McBurnie yesterday

[s6Blades]

And the height is only relevant to the team if the player knows how to (or wants to) use it to his advantage. For a so called striker/ target man his heading ability is pathetic

I don’t think Mcburnie sees himself as a target man, I think if you ask him how he likes to play it’s he likes the ball to his feet. He’s thrived in teams that give it to his feet (Barnsley, Swansea)

I think we as a club have judged him on his height and mis cast him.

 

[El Volví]

Stolen shamefully from the Highbury Blade / Esablade meltdown post..

I can honestly say I haven't seen the mentioned post

 

[georgebernardshaw]

I can honestly say I haven't seen the mentioned post

Were you banned then?

 

[mattbianco1]

Spoke very well. Sounds confident and up for it.

 

[Bladesman]

 

[El Volví]

Were you banned then?

I've got no idea what you're talking about.....

 

[dublin 10 blade]

Every time we bring that cunt on, it feels identical to when we have a man sent off.

Eloquently put my good man , still chuckling about it

 

[Proper Blade]

McBurnie has come on and had stinkers before, but I really don't think Sunday was one of those occasions. He didn't do anything particularly impressive or disastrous. But everything now has to be black or white; fucking shite or out of this world. People aren't just allowed to have OK games and we move on.

I mean, to me it doesn't look like he's just going through the motions. Far from it. I figure his confidence is obviously rock bottom and he has had a succession of injuries and absences that have meant he's had no chance to put together a consistent run of games. And that's not ideal. I hope he can start playing and scoring consistently for us, but if he doesn't score I'm not going to rush to forums/social media seething with anger.

And if you think he's a shite player I don't really understand why you would expend the energy slagging him off and calling him every name under the sun. It's a weird state of mind

 

[dublin 10 blade]

listening to talk sport comms, they said he was moving around like he’d played over 90mins - he’d been on 10 mins

Heard that as well , he’s not match fit , why put him on ?

 

[bertieblade]

Talk sport? my gran knows more about football!

I watched the match, he played exactly as he always does, be that good or bad. There is however no doubt that he now considers himself to be fitter and stronger than he has been for a long time so no excuses.

 

[CaptainMorgans]

McBurnie has come on and had stinkers before, but I really don't think Sunday was one of those occasions. He didn't do anything particularly impressive or disastrous. But everything now has to be black or white; fucking shite or out of this world. People aren't just allowed to have OK games and we move on.

I mean, to me it doesn't look like he's just going through the motions. Far from it. I figure his confidence is obviously rock bottom and he has had a succession of injuries and absences that have meant he's had no chance to put together a consistent run of games. And that's not ideal. I hope he can start playing and scoring consistently for us, but if he doesn't score I'm not going to rush to forums/social media seething with anger.

And if you think he's a shite player I don't really understand why you would expend the energy slagging him off and calling him every name under the sun. It's a weird state of mind

Nothing disastrous? Rewatch their equaliser. A pretty key reason why we didn't win ...

 

[Houston_Blade]

He needs to learn a thing or two from the 47 year old!

 

[jono_t2000]

I didn’t overlook that fact - I said that he was miles away from it. It was a poor choice to attack the ball. However (this is a very rare occasion that I will defend Oli McB), I think he actually anticipates that cross early and starts to move before it comes in. He’s not marking anyone because he assumes (rightly) that Ahmedhodzic should be marking him. It’s a split second decision, and I think in training, McB is told to always try and attack the ball.

I’d rather he do that, than dilly dally trying to work out who else is picking up men. In the long run, that would cost us more goals than what he did yesterday.

In this case, the mistake lies with Ahmedhodzic, but nobody seems willing to point that out because he’s new and has been otherwise excellent.

I agree about Oli anticipating the cross, and generally being the one to attack crosses but in this case it's absolutely redundant.

Look at pic 1 on boros 2nd goal thread. We are actually set up pretty well. Mcburnie was between the Akpom and the goal and facing towards him.

You cannot tell me that Oli didn't know no one else was marking him and if he did he needed to yell at Anel to come mark him.

Its pretty obvious that Anel can see everyone was marked and thus assumed the position of the free man/floater.

This is why Anel was so pissed at Mcburnie, because he had no idea Mcburnie was going to leave his position and attack the ball.

Poor communication from Mcburnie
Poor execution in what attempting
And poor option as I 10000% do not believe he didn't know he was leaving a man free.

 

[Geordie Blade]

I agree about Oli anticipating the cross, and generally being the one to attack crosses but in this case it's absolutely redundant.

Look at pic 1 on boros 2nd goal thread. We are actually set up pretty well. Mcburnie was between the Akpom and the goal and facing towards him.

