Blackpool v Clarets match thread

[beddie]

I didn’t go but they’ve just put the stats up on bbc sport. We dominated but it sounds like they defended in numbers.

[RVclaret]

Twine really looking like he isn't good enough, I was under the impression from write ups I had read that he could run with the ball and had a great shot on him. Personally think he will come good but a years loan next year may be beneficial. At present should be nowhere near this squad

Personally felt he was our best attacker the other night and did okay today. Not sure he’s playing in his best position which last season for Dons was off the left.

[Foshiznik]

No way near strong enough,and that’s in the championship

May be more suited for the premier league. He’s very similar to James Maddison.

[Taffy on the wing]

A point and a clean sheet, but perhaps VK has learned a bit more about a few players, and who is best suited in certain positions ie LB. The other strange fact from today is that I believe that on at least 3 occasions Twine has come on as a sub then later on been substituted. Might be a record

When he came on he found some great positions in space......nobody would pass to him!
He faded a bit later on. Intelligent player who needs game time.

[agreenwood]

It’s been a long slog of fixtures and we’ve got too many first teamers missing at the moment.

A free midweek should do them good.

[RVclaret]

When he came on he found some great positions in space......nobody would pass to him!
He faded a bit later on. Intelligent player who needs game time.

Agree, gets in some really good positions but rarely got it played. The one time he got it in space in the middle he played on the half turn and won a fk.

[Hedontplayforyou]

He’s being asked to play a no.10 / deep attacking midfield role in tight spaces and it’s not working for him at times. Needs a bit more space to operate in but today we weren’t good enough . Not much to go off really. He’s had a lot of time out and is just getting going.

Burnley not at it today in my eyes . Missed Maatsen massively .

[HiThere]

I didn’t go but they’ve just put the stats up on bbc sport. We dominated but it sounds like they defended in numbers.

I only watched most of the second half and Blackpool didn't offer much going forward. We just missed that very last correct decision and we'd have had goals. One of those games. We extend our lead at the top and we move on.

[Casper2]

May be more suited for the premier league. He’s very similar to James Maddison.

Wow

[Rileybobs]

Poor performance. Sloppy and pedestrian but no harm done. Our squad depth starting to look less impressive with a few injuries. Nobody outside of the first 12/13 players staking a claim. Twine in particular has missed a good opportunity to impress in the last couple of games and was notably anonymous today. I think bringing on Cork for Brownhill would have given us a better platform to maintain the pressure.

[Nori1958]

Not a night to read claretsmad, some real children

[FCBurnley]

Another poor effort. Same as fleetwood

[Newcastleclaret93]

Personally felt he was our best attacker the other night and did okay today. Not sure he’s playing in his best position which last season for Dons was off the left.

30 of his 45 games last season we playing as either a 10 or a central attacking midfielder.

His stats were also considerably better through the centre than the games he played on the left.

He’s clearly got something but think he’s struggling to the physicality of this level

[ClaretInLeeds]

Not a night to read claretsmad, some real children

Or to be at the game. Childish fans kicking off, smashing seats and basically just being dickheads.

[SussexDon1inIreland]

Charlie Adams is our U21 coach

[RVclaret]

30 of his 45 games last season we playing as either a 10 or a central attacking midfielder.

His stats were also considerably better through the centre than the games he played on the left.

He’s clearly got something but think he’s struggling to the physicality of this level

Dons played with duel 10s behind a front man, he played as a left sided 10. Probably hard for transfermrkt to get that accurately. Not sure there’s any real issue with physicality personally, but playing him as a right sided 8 like today didn’t really suit.

[Jimmymaccer]

Or to be at the game. Childish fans kicking off, smashing seats and basically just being dickheads.

If these were our childish fans hopefully the club will try to identify them…………..tho I guess despite tickets being sold out quickly on the points basis, they get their tickets another way?

[ralph8]

Unfortunate to lose Churlinov and still not have the Benson option available. I think Zaroury has shown signs for a few weeks that he could do with a rest. Hopefully we will start getting a few of the key players back soon and Josh's injury is not too bad.
I think we know what tactics Wigan will adopt for next Sat.

[willsclarets]

Only a week since we absolutely destroyed Huddersfield, not a great couple of performances since but two clean sheets and better team by a distance on both occasions.
A few players at the top end of the pitch look very slightly off it. Zaroury has been a little more predictable and less accurate, Tella perhaps one or two extra touches, Twine not firing yet. And we're missing Benson obviously. Would've liked Churlinov to start today but for the injury. Wouldn't be averse to giving the Turkish lad a start either. Against teams who sit behind the ball with two banks of 4 it's hard if you're not at your sharpest.

Nigh impossible to keep the levels of performance going, we've set an extraordinary benchmark. Nice week off now and hopefully renewed edge against Wigan

[jrgbfc]

Or to be at the game. Childish fans kicking off, smashing seats and basically just being dickheads.

Didn't go today but Blackpool away on a Saturday afternoon is always going to attract the weapons.

