Centre Back Speculation

[boatshed bill]

Macauley is an interesting one. Im not sure he's got anything any of our centre backs don't have. Hes slower than either Mee or Tarkowski. He's no ball player and he was a lower league player until his late 20s. But he's reliable abs he's suited to the rigid framework West Brom have. Which is precisely my point really.

agreed.
I've never seen anything in Macauley which made me think "i wish he played for us"

[DCWat]

If we only bring in a centre half and a goalkeeper, it'd be a slightly disappointing window.

We have to bring in someone that will offer a greater attacking threat from midfield and although I don't think that we will get one, another striker is needed.

I'm hopeful that we will bring in at least three, but being greedy, that's a couple short.

[Bin Ont Turf]

If we only bring in a centre half and a goalkeeper, it'd be a slightly disappointing window.

We have to bring in someone that will offer a greater attacking threat from midfield and although I don't think that we will get one, another striker is needed.

I'm hopeful that we will bring in at least three, but being greedy, that's a couple short.

Prepared to be disappointed.

Two at the most (excluding the second/third choice goalkeeper).

[CrosspoolClarets]

Macauley is an interesting one. Im not sure he's got anything any of our centre backs don't have. Hes slower than either Mee or Tarkowski. He's no ball player and he was a lower league player until his late 20s. But he's reliable abs he's suited to the rigid framework West Brom have. Which is precisely my point really.

And it's a point I generally agree with.

McCauley doesn't appear to have anything extra, but Tarks is unproven at keeping sides in this league, and Mee has one successful season at it - so I agree with the point but he must have something that they (probably) do not. My other suggestion was that you need at least one CB of the Dawson and Shawcross calibre, not necessarily two, so if McCauley isn't that good WBA would still fit my example.

[benstone12]

2 more at most, I'm not sure we can expect more?
I think palace will offload a defender, especially if they sign martins indi.
Perhaps Damien Delaney? He wouldn't fit in would he??!
Harlee Dean from Brentford not mentioned, he's a decent player and another talker/leader.

[claretspice]

And it's a point I generally agree with.

McCauley doesn't appear to have anything extra, but Tarks is unproven at keeping sides in this league, and Mee has one successful season at it - so I agree with the point but he must have something that they (probably) do not.

I don't follow this at all. A year ago, you could substitute Keane for Tarkowski and it'd be every bit as true. So would you have said then Macauley had something (other than experience, which Macauley of course didn't have when he first came into the Prem) that Keane didn't have?

Tarkowski's failing over the last 18 months has basically been that he's not as good as Keane. But given that he's gone onto be an England international and top 6 defender, that probably isnt too big a criticism. He's long been tipped as a potential Premier League defender. Had we been in the market for a defender last summer because Keane had gone to Leicester in a world where Tarkowski was still at Brentford, i suspect we'd have been fairly happy to sign one of the best defenders in the Championship to replace Keane.

[boatshed bill]

Tarks has got a bit about him, not bad distribution and built like a brick outhouse. Kevin Long may well be a lot better than some on here are prepared to give him credit for. I would be delighted if we added Dawson to these three.

[benstone12]

Tarks is good, but is he good enough?
We need/want 4xCBs competing.
If we assume we have one more coming in, then the level/age of this player will dictate just how good SD thinks Tarks is.

[DCWat]

Prepared to be disappointed.

Two at the most (excluding the second/third choice goalkeeper).

Ignoring a keeper, we will bring another two in at least. I'd reckon it's more likely than just bringing in a centre half.

[1914tyrone]

One reason we need a new centre half. PACE! Keanes saved us many times and we will miss it.

[Spijed]

We have to bring in someone that will offer a greater attacking threat from midfield

A fully fit Brady, Cork, JBG, Defour & Hendrick is better than a number of sides at this level will have.

[CrosspoolClarets]

I don't follow this at all. A year ago, you could substitute Keane for Tarkowski and it'd be every bit as true. So would you have said then Macauley had something (other than experience, which Macauley of course didn't have when he first came into the Prem) that Keane didn't have?

Tarkowski's failing over the last 18 months has basically been that he's not as good as Keane. But given that he's gone onto be an England international and top 6 defender, that probably isnt too big a criticism. He's long been tipped as a potential Premier League defender. Had we been in the market for a defender last summer because Keane had gone to Leicester in a world where Tarkowski was still at Brentford, i suspect we'd have been fairly happy to sign one of the best defenders in the Championship to replace Keane.

