What Josh says

[taio]

https://x.com/theboyhotspur/status/1698 ... 23599?s=46

Cullen made a mistake and left Maddison unmarked for his goal

The ball from Trafford was poor but he was also under pressure so it would seem he maybe panicked

The team just collectively had a shocker but if people want to focus on singular players for agendas then so be it

Correct. And Brownhill was clearly marking Sarr. Hard to fathom why anyone would be blaming Brownhill for it.

[Big Vinny K]

Where have I said that Brownhill should be sat on the edge of our box?

I’m saying that the gap between our midfield and attack in this transitions is crazy.

Brownhill or cullen (or whoever the hell was supposed to be playing in midfield) should not have left such an open space. Even if we have the ball I’ve never seen us (under VK) leave such large spaces in midfield

Nope you are not saying that at all - you are saying that it’s specifically Brownhill who has left this big open space when it’s f’in obvious to anyone who has not got an agenda against Brownhill that it was Cullen who vacated that space to try and pick up a ball from the right back that never reached him.
Now you could blame Cullen if you wanted but if he is not the player picking up short passes from the full backs in our own third who else is going to do it ?

The real problem was that we gave a centre back who was playing out of position a difficult pass from the keeper to try and control and find a burnley shirt. He failed to do that so the blame falls on him or Trafford for playing that kind of ball to a defender who was having a bad game. Why even play that kind of ball in a game when we are under so much pressure ? He should have gone long to Brownhill who was in loads of space and no chance of Maddison getting near him !!!

[Jakubclaret]

A lot has been said about the new players settling/bedding in blah blah but I'm not sure common sense can be coached, without apportioning blame to any particular individual, he (quite frankly I'm not bothered who) needs to be far tighter tracked to bring him down or to block the shot or to stop him getting him one off, something anything, to let him run unhindered shaping to shoot for god knows how many yards is diabolical defending.

[Rileybobs]

Nope you are not saying that at all - you are saying that it’s specifically Brownhill who has left this big open space when it’s f’in obvious to anyone who has not got an agenda against Brownhill that it was Cullen who vacated that space to try and pick up a ball from the right back that never reached him.
Now you could blame Cullen if you wanted but if he is not the player picking up short passes from the full backs in our own third who else is going to do it ?

The real problem was that we gave a centre back who was playing out of position a difficult pass from the keeper to try and control and find a burnley shirt. He failed to do that so the blame falls on him or Trafford for playing that kind of ball to a defender who was having a bad game. Why even play that kind of ball in a game when we are under so much pressure ? He should have gone long to Brownhill who was in loads of space and no chance of Maddison getting near him !!!

I’ve got no idea why we continued to chip those balls out to Al-Dakhil. It was obvious Spurs knew that if they got tight to Cullen and closed Trafford down then our only way out was to Al-Dakhil. They stood 10-15 yards off him to tempt the pass. When it was on the ground or throw out it was fine, but as soon as the pass had to go airborne he was in trouble. Senseless football at times.

[Spiral]

Not ragging on Trafford because he's a young lad with loads of room to improve, and you can only really do that by playing, but I'd love to see Muric in this team for the reason that his distribution is generally better. He can chip balls into another dimension if he feels like it, and I can't help but feel that his absence is affecting our build-up as much as Maatsen's absence, or that of any other recognised LB. You can exert a degree of control over a game by controlling the build-up, though obviously it's more difficult in the prem than in the champ. I think if we're being forced into going long by a productive opposition press, it makes sense for the guy who can pick out exact craters on the moon from a GK to be the one making those long passes.

[burnleymik]

It's bonkers how we went from not being able to score in the Prem and often having games without a single shot on target, but having a fantastic defensive unit, to now having a fantastic offensive unit, but struggling defensively.

How times have changed and although it hasn't worked out so far, I know which one I enjoy most, from an entertainment angle.

Like VK himself said, basically, it's easier to fix the defence than to fix the attack.

I think there will be some significant changes for the next game.

