Mainz v Clarets

[roperclaret]

Spirals one is working but no sound

[Spiral]

Can't remember did Trafford start the last game too or did Muric? If Trafford has started the last two of pre-season he's pretty much nailed on to be No1

[burnmark]

Can't remember did Trafford start the last game too or did Muric? If Trafford has started the last two of pre-season he's pretty much nailed on to be No1

He started. Muric only played against Benfica

[123EasyasBFC]

Can't remember did Trafford start the last game too or did Muric? If Trafford has started the last two of pre-season he's pretty much nailed on to be No1

We are playing 90 min plus another 30 and kompany already knows what muric is about, id still expect muric to start against city

[eastcoastclaret]

Can't remember did Trafford start the last game too or did Muric? If Trafford has started the last two of pre-season he's pretty much nailed on to be No1

Trafford 1st game, Muric 2nd. I'd expect each to play 45mins today.

[ksrclaret]

We look really quite weak in CM without Cullen in there

[Spiral]

Spirals one is working but no sound

You'll need to click somewhere to turn on sound. It might take a few attempts and it might give you a popup but just close them. Look for an unmute button or the sound icon at the bottom.

[dermotdermot]

Quality so bad. I appear to have the wrong game.

Okay, so you’ve won the **** of the day award. Now please keep quiet.

[Carwin261]

Only just realised Brownhill is playing,very anonymous.

[RVclaret]

We look really quite weak in CM without Cullen in there

Agree. Brownhill is pretty poor at playing with his back to goal as that first receiver. Really limits our build up play.

[Newcastleclaret93]

We look really quite weak in CM without Cullen in there

Forwards are struggling to get into the game because midfield can’t get the ball to them

[FCBurnley]

Thanks guys

[Pickles]

Midfield have been babba. Brownhill can't play this role and Gudmundsson should be nowhere near playing central midfield for us.

[claretandy]

Trafford
Al dakhil O'Shea beyer Roberts
Brownhill
JBG zaroury
Koleosho foster Redmond

[Boss Hogg]

Dull game. Not like the last two.

[Colburn_Claret]

Midfield was the big weakness against Betis.
We need a solution quickly, without one it's going to be a long season.

[boatshed bill]

Dull game. Not like the last two.

Yes, this one really does look less competitive.

[RVclaret]

Midfield have been babba. Brownhill can't play this role and Gudmundsson should be nowhere near playing central midfield for us.

Gudmundsson did pretty well in centre mid last season?

Didn’t you say he’ll never play on the wing for us, so where else?

[Spiral]

Brownhill looked not his best under Dyche in the PL as a classic centre midfielder like he's playing today, and JBG is an attacker. No wonder it looks disjointed and slow, we've got no one who as a specialist naturally receives from the defence. This is why I thought we might stick Roberts next to Brownhill in front of 3 defenders and have JBG as the extra man in attack overloading their defensive areas, playing two No10s rather than just the one.

[ksrclaret]

I must say I tend to agree with those who say we look weaker than last season as things stand.

[Spiral]

Bugger

[Paul Waine]

1-0

[claretblue]

1 - 0
41 min
no one marking goal scorer

[Pickles]

Gudmundsson did pretty well in centre mid last season?

Didn’t you say he’ll never play on the wing for us, so where else?

He played well there for us last season, six or seven games was it? I wouldn't have him in the eleven this season.

[ksrclaret]

1 down extremely poor goal to concede. Cut though our right channel with ease

[boatshed bill]

Goal.
they've had acres of space down the left

[spt_claret]

We are playing 90 min plus another 30 and kompany already knows what muric is about, id still expect muric to start against city

Not a chance.
People keep saying "We're not a club who picks based on price."

We're also not a club who spunks £15m on a keeper to sit on the bench. Our model seems to be buy potential, develop, look to sell at profit, probably inside 1-2 years (look at Cornet and Collins). We can't do that if he's not playing, we can't have 15m sat on the bench not appreciating in value.

I'd rather play Muric but I would put money on Trafford starting.

[burnleymik]

We are struggling to get anything going here.

[Cirrus_Minor]

Poor goa, wide open. Need to improve

[123EasyasBFC]

Al-dakhil caught to narrow there

[Newcastleclaret93]

Il probably get slated for it.

But I stick by the view that Brownhill against premier league level opposition is just knowhere near good enough. He just doesn’t have the technical ability.

We desperately need CM reinforcements or this could be a long season

[spt_claret]

1 - 0
41 min
no one marking goal scorer

Our defence is best with Ekdal in and I'll keep beating this drum. He's a much better ball player than he gets credit for (don't know why he's not rated for it) and he's a better out-and-out defender than O'Shea, and seems to either shape up better for the keeper or aid in defensive organising (did it better than THB too). Muric's wobbles last season were generally without Ekdal in front of him, 1 skewed pass by Ekdal aside.

[Kevwando]

Missing Cork in the middle

[ksrclaret]

Good run and shot from Redmond saved by keeper

[bfcmik]

Very poor so far. IF we played like this throughout the season we would end up below even Luton.

Little movement, poor ball control, all over the place at the back, and that midfield is absolutely dire so far.

