deserves a load of credit this year. Stuck at it when we weren’t so fluent and really blossomed 2nd half of the season. Great attitude and plenty of ability.

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 9:23 am**

Passing Clouds wrote: ↑
Fri May 02, 2025 9:18 am
Are we signing him btw? Was it built into the loan deal?

Yes

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 9:24 am**

He’s been involved in the build up to a lot more goals than the stats will show.

What he’s done is allowed Anthony to move to his preferred position and given the opposition more to think about.

It’d be interesting to see Anthony’s goal contributions pre and post the arrival of Edwards. My assumption is that it’s increased significantly.

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 9:25 am**

Passing Clouds wrote: ↑
Fri May 02, 2025 9:20 am
Anthony deserves a load of credit this year. Stuck at it when we weren’t so fluent and really blossomed 2nd half of the season. Great attitude and plenty of ability.

The way he takes a ball down from the sky in one fluent move!!!

Since Edwards joined we have looked far more cohesive and creative. He adds balance and danger.

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 9:55 am**

agreenwood wrote: ↑
Fri May 02, 2025 9:24 am
He’s been involved in the build up to a lot more goals than the stats will show.

What he’s done is allowed Anthony to move to his preferred position and given the opposition more to think about.

It’d be interesting to see Anthony’s goal contributions pre and post the arrival of Edwards. My assumption is that it’s increased significantly.

https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/ ... on-anthony

Edwards signed on 3rd Feb, but I don't know exactly when he played his first game for us, but since 03/02 Anthony has 4 goals and 5 assists, contributing one or the other in 7 out of 15 games. Prior to that it was 3 goals and 2 assists in 27 having not been involved in the first 3 games.

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 9:57 am**

Guller Bull wrote: ↑
Fri May 02, 2025 9:25 am
The way he takes a ball down from the sky in one fluent move!!!

Since Edwards joined we have looked far more cohesive and creative. He adds balance and danger.

Yeah agree. Really elegant footballer. The contrast with Edwards is interesting. He has a really low centre of gravity and is explosive. Anthony is just so languid and silky!

Have we ever had better wingers?

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 10:00 am**

They are definitely not Boyd and Arfield. (Who were brilliant for us but not natural wingers IMO)

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 10:04 am**

I mean I go back a bit and probably thinking James/Thomas/Morley/Cochrane - cant remember if any of those played together in the same teams.
However these two are bloody impressive!

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 10:34 am**

Guller Bull wrote: ↑
Fri May 02, 2025 10:04 am
I mean I go back a bit and probably thinking James/Thomas/Morley/Cochrane - cant remember if any of those played together in the same teams.
However these two are bloody impressive!

Zaroury and Benson were fun to watch.

Couldn’t really tell you who our wingers were in the last Prem campaign!

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 11:02 am**

There was a spell when Little and Blake were our wingers…. That was also fun.

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 11:03 am**

distortiondave wrote: ↑
Fri May 02, 2025 9:55 am
https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/ ... on-anthony

Edwards signed on 3rd Feb, but I don't know exactly when he played his first game for us, but since 03/02 Anthony has 4 goals and 5 assists, contributing one or the other in 7 out of 15 games. Prior to that it was 3 goals and 2 assists in 27 having not been involved in the first 3 games.

Good stats Alex….. that was the discussion I was aiming for.

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 11:20 am**

We've been blessed with our wingers over the years, bit like our keepers since Tom Heaton joined us.

What I love about Edwards is that the ball sticks. From his first touch, it appears that his intention is to hurt the opposition if possible. He can go either way in the penalty area, often going outside his nearest defender, which can cause chaos. The extra few seconds that we spend in the opponents area can and often will create goal chances.

I'm hoping that pre season and the lift of playing in the Premier League will lift him and us to new and competitive heights.

Exciting times.

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 11:22 am**

At the moment, Anthony is the better player for me.

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 11:26 am**

Me too. I didn't rate him early season, but now he's settled, and I think found his preferred side on the left, he's been outstanding. Creative, a brilliant touch, scores goals, works hard - just a really good fit as a Burnley winger.

