Lewis Hall

[GOTONEW]

This lad is a genuine class act. Can't wait for him to be back as the permanent starting LB.

[Mazzy]

20 minutes ago, Sibierski said:

I mean if he doesn’t get a run of games here on in, then something is fundamentally wrong.

 

Should be starting Saturday, it’s then a small break and a run after that of starts. He’s been back since start of season, fitness should be more than established by now. If not, there’s something wrong with him that club are concerned about if we’re still managing minutes in late October. 

 

The reason is Howe won't want to drop Burn or Botman. Especially if we win against Forest. That will be seen as vindication for keeping Burn at LB.  Plus they've already made it very clear he's not rushing Hall back, considering he wasn't even in the squad for the last Premier game and played very little yesterday. 

 

There's just FIVE games in October now, I can see him starting maybe two of them at the very most. But probably just one as Burn will play every week and only sit out the Carabao game.

 

Then we are into November and there's currently SIX games, maybe he'll start two again, three if he's very very lucky or we've had some injuries. Then it's December and we've got two games a week all month so he'll basically have no option but to start using Hall every other game more or less at that point.

[The College Dropout]

I don’t think Howe has ever benched Dan Burn for a game of note. 
 

and it’s Botman > Hall in Howe’s eyes.  
 

Botman has played a lot of minutes recently so maybe he’s given a rest.  
 

But I expect Hall to be benched and Burn and Botman to start. If there’s one to drop out it’s Botman based on past Howe decisions. 

[Lush Vlad]

2 hours ago, Mazzy said:

 

The reason is Howe won't want to drop Burn or Botman. Especially if we win against Forest. That will be seen as vindication for keeping Burn at LB.  Plus they've already made it very clear he's not rushing Hall back, considering he wasn't even in the squad for the last Premier game and played very little yesterday. 

 

There's just FIVE games in October now, I can see him starting maybe two of them at the very most. But probably just one as Burn will play every week and only sit out the Carabao game.

 

Then we are into November and there's currently SIX games, maybe he'll start two again, three if he's very very lucky or we've had some injuries. Then it's December and we've got two games a week all month so he'll basically have no option but to start using Hall every other game more or less at that point.

 

He had just played 90 minutes Saturday and then 60 minutes midweek, mind.  Were they not his first starts of the season?

 

It does seem like over the years, Howe will never rotate Burn in and out the side in league or big cup games.  But we'll need to get creative with the lineups and full back rotation for a while.  Considering Trippier can't be doing anywhere near 3 full games a week and Krafth is very much a bit part player IMO.  He comes in and does a good job when called upon.  But I don't think you want him starting too often or getting a regular run in the side.  So need to keep Trippier fresh.  Like others have said.  I wonder if Thiaw could even fill in at times, meaning Hall would be the more attacking and advanced full back. 

 

Howe has rotated plenty this season already and we've all been asking him to change the lineup more often.  I think Hall will get plenty of starts and minutes. 

 

I don't think we've ever had strength in depth like this across the defence in my time supporting the club. 

[The College Dropout]

When is Dan Burn going to miss a game of note through pure selection?

 

When he was getting ripped at LB did he ever get subbed?

[HawK]

I think there's more to Dan Burn's inclusion than footballing ability. I think Howe might see him as a leader on the pitch, despite Bruno's captaincy.

[Stal]

3 minutes ago, HawK said:

I think there's more to Dan Burn's inclusion than footballing ability. I think Howe might see him as a leader on the pitch, despite Bruno's captaincy.

 

I think this, as well as the height, but it's hard to lead when you're getting shredded in a position you're no longer cut out for.

 

 

Edited October 2, 2025 by Stal
spelling

[Kanj]

If only Hall could be a Tino inverted fullback on occasion too  

[Checko]

9 hours ago, The College Dropout said:

When is Dan Burn going to miss a game of note through pure selection?

 

When he was getting ripped at LB did he ever get subbed?

Yeah, but think of it like this:

 

Burn's been absolutely solid at CB. I personally think his limitations on the ball are more of a hindrance than Pope's, but defensively he's a rock, so how do you drop him to get Botman in when he's playing well? 

 

But Burn plays a bit at LB and Botman plays at CB. Botman plays really well at CB. Now it's not as easy to say Burn can't be dropped, because it's harsh to drop Botman from CB as he's playing well.

 

We all know Botman's the future at CB, Hall's the future at LB. And both could be the present too. There's just a bit of squad management to be done. A bit of the human touch. We only have one specialist LB so I can imagine Burn being moved to a more covering role covering CB and LB when needed, allowing Botman to regain his starting place (injuries permitting) and allowing Hall to build up to playing full time again.

[Sibierski]

19 hours ago, Lush Vlad said:

 

But we'll need to get creative with the lineups and full back rotation for a while.  Considering Trippier can't be doing anywhere near 3 full games a week and Krafth is very much a bit part player IMO.  He comes in and does a good job when called upon.  But I don't think you want him starting too often or getting a regular run in the side.  So need to keep Trippier fresh.  Like others have said.  I wonder if Thiaw could even fill in at times, meaning Hall would be the more attacking and advanced full back. 

 

Think it will be more 3 at the back rolled out to keep Trippier fresh and it’s Murphy playing RWB, which then has Hall LWB.

 

Burn LB and Trippier RB then in the four  

[80]

Seen Howe quotes indicating he's had a tricky recovery and is still building confidence in his body? 

 

Happy to be honest - prefer that explanation to Eddie just preferring Burn at left back!

[Slater582]

On 31/08/2025 at 18:19, Magpie said:

Surprised he hasn’t been called up to the under 21 squad, could do with the match fitness

He's been selected this month.

[Nine]

20 hours ago, 80 said:

Seen Howe quotes indicating he's had a tricky recovery and is still building confidence in his body? 

 

Happy to be honest - prefer that explanation to Eddie just preferring Burn at left back!

He’s defo being carefully managed, he must have had a difficult recovery for sure.

 

He will be getting the mins in asap though, he can’t be far off now. 
 

But yeah, Howe will never drop his big tall Burn. Fortunately we have a lot of football to play.

 

 

Edited October 4, 2025 by Nine

[M1tche]

He's with the England under 21's along with Miley. Hopefully Howe/Bunce have given the England set up instructions about his work load after these comments.

[madras]

20 minutes ago, M1tche said:

He's with the England under 21's along with Miley. Hopefully Howe/Bunce have given the England set up instructions about his work load after these comments.

Didnt realise hed been called up.

[Disco]

Hamstrung 

[JigsawGoesToPieces]

[Sibierski]

Ffs

[Turnbull2000]

Ah fucking hell man. That could mean anything from a couple of weeks to a several.

 

Can't handle the frustration of another CL season when over half of the squad fall to bits.

 

 

Edited October 5, 2025 by Turnbull2000

[Sibierski]

Hopefully it’s just a tweak, but it’s yet another thing he needs to work back to fitness on. Going to need to role out Joelinton in full back at some point.

[Ronson333]

 

[Nucasol]

Just now, Ronson333 said:

 

Tactical to keep him out the U21s.

 

[Fak]

Wouldn't be surprised if he never played again 

[Casey]

Just now, Ronson333 said:

 

Just after the u21 games finish, what a coincidence! 

[Menace]

Hope he's playing soon, Burn at left back leaves us really flat attacking wise on the left