Ekdal performance

[StuffyClaret]

My MOTM before JC came into his own today.
So pleased that he is proving the doubters wrong so far this season.
What he lacks in pace, he makes up for with his vision and anticipation of the game.

[Whitgord]

He won so much in the air it made up for his lack of pace.

[Elizabeth]

His heading wasn't bad either today

[The Shire Claret]

I didn’t know he had doubters but I’ve always rated him … injury was a real shame

[KRBFC]

Thought he was awful last week but very very good today, He didn’t put a foot wrong.

I still think we need an upgrade in that area though.

[Woodleyclaret]

Looking good very assured performance

[Goliath]

Not a patch on Joe Worrall I was told on here last season.

[RVclaret]

Faultless today, I felt.

[Silkyskills1]

Think it was the sort of defensive battle he relishes. Not afraid to put himself about. Excellent performance.

[Vino blanco]

Our best defender by far today, backed up by some great runs into midfield and link up play.

[Goobs]

His day was undoubtedly made easier with the early exit of Ballard. That being said though he was superb today.

[Claretitus]

He was excellent. This seasons CJER

[Selby Claret]

i thought he looked so good when he first got into VKs side and his career with us can hopefully kick on now he's injury free - he reminds me of both Duff and Mee - a complete professional who will give everything he's got

[TomLH2000]

Absolutely superb today. Great to see

[Dark Cloud]

Excellent today, but I did think Sunderland helped Ekdal by constantly fannying about with the ball and then eventually slinging in Championship standard crosses which definitely helped us.

[Gp8419]

Very good not the first time I’ve thought it but very similiar in style to Tony Adams.

[BurnleyFC]

Very assured performance from him today.

[Swizzlestick]

Fantastic performance, won everything.

[ksrclaret]

Excellent today. He was in charge of everything and passed it out very well.

I’d still feel better if we got another centre back before next Monday though. Esteve going down really highlighted the need for one.

[Rowls]

Didn't put a foot wrong.

Last week he was caught out at a higher level. Today he did all the basics and was solid. MOM performance.

[warksclaret]

This is sounding a little reminiscent of the feedback about CJ after a few games last year. Lets hope he gets a run of games and that performances remain good, and he stays injury free

[Burnleyareback2]

Solid. He’s back to the player we had. Delighted for him.

[Newchurch Claret]

He was imperious today. A real throw back, with no little quality thrown in.

[blatherwickstattoos]

Won every ball and header today. Impeccable performance. Walker covering him helps but what a great back line we had this afternoon.

[bobinho]

He was excellent. This seasons CJER

He WAS excellent. As for this seasons CJER, nope.

CJER had a very nervy start - at least 3-4 games he was very dodgy and looked like a rabbit in the headlights. Ekdal played for the first 11 before and played well on more than one occasion.

CJER came to after 4 games or so and got better and more confident as the season went on. How on earth has Ekdal proved he can do that after one game where he was exposed, and one where he’s played well?

Ekdal was excellent today, no question. MoM in a side whose captain scored and set one up. No mean feat for a player who’s been out for ages with an injury, and then been kept out by others performing superbly. If he manages to keep others out of the side all season by playing really well all season long, then yes, this seasons CJER. Until then….he's stepped in and stepped up.

[IanMcL]

He won so much in the air it made up for his lack of pace.

That's why he is in. Height counts in the Prem.

[CnBtruntru]

Struggled to find much between him and Cullen for mom performance, but he was very good today and not just his heading, his passing and movement was also very good.

[Quicknick]

All this is good to hear.

[jlup1980]

If he had pace he wouldn't be a Burnley player. He has everything else in his locker. His positional sense is good, he's excellent in the air, and he's more than capable with his feet. He needs Walker next to him, but there's never been any doubt Hjalmar can defend.

[Darnhill Claret]

There is enough footballing quality between Esteve, Ekdal and Walker, that should enable them to cover and support each other, when things get a bit difficult.
It doesn't mean that we won't give away a few goals over the course of the season, but it might mean, that we keep that number down to a respectable total.
As I said previously, we should be able to learn a lot about ourselves from that opening day defeat, where we got a lot right.
After 2 games, our loss to Spurs, isn't looking as bad now, and we look stronger than at least West Ham.

Now let's get United beaten tomorrow and again next week.

ONWARDS AND UPWARDS. UTC.

[quoonbeatz]

Excellent today, always been a classy centre half who reads the game very well and uses the ball well.