And is the younger of the 2 as well.

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 11:35 am**

It’ll be interesting to see how Edwards gets on in the PL. His reputation has seen him doubled-up on since his first few games. At Derby he was completely stifled every time he got the ball.

I can’t see PL sides being quite so wary of him initially, so perversely he might find himself with a bit more space.

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 11:43 am**

Really like both but Anthony has been absolutely outstanding. If Edwards has freed up Anthony to be even more effective then that’s a win-win.

Looking to next season, I can see Edwards, like Koleosho, appearing more effective, due to the fact that he will be marked differently.

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 11:44 am**

A stellar example of the fact that looking at a player's goals+assists is not a particularly helpful way to tell if they're good.

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 11:51 am**

To me, at the moment, Anthony is an inside forward playing wide, rather than a winger, a similar type to Rashford playing wide.
He has one particular winger skill to improve, and that is, quite often when running free when he comes to the defender he often just runs into them, rather than choosing to go either side.
Not sure if he switches off or it is just a side of his game that needs to develop and hopefully he can learn some of this from Edwards.

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 11:53 am**

In relation to Anthony, I'm not sure the Edwards effect can be divorced from the Pires effect. He took on the left back role full time at almost exactly the same time as Edwards got into the side. Apart from the fact Anthony clearly prefers the left, I think the combination of having a genuine right wing threat, plus having a natural left back who became increasingly positive and effective in his use of the ball (no criticism of Humphreys, who'd previously done a good job), clearly had an effect of liberating Anthony and making our attack as a whole more balanced with a genuine threat on both flanks in addition to Anthony. I don't think it's a surprise that Flemming has also been a more regular goalscorer in that period. Edwards didn't play at QPR, Pires did, but we still looked a huge threat (and the second goal is a case in point - Koleosho really makes it down the right but it starts with a very good ball from Pires into Roberts from deep in the left back slot.

As for Edwards specifically, he looks a very good player who is still grasping for his best form to me. He's had a difficult 12 months at Sporting and that may have knocked his confidence and fitness, and he's probably not quite had time to recover that (particularly as the Championship is a much more aggressive and physical league than Portugal). I also think he's slightly sacrificed himself for the good of the team: he looks to me to be more of an inside forward than a winger, and I'm not sure he would choose to hold his width quite as much as he has. He's generally looked more dangerous coming off the flank to pick the ball up around the 18 yard line. That is consistent with his success playing to the right of the striker at Sporting in a 3-4-3 system, but in the 4-2-3-1 we've used this season, Parker has asked him to pull wide at times to hold stretch the game and drag defenders out of the game with Roberts underlapping as often as overlapping. His influence in setting up attacks from the right flank, and attracting defenders to free up space in the other three quarters of the attacking third, can't be overestimated in my opinion.

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 12:10 pm**

The one thing that stands out for me in respect of Anthony is his touch - it's one of the best I've seen in a claret shirt. Up there with Blake in that respect for me

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 12:14 pm**

Having read back, I can see how my post can be taken to be knocking Edwards - that wasn't my intention at all, it was to try and provoke a discussion on what his addition to the side had unlocked to improve the output of the team. I'm delighted he has signed permanently, I think he will be a valuable asset to the side and is exciting....

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 12:23 pm**

Passing Clouds wrote: ↑
Fri May 02, 2025 9:57 am
Yeah agree. Really elegant footballer. The contrast with Edwards is interesting. He has a really low centre of gravity and is explosive. Anthony is just so languid and silky!

Have we ever had better wingers?

Depends how far back you want to go but I would say a definite 'yes'. They've both contributed wonderfully well in the 2nd half of the season but I was around to see the likes of John Connelly, Ralph Coates, Willie Morgan and arguably our greatest ever winger, Leighton James. They were all top class players, different in their approach and style but blessed with quick feet, two footed and a change of pace that left defenders in their wake. I know it was a completely different era but they were icons of our football club.

