Our strength in depth will win the Championship

[billyhamilton82]

Our strength in depth is astonishing at this level.

To make 8-9 changes against a Premier League side that more or less had a full strength line up apart from their keeper.

Its absolutely frightening, when you look at who WASN'T playing today.

1. Trafford
2. Roberts
3. Cullen
4. Brownhill
5. Anthony
6. Foster
7. Flemming
8. Laurent

Add to that Esteve only played 30 minutes, we virtually played a new team.

To go to Southampton on the back of their best result of the season with a much changed side is nothing short of remarkable.

This squad is as good as anything we've had previously in this division and we will win the league again.

UTC

[Woodleyclaret]

Totally agree we are improving game on game and need to ensure a 6 point week to push on UTC

[RVclaret]

I was thinking about this yesterday, following the return of Redmond & Benson, as well as new additions Shelvey & Edwards, there’s going to be some hard decisions to make just for making the bench soon, let alone starting XI. Now, of course, injuries do happen (JB and Luca right now, but still). Good problem to have as our bench has lack dynamism and game changers all season really.

[Quicknick]

I have been saying for a while that we are the only side who will improve as the season progresses.

[Tricky Trevor]

DL are as good as us and Blades are just lucky, another 3 pts they didn’t deserve yesterday. I still think we will make the top 2 though.

[dougcollins]

I remember one of the pundits looking at our squad at half time in the Luton game, and said our reserve side would - at the worst - get into the Championship play-offs.

That squad long gone now, of course.

[rexe78202]

I asked yesterday but nobody knew/answered - how many changes did Southampton make from their first choice side that they would put out in the Prem?

[dougcollins]

I asked yesterday but nobody knew/answered - how many changes did Southampton make from their first choice side that they would put out in the Prem?

I believe seven played who were present in the previous league game. I think they also had a couple of injuries, Harwood-Bellis was one.

[Quickenthetempo]

The only thing stopping Burnley winning the league will be playing to cautious and settling for draws.

[Jakubs Tash]

I was thinking about this yesterday, following the return of Redmond & Benson, as well as new additions Shelvey & Edwards, there’s going to be some hard decisions to make just for making the bench soon, let alone starting XI. Now, of course, injuries do happen (JB and Luca right now, but still). Good problem to have as our bench has lack dynamism and game changers all season really.

Would it be premature to include Bauress in the conversation for a place on the bench too? As you say, a good problem to have. But Parker needs to make sure that the attacking players make the squad as these are the game-changers.

[dougcollins]

Would it be premature to include Bauress in the conversation for a place on the bench too? As you say, a good problem to have. But Parker needs to make sure that the attacking players make the squad as these are the game-changers.

Never mind the squad, they have to make the pitch!

[RVclaret]

Would it be premature to include Bauress in the conversation for a place on the bench too? As you say, a good problem to have. But Parker needs to make sure that the attacking players make the squad as these are the game-changers.

If we speculate a 1st 11 could be:

Trafford, Roberts, CJ, Esteve, Humphreys, Cullen, Hannibal, Edwards, Sarmiento, Anthony, Flemming

You’d need to choose 9 subs from:

Hladky, Worrall, Pires, Sonne, Shelvey, Laurent, Foster, Benson, Redmond, Bauress, Barnes (11)

Not included Ramsey (not far off), Brownhill or Koleosho due to current injuries.

So in answer to your question, I’d like to but not sure how?

[Bosscat]

Far too positive this thread ... needs pulling off the board ... its not allowed to be positive on here

Parker out

[houseboy]

Now then Boss, do I detect a note of sarcasm? How are you anyway bud, not spoke in ages.

[houseboy]

By the way Boss, don’t know if you ever read the comments on the BBC reports on the app but there is a character on there called Jack who purports to be a disaffected Claret who always ends his posts with ‘Pace out’. Another one has cropped up too called Sam. I strongly suspected that it may be ‘Keano’ from the Telegraph days. He is dreadful. Take a look and see what I mean.

