Tarkowski signs 2-year contract extension

Tarkowski has been a good player for us and a very good leader on the pitch. Better that this has been sorted now, rather than left until the end of the season.

I am conscious that James is nearing the end of his career, his dedication and fitness coming back from a very nasty hamstring injury has been quite remarkable.

I think it might also make sense to look at Michael Keane's contract situation which is also scheduled to end at the end of the season, remembering that he is currently in fine form and generally playing better than his Captain.

I hope that next season at the latest we will see Branthwaite and O'Brien as a more mobile centre-back pairing and that Tarkowski will be needed more as a reliable squad player who will maintain high standards on and off the pitch. Hopefully the wages agreed will reflect his contribution to the club but also the diminishing reliance on him moving forwards.

Strange decision; I'd have given him 1 year at most.

Tarkowski has been a remarkable signing, and he is well respected... look at Keane's value to us this season.

A leader when we really needed him during tough times. He'll probably be 3rd choice next season, and with Keane probably leaving, a good decision.

Leaders like Tarky make a massive difference to the team. Solid defender. Solid bloke.

I think you got up drunk this morning... 4th choice! 😂

Still our best pairing as things currently stand and it wouldn't surprise me if he keeps challenging Jake for a starting berth over the next couple of seasons

Well deserved for Tarkowski.

I wouldn't rate him over Branthwaite or O'Brien. Keane has been much better than him this season. So yes, 4th choice.

Strange time to give him 2½ more years.

When O'Brien moved to the centre on Sunday. I saw our future; he suddenly looked really good. He and Branthwaite are the future, a special future.

Playing out of position will have done him good. He will be brilliant.

A 2-year contract is fair but, as we all know, pace may be an issue as time goes by.

A 2-year deal makes sense -- and may give us time to bring through the likes of Gokah alongside O'Brien and Branthwaite.

I can see why Paul sees him as our 4th choice centre-back. Obviously different ways of looking at these things.

The main thing for us going forward is having quick mobile centre-backs as we transition into a better side with better players, playing better football.

Tarkowski and, dare I say, Keane will be solid squad players for a while.

It could be the beginning of well-timed contracts and transfers that help both sides.

You stole my line, Colin!

We gave Seamus an extension out of a sense of loyalty to a player who always gave his all. But there can be no room for sentiment in today's game.

I'm sure there's a couple of good seasons left in him. Good luck to him.

I guess another 2 years makes sense only because of where we are in our growth cycle, but we badly need Branthwaite and a proper right-back to bail him out at times.

We obviously want to improve overall and we clearly need better players to do that, but Tarkowski has been a great signing for us and deserves some respect.

I'm not his biggest fan and would quite happily see him dropped when Branthwaite returns as Keane has been the better of the two so far this season, but I still appreciate what he's done for us.

A limited but fully committed player who seems like a decent bloke off the pitch.

We can't let that happen again.

2 years is the Goldilocks option... next topic.

Jake @ 19; to be fair, better defenders than Tarkowski get run a bit ragged by pacey forwards. All defenders hate it when players run at them with pace, especially from deep midfield -- especially when your midfielder is 37!

These are good problems to have when all 4 centre-backs are healthy, but for now, we know Jake will stay out on the right if everyone is healthy. I'd hoped going into the season that we'd sign a right-back and Jake and Jarrad would be playing together, but alas it wasn't to be.

The wild card is if someone comes in with a huge offer for Branthwaite next summer and we have to sell. In that case, we'll need Tarkowski even more unless we buy someone new to play alongside O'Brien next season.

And as has been mentioned quite a bit recently, if Keane is healthy, we've got more questions we didn't anticipate.

For all of Palace's attacking vibrancy, I was jealous of their back 3 (even if it was their worst game all season!): Guehi, Richards and Lacroix are all mobile and very comfortable on the ball.

That sort of foundation allows you to play a higher line and get the ball to your better players in good areas. We've missed Branthwaite's ability to do that.

Not having to go big on a centre-back transfer fee will mean more in the pot for a pair of progressive full-backs and that all important finisher we need up front.

More so than the acquisition of a striker -- it's the thing that allows us to play football like a big club, as we take our rightful place in the upper reaches of the table as a big club.

I know you will think that's just me bigging up our players per usual, so I went to a model that I know you put a lot of faith to see the stats.

In terms of pace, which includes both acceleration and sprint speed, both O'Brien and Branthwaite had scores in the 70s (presumably out of 100) with both Guehi and Richards slower in the high 60s. Lacroix came out easily as the fastest.

