Free roaming midfield/forward role for Defour?

[Mala591]

Would love to see Defour with a free roaming midfield/forward role like Hazard. Not as good as Hazard but a very similar type of player.

Maybe

.......................Heaton
...........Keane.....Mee.....Ward
Lowton.....Barton....Hendrick...Brady
........................Defour
..............Gray.............Barnes

[cutsy123]

We struggle with 4 at back

[ElectroClaret]

Would just love to see Defour.

[Vegas Claret]

who's Defour ?

[k90bfc]

Hopefully fully fit,and raring to go,offers us so much different options,and scoring threat.

[Funkydrummer]

Don't think we will be seeing him again. Just a hunch, but I don't think he has been
pulling his tripe out, both on and off the field. Hope I'm wrong.

[claretjohn33505]

I'm with you Funky!!!

[jurek]

I hope we do see Defour again even if it's only for a few games.
He's one of few players we have who could win us a game and/or create an opportunity
for someone else to do so.

I suspect Dyche may be reluctant to play him or start him but he may decide
to bring him on at some stage during the next few games especially if we're
still in the game and looking for someone to unlock the opposition and help win it for us
or possibly get us a point if we're a goal down.

At present it doesn't look as if we have anyone on the bench who we can bring on
and who can make a significant impact on the game.

Whether Defour, as such, is up for it might be another important question and I wouldn't mind
seeing him in a free roaming midfield.forward role but not sure Dyche would see it that way
unless, as mentioned earlier. Coming on in the last 20mins or so.

[gogogadgetlegs]

We all know what we'd love to see and they cost hundreds of millions to pull together. Give it a few years

[AGENT_CLARET]

.................Heaton
Lowton.......Keane.....Mee.....Ward
.....Hendrick..Barton..Brady
..................Defour
..........Gray.............Barnes

In a 4-3-1-2 formation, it's ideal for us because we lump it down the middle and never use the wings because we don't have any one who can go past a player. Barton to protect the back line Defour in free roll

[DCWat]

Even less protection for our full backs though.

I'd be more inclined (with current personnel) to play him in more of a Coutinho type roll, pulling the strings between midfield and attack.

It'd mean dropping Barnes and having one of Arfield, Boyd or JBG on the opposite flank to Brady. Or what about

Hendrick, Barton, Westwood, Brady
Defour
Gray

[ablueclaret]

Heaton

Lowton Keane Mee Ward

Tarkowski

Barton Hendrick

Defour. Brady

Gray

[vinrogue]

What will Sunderland expect our team to be, 4 4 2. What should our team be? If Defour is fit as I hope that we can play Defour and Barton who on what I have seen this season play well together. Barnes and Gray are forming a good understanding so who would the other two players be? Select two from:- Arfield, Boyd, Brady, Hendrick, Westwood and by a process of SD ism, Boyd will get a shirt and I would hope Hendrick gets the other. UTC

[willsclarets]

Free roaming isn't in the Sean Dyche handbook.

[jojomk1]

Given the style of play adopted by SD there's just no room for someone like Defour (sad to say)
The four across the middle have to have the energy to last for 90 mins of running, covering and tackling which is not his style
We could see £20m+ worth of talent on the bench this weekend from Brady and Defour (plus Tarks) - look how far we have come !

[Sidney1st]

Glad to see ABC has got his Tarks idea in early.

[Ric_C]

Can't Hendrick play on the right tucked in?

I'm sure he does this for Rep of Ire

[cricketfieldclarets]

Theres sonething not quite right witha the situation for me and I think weve seen the last of him. Hope im wrong.

I suspect we were a shop window for him to get a bigger and better move than Dubai and I dont blame him. I also think his style and maybe even mentality is not what Dyche wants or expects.

Sad but true. And in Dyches defence we need pragmatism currently anyway.

[Mala591]

.................Heaton
Lowton.......Keane.....Mee.....Ward
.....Hendrick..Barton..Brady
..................Defour
..........Gray.............Barnes

In a 4-3-1-2 formation, it's ideal for us because we lump it down the middle and never use the wings because we don't have any one who can go past a player. Barton to protect the back line Defour in free roll

I think this formation could work as an alternative to our usual 4-4-2. Maybe for the last 30 minutes if we are a goal down.

I sincerely hope that Defour does overcome his injury problems and that he stays to fight for his place in the first team.

The fans like him and want him to be a success. Players of his quality are hard to come by.