[gandhisflipflop]

It genuinely had the feeling of things coming together yesterday. I’m so pleased to see benson and redmond get game time. Edwards is class and will be the best player in this league. Bauress impressed as did Shelvey and the newer players to the team Sonne and Barnes.

All in all an extremely satisfying day for the club.

[BabylonClaret]

There's also potential goals in those players coming and coming back.

If Benson, Redmond, Edwards, shelvey can all contribute 1-3 that could be another 10 goals. If we can score 20 goals between now and the end of teh season we could easily win between 10 and 15 games

[Bosscat]

Now then Boss, do I detect a note of sarcasm? How are you anyway bud, not spoke in ages.

Me sarcasm Ian you know me .

Doing OK cheers.

[ArmchairDetective]

It was like having several new signings yesterday. Energising. Our squad depth is probably one of our biggest strengths. We shouldn't be afraid to use it.

Promotion won't be easy unless Sheff U or Leeds drop off, but it seems like there's more to come from this team. Let's see it.

UTC

[NewClaret]

The only thing stopping Burnley winning the league will be playing to cautious and settling for draws.

Especially the 5 point head start we’ve given them by doing just that!

With our bench though now, there’s no way Parker can be excused for settling for draws.

[mdd2]

We have a very young squad of players most of whom will get better with game time I am sure. Been looking at the ages of the squad and they are very few over the hill
Redmond Shelvey Barnes maybe Laurent
Apart from Roberts our back five of Esteve CJR Pires Humphries and Trafford have an average age of 22

[NewClaret]

We have a very young squad of players most of whom will get better with game time I am sure. Been looking at the ages of the squad and they are very few over the hill
Redmond Shelvey Barnes maybe Laurent
Apart from Roberts our back five of Esteve CJR Pires Humphries and Trafford have an average age of 22

Josh Laurent over the hill He’s 29

That was the start of a Burnley players career under Dyche

[BleedingClaret]

Our strength in depth is astonishing at this level.

To make 8-9 changes against a Premier League side that more or less had a full strength line up apart from their keeper.

Its absolutely frightening, when you look at who WASN'T playing today.

1. Trafford
2. Roberts
3. Cullen
4. Brownhill
5. Anthony
6. Foster
7. Flemming
8. Laurent

Add to that Esteve only played 30 minutes, we virtually played a new team.

To go to Southampton on the back of their best result of the season with a much changed side is nothing short of remarkable.

This squad is as good as anything we've had previously in this division and we will win the league again.

UTC

Add Koleosho to that, even if it’s off the bench

Shelvey could ignite Koleosho’s game with balls to run onto at pace between and beyond defenders rather than receiving it static against the sideline with 2 or 3 markers

Both could come on later in a game if we needed a goal then Shelvey lack of legs won’t matter and Koleosho’s pace would be a weapon with the right service

UTC

[Notsosuperstevedavis]

Going off the highlights, it was great to see a faster Burnley in attack putting the ball behind cor runners. Looked much more like us

[longsidetrumpet]

What about Sambo? Where’s he hiding?

[Ric_C]

Do we also now have the ammo to go 3-4-3 when inevitably we will be struggling to break down a low block?

Bring on some finishers off the bench and really go for it. We did this a lot under Kompany, in Parker's defence we just haven't had the players to do this until now.

Imagine in the last 20 bringing a fully firing Benson and Redmond off the bench at the Turf.

I'm also fully hoping that SP finds a good midfield balance, as we now have quite a few options, there are now no excuses for playing two holding midfielders (especially at home).

Sheff Utd at home is going to be massive.

[Ampth7]

Yep, great to see players coming back yesterday and game time for those on the fringes. Bauress was exceptional when he came on yesterday and appeared to give us control of the game. So calm and controlled on the ball, this lad had serious potential I reckon.
Also really enjoyed Hannibal’s performance and Sarmiento made some excellent runs with the ball especially second half.
A completely different challenge midweek, so it will be interesting to see who starts and if we can break down the low block that Hull are likely to employ….. UTC

[gawthorpe_view]

Sheff Utd at home is going to be massive.

