David Newton's recent article has inspired some of you to voice your opinions - some in agreement with David, and some not. Two of the best e-mail responses, offering different perspectives, are reproduced below.
At last someone has voiced what I am sure many fans feel but haven't the heart to speak out. David Newton's article was spot on. I have always thought of Stan as a manager who does a lot with a little (as at Bury) but a little with a lot (as at Burnley, with the backing of Barry Kilby).
A couple of additional points to David's article:
First, this squad is still an expensive one in respect of the average First Division team. Two of the players cost over a million. Steve Davis, Ian Cox and Tony Grant cost £1.5 million between them. So Stan has had the financial backing (and supposedly had support for rejecting a big offer for Glen Little last season), not to mention the signings of Ian Wright and Paul Gascoigne, so he should have achieved something!
Secondly, why is it so obvious that many of the players seem to be playing without any "heart"? Despite everything they are still getting fabulous pay for doing a job they enjoy, and should play with conviction because they are paid to, if for no other reason.
The unofficial website has a story that Stan has got a new offer on the table. Are we on a death wish course? Regrettably so, it would seem.
Whilst I too realise that the season is a mere two games old, I couldn’t help but consider a few things that I have had in my head for a while now, and prompted by the question of whether it’s time for Stan to go I had to give them all a good think through.
When asked pre-season by other people what I expected from this campaign, I replied mid-table and that I would be very happy with that, especially in the wake of the collapse of ITV Digital. However – if things continue in the current vein - then I share the concerns of other supporters of what our fate should be.
I would firstly like to say that I am one of Stan’s biggest fans. With help from the Chairman (who was SO WRONGLY booed at the first game), Stan has lifted our Club from the doldrums. I also like that he is a man of principles and he sticks to them - I feel a manager should make sure that it is he who controls the team. However, whilst I think that making a stance is correct, there is a limit, and I think that he should bow if it is in the best interests of the Club. It seems bizarre to me that he persists with Ian Moore and his non scoring ways when one of the greatest goalscorers the Club has ever had - a man Burnley personified, a certain Andy Payton - is left out in the cold completely.
Goals, incidentally, lead me on to my next point. I have to confess that for a long time, I was on Taylor’s case, and I did wonder what value he has to the team. I think that this view was clouded by the fact that he was playing alongside Moore, who gives a lot of physical effort in closing down, chasing lost causes, etc. However, recently and especially at Molineux, I found myself offering words of encouragement and praise. I think he is working harder than before now and is the focal point of the team - providing a vital route to goal. My only gripe about him is that he seems to encourage one-dimensional play, an attitude of “let's lump it up to Big Gareth, as he’ll win the header”. I think also that he would be of greater value with a partner to play off him - Robbie Blake, anyone? Incidentally, where does Blake play, and more to the point, will he ever get to play there? Quite simply, Moore is not a clinical finisher, Payton is in “disgrace”, Blake is not fit (and off in the Atlantic looking for rare aquatic life), which leaves us with Papa the Greek and Anthony Shandran (anyone remember him?). Well, Papa cost £500,000 and yet still can’t get a start. Along with Shandran, he is “one for the future”, which means “he’ll never get a game” in Stanglish. When he has come on he has looked keen and quick, even if he does seem to fall over a lot - SO WHY NOT GIVE HIM A START?
This is not the only department I would question. Next up is the midfield. Now that Bally is gone (why?), we are left with the prospect of quite simply THE AWFUL TONY GRANT. Can anyone tell me why he plays without question every week? It wouldn’t be so bad if he had a job. What is his role? Is he an anchor man à la Bally? Well, you see how many crunching tackles he makes. Is he an attacking midfielder? How many goals has he scored? NONE - and why? Let's face it, the only shot I have ever seen him have is against West Brom, and the corner flag did indeed tremble in fear of being hit. He is a typical Stan player, just muddles through, nothing special.
So if Grant does not play, then who does? There is hardly a lot to choose from. Paul Cook and Paul Weller, to be precise. I like Weller as a player, when he is fit, I think he is a useful player to have in the side as he is capable of making tackles and scoring goals. Cook, however, is another example of where Stan’s principles should be sacrificed. He has the vision that Grant doesn’t, to pick out players. He showed last season that he is capable of scoring goals. Whilst the legs may be going, he is still a useful man to have around, especially for set pieces. Yet he is not in favour, and thus will not play unless Stan has no choice.