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 12:29 pm**

dandeclaret wrote: ↑
Fri May 02, 2025 8:33 am
2 goals and 1 assist…… is the reality of the Edward’s effect that it actually allowed the best winger, to go into his natural position on the left, and be our most effective attacking force?

Good cast

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 12:50 pm**

The boost of confidence him turning up gave the rest can't be underestimated

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 12:52 pm**

Rowls wrote: ↑
Mon Apr 14, 2025 2:55 pm
The lack of goals was a real issue. Here's some illustrative stats:

Before Edwards
Average goals per league game = 37/31 = 1.19
Scored nil = 11/31 = 35%

After Edwards
Average goals per league game = 20/11 = 1.81
Scored nil = 2/20 = 10%

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 1:18 pm**

Luppy wrote: ↑
Fri May 02, 2025 12:10 pm
The one thing that stands out for me in respect of Anthony is his touch - it's one of the best I've seen in a claret shirt. Up there with Blake in that respect for me

He's technically outstanding and in that respect he reminds me of Wade Elliott who was similarly a winger who was quick enough but not lightening fast, and relied on the quality of his touch and control to make half a yard of space.

Anthony's weakness is decision making. He butchers an unusually high number of 2 v 1 opportunities as a result. If he can address this (which may well be a confidence thing, Anthony strikes me as a relatively diffident sort of character at times) he's got the tools to be a Premier League player.

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 2:15 pm**

Edwards will be a beneficial signing.
I’ve posted before his biggest plus is first touch and fast feet against that he can’t get away from defenders, with pace, but uses his body well to keep them behind him. He wants to come back onto his left foot for delivery but he can beat a defender both sides before that delivery. Probably more suited to the PL than Championship. Let’s hope so.

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 2:31 pm**

Edwards gave the oppositions much much more to think about giving other players especially Anthony the space to create ...

He's been massive for us , even when a little out of form

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 3:50 pm**

We needed that extra 3-5% and we got it when Marcu's signed.

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 4:12 pm**

Edwards’ “goal creating actions”, i.e. one of the things that directly led to our promotion, is 0.52 per 90 minutes, which is in the top 10 in the division. Soloman is top. Anthony is a lad lower at 0.47. Edwards would have been higher still if he had that stonewall pen at PNE.

Edwards’ GCA figure for the Primera Liga is frankly ridiculous, far higher than even Soloman in our league. His GCA figure in the Champion’s League and Europa League isn’t bad either.

He is a very, very good player whose only problem is sometimes not being at full 100% focus. I like Anthony a lot but no way does he have the star profile or indeed statistical output of Edwards. There is a reason Anthony wasn’t double marked all season. But I like Jaydon a lot and would still play him next season in the Prem.

Anthony’s stats for shot creation has been fairly consistent over the season by the way even if he has bagged a few more recently.

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 4:17 pm**

The Shire Claret wrote: ↑
Fri May 02, 2025 2:31 pm
Edwards gave the oppositions much much more to think about giving other players especially Anthony the space to create ...

He's been massive for us , even when a little out of form

This out of form thing, I’ve had a look and his GCA, SCA, successful take ons and carrys were all higher against Sheff Utd and Watford than his average since signing.

Again, contrary to perception, his take ons (5) and successful take ons (3) away at Derby were the 2nd highest since he signed.

He seems to be a player who, even when seeming quiet, has a major contribution.

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 5:28 pm**

Same again tomorrow, I hope, decent odds for Anthony to score first, at anytime or two or more.

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 9:31 pm**

CrosspoolClarets wrote: ↑
Fri May 02, 2025 9:05 am
Anthony played on the left when we failed to score against PNE at home, QPR at home and Millwall away.

So I think that nullifies that argument.

Our performances in the three PNE games were inexplicably terrible.

Posted: **Fri May 02, 2025 9:41 pm**

I don't like to reply to my own post, but just to say they were sh!te and we didn't beat them once- the only black mark on Scotty's report for me.

OK, they're not the bastards, but I don't like them one bit.

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