...QPR away will, be party time!

[JR1882]

It’s hard to see anyone toppling Leeds they are much more dominant this season and scoring bags of goals for fun.

Our fixture list however is very favourable with all our “hard” games out of the way.

Sheff have Boro & Leeds this month and still have to go to Hillsborough & to Us but do have that 3 point advantage as it stands. Going to be a tight call!

[ClaretTony]

I asked yesterday but nobody knew/answered - how many changes did Southampton make from their first choice side that they would put out in the Prem?

We made seven but they made four with two of them forced on them.

[billyhamilton82]

We made seven but they made four with two of them forced on them.

8 changes from the starting 11 against Oxford

v Oxford

1,J. Trafford

12,B. Humphreys

5,M. Estève

6,C. Egan-Riley

14,C. Roberts

29,J. Laurent

24,J. Cullen (c), Captain

17,L. Foster

28, H. Mejbri

11, J. Anthony

19, Z. Flemming


v Southampton

32, V. Hladký

12, B. Humphreys

4, J. Worrall

6, C. Egan-Riley (c), Captain

23, Lucas Pires

2, O. Sonne

7,J. Sarmiento

28, H. Mejbri

26, J. Shelvey

10, Manuel Benson

35, A. Barnes

[brexit]

It’s hard to see anyone toppling Leeds they are much more dominant this season and scoring bags of goals for fun.

Our fixture list however is very favourable with all our “hard” games out of the way.

Sheff have Boro & Leeds this month and still have to go to Hillsborough & to Us but do have that 3 point advantage as it stands. Going to be a tight call!

History says Leeds always meltdown at some point in the season. I can see them coming away from the 3 games with 2 points.

[ClaretTony]

8 changes from the starting 11 against Oxford

v Oxford

1,J. Trafford

12,B. Humphreys

5,M. Estève

6,C. Egan-Riley

14,C. Roberts

29,J. Laurent

24,J. Cullen (c), Captain

17,L. Foster

28, H. Mejbri

11, J. Anthony

19, Z. Flemming


v Southampton

32, V. Hladký

12, B. Humphreys

4, J. Worrall

6, C. Egan-Riley (c), Captain

23, Lucas Pires

2, O. Sonne

7,J. Sarmiento

28, H. Mejbri

26, J. Shelvey

10, Manuel Benson

35, A. Barnes

We were talking before the game yesterday and I said eight, but then the club reported seven and I was daft enough to believe them. That was until I started writing the report.

[Hipper]

Just seen the match on Clarets +. I think people are getting carried away. We've played the worst Premier League team who will at best be promotion challengers in The Championship next season.

The big positive with our team is team structure. All the players that came in fitted into the structure and even if they didn't perform as well as those they replaced it all still worked.

Shelvey and Bauress, Benson and Edwards, was all about getting minutes on the clock. All three offered little outside our structure. On these performances there's a lot more required from them to replace Cullen or Anthony respectively.

Shelvey gave us one through ball which didn't find his man. Otherwise he mostly strolled around doing little. Bauress slotted in nicely but was just tidy, no more. Cullen however offers energy, constant movement, and that annoying tigerish quality that opponents with the ball don't like.

Benson had a good chance early which was almost there but other then that very little. Edwards did little apart from score with his chance. Defensively Anthony is far superior to both as he is in attack with crosses, headers and general play.

For me the main take is that Barnes has more to him then Flemming. More movement, know how, physicality. Goal threat we'll see! Clearly Parker doesn't agree as I thought the same after the Reading game and he's hardly had an opportunity.

Sarmiento was energetic but shot straight at the goalkeeper after Barnes set him up. He did the same against Oxford after he won the ball off a defender. He must do better in these cases.

There are options on the bench but it doesn't look particularly strong compared to Leeds who can replace two top quality wingers with two more.

[blatherwickstattoos]

That team and formation looked far more fluid than our usual rigid starting 11.