[ClaretinJapan]

Or perhaps not?

https://www.burnleyexpress.net/sport/fo ... ch-4278435

[Culmclaret]

Mmm…Einstein’s definition of madness?

[RMutt]

I’ve got no idea why we continued to chip those balls out to Al-Dakhil. It was obvious Spurs knew that if they got tight to Cullen and closed Trafford down then our only way out was to Al-Dakhil. They stood 10-15 yards off him to tempt the pass. When it was on the ground or throw out it was fine, but as soon as the pass had to go airborne he was in trouble. Senseless football at times.

Interesting, the chipped ball out. I noticed it on Saturday. It’s in the air longer which gives the opponent more time to close and unless your first touch/ control is spot on, you’re in trouble.

[dougcollins]

Yep, it really isn't a good idea. Defender tight on the touchline with nowhere to go and the ball on the air long enough for the press to arrive simultaneously with the ball.

Maddison's goal a direct result.

[summitclaret]

"How times have changed and although it hasn't worked out so far, I know which one I enjoy most, from an entertainment angle."

There's nothing entertaining about getting whooped 3 games on the trot. Build from a solid defensive, attack on the break at this stage. The City approach is for City players.

[Spijed]

"How times have changed and although it hasn't worked out so far, I know which one I enjoy most, from an entertainment angle."

There's nothing entertaining about getting whooped 3 games on the trot. Build from a solid defensive, attack on the break at this stage. The City approach is for City players.

Even Guardiola has become far more pragmatic as time has gone on, especially in the CL. As soon as Man City scored in the final they pretty much parked the bus thereafter.

[KRBFC]

Or perhaps not?

https://www.burnleyexpress.net/sport/fo ... ch-4278435

VK is correct, it’s absolute madness to rip up the entire thing that made us successful and resort to something we don’t know how to do like park the bus and aimlessly lump it forward.

I hope we get back to playing the same system as last season because right now, we aren’t operating the same way.

[KRBFC]

I also think Trafford sees the pass but for some reasons hesitates in playing it quickly, Quite panicky at with the ball at his feet imo

[bumba]

VK is correct, it’s absolute madness to rip up the entire thing that made us successful and resort to something we don’t know how to do like park the bus and aimlessly lump it forward.

I hope we get back to playing the same system as last season because right now, we aren’t operating the same way.

Thing is he's already done exactly what he's saying he won't do by completely changing us this season to last.
We need to go back to last season's system with our best 11 being selected

[KRBFC]

Thing is he's already done exactly what he's saying he won't do by completely changing us this season to last.
We need to go back to last season's system with our best 11 being selected

Agree this 5 at the back experiment needs binning asap

[iw1961]

The player we most need on the pitch is Cork. Within seconds of coming on the pitch on saturday he was organising, talking and generally sorting stuff out. We became much tighter and whilst some may say Spurs had taken their foot off the gas, that to my mind was due to Cork.
I have no issue with Brownhill playing, in fact a midfield 3 of Berge, Brownill and Cork would tighten us up nicely and give us a presence. Cullen is tidy but no more than Cork and he doesn't organise so he's behind in my book. We are not a top 10 side in fact if we finish 17th it will be a success. We have lots of new but untried players who may or may not make it, potential is no guarantee. No side is ever too good not to be relegated. This is a results business but allowing teams to have the midfield is suicide.

[CrosspoolClarets]

One could argue that Dyche got the sack because he didn’t pick Cork enough, whenever Cork played our average point were far higher. Cork is getting older of course but he has skills many managers overlook, and the ability to organise a team is an intangible that no stat can pick up when the stats company are looking at things like speed from GPS chips, passing success etc.

I think I am coming to the view that our attackers are better than I expected (and we haven’t even seen Tresor yet), so having an extra midfielder may not stop us scoring plenty. Cork won’t do 90 minutes of course but there are times I would use him. Also, if Messango is indeed similar to Caicedo as that scouting report stated, there feels like a place for him too, maybe with Cork to guide him.

