BCFCGav

1 hour ago, And Its Smith said:

How are they as good as up?  Still 5 games to go and this is the championship we are talking about here.  Leicester are massive favourites for automatic promotion so one spot left if the bookies are correct. Ipswich slight faves over Leeds right now 

Leicester are wobbling like crazy and Leeds incredible run post Xmas is slowing. Ipswich only need one of them to continue to wobble and they'll take advantage. Even then, if they finish third, they'd give anyone a run in the PO's. I'd be amazed if they're a Championship side next season. 

Ipswich as good as up after Leicester and Leeds last night. Another one floats on by us. 

33 minutes ago, alexukhc said:

Doubts Brownhill but captain? Think he will remain up north for rest of career tbh

Fans don't pick the captain  seen grumblings on Burnley social media re him. 

Brownhill and Reid are (unrealistic) hopes of mine this Summer. What with Brownhill getting relegated (and having some doubters amongst Burnley faithful) and Bobby OOC. I'm hoping they're very sentimental fellows  I think we might be in for a spendy Summer with the Landown's knowing they ruined this season and fans are impatient with them.

Mighty unlikely, but would certainly make a statement!

Fending off any potential interest in Max, Vyner, Dickie, Pring will be important. 

Hard to comment on midfield until we know about Jamo and Williams. Knight seemingly settling in further back. Bird coming in regardless is good news. King I’m confident will move on/into coaching.

Forward line is where the work is so should be an exciting summer. I can see Cornick and Wells being let go for cut price deals. Though seeing Manning talk about Nahki maybe he’ll want him around as an old head. Conway will be off I think. Stokes coming in but we’ve no idea if he’s viewed as first team from next season. Twine another question mark. One or two strikers earmarked as a target. Final third will be busy this summer!

Just now, Numero Uno said:

With many season ticket holders yet to renew and having sat through some pretty turgid football. I think Liam owes us at least two decent performances in the last three home games. Can’t guarantee results but let’s see performances now. Show some attacking intent.

We all wanna see it, everything crossed. We have players capable of it - Mehmeti is in form, Sykes and Twine hare good attackers. We know what Tommy’s about. Let’s hope they show it. 

9 minutes ago, The Original OTIB said:

Flattered a bit today, it could have been a thrashing,  Max was superb, the rest of the defence bamboozled by a couple of kids and some other youn 'uns. An end of season performance if ever there was one.

Probably a good time to try some of our younger players now.

Very end of season feel, especially second-half. A Knight-Lebel start would be interesting viewing, but a quiet few weeks ahead for City. Roll on August

2 minutes ago, The Original OTIB said:

Atkinson and Naismith hardly relevant to the game today. It was a stinker but great to get a point. We were playing a very, very young Sunderland side and they looked a far more effective unit. That should give anyone pause for thought.

I wasn’t commenting on the team as a whole. 4 clean sheets in 5, back line is clearly in a good place, and that’s with two good players long-term injured.

Good resilience not to lose but investment needed in that front line! A few in the wars but I won’t put any on the list for now. 
 

Injured:

Dickie

Atkinson

Naismith

TGH

Benarous

Bell

Clean sheet without Dickie, Atkinson, Naismith. Barnstormer from Max. Defence and keeper set for next season, if we don’t lose any we don’t need any. Maybe a back up for Max, depending on where Bajic/Buse are in development. 

It’s a start. Anyone but them!

1 minute ago, Northern Red said:

McCrorie isn't out, was missed off the subs on the graphic for some reason.

Not the first time they’ve done that actually! Thanks mate. 
 

Injured:

Dickie

Atkinson

Naismith

TGH

Benarous

Bell

Well we were always going to lose another centre-half before finally getting one back, weren’t we?! Dickie has a ‘minor calf injury’ - I hate that they said minor. In City parlance that’s 11 months out. McCrorie is also absent worryingly, meaning our defence is suddenly very light throughout.

Neither are replaced in the match-day squad as we name 7 subs rather than 9.

