He's scored three goals in the last 39 Premier League games, that's just over a whole season. He's had one assist in the last two seasons. If you're producing next to nothing in end product, you have to be working your socks off and contributing in general play, which he very rarely does. Yesterday he completely bottled the cross at the end of the first half instead of attacking it, then his dive in the box in the second pretty much summed up his whole season, weak and half hearted.
I knew his stats would be something similarly pathetic, and yet seeing it officially laid out there, it's even more repulsive than I can deal with. It makes the fact that he still gets automatic picks feel even worse. Part of it is still an indictment of our recruitment policy, if over that time we've basically never had anyone who is even considered worth challenging him, and look at where it's got us now; he's still out there taking the piss, as Danny Welbeck trips over his own feet to surrender possession to an opponent who run straight down the other end and score.
Come on guys, give Danny Welbeck a chance, he has been out a very long time so he is bound to be RUSTY. I was actually encouraged by the way he was chasing around the field, all be it a bit like a headless chicken, but the effort was evident and he actually walked (not limped) off at the end seemingly none the worse for wear. I reckon if he could manage to get to the end of the season without sustaining an injury he could still play a big factor in our survival by possibly banging in 4 or 5 goals.
I think the problem when Welbeck came on, was that he looked completely out of kilter. Not match sharp, timing all off and just generally feeling his way - as you'd expect for someone who's played as little football as he has. He therefore failed to make an impact. Bobby P was poor and not because of timing/fitness - just pure laziness. He is the worst type of player for our situation, because whilst he can take a great touch in the box and finish in a way that probably nobody in our squad can do, he won't put himself there unless it's comfortable and easy for him to do so. He doesn't try to make things happen, because he is hiding all the time. I'd rather we played Cleverly or Chalobah there out of position. At least having someone who would offer some protection to Masina and allow him the overlap. Or even Holebas. There are several options that IMO could not possibly result in less product from that position, than the shirking Bobby P offers.
I agree with most of this but in fairness to Bobby P, the one thing he does quite a lot even though it doesn't fit the rest of his character is track back and make the odd tackle. He helps out a lot more defensively than most of his type.
That would certainly be the usual. But we beat them well in the second game last season, perhaps because Burnley's fitness levels weren't quite there to employ the bully! See how they look tonight, albeit hard to tell against the City machine.
Just to bring some numbers into this debate, Watford's team on Saturday was on average 3cm per man taller than Burnley's tonight, based on outfield players (it'll be a nearly 4cm if Hendrick doesn't play); and in the past five seasons, Watford have had 19 men sent off, Burnley 3. So if your players, like some of the fans, go into this match frightened that Burnley are bigger and stronger and dirtier than them, then they're three-parts beaten before the start. Burnley aren't a big side; we just play big.
I think they will probably be without Wood & Barnes so may have to rely on their blond striker who we all know is clearly incapable of scoring in the Prem.
Here another number, Burnley started time wasting in the 8th (yep, that's right 8th!) minute at Vicarage Road last season, with the score at 0-0. A stain on the beautiful game.
That's a fair enough comment. One thing you cannot argue with Dyche is the level of organization. Everyone knows what they are supposed to be doing. Especially on set pieces. Something Dyche has followed on from Graham Taylor. It's a bit of a misconception that Burnley just harangue because they can play when needed. With Pearson as opposed to Quique and Shakey in tow as well I'm pretty sure Nigel will have the team fired up and ready to battle hard unlike the limp manner of defeat at Vicarage Road. Welcome to the forum as well. Always nice to have decent opposition fans here.
Almost every time we play Burnley, we play into Burnley's hands. We let them dictate the pace and shape to us. We get bothered and upset by their fouls and physical play. Eventually we resort to hoofing it, which doesn't seem to work, and the heads drop. It's all so predictable. Pearson's record at Leicester against Burnley was 3W, 2D, 0L. Most of those were in the Championship, with a lot of 4-4-2, but in the Prem he did get a 2-2 draw and 0-1 win at Burnley during their race to survival. Let's hope the same happens on Thursday.
You're right no one got sent off for intentionally taking Dawson out of the last game. Doesn't mean it wasn't pre-meditated violence intended to injure a fellow professional. Cynical c***s.
I’m afraid I don’t subscribe to this accepted wisdom that Pereyra is lazy/doesn’t care. If that were the case he would have been out of the team long ago, particularly with a manager like Pearson in charge and probably also due to the dissatisfaction of other senior players. However, that doesn’t mean I think he should play every game and that other options shouldn’t be tried. After the initial excitement of us signing someone from Juventus, I soon became disappointed with his lack of consistency, even before his bad injury. There’s no doubt he’s provided some great moments but are they too few and far between? I think they always have been but that can be the price you have to pay when signing a talented but not absolutely top class player.
And so beautifully done that the referee didn't see it, VAR didn't see it, and the post-game disciplinary panel with all weekend to look at the film didn't see it either. (Or perhaps it wasn't a cynical foul after all, of course.)
Yeah, two blows to the head in a half and a cut above his eye forcing his substitution. Just one of those things.
According to the Burnley correspondent for The Athletic, Wood and Barnes won’t be fit so they will have Rodrigues and Vydra up front. Vydra has scored a few in their warm up games.
I don't think that really weakens them. Those 2 will be desperate to make an impression and keep their place. Would happily have both of them in our side !
this all day in fact Deeney into Bobby P’s position, ok he is out of position but gives us the long ball option down that side and the speed of Saar down the other and then JP steeming in up front
Don't really have much of a problem with the way Burnley play, they're a fairly limited bunch, but they got to Europe, so fair play to them. They have exposed us on a few occasions, but we have beaten them twice since they went up, they have a few issues, and we have Sarr to unleash on them for the first time
I'd play Pussetto. Don't think he's looked anywhere near as bad as some make out in the very brief opportunities he's been given. Someone who works hard and looks like he wants to be here and wants to play, and does have the threat of a bit of pace and dribbling ability. Deserves a chance. Pereyra has checked out and Welbeck looks finished. Get Pedro and/or Penaranda on the bench as well.
Just seen that Burnley only have 7 subs on the bench tonight and the majority of them are youngsters. Judging by a few comments on their Twitter page Hendrick & Bardsley are on their way out. If Barnes & Wood are both injured then they really are down to their bare bones. Could be a great time to play them on Thursday but I guess only time will tell.
That would be a huge boost. Reading their website, it seems highly unlikely either will feature in the Watford match. Barnes certainly out and Wood is highly unlikely to feature, but maybe on the bench.
