Right, striker needed, pronto.

But also, two times in two games we've dropped points from what feels like the only chances both opponents coming from chaos in the box. Centre-half needed.

Also, pass-and-move. Why we were so static in the first half I do not know. We really can put teams on the ropes when there's energy and movement off the ball. Without this movement everything crumbles because we're not very physical and we don't have a genius playmaker, although we're still to see Twine properly.

We were shocking until they had a man sent off

Very ponderous until near the end of the game

FCBurnley wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 12, 2022 10:07 pm

We were shocking until they had a man sent off

That is simply not true. Shocking? Shocking? Really? We really weren't shocking at any point of that game.

JohnDearyMe wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 12, 2022 10:14 pm

Very ponderous until near the end of the game

This isn't true either. Like our new style of football or don't, but 'ponderous' is just inaccurate.

Passing lacked finesse, a lot of scrambling around - that will come.

Tempo was slow and pedestrian for too long, again that will tune up you hope.

Nothing up front which the club are actively looking at.

There will be lots of games like this this season, it’s a marathon however, I don’t think we look too bad all things considered over the last 8 weeks.

distortiondave wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 12, 2022 10:16 pm

This isn't true either. Like our new style of football or don't, but 'ponderous' is just inaccurate.

Is was nothing football

We started off really well, then they took control second part of first half. Still work in progress. For me we need to play with two orthodox centre halves and a front man. Love the way Maatsen plays, but sadly no one other than Brownhill to get on to the ball played across the box. Would rather lose playing this way than in the majority of games last season.

BOYSIE31 wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 12, 2022 10:18 pm

Is was nothing football

It really wasn't, Boysie. Honestly, it wasn't. We were by far the better team, by miles and miles, and if we play that exact game for the remaining 43 games we'll go straight up.

What's the matter? We had loads of possession, loads of passes,even though many were either square or backwards, limited the opposition to one shot on target and we lost but ---it wasn't Dyche Ball so everyone will be happy ---won't they?
We have scored more goals than we had at this stage last season, so we are improving.

I also have a feeling that we may not hang on to Brownhill which will please a lot of our fans.

Never play as well with Cork on the bench. That’s the main difference between first half and second.

Not ponderous but certainly lacking intensity. I would think any neutrals would have seen it as a nailed on scoreless draw but we were playing for half time before it arrived and got punished. Their keeper kept them in it in the second half. Ours had nothing to do all the game.

distortiondave wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 12, 2022 10:16 pm

This isn't true either. Like our new style of football or don't, but 'ponderous' is just inaccurate.

Lots of possession but very little goal threat, pace or penetration for the most part tonight sadly until late on

Has Muric made a save yet in the three games?

We played miles better tonight than in the game we won there at the end of last season. With a new team that makes me optimistic for the rest of the season cos Watford will be up there.

Not good enough. Conceding poor goals and unable to score.

A Dyche team would never have lost to poor opposition like they were tonight.

Unlucky one of those at the end didn't go in.

We had good moves but then we got into the final third and lacked penetration. Allowed too much time for them to get back in shape.

Two most frustrating things. Muric thinks he's playing rugby and only passed sideways, a couple times putting us in a pickle.
Mix up short corners/FKs with some more direct play.
A couple times we were back to our keeper within 10 seconds.

Positive signs, deserved a draw on balance.

Stayingup wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 12, 2022 10:25 pm

Not good enough. Conceding poor goals and unable to score

Hail Mary.

Hibsclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 12, 2022 10:22 pm

Never play as well with Cork on the bench. That’s the main difference between first half and second.

Spot on.
Should have started, clear for all to see.

CombatClaret wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 12, 2022 10:26 pm

Unlucky one of those at the end didn't go in.

We had good moves but then we got into the final third and lacked penetration. Allowed too much time for them to get back in shape.

Two most frustrating things. Muric thinks he's playing rugby and only passed sideways, a couple times putting us in a pickle.
Mix up short corners/FKs with some more direct play.
A couple times we were back to our keeper within 10 seconds.