Moreover, all 4 of our centre-backs received marks in the low 60s for passing where as Lacroix and Richards were inferior with marks in the high 50s. Guehi came out best in the high 60s.

If it is our intention to play a high line and behave as a top team, there is nothing preventing that as we have 2 players in Branthwaite and O'Brien who scored really favourably when compared to the best Palace could offer.

Interestingly, as all-round centre-backs, it seems we have 3 excellent centre-backs (Tarkowski's pace being his obvious weakness) and a decent standard in Keane as back-up.

He's only had a decent half when he has someone alongside him to help disguise the fact that he isn't.

It seems as though Guehi is mobile and the best passer. Presumably why he's playing for England and sought after by Champions League clubs. Lacroix is the fastest of them all, I think you're saying.

Yes, the point with O'Brien is we don't have to play him right-back with Garner in the squad, who I'm surprised hasn't featured more there.

Overall, Guehi and Branthwaite were all round quite good though they rated Guehi slightly better. Tarkowski came out well in most areas except pace, and similar to Lacroix and O'Brien.

Richards came slightly better than Keane overall. but a big gap to the others.

"Tarkowski has the record having played 301 Premier League matches without seeing red.

Overall, he has received one red card in his whole career -- a straight red while playing for Brentford in the Championship." -- BBC Sport.

If we buy or loan a new right-back in January and have a fit Branthwaite and O'Brien as centre-backs, it's a total game-changer.

If Glasner's memo for his system was based on Sam's wishes for his centre-backs, he would probably start with Guehi, O'Brien and Branthwaite (in that order, surprisingly).

If our intention has been purposely to play as deep as we have done (without Branthwaite), you would start with Tarkowski and Guehi (surprisingly and in that order).

Now you see why I ain't the biggest fan of these type of stats.

Yes, Robert, but only if Moyes sees it that way. I thought we were told that's why Dewsbury-Hall and Röhl were signed? Personally, I'm glad Moyes isn't using the former as a Number 8.

Richards is the weakest of the three but you couldn't play either of Keane or Tarkowski in place of Richards and still stay so high up the pitch.

Keane and Tarkowski wouldn't feature in the system Glasner is able to play. They're way too slow.

You do surprise me. He should have been sent off loads of times though. Last season's derby for one and his retrospective 3-game ban for elbowing Murray spring to mind.

You accept he's slow as fuck and a crap decision maker, then?

He's an old school defender, not top class... but he's saved us a fair few times. Worth keeping around imo.

Well, Robert, I presume from Sam's point you ideally want a defender who is quick enough to recover but the most important facet would be to be able to play through lines, not give it away in cheap areas against the top teams, or you will be in trouble.

Therefore, Lacroix extremely quick (you only need enough recovery pace as Guehi who is slowest bar the obvious proves) but average on the ball would be the most susceptible and out of place in a top team? No?

If pace is the priority, you drop Guehi? Would our neighbours prefer Zouma over Konate?

Tarkowski came out as the best actual defender which is surprising as Branthwaite wouldn't make the defence under a Dyche system (like we have been playing).

Sorry, Robert, I thought Sam said "I was jealous of Palace back 3... they are all mobile and very comfortable on the ball".

Sam doesn't suggest he needs rapid but all should be mobile. One is rapid and two are average, mobile-wise.

All aren't very comfortable on the b,all... indeed two are in the average category with Guehi being very comfortable.

My point was that we have 2 pretty mobile centre-backs who are really comfortable on the ball (if not very like Guehi -- that's why I placed him first despite being less mobile than our boys).

I expect Sam can answer for himself but the answer might lie in this being social media where people just swap a few interesting comments, where the gist is pretty obvious, and don't generally expect anyone to pick it all to bits word by word.

I thought the meaning was pretty obvious and clear; that broad gist is supported by the stats you fished out -- and I'm not sure there's much of interest to add beyond that.

You've got strong views on our season so far -- why not write an article to map it all out?

The recent injuries do give a cause for concern but I'm sure the Moyesiah and the medical department would not sanction a 2-year extension if there were real concerns. Hopefully, he will continue to play, get fully fit and renew the superb relationship he has with Branthwaite.

Another cracker against the RS wouldn't go amiss either.

He has marshalled our defence and debated with referees, may he have another two great years!

It's a big asset to be available to play each game, it's becoming worrying how often Branthwaite is unavailable.

For me, it's not looking too good for his future, he won't be the first to have a career ruined by injuries.

I hope I'm wrong obviously.