23 Aug 2026 17:11:04
Good match yesterday, but I think we will get burned with Tarks starting week in and week out. Moyes gave him the armband and is going to stick with him, but his legs are gone and his distribution isn’t prem level anymore.
I loved the signing when we signed him on a free for an established prem cb fighting against relegation, but we need to get O’Brien playing next to Branthwaite as they should be our cb duo for the next 5 years if everything goes right.
23 Aug 2026 17:32:29
Made a couple of reaction errors. Thing is, Moyes cannot rely on Branthwaite being injury free. Some point this season, it will be Keane and O'Brien.
23 Aug 2026 17:52:22
At least it should be, but Moyes is stubborn and willing to stick with something, take playing O'Brien at rb or not playing Dibling as examples.
23 Aug 2026 20:53:11
I'm undecided on Tarks playing. I've still not seen enough from O'Brien to be convinced by him at CB. I also know that a leader on the pitch is worth their weight in gold, and Tarks definitely brings that - maybe that Moyes values that more.
Always think back to Phil Neville, on ability maybe not the first name on the team sheet - but we always played better with him leading us out than when he wasn't.
23 Aug 2026 21:52:45
It's the errors that worry me most with Tarks. His ill-judged header nearly led to them taking the lead, but once again we were bailed out by Pickford.
If Norgaard is fit, he would add the leadership. Pickford, Branthwaite, Garner, KDH and Ndiaye would all help with that. Even Hackney has experience from Boro.
We need to transition to JB and JO'B sooner rather than later. Tarks has been a bargain addition, but his mistakes are costly. He's had some stinking spells in the last two seasons, and we have to be prepared to drop him, and others step up if he has another dodgy patch.
{Ed025's Note - the making him captain tells me he is seen as a regular BR..