[Belgianclaret]

Don't think we will be seeing him again. Just a hunch, but I don't think he has been
pulling his tripe out, both on and off the field. Hope I'm wrong.

I think you are wrong

[Belgianclaret]

Although I had my doubts at the beginning, I think Barton & Defour are most compatible at CM

[claretspice]

Anyone comparing Hazard and Defour in style needs their head examining. Hazard is an old-school inside forward who has tremendous dribbling skills and pace. Defour is an orthodox central midfielder who I doubt would even regard himself as a playmaker - he'd regard himself as an all-rounder, a box-to-box type of midfielder.

He's a good player who has perhaps inevitably found the transition to this league quite tough this year. He hasn't done a pre-season with Burnley yet. I'd be quite surprised if having spent £7 million plus on him, Burnley let him leave this summer without at least getting their money back. He signed a 3 year deal and there's every reason to expect he'll be a much greater asset next season than this.

The suggestion something isn't quite right seems to be based on some loose journalism in the autumn when he was first getting left out on the road, and absolutely nothing else beyond the fact he's had some injury problems in the last 5 weeks or so.

[cricketfieldclarets]

Its not based on loose journalism. For me at least. Its based on facts.

He was about to move to an uncompetetive high paying league. Before we unexpectedly nipped in.
He has not once finished ninety minutes for us in the league and only did in the cup because we had made forced changes.
He is often left out. A player of his talent should be the first name on the sheet.
He buggered off to belgium a few weeks ago. Might have gone to see his mum like coyle.
There is rarely anything with substance about his injuries or recovery time.
He has played full games for belgium - one if the top countries in world football without issue.

I genuinely hope im wrong. Hes the best player we have. But i would bet on him not being here next season if we see him again this.

If he was prepared to play in Dubai he will definitely be open to China. And why not.

[Loyalclaret]

Normal folk go on authorised leave-ok
Footballer goes on authorised leave-buggered off and leaving their club

[claretspice]

I'll take those points in turn, Cricket Field Clarets, because you mention a number of myths that now need to be debunked, so regularly are folk expressing them. There's a risk of them turning into perceived wisdom despite the lack of substance behind them.

He was about to move to an uncompetetive high paying league. Before we unexpectedly nipped in.
SO WHAT? WE SOLD HIM A CHANCE TO PLAY IN ONE OF THE TOP LEAGUES IN THE WORLD - A STEP UP ON THE LEAGUE HE WAS PLAYING IN, A CHANCE TO PLAY IN SOME OF THE GREATEST STADIUMS IN THE WORLD.

He has not once finished ninety minutes for us in the league and only did in the cup because we had made forced changes.
DYCHE HAS EXPLAINED THIS. HE CAME TO BURNLEY WITH A KNOWN INJURY HISTORY. HE WAS MOVING TO A LEAGUE OF A HIGHER STANDARD AND PLAYED AT A GREEATER PACE, REQUIRING FAR MORE RUNNING AND INTENSITY. WE'VE HANDLED HIM GENTLY, LIKE A PLAYER WE WANT TO BENEFIT FROM FOR THE LONG TERM, NOT AS SOME SORT OF TEMPORARY CONSUMABLE.

He is often left out. A player of his talent should be the first name on the sheet.
AS ABOVE. HE WAS LEFT OUT DURING A PERIOD IN WHICH HE WAS STILL VERY NEW TO ENGLISH FOOTBALL AND HE WAS STILL OBVIOUSLY ADAPTING TO THE PACE AND INTENSITY. IT IS COMPLETELY NORMAL FOR OVERSEAS PLAYERS TO TAKE A COUPLE OF MONTHS, EVEN A YEAR, TO SETTLE, AND WE GOT BETTER RESULTS WHEN HE WAS OUT OF THE TEAM THAN IN IT DURING THAT PERIOD. PRIOR TO THIS MOST RECENT INJURY, HE HAD OF COURSE GOT HIS PLACE IN THE TEAM BACK.

He buggered off to belgium a few weeks ago. Might have gone to see his mum like coyle.
"INJURED PLAYER TAKES LEAVE SHOCKER". REALLY?

There is rarely anything with substance about his injuries or recovery time.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? BURNLEY AND DYCHE HAVE SAID HE IS INJURED AND GIVEN REGULAR INFORMATION ABOUT HIS RECOVERY PROGRESS. WHAT MORE SUBSTANCE DO YOU NEED AND DO YOU REALLY THINK THE IDEA HE ISN'T INJURED HAS MORE SUBSTANCE TO IT? DO YOU ALSO THINK THE CLUB ARE LYING ABOUT JBG'S INJURIES?

