Wood and Hendrick

[Mala591]

Wood works the channels well and Hendrick is doing his best to be the link player but it just isn't working very well. They don't seem to have any 'instinctive understanding' which is so important between an inside forward and centre forward.

Don't get me wrong the team is playing extremely well and grinding out results, I just think we need to try something different.

When Barnes came on last night the whole balance of the game changed and Wood looked much more effective. Whether they can play well together for 90 minutes remains to be seen but I would like to see a starting line up with them both included.

[D8BFC]

To be fair to Wood last night, there was no way in the world he was going to win the balls coming to him with Zouma and Shawcross on his back at all times, the wind was playing havoc - and then any balls into the channel were just zipping off out of play.

Hendrick is another matter - he looks lost at times and isnt finding the open play space easy. That said - the game plan is working currently bringing on Barnes/Vokes with 25 mins to go and changing the dynamic of the game.

When Vokes came on last night, he looked the quickest player on the pitch due to their fatigue.

I wouldnt change it, going 4-4-2 from the start would mean we become very one dimensional from the start.

[Colburn_Claret]

The system is ok, but Hendrick isn't the man to play that role. I don't know if we have anyone on the books who could.
Attacking it would be better using Nakhi Wells, but could Nakhi do the donkey work that Jeff does in closing down and winning the ball back?

It would be great to buy a 'natural' for that position in January, and until we find one Chris Wood is always going to look the worse.

[claretspice]

When we've played well recently, Hendrick hasn't been playing as an inside forward, or a number 10, or any similar position. He's been playing as one of 3 central midfielders, albeit the one with the most attacking licence. The shift from 4-4-1-1 towards a more fluid hybrid of 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3 and 4-5-1 has been one of the notable features of our progression over the last 6 weeks.

The conditions meant it wasn't really possible to replicate it last night, and forced us to go longer earlier, which doesn't really suit Wood as his link up game, particularly in the air, is one of his weaker attributes (that's not a criticism per se), and it doesn't suit Hendrick either as he's not as adept as some players at reading a flick - but on nights like night its impossible to overstate how hard that is for any player because the modern ball is incredibly difficult to control when its as wet and windy as that.

I'd cut them both a bit of slack, personally.

[dougcollins]

Having studs might have helped.
Never seen so many players on their arses.

[claretspice]

Problem with the modern pitches as much as studs, Doug. They are so slick now on a wet day, because they are in such good condition underneath they retain their shape and don't become muddy, that it becomes very difficult to keep your footing as I understand it.

[claretspice]

Problem with the modern pitches as much as studs, Doug. They are so slick now on a wet day, because they are in such good condition underneath they retain their shape and don't become muddy, that it becomes very difficult to keep your footing as I understand it.

[D8BFC]

Jon Walters would be perfect in that position though when he is fit

[lucs86]

Might just be me but I thought we looked less likely to score when Barnes came on, I thought our best play in the game involved Wood and Hendrick. Zouma going off was the key factor as it meant we could win a few more knockdowns when we started to go more direct. That's where the goal comes from but it's a strategy for the last 10mins not the 90, in my opinion.

Wood's easily our best lone frontman, Barnes is really good from the bench, Vokes is best coming on when we're launching it and Hendrick's the man for doing the hard running between midfield and attack, supporting both areas. I think we've hit the best combinations already so I wouldn't change it. The more time Hendrick spends playing that role (which I'm going to assume is unfamiliar to him) the more effective he'll become in it.

[NRC]

Without the mockery, SD has Ulvestad on the bench, and he doesn’t do that for fun...... isn’t this his position?

[Iloveyoubrady]

Jon Walters would be perfect in that position though when he is fit

He really wouldn't. JBG/Brady are the kind of player we need in the CAM. Creative talent is required!

[SalisburyClaret]

Airfield looks perfect in the no. 10 role

[blackburnturfite]

The system is ok, but Hendrick isn't the man to play that role. I don't know if we have anyone on the books who could.
Attacking it would be better using Nakhi Wells, but could Nakhi do the donkey work that Jeff does in closing down and winning the ball back?

It would be great to buy a 'natural' for that position in January, and until we find one Chris Wood is always going to look the worse.

And there's me thinking 4th in Premiership is a credit to everyone connected to Burnley Football Club

[South West Claret.]

They said on 5 live last night that Wood went off with a hamstring injury, has that been confirmed?

[Iloveyoubrady]

Airfield looks perfect in the no. 10 role

He works well there but someone with more creativity in the mould of JBG or Brady. If we can buy a winger who can also play there - like JBG can, we will be sorted.

[D8BFC]

He really wouldn't. JBG/Brady are the kind of player we need in the CAM. Creative talent is required!

Brady and JBG are/were doing fine in the formation where they were.

[Blackrod]

Hendrick is not suitable for the role he is currently playing. We need a number 10 type player in Jan along with a Winger and cover for CB. Wood looked lost last night but he had no support and the conditions were terrible.

[South West Claret.]

They said on 5 live last night that Wood went off with a hamstring injury, has that been confirmed?

Can Any one confirm please.

[lucs86]

Hendrick is not suitable for the role he is currently playing. We need a number 10 type player in Jan along with a Winger and cover for CB. Wood looked lost last night but he had no support and the conditions were terrible.

The role he's currently playing isn't a normal number 10 or attacking midfielder, like a Mata, Rooney, Ozil, Hazard, his role is getting all the way back to help the deeper midfielders infront of him and getting all the way forward to be the nearest man to Wood when we're attacking. He can't just walk around finding space to receive the ball, he's closing down and harrying to get the ball back himself. When we've got the ball he's not expected to ping long accurate passes to runners or dribble round their midfield, he's mostly moving it simple and getting us up the pitch. When we get the ball in a good position he's coming forward at pace to create a counter attack.

More than anything it's a physically demanding role and I think he's well suited to it, moreso than the typical number 10s above would be playing in our team. Of the big clubs you're probably looking at a Dele Alli type to slot in and do that job, their roles are pretty similar I'd say. It'd be good having a bit more craft and guile in that position but craft and guile with the physical attributes needed for our version of that role will be hard to find within our budget I'd reckon. Loftus-Cheek would have been a good shout. Keep Hendrick at it though, he'll improve. More important we bring in 1 or 2 for the wide midfield roles.

[warksclaret]

....if it ain't broke, don't fix it. 31 points !!!!

[Mala591]

....if it ain't broke, don't fix it. 31 points !!!!

My first car was a Ford Anglia. Perfectly good car nothing wrong with it.

I now drive a Ford Focus. It is much faster, more economical, more reliable, more comfortable and much better to drive.

I can't for the life of me understand why Ford would want to improve on something that wasn't broken.

[yorkyclaret]

Get an Anglia again, you'll find it a lot more fun.

[bob-the-scutter]

Wasn`t it an Elvis song?
Oh no, that was Wood & Hart.

[KefkaClaret]

Qualify for the Champions league and then sign Barkley on a free.