Lowton or Roberts?

[IanMcL]

Lowton

[Bosscat]

Lowton for me too although Roberts is almost there

[burnleymik]

Roberts. He has room for improvement, younger, quicker and plenty of energy and drive. He will of learnt a lot from last night.

Lowts has been a great servant and being such a professional will keep Roberts on his toes for that RB spot in the team.

[warksclaret]

3 games, three draws, one goal conceded including games v Arsenal away, and Man Utd, and we are thinking of changing the defence. Roberts deserves a run of games. Personally he is the future one of the two full backs, and his energy is what we need right now

[Taffy on the wing]

Lowton for me.......he's been very good this year. Roberts is the future.

[Vegas Claret]

both of them, Roberts struggling a little defensively but has good energy, stick him on the right wing

[RVclaret]

both of them, Roberts struggling a little defensively but has good energy, stick him on the right wing

Who are you dropping then out of Cornet and McNeil?

[TheOriginalLongsider]

Defensively Lowton. Attacking Roberts. I think Roberts makes more mistakes but could just be because he’s newish

[Vegas Claret]

Who are you dropping then out of Cornet and McNeil?

nobody, it seems I'm sneaking 12 onto the pitch against Liverpool

In all seriousness, Dwight's not a right winger and neither is Maxwel - it's a known issue. Can't drop Jay after last night, it'll be the same team on Saturday

[RVclaret]

nobody, it seems I'm sneaking 12 onto the pitch against Liverpool

In all seriousness, Dwight's not a right winger and neither is Maxwel - it's a known issue. Can't drop Jay after last night, it'll be the same team on Saturday

Maxwel’s best scoring and assisting stats for Lyon were actually from the right. I reckon he might even start there on Sunday because McNeil always does well against TAA on that side.

[superdimitri]

Roberts is a lot better going forward, but a bit naiver in defence.
Doesn't help having McNeil or Cornet in front of you to be honest.

For me, Lowton against better opposition. Roberts when we need to attack or against poorer opposition.

[Vegas Claret]

Maxwel’s best scoring and assisting stats for Lyon were actually from the right. I reckon he might even start there on Sunday because McNeil always does well against TAA on that side.

yeah I've seen those stats, I think I need to get his performance last night out of my head and blame it on his lack of football. I genuinely think our only chance of survival is to have all four of Maxwel, Weghorst (superb), McNeil and Jay/Barnes firing on all cylinders,

Good point about McNeil and TAA

[FCBurnley]

Lowton for me. Great crosser but Roberts has the long throw

[andyh]

Roberts at least while Taylor is out.

We need one fullback who can overlap our wide players and get back if we lose the ball.

Interesting people saying Lowton is better in defence when actually our defence has done well since Roberts came in.

[AlargeClaret]

Roberts looks ok,though bit of tough way to get started v the likes of Man Utd/Liverpool etc. He's got plenty of energy and I think against the lesser teams he'll be decent,once bedded in.Bearing in mind we're stone bottom and very poor it's harsh to single him out. Lowton has always been reasonable overall but his crossing is mainly v poor and wayward. Need to see what Roberts can do on crosses before a proper judgement.

[claretgimmer]

Lowton is at best a championship quality full back who has been having a purple patch, he is good in the tackle but he lacks pace, his advantage over Roberts is he has experience at this level, however his distribution this season has been mostly poor, Roberts will only get better with experience and added to the fact he is quicker that Lowts, has a long throw which in itself is a handy weapon to have at the teams disposal it has to be Roberts for me, as someone has already said he is the future.

[ClaretTony]

This must be a tough call for the manager at the minute. I'm not seeing anything in particular that sets either of them apart really, but I would still have Lowts starting atm, with his experience.
I think left back is a more straight forward decision, we really mis Taylor.

thoughts?

Is left back more straight forward? I though Pieters was outstanding last night.

[RVclaret]

Is left back more straight forward? I though Pieters was outstanding last night.

You also thought Brownhill was below average. Sort of clouds the judgement of Pieters!

[JohnMac]

Lowton for me.

