The fbm view and ratings - Burnley

[Southend_Lady]

fair ratings, Bradbury was awful last night and the whole crowd wanted him taken off. Foran has to start ahead of Bradbury from now on, Bradbury has been poor for a long time now.

Agreed - there is only so long that Tilson can be loyal to Bradbury. Foran is by far the better player and he prooved that last night by chipping in for possibly the most important 3 points of our season.

 

[Jam_Man]

When McCormack is back Im sure Foran will start up front.

In his absence I think he will start on the left, which is where he has done well so far.

 

[sufcintheprem]

McCormack didn't look great last night, nor did he look too great at Ipswich. I'm not sure his absence will be the hammer blow predicted in some quarters for the home game against Leeds although we may need more steel in the middle to pick up points at Hull.

Last night, Clarke was outstanding, Francis and Sodje good and Hunt more than adequate. How nice to have a back four of good performances and what a difference it makes. Defend as though your life depends on it and you give yourself a chance to win games.

As for Bradbury, he never had a chance with our atrocious style of play against much taller, stronger and wilier opposition. Against Ipswich at least we gave him the occasional ball to feet or ball with some pace. Last night, it was high and looped and his performance was more an error of tactics than a poor performance. That said, with the number of problems Harrold has caused when coming on, you'd assume he'd be disappointed to be overlooked for the next match and his determination could be a real asset.

In short, we were very poor going creatively last night and have to up it a couple of notches to overcome Leeds. If we do, we'll be looking very healthy indeed. If we draw, we'll still be in a good position. Losing would simply drag us back to where we have worked so hard to get out of.

 

[Cliff Pavilion]

McCormack didn't look great last night, nor did he look too great at Ipswich. I'm not sure his absence will be the hammer blow predicted in some quarters for the home game against Leeds although we may need more steel in the middle to pick up points at Hull.

Last night, Clarke was outstanding, Francis and Sodje good and Hunt more than adequate. How nice to have a back four of good performances and what a difference it makes. Defend as though your life depends on it and you give yourself a chance to win games.

As for Bradbury, he never had a chance with our atrocious style of play against much taller, stronger and wilier opposition. Against Ipswich at least we gave him the occasional ball to feet or ball with some pace. Last night, it was high and looped and his performance was more an error of tactics than a poor performance. That said, with the number of problems Harrold has caused when coming on, you'd assume he'd be disappointed to be overlooked for the next match and his determination could be a real asset.

In short, we were very poor going creatively last night and have to up it a couple of notches to overcome Leeds. If we do, we'll be looking very healthy indeed. If we draw, we'll still be in a good position. Losing would simply drag us back to where we have worked so hard to get out of.

Agree with most of what you say but am slightly puzzled by the all out praise for our back four. Burnley matched us for lack of creativity in what was surely one of the most dire spectacles (barring the magical 93rd minute) at Roots Hall for a long, long time. Sodje was good and I felt while Clarke did ok, and I am a big fan of his incidentally, he still isn't commanding enough in the air against a physical side - which no doubt Leeds will be if nothing else. The distribution, generally, from the back four I thought was pretty poor last night too. Haven't seen so many hoofed, aimless balls like that for a while.

As a result of Burnley's direct (to put it politely) style the full backs were barely bothered enough to merit a rating. But Francis again had one or two severely shakey moments defensively. Even in the seconds after our goal, his mistimed a jump for a header, the winger slipped in behind him, crossed and there was bedlam in the box! No one could clear it and there were ricochets and a reasonable claim for a hand ball. Calm, assured defending it was not.

Several notches up are required for Saturday and delighted that a very off day resulted in 3 points.

Keep the faith.

 

[sufcintheprem]

Yeah, ditribution was poor but there wasn't much movement in the middle of the park to give players any options and Hunt's desire to cut on to his right foot in a left back position made it cramped in there.

And Francis' indecision might have cost a goals last night but I wouldn't describe it as a ahowler (because that's not even a word). No-one in our back four is going to have a perfect game but each defended doggedly and worked excellently as a unit in direct contrast to Burnley's onside trap.

 

[Cliff Pavilion]

Yeah, ditribution was poor but there wasn't much movement in the middle of the park to give players any options and Hunt's desire to cut on to his right foot in a left back position made it cramped in there.

And Francis' indecision might have cost a goals last night but I wouldn't describe it as a ahowler (because that's not even a word). No-one in our back four is going to have a perfect game but each defended doggedly and worked excellently as a unit in direct contrast to Burnley's onside trap.

What got me though was there were too many panic hoofs, played blind last night that couldn't be blamed on lack of movement.

Agree though, of course our defenders will make mistakes. That's why they're playing for us after all and not in the Premiership or for their countries. I just wish they didn't happen in the dying seconds of a game when we're 'protecting' a one nil lead!!

:p :o

 

[Shrimpersarmy]

Good work as usual, FBM.

Thought the JCR rating was spot on, he does seem to have gone off the boil. However, i think this is because other teams are becoming aware of the threat he creates. Last night he was not even given a yard of space when he had the ball, the very second he got the ball there would be a Burnley player putting him under pressure or hacking him down. There were 2 Burnley players last night who recieved bookings for sending him crashing to the floor IIRC. Those 2 occasions were probably the only 2 times all night that he got the ball in space. The opposition certainly did their homework.

Also think Hunt was worth a 7, i don't see why some people seem to think Hammell is a certantity to come back into the side at LB, we have kept 2 clean sheets in the last 2 games! It's true that Hammell offers more going forward but IMO Hunt has done a good job defensively in Stevies absence. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, especially when for a majority of the season our defence has been shipping goals like there is no tomorrow!

 

[JoshC]

Burnley

Good one FBM.

Last night at 90 minutes I said to bloke next to me. With my sulking head in my hands, "Do you ever get those Billy liar dreams when someone will score in the last minute... a real roy of the Rovers type thing"
or words to that effect.
He replied in the affirmative, but that it doesn't happen, though it would be nice because the impatient were leaving to gain an extra 5 minutes to get their car out. It'd be nice for them to miss that glory.
And so it was.
Why people leave early is a mystery to me. I wonder if they get up at a restaurant and leave the dessert half eaten or wether they actually have a climax in bed with their frustrated wife?
It's not just the game I enjoy, but cheering the valiant boys off the pitch... or insulting the useless ref.


C'mon !

This is so true it annoys me when hundreds of people leave early just to get out of the ground a minute earlier epecially the ones that just stand on the steps in everyones way:mad: . The people next to me left 5 minutes early in the 3-3 comeback game against Norwich I couldn't believe it but I suppose its their problem not mine:hilarious: . Also Bradbury has had his chance and it is clear he is not good enough for the Championship, he can't go round players and rarely wins headers.On his debut Foran won more or less all of the 50/50 balls in the air.

 

[silentshrimper]

I agree with all of that, The hole defence was solid which was pleasing to see, 2 clean sheets in a row!

We are hitting form just at the right time!
Last night showed we are up for the many relegation battles that are coming up.

 

[Colchester Shrimper]

I can see Hammell coming back at LB and Hunty moving into CM

 

[sufcintheprem]

If it broke, don't fix it

I think that's exactly the attitude that got us in this mess!!

:hilarious:

 

[Shrimpersarmy]

I have no idea what you are talking about ;) ;)