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Lukewarm start to Steam Packet
Burnley 3 Wrexham 3 - Burnley won 4-3 on penalties
Report by Becko
So here it is then, the first match of the season, and it's back to the all too familiar surroundings of The Isle of Man, for the inappropriately named Steam Packet INTERNATIONAL football festival. The fact that there are teams from The Isle of Man, England and Wales is really stretching a point. Still, I don't find the place as awful as some. Indeed with over 100 pubs selling Real Ale, Mild available in a fair proportion, pubs that haven't been vandalised by interior decorators, and prices below £1.70 a pint, it's difficult to be too antagonistic about it...apart from the fact this is the third year in a row we have been there.
Isn't it about time the club showed a little more ambition? We're in the top third of clubs now, so we keep being told. Unfortunately by going back there we seem to be having difficulty shaking off the fact that for the vast majority of the past 15 years we've been in the bottom 30 teams, and as such we don't have a pre-season tour of Scandinavia, Germany, or even Scotland or the Republic of Ireland. I know the club don't arrange friendlies to please us, the fans, but it would be nice if they rejected the offer next season to go back to the Isle of Man, or even better (as we seem unable to resist the temptation) if we weren't asked to go back. Because it's an invitation tournament, and surely it would be better for the organisers to have different teams attending, and thereby bringing fans who haven't been before, or at least not for some time. It can't be good for tourism - the number of Burnley fans has dropped off not surprisingly since we went in 2000, but they still contributed the majority of the crowd.
It's difficult to read anything into a friendly, but the following are my observations. We played 4-4-2, although Stan wasn't there. Was he back in Burnley making a new signing? I think this extremely unlikely following on from Barry Kilby's comments at the AGM last week. Stan missed the first game in IOM last year when he signed Papadopoulos. Hmmm...well, Papa started up front with Taylor, and did nothing. He wasn't the only one. Glen Little was the only midfield player to shine, briefly. Briscoe, A. Moore, and Grant were all anonymous. The back four all over the place, with Branch at left back, and Nick the Greek had a less than inspiring afternoon. It's incredible that as his form dipped, he got further International caps! On the other hand when Beresford replaced him I felt more confident. If we lose Fred West, then I think we must sign Beresford, he could be the difference between 20th and 15th place.
The first half produced 6 goals. For the record: Gnohere, Taylor and Davis for Burnley. The impressive Sam scored 2 and Jones one for Wrexham. Burnley led 1-0 and 3-1. I confidently predicted more in the second half, that's not the first time I've been wrong watching Burnley. Sam made several changes, including Marlon Broomes, who I wouldn't bother signing, and a new slimline Robbie Blake, who was as ineffectual as before. The highlights (if that is the correct word) of the second half included a good save by Beresford to deny Sam a hat-trick, and both Little and Moore A. limping off - they looked bad but apparently aren't. In the collision that Moore A. was injured, Wrexham keeper Andy Dibble was also injured. As Wrexham had no substitute goalie, Nick the Greek went in for them, and we subsequently put him under no pressure at all. At the final whistle we headed off for our umpteenth pint of Okells, to be stopped in our tracks by the news that there was to be a penalty shootout. There must be a winner. The Clarets won 4-3: Marlon saved 2, Nico saved none, confirming who is the better. Again for the record: Taylor, Cook, Blake (this was the best of all, low into the corner) and Moore I. were the scorers.
As I've written this there seems to be a tone of pessimism in it. I suppose there is, although who will be optimistic of promotion in Division 1 this season? For my part I will be happy with survival, and a good Cup run. I said the same last season, and was disappointed in one of my hopes. With money so tight, it seems the obvious way to get revenue, but this will have not been overlooked by other clubs. As for the team a lot of them won't get any better, some of them have got worse. There is no young talent waiting to break into the team, so it's a case of let's stick with what we've got, let's hope it's enough.
Team (4-4-2): Michopoulos (Beresford, 64), West (McGregor, 55), Davis (Broomes, 55),
Gnohere, Branch, Little (I Moore, 79), Grant, Briscoe, A Moore (Cook, 77), Taylor, Papadopoulos (Blake, 55).
Scorers: Gnohere, Taylor, Davis / Sam (2), Jones.
Attendance: A few drunks.
Referee: Unknown, in both senses of the word.
"As with all articles on the site, the views expressed in the match reports section are those of the individual contributor, and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Burnley FC London Supporters Club."
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