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2024/25 James Tarkowski

I'm not sure he's fully fit, but, what I can tell you is that he was poor at the beginning of last season, playing alongside Keane. Whoever partners Keane, they look better when they get a new partner. I just think that maybe playing alongside Keane, the other centre back feels that as well as doing his own job he has to be watching Keane and waiting for the inevitable mistake.
 
blueboy72 said:
But you’re putting yourself under a lot of pressure doing that every year and maybe that was the reason Burnley eventually went down, because it must be hard to keep trying to get out the bottom 3. Have a good start like we’ve seen in the past, with Moyes and Martinez, keeps you out of trouble, gives you momentum and confidence and gets the fans on board as well
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It's fact that Dyche football starts slow. Not that makes me a fan. He increasingly irks me.
 

MikeH72 said:
Everyone had a meltdown in the summer when I suggested he was a bottom half centre back. Despite that being where he’s spent his entire career 🤷‍♂️
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Honestly since day 1 I've looked at a lot of the Tarkowski stuff wondering what people are watching when they act like it's some kind of travesty that he doesn't get England caps or listed on league best 11s. When Burnley dropped, I remember watching most of their games towards the end (because they were relevant to us) and being shocked at how many of their goals came from him just not tracking runners at all, even in situations that should not have caused mix-ups. Then he signed for us and most everybody's bought into this narrative that he's just not given enough credit (while he's constantly lauded for doing even simple things), and that he's the reason Branthwaite looks good.

Like, I don't think the guy is horrible, and he's definitely better than the vast majority of yard dogs that play CB in the bottom half of the Premier League, as he is solid in the air, doesn't get red cards, and uses his strength well, but he really does back away too frequently in situations where he should engage, in addition to how many times he just doesn't sense danger until it's way too late. Look at how many times Branthwaite sees something 5 seconds before it happens and gets there to cut it out. Branthwaite is actually the one who makes him (and Mykolenko) look good because of this.
 
mistuhp said:
Honestly since day 1 I've looked at a lot of the Tarkowski stuff wondering what people are watching when they act like it's some kind of travesty that he doesn't get England caps or listed on league best 11s. When Burnley dropped, I remember watching most of their games towards the end (because they were relevant to us) and being shocked at how many of their goals came from him just not tracking runners at all, even in situations that should not have caused mix-ups. Then he signed for us and most everybody's bought into this narrative that he's just not given enough credit (while he's constantly lauded for doing even simple things), and that he's the reason Branthwaite looks good.

Like, I don't think the guy is horrible, and he's definitely better than the vast majority of yard dogs that play CB in the bottom half of the Premier League, as he is solid in the air, doesn't get red cards, and uses his strength well, but he really does back away too frequently in situations where he should engage, in addition to how many times he just doesn't sense danger until it's way too late. Look at how many times Branthwaite sees something 5 seconds before it happens and gets there to cut it out. Branthwaite is actually the one who makes him (and Mykolenko) look good because of this.
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Agree...and if course Keane sees things five seconds after it happens which makes him and Mykolenko look like yard dogs.

But Keane's doing great...
 
mistuhp said:
Honestly since day 1 I've looked at a lot of the Tarkowski stuff wondering what people are watching when they act like it's some kind of travesty that he doesn't get England caps or listed on league best 11s. When Burnley dropped, I remember watching most of their games towards the end (because they were relevant to us) and being shocked at how many of their goals came from him just not tracking runners at all, even in situations that should not have caused mix-ups. Then he signed for us and most everybody's bought into this narrative that he's just not given enough credit (while he's constantly lauded for doing even simple things), and that he's the reason Branthwaite looks good.

Like, I don't think the guy is horrible, and he's definitely better than the vast majority of yard dogs that play CB in the bottom half of the Premier League, as he is solid in the air, doesn't get red cards, and uses his strength well, but he really does back away too frequently in situations where he should engage, in addition to how many times he just doesn't sense danger until it's way too late. Look at how many times Branthwaite sees something 5 seconds before it happens and gets there to cut it out. Branthwaite is actually the one who makes him (and Mykolenko) look good because of this.
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A lot of our fans dismiss any mistakes Branthwaite makes as well though.

Branthwaite was so good last season because he had the partnership with Tarkowski. They both complimented and helped each other.

Obviously Branthwaite is the more talented player but Tarkowski is an excellent defender the vast majority of the time. It's only due to Branthwaites absence and Keane being alongside him that he isn't looking like the same player.

We had the 4th best defence in the league last season and that was largely down to Tarkowski as well as Pickford and Branthwaite.
 

blulouie said:
Started last season in the same way , bloody awful.
Had Keane as a partner then too.

Coincidence ?
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2 games.

Tarkowski with Coady and we sat here;

1725364723120.webp



Tarkowski does a job in a low block next to Branthwaite - but we need more from him. Even in an attacking sense - doesn't score enough considering emphasis on set pieces/we aim for him from almost every corner.
 
GrandOldTeam said:
2 games.

Tarkowski with Coady and we sat here;

View attachment 271905


Tarkowski does a job in a low block next to Branthwaite - but we need more from him. Even in an attacking sense - doesn't score enough considering emphasis on set pieces/we aim for him from almost every corner.
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I would have backed him to score with that header on Saturday , but he has been way off form attacking & defending for a while now.
Looks lost without Branthwaite.
 
GrandOldTeam said:
2 games.

Tarkowski with Coady and we sat here;

View attachment 271905


Tarkowski does a job in a low block next to Branthwaite - but we need more from him. Even in an attacking sense - doesn't score enough considering emphasis on set pieces/we aim for him from almost every corner.
Click to expand...
I think the fact that we do aim for him in every set piece is why it's so hard for him to score goals to be fair.

You'd be fuming if you conceded to him given it's literally our only attacking tactic to get the ball on to his head.
 
MikeH72 said:
It’s a bit embarrassing for him that he needs a 21 year old next to him telling him what to do.
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Jarrad will go on to be a generation talent. Tarks is a solid enough PL defender. Is he going to get us pushing for Europe, unlikely, does he do a good job - in the large yes.

He’s getting question at the moment and for me it’s solely down to the manager.

He should never be next to Keane, because quite frankly Keane should be no where near the club, even in the state we’re in. That’s on the manager. Jake should have partnered him from the first game of the season.

Tarks should not have played against spurs due to injury, but was, again that’s on the manager.

He’s not performing to the level of last season, which for me is largely down to the decisions of an idiot, the manager.
 

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