[ClaretInLeeds]

If these were our childish fans hopefully the club will try to identify them…………..tho I guess despite tickets being sold out quickly on the points basis, they get their tickets another way?

Can’t say there were faces I regularly see. Got called out though. Not nice to witness, they let themselves and the club down.

[CoolClaret]

Can’t say there were faces I regularly see. Got called out though. Not nice to witness, they let themselves and the club down.

Good to see it was called out. Don’t need that kind of stuff

[Milltown1882]

Charlie Adams is our U21 coach

It’s still Adam not Adams.

[Firthy]

It's always hard to break teams down who pack their midfield and defence like Fleetwood and Blackpool did. I never felt we were in danger of losing either game and but for 3 top class saves by the keeper today it would have been another 3 points. We aren't quite the Man City of the Championship yet.

[AGENT_CLARET]

Not a night to read claretsmad, some real children

So people aren't allowed a personal opinion, this says it all with what's wrong with this board

[tiger76]

Only a week since we absolutely destroyed Huddersfield, not a great couple of performances since but two clean sheets and better team by a distance on both occasions.
A few players at the top end of the pitch look very slightly off it. Zaroury has been a little more predictable and less accurate, Tella perhaps one or two extra touches, Twine not firing yet. And we're missing Benson obviously. Would've liked Churlinov to start today but for the injury. Wouldn't be averse to giving the Turkish lad a start either. Against teams who sit behind the ball with two banks of 4 it's hard if you're not at your sharpest.

Nigh impossible to keep the levels of performance going, we've set an extraordinary benchmark. Nice week off now and hopefully renewed edge against Wigan

Yes it's been a decent week really, 4 points in the league while our rivals continue to stutter, and progress in the cup.

We were bound to suffer a dip at some stage, however even when we don't play well we're capable of picking up points.

Promotion will come it's just a matter of time now, and even today we were the ones asking all the questions, just lacked that clinical edge we normally possess, and their keeper produced some top drawer stops when called upon.

Take the point and move on we'll be better against Wigan with the week's rest.

[Carwin261]

You’d think we were bottom of the league,and hadn’t won for months ,get Wigan out of the road ,and teams will be playing a bit more open against us,Twine will start to shine when he has a bit more space,5 more wins,are we’re mathematically up.

[Carwin261]

Whoops 5 wins,and 2 draws.

[tiger76]

You’d think we were bottom of the league,and hadn’t won for months ,get Wigan out of the road ,and teams will be playing a bit more open against us,Twine will start to shine when he has a bit more space,5 more wins,are we’re mathematically up.

Yes some of the criticism when we fail to win is OTT, teams aren't going to just lie down for us, especially teams fighting to stay up.

I doubt we'll need 5 more wins as the chasers aren't going to win every game from here.

[boatshed bill]

No way near strong enough,and that’s in the championship

So am i getting this right?
League 2 players are all puny weaklings,
League 1 similar but with a bit of muscle
Championship are physically quite strong
PL, hard as nails

[123EasyasBFC]

Zaroury victim of his own success, nobody expected much from him but because of how good he’s been and the moments he’s had, when he has an off day it looks very off, he’s due a rest, barnes and tella probs due a rest to. Vitinho wasn’t great today on the ball, showed how important Maatsen has been. We are aloud an off day every now and then

[Taffy on the wing]

Or to be at the game. Childish fans kicking off, smashing seats and basically just being dickheads.

Pathetic!

[Lip]

Or to be at the game. Childish fans kicking off, smashing seats and basically just being dickheads.

You should have taken a video and given it to both clubs as evidence.

[Tricky Trevor]

So many of our moves broke down because the first touch of Zaroury and Tella was abysmal today. No need to be bed wetting over it. We know they are better than today. They are actually owed an off day or two. The international break can’t come soon enough and then we’ll steamroller our way to the title.

[123EasyasBFC]

Good job Ekdal is a good defender because he is rather slow isn’t he, playing a high line with him at the back next season could cause problems

[HiThere]

Good job Ekdal is a good defender because he is rather slow isn’t he, playing a high line with him at the back next season could cause problems

I do agree. I've mentioned it a few times to friends that I wonder what VK will do in the summer. As good as Ekdal has been playing I think he'll struggle against Premier League attackers.

[Newcastleclaret93]

So am i getting this right?
League 2 players are all puny weaklings,
League 1 similar but with a bit of muscle
Championship are physically quite strong
PL, hard as nails

No but the general correlation you have is when you go up the leagues the players are quicker, stronger better athletes.

I remember when we first went up and duff said the strikers in the prem were a lot stronger than anything he had ever played against.

[CoolClaret]

No but the general correlation you have is when you go up the leagues the players are quicker, stronger better athletes.

I remember when we first went up and duff said the strikers in the prem were a lot stronger than anything he had ever played against.

Yeah - more professional & better athletes.

Plenty of skilled players in the lower leagues but when you pair that with pace and power that’s when you get a top player.

Though I must say that the championship is a lot more professional now to what it was ten years or so ago - players look a lot leaner and more muscular than the 2000s

[1882Clarets1882]

I didn’t go but they’ve just put the stats up on bbc sport. We dominated but it sounds like they defended in numbers.

