2025/26 Jake O'Brien

johnjoeefc · 2025-12-30T22:10:52+0000

Benno said:
Commentary was useless - I was fuming when they said Barry hasn’t had many good days as he was coming off. Disrespectful and just looking at goal output for a young lad settling into an new league.

I Dont think any intent was there from the commetator

johnjoeefc · 2025-12-30T22:11:52+0000

O brien has been seamless at centre back every time. I had serious doubts he would be of the level at cb but now can see him having a long career with us there.

BackRow PE6 · 2025-12-30T22:14:33+0000

davek said:
He's our best orthodox CB including Branthwaite.

For me Branthwaite is a CB but he's not orthodox. He can conceivably step into CM imo. Much more of a hybrid player than JOB who DOES look like the archetypal CB.

Jarred is a monster at centre half. Looks the part in every way

YMJ · 2025-12-30T22:17:33+0000

JOB is a great central defender against teams who are going to play such tactics.If you keep lumping it into the centre forward then he will deal with that all day long. He is tall and heads the ball well. He can play in a low block.
Against teams with more movement up front and more intricate play, or at home where we might play more on the front foot and with a higher line he will be exposed as being positionally poor and slow. (Like he is at right back).

Swartzy · 2025-12-30T22:22:55+0000

Solid, looks like he's never been away..

johnjoeefc · 2025-12-30T22:24:11+0000

YMJ said:
JOB is a great central defender against teams who are going to play such tactics.If you keep lumping it into the centre forward then he will deal with that all day long. He is tall and heads the ball well. He can play in a low block.
Against teams with more movement up front and more intricate play, or at home where we might play more on the front foot and with a higher line he will be exposed as being positionally poor and slow. (Like he is at right back).

He is really good. I still think he could improve his heading too. He should be winning every header and sometimes he will lose headers that he shouldnt. But all other sides of his game have been excellent at cb

NewRadical · 2025-12-30T22:25:13+0000

Should keep the position now.

Dublin blue 75 · 2025-12-30T22:25:26+0000

The two J’s at CB is an awesome thought to plan around

banno · 2025-12-30T22:27:10+0000

YMJ said:
JOB is a great central defender against teams who are going to play such tactics.If you keep lumping it into the centre forward then he will deal with that all day long. He is tall and heads the ball well. He can play in a low block.
Against teams with more movement up front and more intricate play, or at home where we might play more on the front foot and with a higher line he will be exposed as being positionally poor and slow. (Like he is at right back).

I do not know how you have worked that out seeing as he has limited time at CB for us. Each time he has played at CB he has been very good and it obviously shows he is a natural CB. Not a RB or anywhere else.....a CB. My MOTM if it wasn't for a James Garner master class performance

BigBeto1 · 2025-12-30T22:37:04+0000

We look much better with a CB in there who can pass it short. When it’s Keane and Tark together they favour the long ball too much

pedro789 · 2025-12-30T22:47:15+0000

Magnificent tonight.
£17m pfft.

God Benfrey · 2025-12-30T22:47:17+0000

Could you imagine how different we could play with actual fullbacks either side of JOB and JB at the back, we could finally pen teams in because those two monstrous centre backs can actually deal with space behind them, might have to wait till next season to see it though

Zatara · 2025-12-30T22:47:18+0000

YMJ said:
JOB is a great central defender against teams who are going to play such tactics.If you keep lumping it into the centre forward then he will deal with that all day long. He is tall and heads the ball well. He can play in a low block.
Against teams with more movement up front and more intricate play, or at home where we might play more on the front foot and with a higher line he will be exposed as being positionally poor and slow. (Like he is at right back).

I was sure he was a dud when Dyche never used him.

However hes been top class in his last 2 CB games. But for Garner 2x motm.

Not sure how he'll do there against the rest of the league but Tarkowski does well and hes learning from him and Moyes.

High hopes. What a turnaround from Dyche managing him.