Roberts does not yet appear to have the same crossing ability with good positions wasted by hitting the first defender. If the long throw was as effective as we had hoped it might have been a closer call.

[ClaretTony]

You also thought Brownhill was below average. Sort of clouds the judgement of Pieters!

What a ridiculous comment

[RalphCoatesComb]

Can Lowton play higher up the pitch?

[ClaretTony]

Lowton for me.

Roberts does not yet appear to have the same crossing ability with good positions wasted by hitting the first defender. If the long throw was as effective as we had hoped it might have been a closer call.

I’d go Lowton. More experience which is likely what we are going to need.

[Newcastleclaret93]

What a ridiculous comment

According to RV if you think Brownhill is a bad player or performs badly then you have poor football knowledge.

[ClaretTony]

According to RV if you think Brownhill is a bad player or performs badly then you have poor football knowledge.

That’s probably the case

[RVclaret]

According to RV if you think Brownhill is a bad player or performs badly then you have poor football knowledge.

You got your Brownhill sensors on again I see

[RVclaret]

What a ridiculous comment

Is it? Without Brownhill we wouldn’t have got a point last night, watch the game again and let me know if you disagree. As for Pieters, not sure what he did that was ‘outstanding’ by any means. Taylor straight back in and hopefully on Sunday!

[ClaretTony]

Is it? Without Brownhill we wouldn’t have got a point last night, watch the game again and let me know if you disagree. As for Pieters, not sure what he did that was ‘outstanding’ by any means. Taylor straight back in and hopefully on Sunday!

The thread title is 'Lowton or Roberts'. I'm not sure how you've missed that point but, guess what, it has nothing to do with Brownhill.

[Elizabeth]

Bearing in mind we're stone bottom and very poor

We are not very poor

[andyh]

We are not very poor

I agree. We need to stop talking ourselves down. We’ve had a handful of bad matches but unfortunately they were when it mattered the most.

But right now there isn’t a lot between Lowton or Roberts and on the other side Taylor and Pieters. Personally I’d go with the younger players because I’d hope they can still improve.

[Newcastleclaret93]

I agree. We need to stop talking ourselves down. We’ve had a handful of bad matches but unfortunately they were when it mattered the most.

But right now there isn’t a lot between Lowton or Roberts and on the other side Taylor and Pieters. Personally I’d go with the younger players because I’d hope they can still improve.

I think you are probably right. The full back areas are similar to CM, it’s doesn’t really matter who plays you will get the same output.

[boatshed bill]

Roberts vs Rashford and Shaw...
Tough game for him, TBF.

[Sleeping Cat]

Based on the games so far, Lowton certainly looks the more solid defensively. Against both United and Arsenal majority of their chances came from our right hand side. To be expected though, Roberts new to the level and will learn the more he plays. I'll stick with Roberts for now, give him a chance.

[AlargeClaret]

We are not very poor

Well i beg to differ , or perhaps I should have rephrased as “we’ve been “ very poor . At halfway we’re adrift and have been the worst team in the prem . However, I’m confident we can stay up due to the addition of Wout and hopefully a fit and ever present Cornet and Taylor . Our defence is fairly sound , we’ve kept Tarky , Roberts is bedding in etc . Though it may well get a little worse before it gets better .

[Newchurch Claret]

Lowton. No contest.

[IWOODLOVETT]

Both against Liverpool.
Liverpool’s goal threat mainly comes from each flank - Robertson / Diaz on the left, Alexander-Arnold / Salah on the right.
Lowton’s defensive qualities are tried and trusted, whilst Robert’s energy and attacking running should keep Robertson honest.on the other side Dwight has previously given T A-A a tough time and Erik or (preferably if fit) Charlie can keep Salah quiet.

Also Robert’s high tempo running and closing down is surely the best right-midfield solution for this game.

[SouthLondonexile]

Really good question but for me it’s Roberts now.
His long throws will come into their own.
I like him.

[spt_claret]

Roberts at least while Taylor is out.

We need one fullback who can overlap our wide players and get back if we lose the ball.

Interesting people saying Lowton is better in defence when actually our defence has done well since Roberts came in.

