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So what do you think of the season so far?

By: Igor Wowk

STATE OF THE NATION

After 6 games I think we are in a very nice position.

With the table beginning to take shape, we find the Clarets are firmly ensconced in the middle of it, which is where most of us would like the team to be. Its also worth noting that this has been achieved by playing four out of the first six matches away. Two of those sides are in the top three and those two (Fulham & Bolton) have conceded one home point between them, and only four goals. However lets not forget that the bottom line is survival, something we haven't achieved at this level since 1979, next comes consolidation and then progression. If the side can start to work towards objective three by the end of the season that would be really excellent. Objective one would be fine and something I have waited nearly half a lifetime to see, quite a few of you were probably not even born the last time it happened.

On the results front BFC have been the only side to lose to Wolves on the other hand they are only side to beat Wimbledon. They drew against a team they should have beat Gillingham, and beat a team they should have drawn against at Palace. So a mixed bag, but a far better start than either of the last two occasions.

Most importantly a number of strugglers are beginning to emerge. Significantly Sheff Wed. Huddersfield and Stockport have all failed to win at home after four attempts and they must be worried, although both Town and Wednesday have yet to lose away. Grimsby are struggling, have a new manager and gates are down very low. Nevertheless Burnley cannot afford to be complacent, as most teams are capable of beating each other in this league and a couple of wins at this stage of the season can lift you half way up the table.

The next sequence of games is a crucial one and will give a strong indication as to how the rest of the season will pan out. We have a spell of six games with four at the Holy Ground, where the opposition will be relatively moderate for this Division, but hard to beat nonetheless. Grimsby, Portsmouth, Stockport and Wednesday are the potential victims, and eight points from this lot would be good, 9/10 really good and twelve would mean play off potential. Interspersed with these games is the opportunity to top up with some bonus points against Huddersfield and Tranny. So this is a chance to gather ye rosebuds while ye may.

Overall the team looks in good shape and importantly we look to have plenty in reserve. Some of the reserve line ups could have easily been successfully fielded in the Second Division last season. Decent players like Smith, Brass, Johnrose etc. haven't been anywhere near the fifteen yet and the likes of Armstrong, Mellon, Mullin, Branch and even Payton have been used largely as subs. As usual Stan's free signings look to be more than adequate to prosper at this level. Most importantly the defence looks as hard to beat as ever, and only Fulham's Premiership side in waiting have cashed in their chips. The Clarets ( by all accounts) were in the game until the late stages when the sending off and third goal put the tin hat on it. Myself I cannot get excited about penalty claims as I have seen too many missed for my liking, the worst one being the 1967 final of the Rossendale Sunday School League Cup which I took myself.

Hopefully, following the improvement after the disappointing Wolves reverse, Stan will have learnt something from the disappointing performance against Gillingham, and work out a way of taking the game more to the opposition on home turf. The key to the whole season is consolidating our position by beating at least 10 sides at home, and losing to as few as possible. Hopefully this will be achieved by keeping possession longer and building up attacks rather than relying on some of the hit and hope stuff we saw in the first half against Gillingham day. By now the players should be acclimatising, getting used to the pace and beginning to feel more comfortable on the ball. Playing against a really good pass and move team like Fulham may even have a positive effect. Of course Stan is yet to play his "joker" in "Jeux sans Frontiers " terms of course, in the shape of 90 mins. of Andy Payton, and evolve a front two paring that is not just going to tire out defenders, but capitalise as well. Stan looks to be playing nearly every match with four forwards, but none of them is consistently scoring in Division One, with ironically Cooke and Payton failing to notch in a First Division match.

Irrespective of the availability of fuel, it will be some time now before I am able to make a game, QPR probably the next one. However, in the meantime, lets hope Stan can produce the goods at Turf Moor and we will be visiting places like Shepherd's Bush with an air of justified self confidence. I will be relying on you all to keep me up to date on developments on the field and I am looking forward to reading your posts and your opinions.

All the Best

UTC

Igor

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