He has played full games for belgium - one if the top countries in world football without issue.
INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL IS PLAYED AT ABOUT HALF THE PACE OF ENGLISH FOOTBALL, AND IN ANY EVENT, DEFOUR HAS ONLY RECENTLY REGAINED HIS PLACE IN THE BELGIAN TEAM FOR A RELATIVELY STRAIGHTFORWARD RUN OF QUALIFIERS. THIS JUST ISN'T RELEVANT.

I genuinely hope im wrong. Hes the best player we have. But i would bet on him not being here next season if we see him again this.
HE'S NOT THE BEST PLAYER WE HAVE, BUT HE'S CERTAINLY A VERY IMPORTANT PLAYER AND A PLAYER WHO COULD ADD EVEN MORE NEXT SEASON AFTER A YEAR IN ENGLISH FOOTBALL AND A PRE SEASON AT BURNLEY. LETS NOT OVERSTATE HIS IMPORTANCE SO FAR THIS SEASON, MIND.

If he was prepared to play in Dubai he will definitely be open to China. And why not.[/quote]
PERHAPS HE MIGHT BE. THERE'S ALWAYS A CHANCE HE MIGHT WANT TO LEAVE, LIKE ANY OF OUR PLAYERS, ESPECIALLY IF HE IS OFFERED A FORTUNE. BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THERE IS CURRENTLY A PROBLEM WITH HIM AND BURNLEY OR DYCHE - THERE COULD BE BUT IF THERE IS, ITS BEEN KEPT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. AS IT SHOULD BE.

[cricketfieldclarets]

Normal folk go on authorised leave-ok
Footballer goes on authorised leave-buggered off and leaving their club

Football isnt a normal job though. And normal folk dont get 2.5 months of solid uninterrupted leave. There is a reason that football is so highly paid and thats one of the reasons.

Training and day to day stuff is as much of his job as playing on a Saturday.

Not saying he shouldnt be allowed to go home to Belgium especially if he is injured but it doesnt look great. His focus should be on getting fit and being part of the club / squad.

[Spike]

we need to be looking at better players then Defour

[cricketfieldclarets]

Spice I have no issue if he wants to go to China. But there is a difference with the approach with him and with other players.

As for foreign players adapting. He is a marquee player for us. And in my opinion the most talented we have. You may prefer others and I have no issue with that. But for him to have not played 90 minutes once is strange. The fact that he is from overseas is irrelevant.

Look at other clubs. Man Utd - Zlatan. An older player, plays at a slower pace than The Premier League. Has took the league by storm. Man City - Jesus. Young Brazillian. How many South Americans have flopped? He looked to settle in straight away dislodging Citys best ever striker. I know that these are special talents but Defour is more talented as a footballer than many of our players so that comparison is a fair one. More close to our level - Llorente, first season here at 31 and he has bagged 11 goals for a poor swansea side.

Its a myth that foreigners take time to adapt. The league is almost entirely foreign! If they took so long to settle nobody would buy them. The premier league is not THAT good.

[claretspice]

Football isnt a normal job though. And normal folk dont get 2.5 months of solid uninterrupted leave. There is a reason that football is so highly paid and thats one of the reasons.

Training and day to day stuff is as much of his job as playing on a Saturday.

Not saying he shouldnt be allowed to go home to Belgium especially if he is injured but it doesnt look great. His focus should be on getting fit and being part of the club / squad.

Leaving everything else aside, injured players often get some time off to go away. Whether they go home to Bournemouth, or to Belgium, or go on holiday to Dubai is irrelevant (weve had players do all of ghe above).

[cricketfieldclarets]

I don't disagree with him being able to go away. I think it just adds to it. It doesnt need to be public knowledge that he has gone away is what I guess I am trying to say.

[Tall Paul]

There's absolutely no evidence that Defour is unhappy or that he doesn't get on with SD or that there is anything else "not quite right".

It's obvious that, probably due to his serious injury, he's struggled to stay fit and adapt to the Premier League. We knew this was a possibility when we signed him, that's how we managed to get a player of his quality relatively cheaply. I don't think it's anything more sinister than that.

[Belgianclaret]

I'll take those points in turn, Cricket Field Clarets, because you mention a number of myths that now need to be debunked, so regularly are folk expressing them. There's a risk of them turning into perceived wisdom despite the lack of substance behind them.

