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[sinkov]

I've been working on this for a while now but I can't come up with an answer. Just why is Jacob Bruun Larsen in our starting line-up ? I was thinking it must be his defensive capabilities as he offers next to nothing in an attacking sense, but after watching him at Molyneux it's not that either. I wasn't really sure just why we brought him back and now he is back, I can't even begin to work out what he does to merit a starting place.

Any ideas ?

[ballcock]

I only watched the 2nd half against Wolves as I was on the road. Against Leeds I thought he worked hard, got a foot in and took up some good defencive positions.

He only got subded on Sunday because Parker went 5-3-2, 2nd half to combat Wolves threat down the middle, and fortunately for us it worked with the late winner

The defence concerns me more we are conceding to many goals

[Vintage Claret]

I've been working on this for a while now but I can't come up with an answer. Just why is Jacob Bruun Larsen in our starting line-up ? I was thinking it must be his defensive capabilities as he offers next to nothing in an attacking sense, but after watching him at Molyneux it's not that either. I wasn't really sure just why we brought him back and now he is back, I can't even begin to work out what he does to merit a starting place.

Any ideas ?

Like you Sinkov I am somewhat perplexed with JBL starting games. On Saturday our wingers were not effective, yet we have potentially some player who can unlock a defence and / or produce crosses into the box. I have wondered how Tressor does not merit a place on the bench, although I have only seen his performances in the cup games but he looked more than competant, There again I do not have Parker's insight it team training.

[army88]

I only watched the 2nd half against Wolves as I was on the road. Against Leeds I thought he worked hard, got a foot in and took up some good defencive positions.

He only got subded on Sunday because Parker went 5-3-2, 2nd half to combat Wolves threat down the middle, and fortunately for us it worked with the late winner

The defence concerns me more we are conceding to many goals

I think its all relative ballcock and without going over what i said before re our wide men the reason we are conceding in my opinion anyway is that our wide players are found out early - to paint the picture when City come to the turf over the last few years their centre backs play in our half of the field and we seem to allow even weaker teams to play this way against us now - in fairness against Leeds we had very little ball second half and again at wolves.

The midfield centrally is asked to drop deeper to compensate for us being weak at the wings - its concerning because ugo and florentino and also cullen are dragged into positions they shouldn't if we had shape and kept it.

Before you all jump up and down and say im wrong if we hadn’t held out against Leeds and got the win at wolves alot would be saying alot worse.

We leave space in the channels and without being a record with a scratch in it allow the opposition to constantly deliver ball into our box - against good sides they’ll murder us - to simplify it and in dont want to put us down but if we continue like this we’ll lose more than win.

Larsen is a yard off the pace and didnt really offer anything imo simply come back inside and passes square the opposition compact the middle because we dont have a out ball and then attack in the channels behind the wingers - this in turn forces the wing backs to stay put and we defend our box for long periods allowing ball delivered into it un challenged.

Parker for me needs to pick a stronger 11 how hannibal cant getbin in front of larsen is beyond me and loum - I posted i think Anthony is too comfortable in his position ( mostly he’s decent but weak when it comes to stopping the deliveries and also seems to have lost the will to beat a man and deliver.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

There is no doubt whatsoever the lad is a neat and tidy footballer but equally there is no doubt he is neither strong enough or quick enough for the demands of the English Premier League.

This is pure supposition on my part but Alan Pace undoubtedly builds alliances and partnerships on a global scale. Somehow Burnley Football Club managed to shove defender Ameen Al-Dakhil off to Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart for an undisclosed fee.

Is it possible the Germans said have JBL back because you stiffed us with Al Dakhil? Just saying.

[ClaretinBudapest]

The best example of how useful JBL is going forward was when he was through on goal and the Wolves centre-back just caught up to him and tapped the ball off his feet with JBL falling over in a crumpled heap waving his arms about.Feckin useless springs to mind.

[wmdave_b]

He is there purely to protect Loum looking good and being a January window meat feast for the big boys. Can’t be anything else.