So I think I’m also coming to the view that Cullen has to be a in and out player, not a regular 90 minuter. He simply doesn’t have all the necessary physicality.

[bumba]

Agree this 5 at the back experiment needs binning asap

Strange that actually playing 5 at the back is leaving us far more open than when we played 4 at the back

[dougcollins]

Strange that actually playing 5 at the back is leaving us far more open than when we played 4 at the back

Because the bit that destroys you is midfield.

[forzagranata]

I've been a big appreciator of Jack Cork for a long while but I'd be wary of reading too much into the last 20 minutes or so of Saturday's game. Spurs were just strolling about by then having a light training session.

[Anthonini]

Mmm…Einstein’s definition of madness?

Marrying your cousin and cheating on her with your daughters

[xxmunkyennuixx]

Not sure why Taylor isn't a fit. I don't understand the failure to pick him and play two lads out of position as a result which then lead to the five because of the huge gaps. He doesn't need to tuck into midfield to contribute. He can play short passes inside to CB and CM and retain possession. We got into a lot of trouble by beating the press and then coming back in to it. Surely, an old fashioned Dyche style channel ball for Fozzy to fight for or a longish pass up the line for Koleosho/Brunn Larsen with their pace helps beat the press and gives the opposition pause for thought. That forward looks well equipped for "mixed" football. Taylor spent most of his time with us hitting those same passes.

Agree with the call for Muric who can also ping a ball long.

[aggi]

So we are now thinking Brownhill should be marking Maddison when we have the ball ?
2 people to blame for that goal - if we need to find blame.
Al Dakhill for giving the ball away
VK for playing him at right back and out of position.

But very good players like Maddison find space - they anticipate mistakes and then pounce. They then have the quality to curl into the bottom corner from 20 yards.
Maddison also has the luxury of knowing that when we have the ball he does not have to mark any burnley player - he knows others will do that for him but he’s also gambling on us making mistakes on the ball. Which tbf on Saturday was not a big gamble was it ?!!

I'd probably add Trafford to that list for a pretty poor ball out.

[claretspice]

One could argue that Dyche got the sack because he didn’t pick Cork enough, whenever Cork played our average point were far higher. Cork is getting older of course but he has skills many managers overlook, and the ability to organise a team is an intangible that no stat can pick up when the stats company are looking at things like speed from GPS chips, passing success etc.

I think I am coming to the view that our attackers are better than I expected (and we haven’t even seen Tresor yet), so having an extra midfielder may not stop us scoring plenty. Cork won’t do 90 minutes of course but there are times I would use him. Also, if Messango is indeed similar to Caicedo as that scouting report stated, there feels like a place for him too, maybe with Cork to guide him.

So I think I’m also coming to the view that Cullen has to be a in and out player, not a regular 90 minuter. He simply doesn’t have all the necessary physicality.

An extra midfielder just seems obvious to me. I don't think it need be Cork, I think it can be Berge joining Brownhill and Cullen. But we need that extra presence in the centre of midfield. That still leaves 3 slots for genuine forward thinking attacking players, and there's lots of scope for Brownhill, Cullen and Berge to supplement an attack. I don't see why that team shouldn't have plenty of goal threat for a bottom half team. It would also improve our press - if we are going to be playing such a high line the press has to be really well coordinated and imposing - at present it is neither. Brownhill presses better than anyone else in the squad and that is key to us playing more football in the opponents half, and making the game more about our opportunities to exploit transition when we win the ball, rather than the opposition feasting on our frailties when they take it back off us.

The third goal is a combination of experience from Al Dakhil and Trafford, plus the system - the ball just had to go long but Trafford knew that would result in us losing possession because it wasn't sticking in that period with the isolated front 3 and only Foster a presence. Cullen does get attracted to Son, for whom O'Shea also makes a bee-line. Really Cullen should have just filled in the gap but the truth is that when you lose the ball in that position against a good team, you are scrambling - and we were simply a man too short in front of the back four and the whole thing was a bit of a mess.

[bumba]

Because the bit that destroys you is midfield.

What midfield?