Positive signs, deserved a draw on balance.

Absolutely. There's no way we deserved to lose that game, absolutely no way, and the signs are very positive.

distortiondave wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 12, 2022 10:26 pm

Hail Mary.

And the Holy Ghost . Its needed after that toothless performance.

distortiondave wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 12, 2022 10:15 pm

That is simply not true. Shocking? Shocking? Really? We really weren't shocking at any point of that game.

Havent seen shocking since last season

Let’s face it we deserved a point at least. Watford will be sat wondering how on earth they won that.
There will be times this season that we’ll play a lot worse and come away with 3pts.

Just need a bit more work in the final 3rd which no doubt will come.

Toothless now? You're just making this up.
I understand being upset after a defeat, I do, but there's things on this thread and the jack cork one that are just patently untrue.

We deserved more from that game, and Watford will think they've got away with one.

I’d dump the 442 (or 4222) until wile have 2 decent strikers. Think our personnel really suits a 4231 at the moment.

I have one worry - that some of our fans after years of Dycheball can’t handle us playing in this style. That shows tonight.

Personally I am a lot happier at 10pm than I was at 8pm. I wanted a draw. OK, it’s 1 point less. But a defeat will cause these new lads to evaluate how tough this division is. That’s good. Also, the way we pinned them back for much of the game bodes so well. I expected their power and energy to overcome us, in truth, it didn’t.

Stayingup wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 12, 2022 10:25 pm

Not good enough. Conceding poor goals and unable to score.

A Dyche team would never have lost to poor opposition like they were tonight.

Well, I did think we’d have to concede a ridiculous goal (which we will) before someone would anchor after a Dyche team but “Stayingup” has got in there early.

I suppose with a name like Stayingup it says it all.

JR1882 wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 12, 2022 10:34 pm

I’d dump the 442 (or 4222) until wile have 2 decent strikers. Think our personnel really suits a 4231 at the moment.

That’s exactly what we played in the second half.

Not once have we played the 4-2-2-2.

In fact, I’d argue we could do with trying the 4-2-2-2 once we get a new striker in.

Not frustrating simply expected you can’t replace so much quality in such a short space of time & cobble something together resembling anything cohesive, gradual transitional changes should be incremental plenty of posters warned against so much going out & so much coming in

distortiondave wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 12, 2022 10:16 pm

This isn't true either. Like our new style of football or don't, but 'ponderous' is just inaccurate.

Yes definitely not ponderous, just lightweight in the final third.

There are loads of good signs for the future if we can sort that out.

We are toothless in so far that we have no decent strikers, Barnes and Jayrod are too old and too slow.

Mentioned this on the match thread before kickoff, it looked possible based on team selection that with a slight tweak to the formation we'd be playing Cullen as the lone pivot, 4-1-4-1, and from TV it looked a bit like that at times. There were one or two times when Bastien found acres of space (and didn't do much with it) after we won back the ball, but as a game plan overall I think playing Bastien between the lines affected our control of the game. We look more ruthless in attack with both Cork and Cullen in the team because the rest of the players play with more aggression and fluidity knowing we have an extra man in the holding midfield role to shield. Benson didn't have as many pass options available as he ought to have had, and played backward rather than inside a few times because the movement wasn't there. I know we're not exactly short of midfielders, but I'm not even joking when I say that if it's within our budget I'd be looking for another defensive midfielder so over the season our offensive players can play with more freedom.

Very annoying game, but overall it's a good platform to build on. The areas to improve are crystal clear. This is better than a team playing so poorly in games you don't even know where to begin. There's clarity in playstyle and we're not conceding chances. I'd guess we're up around the tippy-top for fewest chances conceded after this weekend.

arise_sir_charge wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 12, 2022 10:36 pm

Well, I did think we’d have to concede a ridiculous goal (which we will) before someone would anchor after a Dyche team but “Stayingup” has got in there early.

I suppose with a name like Stayingup it says it all.

Anchor? Are talking ships here Sir?