You cannot tell me that Oli didn't know no one else was marking him and if he did he needed to yell at Anel to come mark him.

Its pretty obvious that Anel can see everyone was marked and thus assumed the position of the free man/floater.

This is why Anel was so pissed at Mcburnie, because he had no idea Mcburnie was going to leave his position and attack the ball.

Poor communication from Mcburnie
Poor execution in what attempting
And poor option as I 10000% do not believe he didn't know he was leaving a man free.

If it was Ahmedhodzic’s man, then the communication has to be on him, not McBurnie. I don’t think Ahmedhodzic was the free man. He was just trying to avoid getting crowded out (which was a bad choice). Heckingbottom will have given them instructions, so there’s no reason to think that Ahmedhodzic should be assuming anything. I’m nowhere near McBurnie’s biggest fan, but he’s been scapegoating for that goal by people that can’t bring themselves to accept that Ahmedhodzic might have been at fault.

 

[United Aren't Back.]

True, but looking at him 'attacking' a cross which sails at least two foot over his daft head and in the same breath making that decision, leaving Okpom completely unmarked tells all you need to know about how poor the marshalling of our defence can be. Egan needs to take charge. He is an experienced, international defender who has played in the Premier League. Elsewhere, RND is wrestling with one of their players and the two players around the first header are challenging, making it completely viable for him to stay put and defend.

This aint a biggy if we won 2-1. Its still 3 points. But its losing two because of poor footballing acumen, bad organisation and shite strategy which pains me and others (I believe). Its two points we can avoid coughing up and if it's the difference at the end of the season between playoffs of not, automatics or not or even the title, it will be a bitter concession to take.

I get it McBurnie has more professional minutes than I could ever dream of, but we are long term footballing observers and laymen here. We've seen what Basham-Egan-O'Connell and other good central defenders and defending attackers (like Deane, Hulse, Stead and even Porter) can do when called in as auxiliary centreback to shore up pressure and get the ball clear up the pitch. I've said before that McBurnie has done well when in that role but yesterday he was away with the fairies.

pommpey

Brian Deane headed an own goal at Ayresome Park in a3 3 v Middlesbrough in 1989.

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

Talks very well, very humble.

But my god, do we need to start playing to his strengths, rather than the strengths we want to enforce on him - even he hints at that. With Doyle, McAtee, Brewster, N'Diaye etc etc around him, that supply line has never been better.

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

The best thing that can happen is he gets locked up in the next few week for 6 months United cancel his contract then sue him for some kind of breach of contract that is the only way we could get some money back for him.

Ridiculous.

 

[pommpey]

Brian Deane headed an own goal at Ayresome Park in a3 3 v Middlesbrough in 1989.

Hmmm.

Are we really comparing Brian Deane with McBurnie here?

In context, I'd say the mercurial outing of one who has 223 appearances for Sheffield United with 93 goals in six glorious seasons and the other in his fourth season with 88 appearances and 7 goals is a bit of a no brainer if we are like-for-liking.

Deane's og trumps anything McBurnie has ever done for us I'm afraid. And one thing I'll say for him, he never shithoused.

pommpey

 

[jono_t2000]

If it was Ahmedhodzic’s man, then the communication has to be on him, not McBurnie. I don’t think Ahmedhodzic was the free man. He was just trying to avoid getting crowded out (which was a bad choice). Heckingbottom will have given them instructions, so there’s no reason to think that Ahmedhodzic should be assuming anything. I’m nowhere near McBurnie’s biggest fan, but he’s been scapegoating for that goal by people that can’t bring themselves to accept that Ahmedhodzic might have been at fault.

Anel is not psychic.. he looks to his left and every player has a man marked. Just as Mcburnie could easily see noone else was marking Apkom who he was literally standing on top of.

If Mcburnie is going to take a position marking a player he needs to stick with them. If he's going to go attack the ball he needs to call someone over.

It's honestly not that hard really.

 

[pommpey]

Anel is not psychic.. he looks to his left and every player has a man marked. Just as Mcburnie could easily see noone else was marking Apkom who he was literally standing on top of.

If Mcburnie is going to take a position marking a player he needs to stick with them. If he's going to go attack the ball he needs to call someone over.

It's honestly not that hard really.

I really can't see what people are not seeing regarding McBurnie's positioning and marking here. It matters not a fucking jot 'whose man' Akpom is. If you're near him and defending a cross and he's their CF you never let the fucker out of your own reach where you can at least put out an arm and touch him. McBurnie has 5cm in height advantage on Akpom and was, when the ball was crossed, stood right by him inside the 6yd box. The ball was heading over to the far side of the 18yd box so not in his zone to attack anyway, so why he decided to peel off Akpom and go for it signals to me how out of the game his mind is.

