Jake O'Brien

[Risky]

I get the idea about him not being trusted at centre back, but I'm not sure that's actually what's happening with Moyes.

To me it's potentially more of an issue of Moyes being inclined to play big CBs at full back, almost as a preference. So Moyes would rather pair another 2 at CB, and then stick his 3rd CB at right back, which means he's essentially got 3 CBs on the pitch which is especially useful for set pieces etc.

The handful of games O'Brien has had at CB have been quite promising from what I remember. He's certainly not looked out of his depth and played at least decently there I think. I don't think he's going to develop in to some kind of elite CB, but I think the idea that he's not up to being a CB for the level we're at right now doesn't hold with me tbh.

[Bumble]

Lot of weird takes on here, trying to rationalise a situation that borders on utterly bizarre.

[Kerryblueboy]

Exactly guys saying dyche knows a good defender he nearly relegated us with Jake on the bench and Moyes continually played him out of position even seeing it wasn’t working and continued on I wouldn’t trust his judgement either Jake and branthwaite should be our starting pair this season as they are our best and quickest defenders allowing us to play further up the pitch not camped on our own box to accommodate tark

[Sir Stealth]

Tarkowski and Keane will both be 34 when this season ends. Neither of them should be featuring in long term plans

Keeping one of them around I could accept I guess but I wouldnt want them first choice

Should have released Keane, made KDH captain and aimed for a starting centre back pair of Branthwaite and O’Brien, Tark for 3rd choice and signed a young CB I reckon

Defending on your 6 yard box is not a sustainable game plan and with a Keane Tark partnership at CB we would have to do that or we would get crucified on the counter attack. Majorly ugly football to watch and totally nullifies all of our attacking threat as well as it leaves massive gaps between defence and attack

Seems fairly obvious to me that Tark is on the decline

[Trowel]

[Lazarou II]

Selling Keane and JOB, left with brain fart Tarks and made of glass Jarrad.

This is fine.....

[Raptor]

Selling Keane and JOB, left with brain fart Tarks and made of glass Jarrad.

This is fine.....

If we get to the 1st September and this is reality then you have a valid point, but do you really think we would sell both and not replace either, like really?

[Granite]

I’ve seen people on here repeatedly lose their minds when the likes of Romain Dixon and Lewis Dobbin weren’t getting minutes. Patterson was defended to the hilt for 3 years and 3 managers.

The fanbase loves a fringe player.

[Kerryblueboy]

Fringe player my god lads will say anything to defend Moyes comparing Jake to those players is laughable he played 7 games at cb last season 5 wins two draws but yeah Moyes knows best let’s bin him off and watch Keane play 20 games again this season

[TheRam]

I’ve seen people on here repeatedly lose their minds when the likes of Romain Dixon and Lewis Dobbin weren’t getting minutes. Patterson was defended to the hilt for 3 years and 3 managers.

The fanbase loves a fringe player.

This is a daft comparison come on.

[Shogun]

Were people losing their minds over Lewis Dobbin?

[Risky]

I’ve seen people on here repeatedly lose their minds when the likes of Romain Dixon and Lewis Dobbin weren’t getting minutes. Patterson was defended to the hilt for 3 years and 3 managers.

The fanbase loves a fringe player.

Think this is possibly the biggest exaggeration I've ever read on here

Aside from that, O'Brien is clearly not a 'fringe player'. Totally different circumstances.

[AjaxAndy]

You can't just go 'Jake and Jarrad are our best defenders so play them together' without considering if they actually work well together.

If they don't then why would the manager do so?

I think JOB is a great backup to Branthwaite, but as for replacing Tarks and having no organiser or leader there... Probably not such a great idea.

He's looked very competent alongside Tarks but that doesn't automatically mean he's good enough to replace him. He's probably just a decent level premier league defender who will sign for someone like Hull or Fulham. Which lets face it, isn't the level we require if we want to be challenging the top 7.

Not everything needs to be a massive meltdown that claims the manager is shit and hates anyone who's not 30+ and a bit wank.

Get a decent amount for him, but a good right back, loan or buy a younger and more promising CB.

This harks back to the whole Moyes only wants old players to sign when our transfer strategy has largely been exactly what we all hoped and wanted pre Friedkins, but despite evidence to the contrary people still continue with the same old tropes that don't seem to have any validity to them.

[Lazarou II]

If we get to the 1st September and this is reality then you have a valid point, but do you really think we would sell both and not replace either, like really?

Not really but that is what the football rumour runes are telling us.

I also wanted to type brain fart Tarks too.

[Kerryblueboy]

You can't just go 'Jake and Jarrad are our best defenders so play them together' without considering if they actually work well together.

If they don't then why would the manager do so?

I think JOB is a great backup to Branthwaite, but as for replacing Tarks and having no organiser or leader there... Probably not such a great idea.

He's looked very competent alongside Tarks but that doesn't automatically mean he's good enough to replace him. He's probably just a decent level premier league defender who will sign for someone like Hull or Fulham. Which lets face it, isn't the level we require if we want to be challenging the top 7.

Not everything needs to be a massive meltdown that claims the manager is shit and hates anyone who's not 30+ and a bit wank.

Get a decent amount for him, but a good right back, loan or buy a younger and more promising CB.

This harks back to the whole Moyes only wants old players to sign when our transfer strategy has largely been exactly what we all hoped and wanted pre Friedkins, but despite evidence to the contrary people still continue with the same old tropes that don't seem to have any validity to them.

You say this like we are known for completing transfers quickly and reinvesting wisely the fact yourself and another lad liked the daft post above says it all