One goal separated the teams, scored by
Alexandersson after 20 minutes. Duncan Ferguson headed into his path from a deep cross and
he fired home from 12 yards unmarked.
Stan used all players at his disposal except Lennie Johnrose and John
Mullin. Star billing went to Glen Little, showing that he can twist and turn past
premiership defences just as easily as first or second opposition.The touches were there,
he was hungry for the ball, and I say give it to him at every opportunity! Whilst the game
was still scoreless, Little played Ian Moore through for a one-on-one with Toffees keeper
Simonsen. Unsurprisingly, he didn't find the net.
Stan always surprises us, doesn't he? Branch at left back in a 4-2-4
system, and Briscoe on the left side of midfield - don't ask me. No substitutes until half
time, suggesting Stan may use that formation at Hillsborough on 12th August, with the
exception of Ball, who is suspended of course after his sending off in the same city in
April.
In the second half everyone was substituted at some stage. Trialist Alan
Moore, who has been released by Middlesbrough, caught the eye with an assured touch. Like
his namesake, he should have done better when put through with just the keeper to beat,
but he shot tamely at him. Mark McGregor had a quiet game and Paul Hughes doesn't really
look the part for me. We finally got to see £500,000 striker Papa after an hour. He
received a rapturous reception because we want him to be fantastic. For some reason (I'm
sure I didn't dream it) I thought he was a tall target man, in the mould of Peter Crouch,
or even John Aloisi. He's not, but he does have pace. He's still raw, but I'm sure like
all Burnley players he'll be a 100%er. It was difficult to make a judgement in half an
hour, so the jury's still out. Time, as they say, will tell.
Andy Payton was the last sub used after 75 minutes - well Stan knows what
he can do. Tony Ellis came on ten minutes earlier, and some people booed. No doubt the
same people who booed Paul Cook, and Ronnie Jepson. It's not his fault, is it, that Stan
gave him a contract? Should he have said, "No thanks, you should be signing someone
better than me?" Would you? Now Ellis looked no worse than Payton, indeed he may hold
the ball up better, but isn't Stan's motto "I won't sign anyone unless they're better
than I've already got." This is as strange as last year's Tippy Gray signing.
We also saw Greek-Italian goalkeeper Luigi Cennamo, and suprise of the
night, 22 year old Ivory Coast born central defender Arthur Gnohere. Who? exactly. Nobody
knew of this trialist from French 2nd Division Caen, but everybody wanted to know his name
after the game. When I watch the reserves I believe if a player is good enough then he
should stand out. Arthur stood out. Certainly worth taking another look at.
Road to
Gnohere