Does Ekdal start.....

[DocSavage]

......if he's fit? for me its a yes. I think he has more composure than O'Shea and can carry the ball out of defence. I think he also has more of a presence in the back four which in turn would give Trafford more confidence (because he wont be dropped lol) that he wont be exposed as much.

[Florian]

Him and beyer all day of the week

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

I expect a few replies will include Alan’s surname.

[Kilson810]

100% has to if fit

[Quicknick]

Yes.

[The Shire Claret]

Ekdal and Beyer kept THB getting back in the team and Al Dakil was behind them two ..... I feel they are our best two although O'shea is improved.

[Vegas Claret]

I expect a few replies will include Alan’s surname.

we don't have enough of the ball further up the pitch to worry about it

[IanMcL]

His height and presence will be welcome.

[Boss Hogg]

Yes

[Roosterbooster]

I expect a few replies will include Alan’s surname.

The boy plays like he's from Brazil

[ClaretOfMancunia]

Ekdal and Beyer kept THB getting back in the team and Al Dakil was behind them two ..... I feel they are our best two although O'shea is improved.

Although O'Shea may be improved I still don't think he's near good enough for the PL at the moment.

[Jakubs Tash]

But but but but but he got "burnt for pace" once in the Championship so he's way too slow......

[KlyBfc]

Ekdal and Beyer kept THB getting back in the team and Al Dakil was behind them two ..... I feel they are our best two although O'shea is improved.

Ekdal didn’t keep THB out. He was injured from Bournemouth until the March international window. He came back in straight after it / the city cup tie. He did get dropped / rested a couple of times but for Al Dahkil and then Taylor at Blackburn away.

I’d give Ekdal a go if he’s fit, though we’ve no idea if he’s equipped for the prem or not, as we’ve seen with many of our other players, being good in the champ clearly doesn’t equate to being a good enough for the prem.

[ElectroClaret]

I’d give Ekdal a go if he’s fit, though we’ve no idea if he’s equipped for the prem or not, as we’ve seen with many of our other players....

Well, we certainly know O'Shea isn't.
Not currently, anyway.

[Goobs]

I expect a few replies will include Alan’s surname.

Listen Ladd, I think you must be a bit Thicke! You come on here acting like a King, Wells you you can just get in your Carr Sugar otherwise I see a Ruck Cumming.

If you keep quiet from now on then we'll say no Moore about it!

[Goobs]

Sorry I'm bored 🫣

[The Shire Claret]

Ekdal didn’t keep THB out. He was injured from Bournemouth until the March international window. He came back in straight after it / the city cup tie. He did get dropped / rested a couple of times but for Al Dahkil and then Taylor at Blackburn away.

I’d give Ekdal a go if he’s fit, though we’ve no idea if he’s equipped for the prem or not, as we’ve seen with many of our other players, being good in the champ clearly doesn’t equate to being a good enough for the prem.

Ah, I didn't think he was put straight back in, cheers for the correction

I wen't to the Forrest game where he got his injury and although a cup match, we was preforming very well on the night

Hopefully he can step up

[Petersa]

But but but but but he got "burnt for pace" once in the Championship so he's way too slow......

I suppose although in my humble opinion looked with Beyer to be Burnley's best centreback partnership last season I have to accept he is is way too slow for the premier league and I have to congratulate the Burnley recruitment team for addressing this issue. We have now got players in who have made a huge difference in creating an improved performance and a watertight def..e..n..c............sorry I need a little lie down before I can finish this post....talk to you later

[Burnley1989]

Burnt for pace once…

[DCWat]

Of course he goes straight in. His absence has seen him become more like Beckenbauer than Beckenbeyer.

[MACCA]

He falls into the category of being the best player in his position so its kind of a gimme

We have too many getting starts/minutes when there are better players available.

[Quicknick]

He falls into the category of being the best player in his position so its kind of a gimme

We have too many getting starts/minutes when there are better players available.

Gimme?

[helmclaret]

Yes.

I think if he, Beyer and Muric started games we would have half a chance.

[warksclaret]

We lack his composure and reading of the game, which he brings. Once VK and coaches deem him to be fit I would start him. Readers have identified his lack of pace as a weakness but Ben Mee was not the quickest but turned out to be one of BFC's best CH's in my generation. He made up for it through his positioning and reading of the game, and is still playing well in the PL

[Newcastleclaret93]

I think we need a bit of realism with Ekdal.