Conventional wisdom suggests Roberts is better going forwards as he's faster and better at carrying the ball but Lowton better defensively as he sits deeper but I think in practice it's the opposite- Lowton factually has created a number of big chances as his deep crossing is strong but Roberts is more mobile so should be able to get back quicker and cover position errors.
I think Dyche likes McNeil to have an overlapping fullback to exchange with as he trusts his defensive duties more and Cornet to have a more cautious fullback as he's generally further up and would rather have max be isolated and have to do some magic,than have two push up and expose the flank- hence why Cornet is in front of Pieters, whereas Taylor bombs up more.
I don't think Dyche is likely to play Cornet ahead of Roberts for this reason, Cornet and McNeil play very differently and the result is an asymmetrical tactic. Of course if Taylor returns and Roberts keeps his place then either its put Cornet in front of one or move him upfront again.
In short Dyche doesn't seem to pick fullbacks or players on individual attributes but how those attributes compliment the available key players around them.

[IWOODLOVETT]

The team to start against Liverpool needs to be as compact and combative as possible. Inevitably there will be much closing down and tackling especially in midfield.Therefore we need fresh, young legs and high energy.

Roberts, Westwood, Brownhill and McNeil are best suited for this and the two up front will be Jay and Wout, which means no start for Cornet. However he doesn’t seem to be 90 minutes fit, so a second half impact subs appearance seem likely along with Lennon and perhaps Barnes.

[Hibsclaret]

I was speaking to a Swansea fan last night who reckons Roberts has the best engine he has ever seen on a footballer. Will be interesting because I reckon Sean has had a word about the defending for the Man U goal…I think Lowton stops the cross there. Roberts is definitely the future and I think unlikely that the back 4 will be changed. All that said, I don’t think Lowton deserved to lose his place. I would say either would be my answer to the op question.

[Newcastleclaret93]

I was speaking to a Swansea fan last night who reckons Roberts has the best engine he has ever seen on a footballer. Will be interesting because I reckon Sean has had a word about the defending for the Man U goal…I think Lowton stops the cross there. Roberts is definitely the future and I think unlikely that the back 4 will be changed. All that said, I don’t think Lowton deserved to lose his place. I would say either would be my answer to the op question.

There were Swansea fans saying he was on par with the best RBs in the prem when he signed.

Roberts probably is the future but for me right now, Lowton offers us more in a relegation battle.

[Superjohnnyfrancis]

If Lowton has been dropped because of huddersfield then its incredibly harsh as it wasnt his fault he was played out of position at left back in the first place.

Would have loved to see Trippier back here but was never going to happen once the geordies got involved.

Jurys out for me, Roberts has to up his game considerably and "effect" the game more.

[tiger76]

Lowton is at best a championship quality full back who has been having a purple patch, he is good in the tackle but he lacks pace, his advantage over Roberts is he has experience at this level, however his distribution this season has been mostly poor, Roberts will only get better with experience and added to the fact he is quicker that Lowts, has a long throw which in itself is a handy weapon to have at the teams disposal it has to be Roberts for me, as someone has already said he is the future.

It's a long purple patch then considering he's been a PL regular for the past 8/9 years with over 220 appearances at this level.

Difficult one for SD, yes I agree Roberts is the future, but for the here and now I'd prefer Lowton as Roberts is still raw in the Prem. And we can ill afford mistakes in our plight.

However given Sean generally doesn't often change I can see Roberts retaining his place for the Liverpool game.

[Shaggy]

Dean west

[CrosspoolClarets]

Roberts.

Lowton has done well but is ageing and doesn’t have a great goal or assist record. Roberts looks to offer more there and should tighten up at the back in time, Lowton is technically better but we need goals, simples.

[4everclaret]

Maybe a bit random, but as Dyche will not consider playing 5 at the back what about trying Lowton at right back and Roberts in front of him wide right? Could be an upgrade on JGB or Lennon? Just an idea...

[beddie]

I hadn’t realised until I read it this morning just how I’ll Robert’s had been in December with pneumonia, to quote him,
“A normal healthy person is meant to be 25 on the infection scale, mine was 380”.