Ridiculous goal. I'll have a double of whatever your on!! A soft. Two players unmarked.
As you might have guessed but I'm not sure Dyche despite being denied funds for 3 years kept a tight ship in a division above this one - and there is a huge gap . I like what VK is trying to do but there is long way to go. Dyche knew our leagues better.

Stayingup wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 12, 2022 10:45 pm

Anchor? Are talking ships here Sir?

Ridiculous goal. I'll have a double of whatever your on!! A soft. Two players unmarked.
As you might have guessed but I'm not sure Dyche despite being denied funds for 3 years kept a tight ship in a division above this one - and there is a huge gap . I like what VK is trying to do but there is long way to go. Dyche knew our leagues better.

Isn’t it funny how SD hasn’t been linked to any jobs though…. You’d think that if he knows the championship that well he’d of got a job over the summer….

Jakubclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 12, 2022 10:38 pm

Not frustrating simply expected you can’t replace so much quality in such a short space of time & cobble something together resembling anything cohesive, gradual transitional changes should be incremental plenty of posters warned against so much going out & so much coming in

Shame your words don't resemble anything cohesive.

Stayingup wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 12, 2022 10:25 pm

Not good enough. Conceding poor goals and unable to score.

A Dyche team would never have lost to poor opposition like they were tonight.

That’s probably true, but a Dyche team never played that were effectively 11 strangers, we’ll at least nine. And a Dyche team didn’t have any longevity in it.

This new project is fabulous, and it has all the signs of succeeding

Tempo far too slow. Didn’t threaten their goal first half despite the possession stats. The wrong team started.

"Ponderous' or not - certainly too much of the possession is too slow which is allowing decent defences like Luton and Watford to set themselves, adjust and nullify us too easily.

It is possible to like and appreciate the style of football VK is trying to instill but also realise its currently being played at far too slow a pace.

Stayingup wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 12, 2022 10:25 pm

Not good enough. Conceding poor goals and unable to score.

A Dyche team would never have lost to poor opposition like they were tonight.

Do you remember Dyche’s first season?

Ipreferaflan wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 12, 2022 10:54 pm

Shame your words don't resemble anything cohesive.

Work in progress but I’d rather concentrate on the football aspects!

the fact Sky didn't get an interview from Kompany tells you all you need to know

Possession with no purpose tonight same as luton game

TheFamilyCat wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 12, 2022 10:23 pm

Has Muric made a save yet in the three games?

Not sure on the relevance but we can safely say he’s picked out twice as opposition goalkeepers have the same I think it’s pretty unanimous where the problems lie & defensively we are pretty sound 3 games in, everything this early on is suggesting top half & midtable.

JR1882 wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 12, 2022 10:34 pm

I’d dump the 442 (or 4222) until wile have 2 decent strikers. Think our personnel really suits a 4231 at the moment.

we are playing a 4231, not 4222. Costelloe was on the left hand side of the 3, Benson the right.

At Huddersfield it was more 2431

Time time time. It will come UTC

Lots to confirm where we are going but surprisingly lacking in the fizz I expected and I worry if our best fox in the box is Josh.

distortiondave wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 12, 2022 10:16 pm

This isn't true either. Like our new style of football or don't, but 'ponderous' is just inaccurate.

I'd say ponderous (and I quite like our new style of football).

We kept taking an extra touch rather than playing it first time. We'd get the ball, cut inside, slow it down. It was ponderous at times

If we're playing like this after three games with a new team and new backroom staff, and against the opponents we've had, we'll be grand.

Patience.

Those who go regularly are going to be very lucky in the not too distant future. I am guessing 4-6 weeks. You will see this team click and someone is going to get absolutely pasted. Screen shot it, remind me of it, whichever. This team is going to be outrageously good. They are literally brand new coming from across Europe, once they settle and know each other, it's going to be electric. We could and should have got a result at a very established team last night. Twine to come back, possibly another 2-3 first teamers to come in. Yes we are lacking in penetration just now, but it will come, and when it does, all the bedwetters won't need clean bed sheets and a new mattress.