[Albion] Rico Henry

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

At some point GPott will launch Dan Burn up front. Such a good footballer (for a VERY big man).

Had he a ludicrous bean-pole build rather than the beautifully proportioned lines, unexpedtedly so for a big man, that we know and love, we'd be thinking 'Peter Crouch'.

I too have wondered whether he may find a role as a number nine.

 

[vagabond]

This may be a controversial opinion, but I think Dan Burn has been exceptional at LB.

In fact, I think Dan Burn has been almost as reliable, skillful and productive at Left Back as Bruno was at Right Back.

No joke.

It really shouldn’t be a controversial opinion. No one at the start of the season would have expected Burn to play much, let alone at LB. A great call from GP.

People have short memories. How many man of the matches did he get? His surging runs especially in our Spanish style performances was something to behold!

He’s had unbelievable form all season and would be my pick for best player behind Dunk and Maupay.

 

[vagabond]

I rate Burn as a LB

I don’t rate Burn as a LWB

If we play 4 at the back I’ve no problem with Burn being that selection. But if we are going to play with 3 CB and therefore with wingbacks Dan Burn isn’t that player

But I can get behind THIS

We know GP likes to have flexible systems, Rico would be a great asset to allow us to switch things up.

I didn’t realise until I saw the highlights reel just how fast this fella is. Having him and Lamptey bombing down the left and right wings would be disgusting.

 

[Rogero]

I rate Burn as a LB

I don’t rate Burn as a LWB

If we play 4 at the back I’ve no problem with Burn being that selection. But if we are going to play with 3 CB and therefore with wingbacks Dan Burn isn’t that player

Fully agree.

 

[Rogero]

His highlight reels look very good and similar to Lamptey but no crossing skills are shown.

 

[Hugo Rune]

I rate Burn as a LB

I don’t rate Burn as a LWB

I don’t rate March or Bernardo as a LWB either (we’ll certainly not 1st choice).

I’ve seen it argued that filling the LWB role is more important than getting our talons on a tall powerful striker, you can certainly see the logic.

 

[Bakero]

His highlight reels look very good and similar to Lamptey but no crossing skills are shown.

The first couple of minutes of the highlights vid on this thread showcases his crossing ability.

 

[B-right-on]

The first couple of minutes of the highlights vid on this thread showcases his crossing ability.

This. Watching the reel, first thing I thought of was that we are missing this kind of player that can bomb down the wing and get in accurate crosses from the left.

 

[trueblue]

Quality in the season at Walsall that got him his Brentford move a few years back and exciting for them last season. Just the type of steady career progression you'd expect us to favour. Maybe we could take him on loan and then, when he's successful, claim Graham Potter turned him into the world's greatest wing-back.

 

[Change at Barnham]

I like the way he delivers his crosses first time and very early. Too many defenders make 2 or 3 turns before finding a space to cross and by then a defender usually blocks the ball.
Maupay and Connolly would be salivating at such early and fast crosses being whipped in.

 

[blockhseagull]

I don’t rate March or Bernardo as a LWB either (we’ll certainly not 1st choice).

I’ve seen it argued that filling the LWB role is more important than getting our talons on a tall powerful striker, you can certainly see the logic.

I’d like a striker... but I think a LWB is actually a more important position for us right now.

If we are going to go 3 CB it’s essential we have a player who can operate in that position... anyone who isn’t good enough will just put extra pressure on Lamptey to always be the one who provides width.

Burn is a good LB but doesn’t have the instinct to push on enough and the ability to go past people ... with him not pushing on and our midfield then sitting too deep we often don’t have enough numbers forward to score.

Look at the effect Lamptey has had.... its the dynamic forward thinking Potter wants

 

[macbeth]

brilliant player, would definitely add lots to our squad. the only major drawback is that even at his young age, he has had quite a few injury problems

 

[Questions]

No one has commented on his great name. RICO HENRY !!!!!!! Ffs.

 

[brighton_tom]

We've loads of transfer window left, have only currently spend £900k, in profit from selling other players, and Vetlman style a transfer can happen without all the usual gossip, so im sure the needed striker and left back will appear eventually.

 

[Braggfan]

This may be a controversial opinion, but I think Dan Burn has been exceptional at LB.

In fact, I think Dan Burn has been almost as reliable, skillful and productive at Left Back as Bruno was at Right Back.

No joke.

I think Burn is a bit overrated to be honest. He's solid and a good squad player, but actually his stats last year pretty similar to Montoya's. Although Montoya had a better pass completion %. The point I'm making is people slated Montoya and rave about Burn, but in my opinion both were just solid squad players.

If we were to sign Rico Henry as LWB, it would give us such an amazing balance with Lamptey down the right. I think that could have more impact for using terms of creating chances than signing a new striker. Unfortunately I cant see Burn ever having that sort of impact. Dont get me wrong he's a good back up and can do a job if we have injuries and suspensions but I wouldnt pin my hope's on him filullfilling that role as first choice.