McCarthy had watched the Fleetwood game. They just did what they did but with 11 men 2nd half. There were many times when they had 10 men in their own box. We seemed scared to shoot. Blackpool , to give them the credit they deserved, defended doggedly as a unit, deserved a point and to be honest finished the better side.

[dermotdermot]

The seagulls did play a big part though. At one stage, Tella had to dribble through them and one of them managed to tackle him and take the ball. I reckon that seed was sewn deliberately.

[CoolClaret]

The seagulls did play a big part though. At one stage, Tella had to dribble through them and one of them managed to tackle him and take the ball. I reckon that seed was sewn deliberately.

Twine passed the ball to a flock of seagulls as well

[NRC]

McCarthy had watched the Fleetwood game. They just did what they did but with 11 men 2nd half. There were many times when they had 10 men in their own box. We seemed scared to shoot. Blackpool , to give them the credit they deserved, defended doggedly as a unit, deserved a point and to be honest finished the better side.

our midfield really should have been shooting time and again at the edge of the penalty box instead of going side to side. some will get blocked there, others on the six yard line, but a shot is going to rev=bound and not be controlled, opening the opportunity for the loose ball for our players thereabouts to have a tap-in. At least do something different

There has to be learning from these two games - it’s not about personnel, it’s about how we address it

[1882Clarets1882]

our midfield really should have been shooting time and again at the edge of the penalty box instead of going side to side. some will get blocked there, others on the six yard line, but a shot is going to rev=bound and not be controlled, opening the opportunity for the loose ball for our players thereabouts to have a tap-in. At least do something different

There has to be learning from these two games - it’s not about personnel, it’s about how we address it

The number of times we were saying "shoot" or "have a pop" . What's wrong with having a go?. The keeper is unlikely to catch them all and a parried save or one that pings around the 6 yard box could be pounced on. You don't shoot , you don't score. Simple as that.

[Spijed]

McCarthy had watched the Fleetwood game. They just did what they did but with 11 men 2nd half. There were many times when they had 10 men in their own box. We seemed scared to shoot. Blackpool , to give them the credit they deserved, defended doggedly as a unit, deserved a point and to be honest finished the better side.

At least we know there won't be too many packed defences next season.

[jedi_master]

Just got back - quite a poor performance really (by the standards we set ourselves, anyway). It reminded me quite a lot of us early season with a stilted tempo and lack of penetration. We got substantially worse when Brownhill went off. Twine just didn’t get involved enough for me, Zaroury was also very poor. Obafemi didn’t make an impact - just one of those days where nothing really came off. On balance, we deserved to win with the Twine free kick, JBG effort in the first half and then the shot late on from Tella that had nobody following up - but it didn’t feel like we were at our best today.

I’m more than happy with the point in the end with Sheff Utd having lost. Onwards and upwards. I think a week off will do us the world of good and I’d be scared if I was a Wigan fan at this team wanting to get back to winning ways.

Side note - My first visit to Bloomfield Road. Very odd stadium with terrible facilities for away fans, best pre-match legroom in those seats though that I’ve experienced in ages (although, after Luton, I think a 2X2 box would have seemed an upgrade). Fair play to the Blackpool fans too, they made a good noise even if it was almost entirely centred around our interest in our own family members as opposed to supporting their team.

[NRC]

At least we know there won't be too many packed defences next season.

Right, but there will be next Saturday - so how do we approach it differently? As two of us have already said, change the percentages by shooting from the edge of the box - that or bring the ball further back and look for runs in between

[jojomk1]

Spot on re midfield
They like to pass sideways and backwards but you rarely see a ball slipped through the middle of the defenders and certainly hardly ever have a shot at goal (apart from Brownhill)
Plus there is little alternative to Barnes up front
Cork on in the 90th minute plus no chance given to Foster or Dervisoglu baffles me when we are looking to win the game

[jojomk1]

At least we know there won't be too many packed defences next season.

Apart from ours

[Rileybobs]

I made this comment on the match thread after the game finished but it wasn’t with hindsight as I said the same to my brother during the game.

It may not have made a difference, and I agree with the point about giving game time to players who need it - although Vinny went with Dervisoglu ahead of Foster presumably prioritising getting the 3 points ahead of playing players into form. But I don’t always think the more attacking players you have on the pitch necessarily equates to being more of an attacking threat.

It was noticeable that our centre backs were unable to carry the ball out today due to Blackpool leaving two men forward to keep them occupied. I feel that Cork would have given us more control of the game in the middle of the park and allowed more fluidity in our attacking play which was very forced.

I’ve been disappointed with Twine so far, he had a number of opportunities to drop in and receive the ball but didn’t seem too motivated to affect the game. Like our other ‘fringe’ players though he needs, and will be afforded time to develop. And perhaps it’s more difficult for these players to make the step up in a team that’s set such high standards than those who started the season when expectations were much less.

[Rileybobs]

^ Wrong thread - too late to edit.