I'm sure we will see lots of changes from Vinnie

[123EasyasBFC]

Not a chance.
People keep saying "We're not a club who picks based on price."

We're also not a club who spunks £15m on a keeper to sit on the bench. Our model seems to be buy potential, develop, look to sell at profit, probably inside 1-2 years (look at Cornet and Collins). We can't do that if he's not playing, we can't have 15m sat on the bench not appreciating in value.

I'd rather play Muric but I would put money on Trafford starting.

Kompany plays based of form, and so far Trafford hasn’t shown anything to say he’s above muric in pecking order

[Pickles]

Il probably get slated for it.

But I stick by the view that Brownhill against premier league level opposition is just knowhere near good enough. He just doesn’t have the technical ability.

We desperately need CM reinforcements or this could be a long season

If he's able to play ahead of two solid midfielders he's decent. But the deeper he plays the worse he gets.

[RVclaret]

Il probably get slated for it.

But I stick by the view that Brownhill against premier league level opposition is just knowhere near good enough. He just doesn’t have the technical ability.

We desperately need CM reinforcements or this could be a long season

In a 2, like today, I agree. In a 3 playing more advanced he’d be fine.

[CoolClaret]

Il probably get slated for it.

But I stick by the view that Brownhill against premier league level opposition is just knowhere near good enough. He just doesn’t have the technical ability.

We desperately need CM reinforcements or this could be a long season

I think it’s his discipline playing in a more structured role if honest.

He’d be good pressing from a more advanced position like he did for us early season last year but as soon as he plays deeper we look like we’re really easy to play through.

[spt_claret]

Brownhill looked not his best under Dyche in the PL as a classic centre midfielder like he's playing today, and JBG is an attacker. No wonder it looks disjointed and slow, we've got no one who as a specialist naturally receives from the defence. This is why I thought we might stick Roberts next to Brownhill in front of 3 defenders and have JBG as the extra man in attack overloading their defensive areas, playing two No10s rather than just the one.

I think you can put one of them in that role alongside Cullen (although at PL it's a question), or you can have them both in together if you've got an extra man behind them in defence to give Beyer more licence to step into the midfield line. I don't think we can play JBG/Brownhill as a pair in that part of the pitch, with a back 4.

[Newcastleclaret93]

If he's able to play ahead of two solid midfielders he's decent. But the deeper he plays the worse he gets.

I just don’t think he’s good enough even in the advanced role at this level. He just gives the ball away far too often.

[bfcmik]

Our defence is best with Ekdal in and I'll keep beating this drum. He's a much better ball player than he gets credit for (don't know why he's not rated for it) and he's a better out-and-out defender than O'Shea, and seems to either shape up better for the keeper or aid in defensive organising (did it better than THB too). Muric's wobbles last season were generally without Ekdal in front of him, 1 skewed pass by Ekdal aside.

Totally agree. I would love to see a back 3 of Ekdal, Al-Dakhil, Beyer in front of Muric. Roberts and A.N. Other as wing-backs.

[ksrclaret]

HT 1-0 down

Weaker all over the park compared with the players we had available back end of last season

[Newcastleclaret93]

I think it’s his discipline playing in a more structured role if honest.

He’d be good pressing from a more advanced position like he did for us early season last year but as soon as he plays deeper we look like we’re really easy to play through.

For me it’s all technical ability. In the advanced roles he gets away with it at championship level, but he loses the ball far too regular in the elite leagues.

I do think VK sees this though and it’s why we are linked to Ramsey and Lokonga.

[123EasyasBFC]

We are lacking going forward, Redmond and koleosho lively but we need an out and out CAM. Fosters highlight reel showed him running with the hall past people and getting in behind, him being the number 9 and coming deep just doesn’t seem to suit his game

[spt_claret]

I just don’t think he’s good enough even in the advanced role at this level. He just gives the ball away far too often.

I think he'd probably be okay as a slightly further forward/box to box in a midfield three. I don't think he can play the advanced role at PL either for the reasons you gave- he can do it in the Championship but it's a different beast.
What would you give for Cork to be 4 years younger and to have Defour or Barton in this side. We'd be laughing.

[Newcastleclaret93]

We are lacking going forward, Redmond and koleosho lively but we need an out and out CAM. Fosters highlight reel showed him running with the hall past people and getting in behind, him being the number 9 and coming deep just doesn’t seem to suit his game

Tbf he just can’t get on the ball

[Pickles]

I just don’t think he’s good enough even in the advanced role at this level. He just gives the ball away far too often.

I don't disagree with you. He's worth keeping around although I wouldn't have him as a definite starter.

[roperclaret]

Half time. So far,
Trafford way to slow with his distribution, not a patch on Muric
Roberts can’t play left back
Al Dakhil is a centre half
Koleosho looks lost

[123EasyasBFC]

For me it’s all technical ability. In the advanced roles he gets away with it at championship level, but he loses the ball far too regular in the elite leagues.

I do think VK sees this though and it’s why we are linked to Ramsey and Lokonga.

I agree, no way brownhill can be your most advanced midfielder in prem and expect him to be our main creator