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

I think Burn is a bit overrated to be honest. He's solid and a good squad player, but actually his stats last year pretty similar to Montoya's. Although Montoya had a better pass completion %. The point I'm making is people slated Montoya and rave about Burn, but in my opinion both were just solid squad players.

If we were to sign Rico Henry as LWB, it would give us such an amazing balance with Lamptey down the right. I think that could have more impact for using terms of creating chances than signing a new striker. Unfortunately I cant see Burn ever having that sort of impact. Dont get me wrong he's a good back up and can do a job if we have injuries and suspensions but I wouldnt pin my hope's on him filullfilling that role as first choice.

I think a lot of it is expectation.

Montoya came with good pedigree. La Liga, former barcelona player, signed from Valencia. He was taking over from Bruno, a club legend who we also signed from Valencia so naturally expectations were high. Unfortunately he turned out to be a solid but unspectacular player who struggled to fill Bruno's (enormous) shoes.

Burn on the other hand was an unheralded cb signed from Wigan/the championship who spent his first season back on loan at Wigan and then deep in the recesses of our squad. Naturally none of us had any expectations of him being particularly good. So when he started playing in a three man defense and displayed a relatively silky touch and would rampage forward a lot of people went overboard. It probably helped that although not directly replacing Bong we were all used to there being no attacking threat from the left side of our defense.

Then when he moved to left back and his rampaging days rescinded people then started thinking he was going off the boil. I actually thought he was pretty poor as part of the three, I don't remember his attacking runs bringing any direct goals(although I'm happy to be corrected on that one), defensively he was positionally poor and made a number of errors. I thought he looked much better defensively when he moved to LB even if his attacking runs were curtailed.

That all said I'm in the get a new lb camp. If we play three at the back the wing backs are vitally important. Burn is solid in a four but I have my doubts as a wb and Bernardo is clearly not cutting the Potter mustard.

 

[um bongo molongo]

I think Burn is a bit overrated to be honest. He's solid and a good squad player, but actually his stats last year pretty similar to Montoya's. Although Montoya had a better pass completion %. The point I'm making is people slated Montoya and rave about Burn, but in my opinion both were just solid squad players.

If we were to sign Rico Henry as LWB, it would give us such an amazing balance with Lamptey down the right. I think that could have more impact for using terms of creating chances than signing a new striker. Unfortunately I cant see Burn ever having that sort of impact. Dont get me wrong he's a good back up and can do a job if we have injuries and suspensions but I wouldnt pin my hope's on him filullfilling that role as first choice.

I think he did a great job ‘filling in’ at LB. But I expect us to play 3 at the back more often which I think he’s more suited for. As others have said, can see Burn at LB, Veltman RB when we want to play tight and 3 at back with Lamptey / LWB against sides more ‘our level’

 

[Nameless]

FINALLY a crumb of news on a left back / left wing back.

His highlights reel looks pretty good...although I probably just like the Black Eyed Peas.

Looks fast and can dribble.

Based on what Lamptey brought to the team, I see this as the most important position that needs a quality upgrade.

If we could get another Lamptey on the other side we'll have the balance we often miss for our attacks

 

[Nameless]

Depends if we end up playing 3 at the back a lot more as well. Not sure Burn would be a LWB but still a very good option as a LB

Or as a left sided Centre back in the back 3 Burn can play any position on the left side of defence

 

[Braggfan]

I think a lot of it is expectation.

Montoya came with good pedigree. La Liga, former barcelona player, signed from Valencia. He was taking over from Bruno, a club legend who we also signed from Valencia so naturally expectations were high. Unfortunately he turned out to be a solid but unspectacular player who struggled to fill Bruno's (enormous) shoes.

Burn on the other hand was an unheralded cb signed from Wigan/the championship who spent his first season back on loan at Wigan and then deep in the recesses of our squad. Naturally none of us had any expectations of him being particularly good. So when he started playing in a three man defense and displayed a relatively silky touch and would rampage forward a lot of people went overboard. It probably helped that although not directly replacing Bong we were all used to there being no attacking threat from the left side of our defense.

Then when he moved to left back and his rampaging days rescinded people then started thinking he was going off the boil. I actually thought he was pretty poor as part of the three, I don't remember his attacking runs bringing any direct goals(although I'm happy to be corrected on that one), defensively he was positionally poor and made a number of errors. I thought he looked much better defensively when he moved to LB even if his attacking runs were curtailed.

That all said I'm in the get a new lb camp. If we play three at the back the wing backs are vitally important. Burn is solid in a four but I have my doubts as a wb and Bernardo is clearly not cutting the Potter mustard.

I think you've hit the nail on the head about expectations. I think that is exactly where the differing options on the players comes from. I feel a bit bad about my previous post because I started with the negative comment "Burn in overrated", but he did do a really good job covering at left back. I just meant its not his natural position and having a specialist there of samiliar calibre to Lamptey would be fantastic. For the record I think Burn is a very useful squad player.