I will say this - they’re right to risk neither of them given our current position. COYR ️

Injured:

Dickie

Atkinson

Naismith

McCrorie

TGH

Benarous

Bell

1 hour ago, Davefevs said:

Good post @Merrick's Marvels, thought provoking on Naismith.  Devil’s advocate, he knows what it’s like to reach the Champ playoffs.  He’s a leader too, so we shouldn’t poo-Pooh that he played for Stanley.  Interviews with Vyner and Atkinson detailed his mental toughness.

But his injury record is the cause for concern, not his ability imho.

He’ll be on a decent wage, but I think he’d have suitors if he was to become available.

I think a fit Naismith would be a real needle mover for us. I politely disagree with MM on this one. I also think he would help against low blocks, he’s got good vision and pass execution. I think I’d keep him and role the dice on a luckier year with injuries, though I appreciate it’s a big risk.

4 hours ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Wonder if we will see Naismith at all or is he also out for the rest of the season? I appreciate Atkinson certainly is, Bell and probably Benarous likewise.

I think I recall LM (or someone from the club) saying they hoped to see Benarous get a few 1st team minutes this season… that or it was a very weird dream! Would be nice to see though. 

I don’t mind the slightly bolder modern designs. Something punchy (and red, obv) for the homer and maybe a return to purple and lime for the away. White third.

My fault fellas. Just tuned in. Apologies.

Dickie, Conway, and Conway scoring two winners in one game (Rotherham (A)) just after his return from injury. The emotional whiplash from that last 5 minutes was insane. 

2 hours ago, GrahamC said:

Why would we do that?

He’s not our player & it was blindingly obvious from the QPR game he’s a million miles away from the required standard. 

He’s only on the bench now because we don’t have anyone else & we are trying to minimise the embarrassment of signing him.

The person who mentioned Mehmeti has to be having a laugh. Even at his most inconsistent we are talking about a player who had a season at this level with Wycombe & had scored the winner at Stoke last season.

This lad has made 3 appearances in Belgian football & played 44 minutes for us.

There’s a good reason he’s not getting off the bench, he isn’t good enough.

See @Harry’s post just before yours for why I think ‘he’s a million miles away’ based on 44 minutes is very, very harsh.

I’d find him a start or two in our last 6 games I think. We know Twine’s quality, we don’t know Mebude’s. I feel for the lad and would like to see him given a shot. 

Back to back wins 99.9999% guarantees we will be in the Championship next year. Winning all our games would see us fall just short and losing them all would see us just about safe - and of course we’ll do something in between anyway. SO.

For the last 6, would you like to see us prioritise results above all else and finish as high as possible? Could make the club an easier sell to prospective signings and I think there’s a small financial incentive to finishing higher. Also develops player relationships and lets Liam get his messages across further.

Or would you like us to try things out that could help us next season. Blood Knight-Lebel and others, have a proper look at Mebude, maybe try some alternative formations. 
 

Not sure which way I’d go so thought I’d open it up to discussion. Regardless, well in City, proper bank holiday weekend that!

Back to back wins and lots of positives today, as are being discussed in other threads. Utter safety at this point and lots more good individual performances from the lads too. Think all subs were tactical, another positive! You reds ️

Injured:

Atkinson

Naismith

TGH

Benarous

Bell

1 minute ago, Davefevs said:

CB pairings will play 46x90 if they can.  Hey do the least running of any position also.

For sure, I mean more the mental burden of ‘we cannot get sick or injured ever’ they’ve shouldered a lot of responsibility for the badge this seasons and deserve all the plaudits for it.

Same 11, same 20 as (very) Good Friday. 
 

My guess is TGH and Benarous are closest to a return, which is of course good but I kinda wish it was a Naismith/Atkinson to take some burden off Dickie and Vyner! 
 

COYR!

Injured:

Atkinson

Naismith

TGH

Benarous

Bell

Stroud is quirky but to me - equally quirky to everyone.

Andy Davies, as mentioned above by @AppyDAZE… that’s a problem. But Stroud? I’m chill.