He was decent last year (wouldn’t say he was earth shattering at championship level.

The highest level he has played in his club career is 9 championship games. Expecting him to come in and suddenly make a difference to this defence is just setting him up to fail.

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

I think we need a bit of realism with Ekdal.

He was decent last year (wouldn’t say he was earth shattering at championship level.

The highest level he has played in his club career is 9 championship games. Expecting him to come in and suddenly make a difference to this defence is just setting him up to fail.

‘Setting him up to fail’. Should be music to the ears of quite a few posters on here give them another one to add to their list at 5pm.

[MACCA]

Gimme?

Yes, play your best players.

If and when the best ones are fit, they should play.

[Quicknick]

Yes, play your best players.

If and when the best ones are fit, they should play.

I agree. I just wondered what the word referred to.

[MACCA]

I agree. I just wondered what the word referred to.

I mean its Just a gimmie for me.

[Newcastleclaret93]

‘Setting him up to fail’. Should be music to the ears of quite a few posters on here give them another one to add to their list at 5pm.

I’ve just got no idea where some people have got the idea he’s one of our best defenders. He’s only played 9 games for us.

I do worry about throwing him today coming back after 3 months injured. West Ham are no mugs they will be well up for today.

[claretspice]

Ekdal strikes me as player who has enough about him to manage a game after a long absence. He's an Intelligent player.

Given the travails O'Shea and Al Dakhil have had recently, and the general lack of leadership in the team, I'd be extremely tempted to put him in if he's fully fit. The only way to get match sharp is to play.

[boatshed bill]

I’ve just got no idea where some people have got the idea he’s one of our best defenders. He’s only played 9 games for us.

I do worry about throwing him today coming back after 3 months injured. West Ham are no mugs they will be well up for today.

When should he start then?
Unfortunately our other 2 CBs haven't played very well which strengthens the call for Ekdal's selection.

[daveisaclaret]

I think we need a bit of realism with Ekdal.

He was decent last year (wouldn’t say he was earth shattering at championship level.

The highest level he has played in his club career is 9 championship games. Expecting him to come in and suddenly make a difference to this defence is just setting him up to fail.

Rare Newcastleclaret W.

Ekdal may be our best option to play with Beyer, though anyone who can really make that judgement based on 9 games while we were flying in the Championship has a real eye for a player. What he isn't is someone so good and so ready he can turn the fortunes of a team that hasn't kept a clean sheet yet.

[Winstonswhite]

I’ve just got no idea where some people have got the idea he’s one of our best defenders. He’s only played 9 games for us.

I do worry about throwing him today coming back after 3 months injured. West Ham are no mugs they will be well up for today.

I think it’s probably because he came into the side last season and played so well- 9 games, 7 clean sheets, 2 conceded, is some record.

The premier league is a whole different kettle of fish though. We’ll never know how good/bad he is until he gets a run of games. IMO today is a perfect opportunity, if he’s fit.

[claretspice]

Two different questions here though.

Is he likely to transform the team? No, it'd be mad to imagine he'll have that sort of impact from what we've seen so far.

Is he if fit worth trying, to see if he can help shore up a back line which has looked a bit short of confidence and leadership, compared to Delcroix, Al-Dakhil (given his confidence has taken a hammering) and O'Shea? That's a more modest ambition and its not unreasonable to conclude the answer is "yes" or at least "quite possibiy".

[expoultryboy]

I'd like to see him start in a 3 - 5 - 1 - 1 . With Beyer and Al Dakhil but of course it won't happen .

[spt_claret]

Ekdal didn’t keep THB out. He was injured from Bournemouth until the March international window. He came back in straight after it / the city cup tie. He did get dropped / rested a couple of times but for Al Dahkil and then Taylor at Blackburn away.

I’d give Ekdal a go if he’s fit, though we’ve no idea if he’s equipped for the prem or not, as we’ve seen with many of our other players, being good in the champ clearly doesn’t equate to being a good enough for the prem.

Ekdals selection mystifies me.
He never had less than a 7 arguably 8 out of 10 in every game. Looked magnificent, Muric and Beyer both played far better with him in
Instantly dropped, in comes Bellis again and some of Murics problems return because Bellis was positionally off. And was just as slow as Ekdal.
He wasn't favoured this season before his cup injury but he'd be starting every time for me. Never done anything to deserve dropping and plenty of centre backs (obligatory Ben Mee reference) have managed without pace.