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The March of Time
Reflections on the season so far
Christmas past
Is it only two years ago that we went to Notts County, lost 2–0 to a Brett Angell double and Payton missed a penalty? Yes, amazingly it is. I remember the feeling of deep despair with Stan having brought on Swan and Jeppo to try and claw back the two goal deficit for the last 20 minutes, which was like watching a couple of old elephants ice skating. Would we ever get out of this Division, me and Sid pondered on the transport on the way back? Well, the rest, as they say, is history. However, in the light of our recent reverse at Maine Road, it's worth remembering also that promotion was preceded by two 3–0 home poundings administered by Preston and Gillingham, two sides who we may like to consider to be inferior to the current Clarets outfit.
We should be now used to occasional setbacks like these, safe in the knowledge that Stan and the lads will "take it on the chin" pick themselves up and "crack on."
Looking back to this time last year, then we were in the middle of a two month wobble following three defeats on the trot handed out by Preston, Rovers and Bolton. Add in a cup exit to a lower league side and the rumblings of discontent were in full flow. Nevertheless, another of Stan’s late loan signings, in the shape of Gareth Taylor to follow Cook and Wrighty in the previous seasons, righted the ship and put us back on course. Save for that spell of ten games where the lads only collected four points we would have had a realistic chance of making the play-offs. Astute as ever, Stan also realised his squad was too thin, and has subsequently rectified this problem.
Another thing the boys and Stan learnt is that getting yourself into a good position is one thing, staying there is another, as sides re-double their efforts to knock you off the spot. It would have been nice to enter the play-offs, but those fantastic thrilling games at the end of the season were good enough for me, with the 3–0 whacking of Preston at the Turf a particularly satisfying moment. The games at Norwich and against Albion were also real thrillers, but more to the point it was achieved by a brand of fast, exciting, skilful and buccaneering football, the like of which had not been produced by the occupants of Claret jerseys for longer than I really care to remember. Exhilarating and fantastic stuff and, most importantly, not only were Burnley back, but we were back for good.
Great expectations
It was with great hope and anticipation that I looked forward to the current season, and my expectations were surpassed by the opening game when we went to Hillsborough and won at a venue where we had not had much success in the past. Indeed, last season it was apparently the scene of one of the few gutless surrenders in recent times. So it was especially pleasing to go to a former Premiership stalwart and play them off the park for near enough ninety minutes. The fact that Sheffield Weds have subsequently shown up to be one of the weaker sides in the division makes no difference, as they weren’t on day one, and in any case the Clarets have gone on to establish themselves as not just a contender for promotion, but have led the table for longer than any other side, which is no mean feat in such an evenly matched Division.
The evidence was there on that opening game when their outstanding form at the end of the previous season was not just maintained, it was improved upon, and I think I am right in saying that despite signing numerous new faces, the starting eleven had all been on the books at the end of last season. The result and performance had therefore been achieved not just by drafting in a bus load of new players but via Stan’s secret weapon of self improvement. So far the main beneficiaries have been West, Little, Cook, Briscoe, Ian Moore and Taylor, all of whom look better players than last year. In a way, some of the new signings have been relatively disappointing, particularly Papadopoulos, McGregor and Ellis. However, they have been compensated for by the arrival of Alan Moore, Tony Grant and King Arthur Gnohere.
Following on from the early success at Sheffield, some of the fancied names were put to the sword in their own back gardens, including Bradford with their 100% record shattered by the rampant Clarets and another splendid result at Birmingham. The Clarets also scored a crucial win over Millwall, one of my dark horse tips, who, having found their feet, have now steadily climbed the table and are looking a real threat.
We hit a slight rocky patch when we lost Glen and Alan Moore following the defeat against Norwich and Alcock, when we needed to be fielding our strongest side against the likes of West Brom and Forest. Stan had to decide to either alter the shape and tactics or draft in direct replacements for the missing players. The Clarets seemed caught in two minds for a while, and precious home points were lost to Crewe and worst of all Barnsley, where they conceded a two goal lead.