Wingers taking players on and Barnes actually being a striker helped massively

[RVclaret]

Just seen the match on Clarets +. I think people are getting carried away. We've played the worst Premier League team who will at best be promotion challengers in The Championship next season.

The big positive with our team is team structure. All the players that came in fitted into the structure and even if they didn't perform as well as those they replaced it all still worked.

Shelvey and Bauress, Benson and Edwards, was all about getting minutes on the clock. All three offered little outside our structure. On these performances there's a lot more required from them to replace Cullen or Anthony respectively.

Shelvey gave us one through ball which didn't find his man. Otherwise he mostly strolled around doing little. Bauress slotted in nicely but was just tidy, no more. Cullen however offers energy, constant movement, and that annoying tigerish quality that opponents with the ball don't like.

Benson had a good chance early which was almost there but other then that very little. Edwards did little apart from score with his chance. Defensively Anthony is far superior to both as he is in attack with crosses, headers and general play.

For me the main take is that Barnes has more to him then Flemming. More movement, know how, physicality. Goal threat we'll see! Clearly Parker doesn't agree as I thought the same after the Reading game and he's hardly had an opportunity.

Sarmiento was energetic but shot straight at the goalkeeper after Barnes set him up. He did the same against Oxford after he won the ball off a defender. He must do better in these cases.

There are options on the bench but it doesn't look particularly strong compared to Leeds who can replace two top quality wingers with two more.

Disagree with almost every single sentence there.

For someone who gives a lot of detail it’s surprising you miss details in matches.

For example, ‘Bauress offered little other than being tidy’ - how about his inch perfect lofted pick out of Barnes in the middle for a fairly presentable chance? I don’t think anyone played a better pass all game.

Above all, completely lacking context that it was Benson’s first game for 6 months, Edwards’ first in 3 months (and first for the club) when suggesting ‘Anthony is far superior at everything’ - what a bizarre statement.

[rexe78202]

Just seen the match on Clarets +. I think people are getting carried away. We've played the worst Premier League team who will at best be promotion challengers in The Championship next season.

The big positive with our team is team structure. All the players that came in fitted into the structure and even if they didn't perform as well as those they replaced it all still worked.

Shelvey and Bauress, Benson and Edwards, was all about getting minutes on the clock. All three offered little outside our structure. On these performances there's a lot more required from them to replace Cullen or Anthony respectively.

Shelvey gave us one through ball which didn't find his man. Otherwise he mostly strolled around doing little. Bauress slotted in nicely but was just tidy, no more. Cullen however offers energy, constant movement, and that annoying tigerish quality that opponents with the ball don't like.

Benson had a good chance early which was almost there but other then that very little. Edwards did little apart from score with his chance. Defensively Anthony is far superior to both as he is in attack with crosses, headers and general play.

For me the main take is that Barnes has more to him then Flemming. More movement, know how, physicality. Goal threat we'll see! Clearly Parker doesn't agree as I thought the same after the Reading game and he's hardly had an opportunity.

Sarmiento was energetic but shot straight at the goalkeeper after Barnes set him up. He did the same against Oxford after he won the ball off a defender. He must do better in these cases.

There are options on the bench but it doesn't look particularly strong compared to Leeds who can replace two top quality wingers with two more.

But, but, but, but... Every time you attempted to say something positive you followed it with a negative.

[rexe78202]

Disagree with almost much every single sentence there.

Ditto.

[Goliath]

Just seen the match on Clarets +. I think people are getting carried away. We've played the worst Premier League team who will at best be promotion challengers in The Championship next season.

The big positive with our team is team structure. All the players that came in fitted into the structure and even if they didn't perform as well as those they replaced it all still worked.

Shelvey and Bauress, Benson and Edwards, was all about getting minutes on the clock. All three offered little outside our structure. On these performances there's a lot more required from them to replace Cullen or Anthony respectively.

Shelvey gave us one through ball which didn't find his man. Otherwise he mostly strolled around doing little. Bauress slotted in nicely but was just tidy, no more. Cullen however offers energy, constant movement, and that annoying tigerish quality that opponents with the ball don't like.