I'm trying not to get sucked into my fans view on McCauley's qualities compared to Tarkowski or for that matter Keane. I'm not qualified to judge, I don't see that much of him.

I'm trying to look at track record. He has more games in the Premier League than he has in the Championship and possibly (I stand to be corrected) has never been relegated. He is obviously getting too old now, but a couple of years ago he would be the kind of sure thing Walters will be for us. Bar a freak event like an injury, we know Walters will succeed with us - not just experience, but track record. He delivers. McCauley, Dawson and Shawcross too.

Tarkowski and Mee are much bigger risks, hence why I'd be looking to get somebody like that to play alongside one of them, it's a key position for experience and track record. It's about risk reduction which in turn raises the probability we will stay up. I'm pretty sure Dyche sees it that way hence our signings so far.

[cricketfieldclarets]

If we dont sign a first choice standard centre half and winger and a striker to at least compete with Gray for pace its been a **** poor window.

[tiger76]

If we dont sign a first choice standard centre half and winger and a striker to at least compete with Gray for pace its been a **** poor window.

Centre half is the priority of the three,a winger would be nice but i doubt it will happen, if Gray stays a striker is not as important.

[Braindead]

If we dont sign a first choice standard centre half and winger and a striker to at least compete with Gray for pace its been a **** poor window.

Agree 100 percent. We need a Premier league experienced centre half, Craig Dawson would be perfect. Also we have to get behind teams away from home, we have no outball currently so we need pace out wide. A striker with pace ideally, as I doubt Gray will be a Burnley player in a month. I would also get another quality link player for midfield because if we are going to play with three central midfielders, which i think will help us retain the ball better away from home, then we currently only have four to pick from.

[cricketfieldclarets]

A premier league quality defender. Proven and experienced. Doesnt have to be like for like for keane. Dawson would be fine. Theres some mention of smallimg which is highly unlikely but sosmeone like him or sakho would go a long way to replace keane for quality and with attributes we dont have. Both unrealistic though it seems. But Dawson. Shawcross. Even someone like Huth.

Gibson would be a real wildcard but also a statememt of intent he would also allow us to start with tarks and mee and let them try not to lose the shirt.

Up top I cant believe we havent looked to another out and out striker. Clearly walters is our utility man for that position. But we are crying out for pace. If we dont get it there we need it out wide. We need an extra body wide anyway. But looks like up top we will be using walters if needed and have faith in Agyei up top if not.

The frustrating thing is the business we have done is by and large good business. We look well stacked in centre mid with good quality at the right age and experience. Hendrick, Cork, Defour and Westwood are very good standard but we need an extra body in there as cover especialluly if as bd says we want to play 433 or 451.

We dont need much but what we do need is first 11 quality and pace.

[Vegas Claret]

Boro told WBA that Gibson is 30 million. Zero chance we will be in for him. Some seriously unrealistic players been mentioned on this thread. I'm surprised nobody has really been linked with Kone at Sunderland (I would imagine his wages would be way too much for us)

[mohamed69]

If we end the window with no further deals and lose gray it will be an unmitigated disaster and we will go down.

[PutTheWheelieBinsOut]

I think our current transfer policy of predominantly looking just at leagues in the UK is flawed because of transfer fees and wages. The championship is in many cases at many clubs paying higher wages than clubs in the top leagues of other countries, the transfer fees are higher and the quality is lower. SD must adapt his thinking to this if he wants to take his career to the next level.

[Quicknick]

I think our current transfer policy of predominantly looking just at leagues in the UK is flawed because of transfer fees and wages. The championship is in many cases at many clubs paying higher wages than clubs in the top leagues of other countries, the transfer fees are higher and the quality is lower. SD must adapt his thinking to this if he wants to take his career to the next level.

We don't know that SD hasn't been looking abroad.

[KRBFC]

I think our current transfer policy of predominantly looking just at leagues in the UK is flawed because of transfer fees and wages. The championship is in many cases at many clubs paying higher wages than clubs in the top leagues of other countries, the transfer fees are higher and the quality is lower. SD must adapt his thinking to this if he wants to take his career to the next level.

We choose to shop in the UK market but refuse to pay the going rate, quite stupid really. We faff about so much, Stephens, Lansbury, Dawson, Hendrick, Brady, Assombalonga are a few names. If Dyche identifies UK based players then pay the fee. Obviously we got Hendrick in the end on deadline day but it took 3 months and multiple bids, I swear Hull had a bid accepted before us on deadline day, almost like it kicked us into shape and forced us to pay up what we should've paid up weeks prior. Assombalonga another, Dyche wanted him, we have 2 bids rejected, £15M is probably overpriced by a few million but that's our fault for shopping in a market where the players are overpriced.