However, once Glen returned the lads re-grouped, beat Palace twice, saw off the threats of a weak Coventry side, beat Preston and gathered the rosebuds from the Turf Moor killing fields. At times we played some unbelievably good football, with perhaps Ian Moore's second at Palace taking the biscuit for all round quality: an excellent first time ball out by Kevin Ball to Alan Moore, whose perfect touch, control and awareness fed the on-rushing Ian Moore, who slotted clinically past the Palace keeper in the one space available between post and goalie. Initially, I stood there in disbelief that the ball had been tucked away so consummately, but then sometimes, even I have trouble believing how good we are these days.
At last Stan won manager of the month and for a time we held the top slot until the postponements and hammering at Maine Road meant we had to give it up. I thought that once we had got there we held on quite well, and now its City's turn to take the pressure of being top dog.
Looking back it has been an absolutely fantastic year for the club, easily one of the best for decades, and only rivalled in the last thirty years by the early seventies seasons, when Adamson's side gradually came together. Back then it was expected that we would do well, having been relegated from the top flight. Adamson already had the outline of the team handed to him by Harry; a few astute signings like Newton and Stevenson rounded off the picture. Stan has had to virtually dig the foundations and lay the concrete for the current team, which he has done with a single minded determination unparalleled arguably in the club's history. Note the way he has dismantled the promotion side and rebuilt it already, with Mellon, Cooke, Crichton, Mullin, Thomas and Payton transferred or phased out, and Grant, Arthur, NTG, Moore I and A, Taylor, Brisser, Ball and Weller taking their places. Only Cox, Little, West, Davis and Cook remain.
Christmas future
I am refusing to get carried away at the moment by fantasising about going to Old Trafford, Highbury, and St James' Park (Newcastle), though sometimes I have to check myself. Having given the go ahead for the wife to book our holidays for the last two weeks in August, I am hoping that sod's law will come in to play in the same way it did when I bought ten programmes for the 'Orient' game. However, with 20 games still to play we are a long way off and chances are it will go right to the wire. It looks as if City might be poised to break away from the pack, with Wanchope, Goater and Huckerby to contend with - 63 goals in the onion bag and counting - they have the tools to do the job. Forget their leaky defence; when you have the capability to score fours, fives and sixes you can afford to let a few in here and there.
Where we will finish, nobody knows, which is what makes football exciting. I remember a couple of seasons ago when Bradford got promoted. They had to beat Wolves to go up automatically and pip the Tractor Boys to second place. Near the end of the game with the score at 3-2 to City, Wolves hit the post, the ball ran across the line and went out the other side. Town went in the play-offs and lost.
Back to our own back yard. We have had a good run, but on the one hand, I sense that we may have peaked in those games against Palace and Preston. On the other, maybe we are at our strongest with Brisser in the middle and Ian Moore supported by Alan and SGL in effectively a 4-3-3. My feeling is that Stan would really love to put Brisser in the midfield where he is a one man hurricane and stops the other side playing. This begs the question over the left back position, and my feeling is that if Davis were fit he would move Arthur across to this slot, having experimented with Branch in this position with mixed results. Strangely, in spite of the persecution suffered by one of our stalwart players, we never lost one of the three games when Branch played left back, and took only four points from three games when he was left out. However I believe this is more related to the removal of Brisser from midfield.
Indeed, the Clarets' last three outings have not been that clever. For long periods they toiled against Stockport County and ultimately they were aided by some poor defending. They failed to put away Millwall who came for, and got, a point, and they got stuffed by Man City. The first two concern me more than the latter, as Man City type games, away to our rivals, are all completed, so our home form is the real key.
It's a season of two halves. After we play Sheffield Wednesday, it's the last of the cannon fodder teams. Nearly every home game will be against a potential top six contender, and we play nobody below mid table. I haven't seen many home games, but the impression I get is that the side haven't always played their best but still got results. Against the better sides this will be more difficult to maintain, although sides often play better against better opposition.