Benson had a good chance early which was almost there but other then that very little. Edwards did little apart from score with his chance. Defensively Anthony is far superior to both as he is in attack with crosses, headers and general play.

For me the main take is that Barnes has more to him then Flemming. More movement, know how, physicality. Goal threat we'll see! Clearly Parker doesn't agree as I thought the same after the Reading game and he's hardly had an opportunity.

Sarmiento was energetic but shot straight at the goalkeeper after Barnes set him up. He did the same against Oxford after he won the ball off a defender. He must do better in these cases.

There are options on the bench but it doesn't look particularly strong compared to Leeds who can replace two top quality wingers with two more.

Edwards has one goal on about 30 minutes, because he picked up the position where goals are scored.
Anthony has 3 goals in 28 games because he spends the whole game stuck out wide and doesn't get himself into positions to get those tap in type of goals.

That type of goal is exactly what we've been missing this season, somebody getting into the right place at the right time consistently. I wouldn't have Anyhony anywhere near the starting line up now Benson and Edwardsare fit.

[DCWat]

It’s always the way…. A decent win (which this was) and we’re going to go up as champions. A defeat (or drab nil nil) and we’ll fail in the play offs.

I think you’re being a little harsh on the players that are new to the team / returning from injury. They all need some time to find their feet, develop relationships on the pitch and increase their match fitness / sharpness.

I noted that Sherwood was very complimentary about us making so many changes and players slotting into the system so well. Credit to Parker here.

My gut feel is that we will fall short of automatic, after that it’s a lottery. To achieve automatic, we’re definitely going to have to get some goals in to the side and hopefully keep up the amazing defensive record.

As it stands, it’s in our hands.

[jlup1980]

Saturday felt like a watershed moment. We've been waiting for a number of players to return and I don't feel like we've had the options we should from the bench. If Anthony, Benson, Edwards, Sarmiento, and Redmond can stay fit, as well as getting Luca back soon, we'll have better options than anyone else in the league. We should be able to make changes to push on and win games, something we haven't really been able to do all season. Shelvey has a much greater range of passing than others, which will hopefully bring our wingers into the game even more.

Trafford
Roberts CJ Esteve Humphries
Cullen Shelvey
Edwards Brownhill Anthony
Foster

That looks like a well balanced team to me, with real quality to bring on in the latter stages to see games out.

[The Shire Claret]

Been Saying all season that once we get our injured players back we will be so much stronger

I think we are going to win the league

UTC

[Big Vinny K]

Just seen the match on Clarets +. I think people are getting carried away. We've played the worst Premier League team who will at best be promotion challengers in The Championship next season.

The big positive with our team is team structure. All the players that came in fitted into the structure and even if they didn't perform as well as those they replaced it all still worked.

Shelvey and Bauress, Benson and Edwards, was all about getting minutes on the clock. All three offered little outside our structure. On these performances there's a lot more required from them to replace Cullen or Anthony respectively.

Shelvey gave us one through ball which didn't find his man. Otherwise he mostly strolled around doing little. Bauress slotted in nicely but was just tidy, no more. Cullen however offers energy, constant movement, and that annoying tigerish quality that opponents with the ball don't like.

Benson had a good chance early which was almost there but other then that very little. Edwards did little apart from score with his chance. Defensively Anthony is far superior to both as he is in attack with crosses, headers and general play.

For me the main take is that Barnes has more to him then Flemming. More movement, know how, physicality. Goal threat we'll see! Clearly Parker doesn't agree as I thought the same after the Reading game and he's hardly had an opportunity.

Sarmiento was energetic but shot straight at the goalkeeper after Barnes set him up. He did the same against Oxford after he won the ball off a defender. He must do better in these cases.

There are options on the bench but it doesn't look particularly strong compared to Leeds who can replace two top quality wingers with two more.

Sarmiento did not hit the shot straight at the keeper against Oxford - that was a good diving save and his chance against Southampton was a decent save too. He was excellent on Saturday…sometimes there’s no need to find a “but”.

