A
very exciting tube journey from Epping to White City resulted in the very carefully
planned arrival of the Suffolk / Cambridge Clarets at Loftus Road in time for us to soak
up the pre match atmosphere. Steve Tatt., Clarets E-Group Tsar and Sony's brightest star,
(go easy on the anagrams - ed.) informed me that there were 26 stops en route and who I am
to argue with a Master of the Universe? I am half expecting a game on the new Sony
Playstation Two to be based on this trip. London Transport very kindly provided a copy of
the Sun's sporting section, the bit without the knockers, where Matthew Rose informed us
provincials that the sleeping giant that is QPR were about to put newly promoted Burnley
in their place. One can only imagine that Matthew's referral to the respective sizes of
the two clubs was based on a comparison of the two club's respective overdrafts. However
it was gratifying to see the complacency abounding in the opposition camp, and I would
like to thank Matthew for making our journey all the more pleasant on that most
Cosmopolitan of transportation systems. On arrival at the ground, with the gloomy wet
weather and the nearby Springbok converted to the Park View Hotel for the day, one felt
immediately at home. There was even the equivalent to the Park View chippy next door,
although I can't imagine the owners of this exalted establishment trying to pass off what
we were sold on the day as pies. The waves of QPR fans were obviously not scheduled to
arrive until 2.55.
There is a full match report elsewhere, so I would just like to embellish
Mr Firmin's description with one or two observations. Firstly, I would venture forth the
statement that this is undoubtedly the best Burnley side that we have had for the last
twenty five years, based on this result and performance. I am still coming to terms with
this fact, but now I have seen my fourth game after a fairly long spell of abstinence, the
improvement in nearly every aspect of the Clarets' performance is evident even since the
beginning of the season. With the possible exception of the 91/92 promotion side, this
improvement factor has one that has been conspicuous by its absence, as we have become
used to players and the side deteriorating, or alternatively going one step forward and
two back, for the vast majority of this period.
As for Saturday, the one area I am not really qualified to comment on is
that of the goalkeeping situation as NTG had so little to do in this game it is impossible
to give any sort of verdict. The closest QPR came to scoring was via a poor ball from
Davis to NTG, who attempted to retrieve the situation by impersonating Barthez and taking
on the forward. This resulted in a miss-hit clearance straight to a hooped forward who
failed to take sufficient advantage. A bit of a similar situation to the goal conceded at
Colchester last season for those who saw this.
Of course it is important to get into context the quality of the
opposition and QPR are down among the strugglers. They claim to have a long casualty list,
including what they say would be their first choice back three and leading scorer Kiwomya.
No doubt with a fully fit squad they might be a different proposition, but they hadn't
lost at home so far and started off the game quite confidently. Gradually it became
apparent (to me anyway) that unless the Clarets presented the opposition with an
opportunity, the outcome of the match would be decided by whether Burnley would score or
not. QPR exerted very little meaningful pressure and I think it was about thirty minutes
into the game before they got their first corner.
Furthermore the Clarets were looking particularly dangerous on the break
with Branch looking very lively, although he was bettered in the air throughout the
afternoon by Clarke Carlisle. The Clarets were physically stronger, quicker to the ball,
confident when in possession and extricated themselves from any potentially dangerous
situation. My only concern was that at that at half time we went in all square and that
Rangers might come out with a different plan than lumping it up to 6'7" Crouch.
However for all their neatness, passing and possession, QPR never looked remotely
threatening. They didn't miss any sitters, as they never created a clear cut chance.
The goal arrived somewhat unexpectedly as I was trying to fathom out what
Stan was doing having taken Branch off when he had looked like our most likely scorer.
Even the goal itself was somewhat strange, insofar as Mullin cut in from the inside right
position and then headed for the bye line, thus narrowing the angle. It looked as if the
chance had gone as the ball temporarily disappeared behind the bulk of Harper in the QPR
goal clinging to his near post. Before you could chant "Stan Ternent's Clarets and
Blue Army" the ball suddenly re-appeared as somehow Mullin found the space in between
Harper's legs, and the ball zipped towards us into the far corner of the net. What a fine
moment that was and all the better for being in the bosom of the London Clarets to share
it.
At 1-0 Payton contrived to miss what for him must rank as an absolute
sitter. Having latched on to a back pass, beaten the last defender and with only the
goalie to beat, he blasted it more or less straight at the keeper, giving him the chance
to make a save. In the past, it’s the kind of opportunity Andy would have passed into
the net. He was very upset with himself about missing this; however to their credit the
crowd came straight in with an Andy Payton chant, proving that we are also beginning to
move up a grade as well.
Even at 1-0 QPR never looked like scoring in the last twenty minutes, and
really the only complaint one could have is that win wasn't more emphatic and the points
wrapped up sooner. The word I would use to sum up the Clarets would be imperious.
The back three on this form look unbreachable and have now developed a
telepathic understanding. An additional facet is the way that the midfield pair and the
wing backs integrate with them, providing a blanket defence and at the same time a
springboard to move forward. Without even playing particularly well, in the sense that
everything they did came off, clearly the Clarets were just too good for the home side. In
the past this may or may not have resulted in points; these days it seems this is
inevitable. Most edifyingly, they look physically awesome. If two players clash it's
usually the opposition player who gets injured. I can't remember the Burnley trainer
coming on, apart from when Carlisle deliberately whacked Mitchell Thomas, and got a
booking. More often than not if it’s a 50/50 ball, the Burnley player gets there
first. It can't be an enjoyable afternoon out playing against Burnley these days, as they
simply take no prisoners in any area of the pitch and the opposition bounces off.
Ball and Briscoe look to be fully integrated into the team now and Ball in
particular had an excellent match. The priority area is now up front although there is no
great urgency to buy. So far we have scored fourteen goals (?). With Mullin joining the
list we have had eight different scorers, so although Payton is clearly not on top of his
game at the moment, others have filled in the gaps, and the rest of the machine is humming
so well it's not critical.
Having said all this of the thirteen games played nine have been against
sides struggling in the bottom half of the Division. If you look at the fixture list there
are some particularly stiff tests in November and December. Nevertheless I would say at
the moment we are looking at a comfortable mid table position rather than the bottom
eight. Next season can be spent building up for a tilt at the Premiership, a process that
may well get under way once safety is attained at this level.
Lastly a word for Stan Ternent. Stan has worked nothing short of a miracle
at Turf Moor. It wasn't that long ago that a trip to London meant a day out in the capital
and a long miserable journey back home, the most miserable occasion ever being the 4-0
lamping at Craven Cottage. However I think we can consign these memories to Trotsky's
dustbin of history. They're gone, finished and we are now into a new era of enlightenment,
led by Barry Kilby at the helm and Stan down in the engine room, a combination that looks
slicker than the Starship Enterprise. In the 21st century, at last we have the
leadership that any successful organisation requires, we have the troops on the ground and
together we will be going places in the not too very distant future.
They haven't got the swagger yet. This will come when they develop the
deadliness in front of goal to apply the killer blow once they have the prey at their
mercy. Once this is in place, we will have real lift off.
UTC.