Equally, on the away front we have been to all the top sides, taken on some of the better teams and gone for them on their home turf. Sometimes we have got the results, at Bradford, Birmingham, Preston, Palace etc. Other times we haven't, e.g. Man City. Now we visit the mid-table / relegation contenders scrapping for survival. I have no doubt that Stan will go and try and beat this lot. Let's say we win six out of ten. that gives us 18 points. To get the 22 necessary to keep up two points a game we will have to win six / seven at home. This will be hard work, and opportunities, when presented, will have to be taken.
Where we finish will also depend on the other sides. At the moment, Millwall and Man City are pulling up the trees. Both sides have an abundance of match winners. Both have three players on around double figures in goals and they have back up. Ominously Neil Harris is back for Millwall. Both sides have managers who have won promotions. McGhee was cheated out of taking his excellent Reading side to the Premiership only by the reduction in clubs. He now has a good young side that has been together for two to three seasons. Their main attribute is the ease with which they seem to whack the rubbish - NB 4-1 away to Watford. They look set to push us all the way, as well as Wolves. Birmingham also appear to be gaining momentum under Bruce and they have a large squad of players too.
One thing in our favour is that we have now played three good sides twice: Man City, Millwall and Palace. Another is our strength on the run ins, although in the past our runs have come from behind the pacesetters, which is why I am not over worried about us losing some ground.
Finally I have felt for some time now that our players are good enough to finish in the top two based on their performances; however I still feel that our weakness is translating performances into results, as at Maine Road. I think this is a mixture of psychological and ability. After all, we have a centre forward who hasn't scored a single goal with his feet yet, and our star player missed a key shot from twelve yards. Secondly, compared to the likes of City, and Wolves, we are vulnerable to suspensions and injuries because of our squad size. Stan has made it known publicly that he has bid big bucks for Crouch and Blake, so he is looking to strengthen.
In short we will have to put away the top sides, who will come to block for a point, and go toe to toe on the away front. Consequently we will have about 20 cup finals to play. One thing always worth considering is that it sure beats the hell out of staving off relegation to the Third Division. Even if we fail in our quest we will have seen some magnificent football this season, and we will have another go next year with a stronger more experienced squad. The Tractor Boys had three or four goes before they got it right, and even then it was via the play-offs, and they have been either a Premiership side or a top First Division side for 25 years, in sharp contrast to Burnley's recent existence, so hats off to Baz and Stan.
As supporters we now have a key role to play, and particularly the London Clarets, who are among the backbone of the club's supporters, and almost legendary in the club itself, and to a lesser extent outside. We are going to be in some tough games from now until the end of the season, so it's important that we lead the way in lifting the lads when they are down, as at times even the away support has been stifled when setbacks have occurred.
Whatever happens and wherever we finish it will be the most exciting campaign for many a long year. I saw a comparison the other day with the number of points gained by the 1972/73 side and the current one, with adjustments for two points a game in the seventies, and at the moment the current lads are actually doing better, although a draw was more valuable in those days, as it was 50% of a win as opposed to 33% in terms of points.
Let's hope the lads can continue to deliver the results, and who knows, we could be there come May. Whilst there might be some hesitancy in the camp and a belief that it is pointless as we will come straight back down, I beg to differ. I think we have a chance of hanging on to Premiership status even without immediate massive spending. Stan has shown what can be done even in a short pace of time by massive personal improvement, hard work and gradual change. Our board is sensible enough not to pay the likes of Andy Cole £45k a week, and a lot of players might like the opportunity to showcase their talents in the Premiership on lower wages, which was pretty much how things were in the latter days of Harry Potts reign.
Belief is a real important part of backing the club and the players, and a bit of blind faith helps. However, eyes wide open and specs on, I believe we can finish in the top two. If not, we stand just as much chance as any other club in the play-offs, and I think Burnley will at least reach those. Its been an unusual experience leading from the front for fans and players. However, we do have the recent experience of 1991/92 to fall back on, which serves to remind us that we always get promoted early in the decade.
All the very best.
UTC WSGIU.
Igor Wowk
January 2002
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