As for Bauress - of course there’s a long way to go for him development wise but he seems to have something about him that a lot of players don’t. That ability to fond himself in space and with time and pass a ball with the correct weight….sounds simple but amazing how many players at all levels struggle with composure and making the right decision and then executing it correctly

[ChorltonCharlie]

A positive OP, but for me that positivity needs to be based on what we'll do, not the potential failings of others. As it stands Leeds are on course to hit 98 points. With their GD that means we'd need to get 99 points to finish above them based on their current trajectory. That would be 38 points from 45 and mean we'd have to win at least 12 of our remaining 15 games. It can be done, but it's a huge step up for a team that's won 16 out of their first 31.

It's also easy to say we've had the hardest games, but the way the table looks there's currently only PNE/Swansea who look destined for life in the Championship. Football is notorious for banana skin type games as the season draws to a close.

I think second is much more realistic. We've got the squad to get over 90 points and if we do there's every chance that one of the top two drop more points than you'd expect, I just don't see both of them doing so, or us going on a long winning run.

[thelifeofbrian]

Our strength in depth is astonishing at this level.

To make 8-9 changes against a Premier League side that more or less had a full strength line up apart from their keeper.

Its absolutely frightening, when you look at who WASN'T playing today.

1. Trafford
2. Roberts
3. Cullen
4. Brownhill
5. Anthony
6. Foster
7. Flemming
8. Laurent

Add to that Esteve only played 30 minutes, we virtually played a new team.

To go to Southampton on the back of their best result of the season with a much changed side is nothing short of remarkable.

This squad is as good as anything we've had previously in this division and we will win the league again.

UTC
dont forget magic mike ]

[dibraidio]

What's interesting is that under Dyche we seemed to fail consistently when we played the fringe players. We now seem to be able to play an almost complete second string against decent opposition and everyone is sharp and knows their role.

Parker seemed to suggest that Edwards isn't fully fit yet but it's great to have him, Benson and Redmond as options from the bench.
Koleosho, Anthony, Sarmiento, Foster, Barnes, Flemming, Benson, Redmond, Brownhill, Laurent, Hannibal, Bauress, Shelvey. He's got a hell of a lot of options now for those front four positions. If we were playing twice every week I reckon this would be a huge advantage but we've only got 3 midweek games left plus the Easter Weekend.

[AfloatinClaret]

I was confident we'd go up as Champions a month ago... We're better than Sheffield and whilst Leeds are close, they will only get a couple of points during April; it's tradition, or maybe something to do with the water around there, Leeds will drop into the play-offs and miss out in the final to Sunderland.

[Bosscat]

I was confident we'd go up as Champions a month ago... We're better than Sheffield and whilst Leeds are close, they will only get a couple of points during April; it's tradition, or maybe something to do with the water around there, Leeds will drop into the play-offs and miss out in the final to Sunderland.

Thats just about word for word what a Leeds fan said to me Friday night

[what now !]

I get what people are saying about where we could or couldn't finish and how many points we might need to get but what a lot of people are missing is the remaining opponents for each of the challengers, we only have to play Sheff utd out of the top 4 where as

sheff utd have to play Boro at home then luton away

Leeds have Watford away then sunderland at home ( both cant take 3 points from that )

then they play each other on 24-feb - if you are looking at where one or both could drop points that is the match where we could make up ground providing we win our next 3 or 4

imagine for a minute that Leeds win their next 4 , and we do the same then we will be ahead of sunderland and sheff utd its then in our hands when we play sheff utd .

so if results go our way we could be ahead of both those come the end of the month, especially if we keep defending as we are and then adding a few goals , which i think we will do when Edwards gets going.

so with a bit of context we are in a better place than most may think

[RicardoMontalban]

If we were playing twice every week I reckon this would be a huge advantage but we've only got 3 midweek games left plus the Easter Weekend.

I suppose what it does do is give us some resilience against players who dip out of form.