Tweaking the back four

[warksclaret]

Should we ship a few too many goals in the next few games what about moving Ben Mee to left back giving a back line of

Lowton Tarks Gibson Mee

By then we will know if Joe Hart should keep his place. Lowton gives us one of our main attacking threats however Steve Ward tends to play it safe and the majority of the time checks, and plays it back to Ben, and got to say he is not looking as assured as he was in the middle of last season where he was Mr Consistency

[yorkyclaret]

Guess I've heard dafter ideas but I really can't remember when.

[Likeavydra]

must say, hart looked small for those goals. not an imposing figure.

[DCWat]

We’ve two left backs and Mee wasn’t great there when he was played there back in the Championship days.

It’s up to Mee to retain his place and if Gibson probe he’s worth starting ahead of him.

I certainly wouldn’t be playing square pegs in round holes just to accommodate players.

[Claretmatt4]

Not sure what irks me more, the fact youre suggesting we move Ben Mee to left back or the fact you've called Stephen Ward 'Steve'

[Carnsmerry12]

A back 3 of Ben G,Tarks,Ben M anyone?

[boatshed bill]

This tweak, perhaps?
GK?
Lowton, Tarkowski, Gibson(or Long), Mee, Taylor,
Cork, Westwood, Hendrick,
Vokes, Barnes

[Dyched]

A flat back 8 for me with Vokes and Barnes up top

Bards Lowton Tark Gibson Long Mee Ward Taylor

[FactualFrank]

Ben Mee at left back? What could possibly go wrong.

[tim_noone]

must say, hart looked small for those goals. not an imposing figure.

Well taken goals by Watford tbf to Hart. No blame on Hart.

[Tread Warily]

must say, hart looked small for those goals. not an imposing figure.

It's about time Heaton was brought back, give him some game time.After all he was the original captain.

[bfccrazy]

could we be seeing the early signs of our team having the problem of peaking and then slowly declining. Yesterday was the first time in a long, long time I heard people around me berating players like Ward and Mee for things.

We have gotten so used to our defence being SOLID and not messing up and hear No it repeatedly that I feel a lot of people might be getting caught up in remembering that all players can have an off day.

I turned to a mate on the match yesterday and commented how the Ward>Taylor switch could be a big moment and a changing of the guard for us, possibly even the start of the next stage of Burnley’s development.

Gibson has come in and is an actual threat for our CBs for a starting spot (his Europa appearance last week won’t do him any harm either).

We get caught up in looking for back ups and replacements for our weaker areas and kind of just assume our defence is sorted forever which will never be the case - it’s an exciting and interesting time (both good and bad depending on how you interpret it) to watch how we adapt this season to push on again.

[Vegas Claret]

we had an off day exasperated by our failure to convert numerous first half chances. If we get battered at Fulham then I would begin to ask questions

[Woodleyclaret]

Mee and Ward were poor v Watford.JBG needs to be in every game as our best creative player.Taylor for Ward.Gibson for Mee and Macneil for Lennon.Two up front Vokes and Barnes with Vydra on the bench

[beddie]

Taylor must be pushing for Wards spot.

[MACCA]

Watford scored 3 very well taken goals, 2 were worked very well with excellent build ups and finishes.
Yes we can argue they were avoidable, but it has to go down as a bad day at the office for now, and we rarely have too many them.
Let's see where we are at post international break first regarding players back.

We are superb when we are in front, and our lack of goals at the minute is hampering that. We will hopefully resolve the goal issue soon, then the points and performances will improve.
Gettining our better players back will accelerate both the aforementioned.

[BigChaCha]

History shows that SD will give players out of form more than enough chances to rediscover their form before dropping them. Dyche's loyalty to players is both a blessing and a curse sometimes.

We have bounced back from defeats like this in the next game before but if we stay in the Europa league for a while we will have more of these blips because we didn't strengthen enough in summer.

[piston broke]

No. We had an off day. Live with it.
As we have on our last 4 first home game days. The sun will come out tomorrow.

[agreenwood]

When your left and right midfielders tuck in narrow, the last thing you want is a full back who isn't great on the ball.

[Murger]

Stand by what I said at the beginning of the season that Taylor will end the season as first choice left back.

[Cleveleys_claret]

Think Bardsley may be playing right back for a few weeks as its looking like Lowton will be getting banned for stamping on Success on Sunday

[Cleveleys_claret]

Stand by what I said at the beginning of the season that Taylor will end the season as first choice left back.

Totally agree. Ward has looked off the pace so far this season and really looks to have lost a yard. Also seems to be resticting the way he attacks the wing

[Tall Paul]

Think Bardsley may be playing right back for a few weeks as its looking like Lowton will be getting banned for stamping on Success on Sunday

Stamping?

It was a stupid thing to do, but Hegazi and Salah got away with much worse last season. The FA are the FA though, so wouldn't surprise me if Lowton was charged.

[bobinho]

The left back position is going to be Taylor’s. That’s why he’s here. Ben Mee can, as an absolute last resort, fill in at left back, but no way can he play there at this level.

Mee needs to keep focussed if he wants to play ahead of Gibson.

[FactualFrank]

Mee, simply isn't a left back. We've been there - done that - changed it - went 23 games undefeated.

Nuff said.

[jrgbfc]

I don't think Ward is our best left back anymore, looks like his legs are going. At his age he is only going to go one way, whereas Taylor is only going to improve.

[KefkaClaret]

Ward has been poor in every game this season, was torn apart against Aberdeen.

[Cleveleys_claret]

I don't think Ward is our best left back anymore, looks like his legs are going. At his age he is only going to go one way, whereas Taylor is only going to improve.

I agred from what I have seen this season so far but I do think Ward is one of them players that is best after a decent break. He has struggled at the end of the last 2 seasons due to tiredness in the last 6-8 games. Because of Europe this season I dont think he is as fresh as he usually is and would benefit from a few games out

[Vino blanco]

This current midfield four does not give the defence the same protection as the previous one did.

[bfccrazy]

The big positive for me was Hendrick and JBG’ link up play at times was top class. Hendrick in his actual position caused them problems even though they had quite a pacy midfield.

What stood out though was how we got into good positions and then stopped and looked for better positions and gave Watford time to get a shape back - reminded me a little of when we attacked under Coterill (not that we play anywhere near that style of football in general now).