[Bordeauxclaret]

Excellent today, always been a classy centre half who reads the game very well and uses the ball well.

Spot on.
He’s got a rough ride on this site for some reason. Injuries have been his problem.

[beeholeclaret]

Enjoyed his solid performance today. He grew into the game and his confidence was much improved on last week. Pleased for the lad as he has had a wretched time out with injuries in last couple of years.

[quoonbeatz]

Spot on.
He’s got a rough ride on this site for some reason. Injuries have been his problem.

Yep, hopefully he can stay fit for an extended run. I think his lack of pace is still an issue at PL level but the rest of the back 4 are quick enough to cover.

[KlyBfc]

He was very good today, looked like he was much more
Comfortable in understanding his role in the back 4 than the middle of the three last week. He will face much tougher opponents going forward but thats for another day.

[alwaysaclaret]

Very good not the first time I’ve thought it but very similiar in style to Tony Adams.

Uncanny, and how true this is.

[billyhamilton82]

Very good not the first time I’ve thought it but very similiar in style to Tony Adams.

There is an uncanny resemblance in playing style and he actually has the look of him.

Rolls Royce of a player, unsurprising as the Swedish International CB.

If he was fit last season CJER wouldn't have had a look in.

[alwaysaclaret]

Excellent today. He was in charge of everything and passed it out very well.

I’d still feel better if we got another centre back before next Monday though. Esteve going down really highlighted the need for one.

Just unfortunate we have humphreys and Tuanzebe injured, if these 2 are close to fitness I can't see us bringing another in also given worralls performance yesterday, Worrall will have bigger challenges than yesterday, but coped with all Sunderland threw at us after he came on.

[FeedTheArf]

Fantastic performance yesterday. Hopefully this Parker the confidence to stick with a back 4 as we looked much better than the back 5, accepting that the opposition could well have been a factor in that.

[warksclaret]

Amazing what a run of games does-not only for the player's confidence but also in the trust fans at the game give him

[Elizabeth]

Makes BBC Premier League 'Team of the Week'

[ClaretPete001]

I am a bit of a doubter but was wrong based upon that performance. Great to be proven wrong really.

[Vegas Claret]

gonna need him at Old Trafford, United even resorted to long throws at Fulham - De Ligt, Maguire, Shesko etc

[KRBFC]

There is an uncanny resemblance in playing style and he actually has the look of him.

Rolls Royce of a player, unsurprising as the Swedish International CB.

If he was fit last season CJER wouldn't have had a look in.

I think you’re seriously over egging it here, let’s put it in context he’s had one awful game and a good one, the good one against a side we finished 24 points ahead of last season.

He looked miles off the pace 2 years ago in this division and was loaned out last season because he was behind CJ in the pecking order.

Based on everything we’ve seen of Ekdal, we need a serious improvement to replace him or we need a serious improvement from him to survive. Hopefully the defensive system can carry him if we haven’t got the funds to replace.

[Colburn_Claret]

Too early to judge him yet, looked quality when he first signed before the injury. The necessary loan will have helped, but it also means coming back he has to get used to a new team and manager back here.
The team and players will only improve over the next few games, then we can start judging. It is fair to say that comparing his performances against Spurs and Sunderland is ridiculous, the opposition are miles apart, but it's also true you can only play what's in front of you, and on Saturdays performance he was fine.
I believe, and hope, we don't need anyone, Ekdal can make the grade, but we need to be patient.

[Foshiznik]

He was poor versus Spurs and very good against Sunderland. Let's not get carried away. Some people are making it out like we have the second coming of Sir Bobby Moore the way they are describing him.

[gawthorpe_view]

Very good not the first time I’ve thought it but very similiar in style to Tony Adams.

Prior to his injury and the subsequent arrival of Esteve, I thought he was the best centre half at the club.
He reminds me of a young Vince Overson.
Hopefully his injury is now behind him and he can crack on as they say.

[BigBadBarnes]

Being able to read the game is usually more valuable than speed. Unless of course if you have Kyle Walker speed. We'll usually be set up in a defensive position with little space behind. That'll suit Ekdal.

[Quicknick]

He was poor versus Spurs and very good against Sunderland. Let's not get carried away. Some people are making it out like we have the second coming of Sir Bobby Moore the way they are describing him.

How about the second coming of Vince Overson?

[aggi]

Obviously Spurs had a much better strike force but there seemed to be much more confidence with the back 4 than the 3. Maybe just a matter of more training but if it doesn't offer us any more defensive solidity you've got to wonder whether we'll persist with the 3.