Matt Scrafton's verdict on Burnley's 3-2 defeat to West Ham
Scott Parker discussed the tactical flexibility Burnley have introduced during their return to the Premier League in detail.
After years of newly promoted sides failing to stay competitive throughout a Premier League season, Scott Parker will be pleased to see his side sitting outside the relegation zone after 11 games.
Something so important for any side across the league is being able to adapt and it has been something several promoted sides in the last few years have been criticised for not being able to do. Criticism was most prominently aimed at former Southampton boss Russell Martin, who persisted with playing possession-based out from the back, which ultimately led to his sacking and the Saints finishing rock bottom of the table
And Parker has spoken openly about how he believes tactical flexibility is important for his side and how they are managing to include this in their game this season. “It's something that we've worked on a lot, really, in terms of trying to be really flexible and pose different questions to opposition coaches and players and bring a different dynamic at times,” Parker discussed. “At certain moments, we need to have the humility to have an understanding of what we're going up against and how we may need to go in that certain game.
“And then on the flip side, there's different ways we can play, really. So, I'm really pleased with the development of that. And I still see that there's loads of parts of that that we still need to improve on. “But for sure, it gives us massive flexibility, really.”
“I think that's the big challenge. And I think the big challenge, obviously, first and foremost, we don't want to lose football matches. And like I said, we need to have an understanding of what we're going up against in certain fixtures in this division for the team we're going to be, while always having absolute ambition to try and get something out of the game. Then the balance comes with what you're suggesting there.”
‘Defeats can affect morale’
Scott Parker has explained how defeats can be damaging to his side’s confidence.placeholder image
Scott Parker has explained how defeats can be damaging to his side’s confidence. | Kelvin Lister-Stuttard
The Burnley boss went on to speak about how damaging losses can be for his side’s confidence and used the late defeat to Liverpool as an example of where they played well but had to be honest with themselves after they ended up on the wrong side of the result.
“Defeats can dent, defeats can affect morale, can affect individuals,” Parker explained. “And I think the one thing this year, or certainly what I've tried to do, is while we've always been brutal in our assessment, and that comes from a defeat at Liverpool, for instance, where for 90-odd minutes, we were superb and we conceded a last-minute penalty, there's assessment going on there where we need to improve. But the positives are, there's been some real positives in those games. We've never really been out of them games and we showed glimpses and periods in them games where we've been hugely competitive and showed real quality.
“We're not just here turning up just hoping that there's been real quality. We've shown bravery at times. And they're the constant things I'm constantly referencing, showing, keeping belief. “And I'm not lying when I say that I'm not making it up. It's clearly there. If there's a game and that's not the case, I'll be the first to say it. “But these are key moments. There have been key games or spells in games where we get our confidence from that, really.”
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