Next we have the problem of the wide men. Glen is Super for a reason: he can get inside and outside and round and round players all day, together with having a good relationship with Westy, and thus terrifies most opponents. It seems lately, though, that he is wandering inside, playing left midfield, all at the instructions of management. Let him do what he does best. Taylor is in the side to head the ball. How many more chances would he have if Little concentrated on beating his man and getting a quality cross, that he is capable of, every time he gets the ball?
For a number of years, the team has lacked balance, and it seemed at the start of last year that Alan Moore had provided that. Does anyone remember the Alan Moore who was playing for a contract? Scoring goals (Millwall away), running at defenders, and generally performing as if his career depended on it. For me, he has become complacent, and we have not seen the same sort of effort from him, and certainly not seen the best from him consistently. In flashes - like the free kick to Johnson against Preston - this is why it is so aggravating when he seems to be putting in half the effort, because he is capable of so much more. But there is no other option. Or is there? Does anyone remember a certain lad called Graham Branch who used to be pretty handy as a winger or even at a push, a forward? Anyone remember a stunning performance with Payts at Palace two years ago? Instead, for too long now Branch has become the scapegoat, played hopelessly out of position without reasons given. He can’t get near the midfield, and unfortunately is not a natural defender.
So keen to solve the midfield problems, Stan has insisted on playing Briscoe in midfield. He is as much a midfielder as Branch is a defender. Here’s a revolutionary idea...swap them round. Briscoe is a decent left back, who does quite well getting forward providing crosses - let players do their jobs. By insisting on playing him in midfield he creates a problem in defence.
The answer to this is to try and fill in - McGregor, Branch, etc. In defence we are strong. If Stan will insist on playing Briscoe in midfield then I feel there is only one solution. Cox must play centre half and Arthur at left back. Now there’s an idea. Arthur is my current fav, and to be honest, I only wish half the others possessed some of his best characteristics. He may not be the greatest centre half in the world (YET!), as I feel he is too impulsive and prone to errors, however at left back he would be less exposed. He also loves to run forward and attack, and is a good athlete, so getting up and down the line would not be a problem. The thing I like best is his general enthusiasm. He has a hunger - missing, it seems, from the rest of the squad. IT MATTERS TO HIM. He plays with his heart on his sleeve, and is proud to be part of the team - he enjoys himself whatever. The fans love him, and he seems to love them back. Fancy a dance, anyone?!!! Davis is doing a great job in helping this lad mature into one of our greatest assets. Cox is capable of being a fine centre half alongside him, yet it has been a long time since we have seen him impose himself on the opposition.
Stan found out about Arthur and what he can bring to the team by giving him a chance, by taking a risk - yet he seems unprepared to do the same again. I would much prefer him to, if there is an injury, take a risk on someone. Start Maylett (another one for the future), yet we all know that this will never happen. In general terms, Stan knows what needs to be done, and how to do it. Sacking him seems a bit extreme just yet, but I am becoming sick of the inevitable. Earl Davis has been earning rave reviews in the reserves, yet there is no doubt that another Stan muddler througher, Armstrong, will play ahead of him. WHY?
My main complaint at the moment is that the team seem lethargic and to be going through the motions, a problem carried over from last season, Arthur and Davis excluded. The hunger and desire so famed for under Stan seems to be missing, and we must get it back. Heads should not be dropping the way they do at the moment.
For a long time, the London Clarets have had a policy of “Stan is always right” and to a degree, this has been true. However, I would now suggest that it is time for change, from Stan himself. Whether he is capable of that is another issue, but I feel the future depends on it. Stan is still the man, but surely he should realise now is the time to dig deep and take a chance, before it is too late.
Come on Stan, unite the boys. Get them smiling again and the good times will flow. Idle threats are just that: if you threaten the youngsters, then stick by it. Remember what is most important here - BURNLEY FC, and its survival.
Too early to be pessimistic? YES, however in order to improve there must be change from within. We need to enjoy it again, and get the confidence back. Confidence breeds, and good performance will follow. We know that NTG has the potential to be a very good keeper, it seems obvious to me that he is so short of confidence at the moment that poor performance is inevitable. Let's get behind the lads, and maybe a new approach is needed.
SORT IT OUT, AND SOON.
COME ON YOU CLARETS!