Don't get me wrong I have indicated in the past that in defence, McBurnie does contribute really well, especially when we are under the cosh in the final ten and teams are pressing for a late equaliser or winner. But the excuses people are making for him are a bit pathetic.

If he now recognises his performances have been poor (and it sounds like he does) then maybe it is time he pulled his socks up literally, got on with playing football, stopped shithousing the officials and made the opposition graft to stop him scoring.

Mind you if in any mitigation, we have to see a midfield who are in some way capable of finding him and two wingbacks who can cross a ball. That won't fucking happen in a hurry.

pommpey

 

[metalblade]

Akpom was Anels man all game why should that change due to a sub coming on FFS? If McBurnie has come on with instructions to attack the ball that's what he does, Anel marks the man he has been marking all game, he didn't. Anel had a marvellous debut but that shouldn't mean he can't get it wrong and is above criticism.
Now if someone can tell me that McBurnie comes on to the field with instructions from Hecky to mark Akpom then you can criticise McBurnie if not the excuse you don't like him or he is shit are not only not valid they are a load of bollocks, might as well blame him for Boro's 1st goal too.
Like Warnock once famously said you do your job and mark your man and if they score I take the fucking blame.

 

[Drunk blade]

Talks very well, very humble.

But my god, do we need to start playing to his strengths, rather than the strengths we want to enforce on him - even he hints at that. With Doyle, McAtee, Brewster, N'Diaye etc etc around him, that supply line has never been better.

What are his strengths? Genuine question

 

[Revolution]

Brian Deane headed an own goal at Ayresome Park in a3 3 v Middlesbrough in 1989.

No, it was in the 1-1 draw at Sunderland in the same season.

 

[El Volví]

What are his strengths? Genuine question

I'll answer that for you:
HE HASN'T GOT ANY!

 

[mattbianco1]

Talks very well, very humble.

But my god, do we need to start playing to his strengths, rather than the strengths we want to enforce on him - even he hints at that. With Doyle, McAtee, Brewster, N'Diaye etc etc around him, that supply line has never been better.

Exactly. I've never understood why we boot the ball forward in the air whenever he's on the pitch. That's never been his game, he even says he's not a target man.
This has had a detrimental effect on his performances.

 

[Geordie Blade]

No, it was in the 1-1 draw at Sunderland in the same season.

I was at a wedding that day (not mine) and had the commentary on the radio in one earphone during the service. It was hard to hear it properly but I remember hearing Deano ‘scoring’ and telling my dad that we’d won.

 

[Geordie Blade]

Anel is not psychic.. he looks to his left and every player has a man marked. Just as Mcburnie could easily see noone else was marking Apkom who he was literally standing on top of.

If Mcburnie is going to take a position marking a player he needs to stick with them. If he's going to go attack the ball he needs to call someone over.

It's honestly not that hard really.

He doesn’t need to be physic. That’s why managers give players instructions. As metalblade said, managers get really pissed off when players go rogue (the Warnock quote is spot on), because it throws all of the other players’ instructions out too.

The squad will have watched that clip back 20 times yesterday, and I’ll bet it was made clear that Anel was at fault. He’ll learn.

 

[Working Class Hero]

To suggest we only play the long ball to him when he's on is ridiculous. There has been a tendancy to go longer sometimes no doubt, but we're not a long ball team and he has the ball to feet the majority of the time, and at no point has he ever looked like a player who's particularly comfortable with the ball at his feet.

 

[Keen Blade]

To suggest we only play the long ball to him when he's on is ridiculous. There has been a tendancy to go longer sometimes no doubt, but we're not a long ball team and he has the ball to feet the majority of the time, and at no point has he ever looked like a player who's particularly comfortable with the ball at his feet.

Runs like a duck + hampered on the ball by oversized webbed feet.
One glance at him with the ball tells you he's not a footballer , so chuff knows who scouted him.
No body strength so continually resorts to fouling defenders , then cries like a baby to ref , whom he pisses off to such an extent that he never gets a decision the rest of the game.
I've searched but can't find a single attribute to admire.

 

[Bladeinleeds]

I don’t think Mcburnie sees himself as a target man, I think if you ask him how he likes to play it’s he likes the ball to his feet. He’s thrived in teams that give it to his feet (Barnsley, Swansea)

I think we as a club have judged him on his height and mis cast him.

Trying Not to be too harsh but he’s never looked comfortable on the ball.

Can’t think of a player with worse technique or control in the squad if I’m honest. Never looks fully in control of the ball, so I’m not sure why we’d be giving it him and expecting miracles.