A few years ago we were faffing about over Dawson, we just wouldn't match the fee which was £2.5M. Robertson this season we were faffing over the £8M valuation.... Our approach to transfer windows is just awful under Dyche, its like we simply don't plan ahead. How long have we had to plan for Keanes departure? At least 6 months.

[Vegas Claret]

you bang on like it's Sean Dyche who decides how much the club offer, fairly amusing

[evensteadiereddie]

Robertson : Liverpool or Burnley ? Mmmmm, tough choice, that.

[jojomk1]

Dyche does not have final say on any transfer fees, it is the Chairman

[cricketfieldclarets]

We do need to broaden our field though. Theres always excuses in the domestic market about prices about players not wanting to come to burnley about clubs not wanting to sell to a rival. Each year we do it again and its like its a new problem.

We need to strt looking abroad. The cost of scouting abroad will be offset by the money saved. Its not even rocket science.

[dsr]

Why is everyone so certain that Tarkowski is nowhere near first team material? And even more to the point, why does everyone seem to assume that Sean Dyche thinks so too? All the evidence that I can see suggests that Tarkowski has been lined up as Keane's replacement since the start of last season at least. Last season there were posts speculating that we won't miss Keane because we have Tarkowski, or that Tarkowski should replace Mee (or that Tarkowski should play in midfield, but I'll ignore those!). And now people have realised that Tarkowski didn't cost £20m and hasn't arrived this summer, he's become a stick to beat the club with. Why? If all you are after is an excuse to criticise Burnley FC, and that's the best you can find, then I reckon we're doing pretty well.

[UpTheBeehole]

I think it's because Tarkowski was really poor when he got his chance, dsr

[Sutton-Claret]

Robertson : Liverpool or Burnley ? Mmmmm, tough choice, that.

Bench or first team football ?

[Tall Paul]

Bench or first team football ?

Robertson has a very good chance of first team football at Liverpool. They had to play James Milner at left back most of last season.

[HiroshimaClaret]

I think it's because Tarkowski was really poor when he got his chance, dsr

Beg to differ. Tarkowski was excellent at Palace alongside Keane. It was only after, it appeared, the season was over, the whole team `went to the beach`, not just Tarkowski.

[dsr]

I think it's because Tarkowski was really poor when he got his chance, dsr

Three league games with an equally inexperienced centre half alongside? Too soon to write him off IMO. If you put two centre halves making the Premier League debut together, you aren't going to get solid defence - let's see him alongside Mee.

[cricketfieldclarets]

Nothing to do with tarkowski. If hes good enough great. What if he and or mee gets injured or banned?

What if he isnt good enough though?

[Dodobdobodobo]

Craig Dawson is on his way!!

[dsr]

Nothing to do with tarkowski. If hes good enough great. What if he and or mee gets injured or banned?

What if he isnt good enough though?

We need a reserve centre half. But a reserve centre half needn't cost £20m and is not so urgent to sign. What I would suggest is that we get one of the best up-and-coming centre halves from the Championship and train him up to Premier League level; but from the reaction to Tarkowski, it's clear that wouldn't be a popular decision with the fans.

[Spijed]

What if he and or mee gets injured or banned?

That applies to any player. We could sign a fantastic striker but he could get injured within a few games, for example.

[Firthy]

I think Tarkowski will start, he's served his apprenticeship and deserves his chance but we do need a decent back up apart from Long if Tarkowski is not up to it. I doubt we'll get a good experienced CH like Dawson who will sit on the bench. A good up and coming CH like Lees from Wednesday is more realistic.

As regards transfers so far. I see Walters, Taylor and Bardsley as back up. Only Cork will be in the starting 11.

So we've lost Barton, Keane and Boyd and with the money in the dry powder store I would hope for a CH and pacey winger to replace Keane and Boyd as an absolute minimum. An alternative striker would be a nice option but doubt we'll see one if Gray stays.

With last years profits, Sky money and Keans transfer, money can't be a problem so maybe our wage structure is the limiting factor and could end up being the reason we won't be able to sign the 2/3 quality players we need to improve the squad.

Depending on how Tarkowski performs I don't think the starting 11 is any stronger or weaker but the squad overall is stronger in depth. Having JBG fit and keeping hold of Defour (with the necessary fitness and attitude) could be regarded as two new players.

