Burnley Already Upturn The Applecart

Paul Bestall — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 21:11:58 +0000

Admit it, after the lacklustre opening day game against Stoke City, you simply couldn’t see Burnley picking up anything from their next 2 games with Everton and Manchester United visiting Turf Moor. They were tough games, that most established Premiership sides wouldn’t be relishing to have back to back so how the Clarets fans must have felt, I can only imagine. However, a quick look at the league table shows the facts. Played 3, won 2, drawn 0, lost 1, Scored 2, Conceded 2.

What a delightful surprise Burnley have been already and I’m delighted to see just how well they’ve done. Of course, Manchester United bossed the game, but they couldn’t score. Chances came and went, a penalty was saved by the Beast in the Burnley net. Brian Jansen will break opposition strikers hearts throughout the rest of the season but it’s edifying to see Turf Moor rocking so early in the season. No one wants to see promoted teams hammered so soon but Burnley are loving it so far.

Of course, the knockers will be queuing up to get the pessimism in as quickly as the pints of Moorhouse were probably going down yesterday around the town. Many a fan will have awoken fighting the effects of a Pendle Witches hangover, but still smiling like a Cheshire Cat. When you’ve just beaten the defending League Champions and then the most consistent side outside of the top 4 over the last 5 seasons, this feeling will take some beating.

No-one, other than Blackburn fans I suspect, would have taken any satisfaction if Burnley would have been hammered in the first 3 games. As Hull City showed last season, winning the play offs seems to see you hit the ground running when the season kicks off. Burnley are living the dream, teams like the Clarets aren’t supposed to get in to the top tier but thankfully football will always throw a spanner in the works.

Whilst Hull City beat Arsenal last season, the size of Burnley’s achievements shouldn’t be understated. Manchester United don’t lose to teams like Burnley, they always fashion something to save their skins but they couldn’t manage this time. The easy money was on Everton steam rollering Burnley after the opening day hammering Arsenal handed them at Goodison. That didn’t happen either.

I know people were saying this was going to be the most open Premiership but I don’t think anyone anticipated the start Coyle’s men have had. When the fans see the newly published fixture list in June, they all cast their eyes and begin to work out where the points will come from. I find it hard to believe that any fan of the Clarets would have gone for the last six points in a month of Sundays.

The addition of Andre Bikey adds a bit more steel to the backline, but this is no team of mugs. A smattering of experienced heads, fearless youth and canny international players gives Burnley more quality than people want to admit. Martin Patterson had Everton’s defence on the run and Wade Elliott has a classy range of passing. Tyrone Mears didn’t spend a year at Marseille for a laugh and Coyle did well to get him in.

Of course Burnley are going to have a blip, though god forbid it’s as bad as the one Hull City have finally put to bed. Of course, they rode their luck against United but they deserved the points against Everton. Yet this is what being a fan is all about. A visit to Chelsea beckons this weekend and it will be interesting to see just how they’ll hack it before they visit Anfield. Even with two defeats in the next two games, a return of 6 points from those first five fixtures will stand them in good stead for the remainder of the season. Keep smiling Clarets fans, I think more happy hangovers beckon this season.

Premier League Odds and Sods 23 March 2008

tyduffy — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 04:10:24 +0000

Manchester United 3 – Liverpool 0: The scoreline was unfair, United should have won by more. Rooney and Ronaldo combined for five fluffed chances. Captain Stevie disappeared twice for the Reds. First, when he decided to stop running and not defend on the Wes Brown goal. Second, when he failed to get between the referee and Mascherano before the second yellow card. Javier’s post-sendoff Latin shrug produced the lasting picture for the match. He deserved the red, but Bennett would not have sent him if off at Anfield or if he was English. Being the big man is easy with a crowd behind you.

Chelsea 2 – Arsenal 1: The Gunners have dropped eleven points to United in five matches – having not won in the league since Feb. 11. Once five points clear, they reside six points behind, seven with goal difference. Chelsea passed Arsenal into second, which is likely how it will stay. Gallas’ decision-making at the back was shocking. His captaincy requires more than rash rhetoric, alpha-male displays and a stegosaurus hairdo. A decade in the team is pure Arsene, but maybe that’s not such a great thing.

Newcastle 2 – Fulham o: Newcastle finally get a win under Keegan. The same lot who heaved Allardyce for not getting to Europe are now erupting like loonies when they beat the 19th place side at home. Keegan’s last remaining gray hairs will hang on for another week. Fulham have not won away since 2006, I blame their away kits. Whatever marketing flunkie chose baby blue from head to toe should be fired.

Reading 2 – Birmingham 1: Reading came out on top in the other relegation six pointer, pushing themselves five points safe. Memo to Andre Bikey: you must meaningfully manipulate the ball on a goal before celebrating with a flip.

EPL Talk » Andre Bikey

Burnley Already Upturn The Applecart

Premier League Odds and Sods 23 March 2008