He was about to move to an uncompetetive high paying league. Before we unexpectedly nipped in.
SO WHAT? WE SOLD HIM A CHANCE TO PLAY IN ONE OF THE TOP LEAGUES IN THE WORLD - A STEP UP ON THE LEAGUE HE WAS PLAYING IN, A CHANCE TO PLAY IN SOME OF THE GREATEST STADIUMS IN THE WORLD.

He has not once finished ninety minutes for us in the league and only did in the cup because we had made forced changes.
DYCHE HAS EXPLAINED THIS. HE CAME TO BURNLEY WITH A KNOWN INJURY HISTORY. HE WAS MOVING TO A LEAGUE OF A HIGHER STANDARD AND PLAYED AT A GREEATER PACE, REQUIRING FAR MORE RUNNING AND INTENSITY. WE'VE HANDLED HIM GENTLY, LIKE A PLAYER WE WANT TO BENEFIT FROM FOR THE LONG TERM, NOT AS SOME SORT OF TEMPORARY CONSUMABLE.

He is often left out. A player of his talent should be the first name on the sheet.
AS ABOVE. HE WAS LEFT OUT DURING A PERIOD IN WHICH HE WAS STILL VERY NEW TO ENGLISH FOOTBALL AND HE WAS STILL OBVIOUSLY ADAPTING TO THE PACE AND INTENSITY. IT IS COMPLETELY NORMAL FOR OVERSEAS PLAYERS TO TAKE A COUPLE OF MONTHS, EVEN A YEAR, TO SETTLE, AND WE GOT BETTER RESULTS WHEN HE WAS OUT OF THE TEAM THAN IN IT DURING THAT PERIOD. PRIOR TO THIS MOST RECENT INJURY, HE HAD OF COURSE GOT HIS PLACE IN THE TEAM BACK.

He buggered off to belgium a few weeks ago. Might have gone to see his mum like coyle.
"INJURED PLAYER TAKES LEAVE SHOCKER". REALLY?

There is rarely anything with substance about his injuries or recovery time.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? BURNLEY AND DYCHE HAVE SAID HE IS INJURED AND GIVEN REGULAR INFORMATION ABOUT HIS RECOVERY PROGRESS. WHAT MORE SUBSTANCE DO YOU NEED AND DO YOU REALLY THINK THE IDEA HE ISN'T INJURED HAS MORE SUBSTANCE TO IT? DO YOU ALSO THINK THE CLUB ARE LYING ABOUT JBG'S INJURIES?

He has played full games for belgium - one if the top countries in world football without issue.
INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL IS PLAYED AT ABOUT HALF THE PACE OF ENGLISH FOOTBALL, AND IN ANY EVENT, DEFOUR HAS ONLY RECENTLY REGAINED HIS PLACE IN THE BELGIAN TEAM FOR A RELATIVELY STRAIGHTFORWARD RUN OF QUALIFIERS. THIS JUST ISN'T RELEVANT.

I genuinely hope im wrong. Hes the best player we have. But i would bet on him not being here next season if we see him again this.
HE'S NOT THE BEST PLAYER WE HAVE, BUT HE'S CERTAINLY A VERY IMPORTANT PLAYER AND A PLAYER WHO COULD ADD EVEN MORE NEXT SEASON AFTER A YEAR IN ENGLISH FOOTBALL AND A PRE SEASON AT BURNLEY. LETS NOT OVERSTATE HIS IMPORTANCE SO FAR THIS SEASON, MIND.

If he was prepared to play in Dubai he will definitely be open to China. And why not.

PERHAPS HE MIGHT BE. THERE'S ALWAYS A CHANCE HE MIGHT WANT TO LEAVE, LIKE ANY OF OUR PLAYERS, ESPECIALLY IF HE IS OFFERED A FORTUNE. BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THERE IS CURRENTLY A PROBLEM WITH HIM AND BURNLEY OR DYCHE - THERE COULD BE BUT IF THERE IS, ITS BEEN KEPT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. AS IT SHOULD BE.[/quote]

Thanks for that Spice, with which I agree.

If I'd have written the same though, I'd be accused of having my head up Defour's youknowwhat

[Belgianclaret]

Leaving everything else aside, injured players often get some time off to go away. Whether they go home to Bournemouth, or to Belgium, or go on holiday to Dubai is irrelevant (weve had players do all of ghe above).

Didn't he actually have some physio with Lieven Maesschalck?

[Roosterbooster]

we need to be looking at better players then Defour

If we had 11 players of Defour's quality in their respective positions we'd be top half without breaking a sweat