[piston broke]

28 shopping days to go. SD has said we are waiting for other transfers before we can get our targets. My only concern is if the other transfers don't finalise before deadline day and we miss out AGAIN!!!
There has to be a plan B in place but far too early to be sweating.

[Firthy]

Craig Dawson is on his way!!

But the question is ? Where to ?

[Down_Rover]

It seems to be forgotten that Tarks made his first Premier League start at Palace and Long the game after.

Give them a chance

Yes they let goals in in those last three games but half the team had their bags packed.

both showed more than a little promise given their lack of experience and are a better choice than someone we have never heard of. Unless a ready made Prem defender is available the three we have look like our best option. I think if the right player is not available we have our eyes on a god 3rd/4th choice who will be signed when all other options have been exhausted

Patience is what buts the right player not more money

[UpTheBeehole]

I doubt we'll get a good experienced CH like Dawson who will sit on the bench. A good up and coming CH like Lees from Wednesday is more realistic.

Lees is 27 soon, hardly up and coming.

[Firthy]

Lees is 27 soon, hardly up and coming.

Didn't realise he was that old. But you get my gist. More chance of signing a good Championship CH than an established Premier League CH.

[JohnMcGreal]

That applies to any player. We could sign a fantastic striker but he could get injured within a few games, for example.

The thing is, if you had asked 'what if Keane or Mee gets injured or banned?' last summer, you could argue that Tarkowski will come in and do a decent job. He's a decent player.

Now, if you ask the question 'what if Tarkowski or Mee gets injured or banned?', you couldn't really argue that Long will come in and do a decent job. Not at this level anyway.

Tarkowski isn't really the worry. It's the complete lack of cover for either centre half that concerns me, and Dyche sticking Taylor there in friendlies has done nothing to ease that concern.

We need at least one solid centre half before the window closes.

[UpTheBeehole]

More chance of signing a good Championship CH than an established Premier League CH.

Of course there is, but we're a Premier League club which needs Premier League players.

The brilliant central defender we've just sold for a huge profit wasn't signed from the Championship, he was signed from one of the biggest clubs in the world. We need to stop shopping in the bargain bin in the hope of getting lucky, we need to have a look at the tens of millions profit we have in the bank and go shopping properly.

[Firthy]

Patience is what buts the right player not more money

Patience must be Glaswegian if he's going to give him a kiss

[Lancasterclaret]

But we got him for a snip because he wasn't wanted and he'd just had a few appearances where he's had a shocker.

The manager appears to be perfectly happy with the three of Long, Mee, Tarkowski and no one is arguing that we don't need a fourth CB.

It would make perfect sense for us to look at a similar aged centre half at a top ten club who isn't going to get a look and wants to move for a much better chance of first team football IF we can't get the experienced premier league CH that we are clearly going for.

[Marney&Mee]

Kone from Sunlun would be a revelation

[Spijed]

Of course there is, but we're a Premier League club which needs Premier League players.

The brilliant central defender we've just sold for a huge profit wasn't signed from the Championship, he was signed from one of the biggest clubs in the world. We need to stop shopping in the bargain bin in the hope of getting lucky, we need to have a look at the tens of millions profit we have in the bank and go shopping properly.

We signed Lee Roche from one of the biggest clubs in the world. Keane was sold to us on the cheap because he wasn't thought to be good enough. Where we get players from is irrelevant.

[HiroshimaClaret]

But we got him for a snip because he wasn't wanted and he'd just had a few appearances where he's had a shocker.

The manager appears to be perfectly happy with the three of Long, Mee, Tarkowski and no one is arguing that we don't need a fourth CB.

It would make perfect sense for us to look at a similar aged centre half at a top ten club who isn't going to get a look and wants to move for a much better chance of first team football IF we can't get the experienced premier league CH that we are clearly going for.

You could well be right BUT Keane only got his chance because we were in the Championship (I could be wrong!) and with our record of sticking with the same 11, I very much doubt any player will come to us from the Premier League. I`d be amazed if Dawson came to be honest. I`m happy with the Tarkowski/Mee potential but as many have said, we DO need a third VIABLE option (Long could be but no one really knows). We would never have found/afforded a Defour from the UK, where`s BelgianClaret with a centre - half a la Vertonghen (15mill) or the Dutch Van Dijk for 4 1/2 mill.

[UpTheBeehole]

Keane was sold to us on the cheap because he wasn't thought to be good enough.

Better to sign excellent players playing below their true level than average players playing at their best.

[UpTheBeehole]

You could well be right BUT Keane only got his chance because we were in the Championship (I could be wrong!)

You are wrong. We signed him as a Premier League club