[Archived] The Championship 2013/14

[47er]

Burnley were widely tipped to be relegated so they are the surprise team of the season so far. However their squad is very small and surely this will count against them over a long season? Hope so any road!

[SamDingle]

.I think it obvious we're the better team.

Apart from not beating us since you came back to this level. And finishing below us last season. And being 8pts behind us now. Then yeah, you make a good point. It is indeed obvious.

As for teams we've played against, I must admit, I've looked at the fixtures and can't see any teams we've played - or indeed who we're due to play - who are above us in the league. Any ideas why that may be?

[Waggy76]

Apart from not beating us since you came back to this level. And finishing below us last season. And being 8pts behind us now. Then yeah, you make a good point. It is indeed obvious.

As for teams we've played against, I must admit, I've looked at the fixtures and can't see any teams we've played - or indeed who we're due to play - who are above us in the league. Any ideas why that may be?

Give it time Samuel , you will find plenty of teams you will be playing that are above you !

Fair play to Mr Dyche he is doing very well far above your expectations !

[Guest Norbert]

Let's not use obscure stats to say we're 'better' than Burnley right now. That is the sort of nonsense they (and Australians) resort to in order to attempt to feel superior. It is embarrasing and debasing.

[longsiders1882]

I agree Longsiders, Burnley ARE playing well (from what I've seen of them this season).. you have to be worried about your light squad though eh? a couple of injuries or suspensions could see the trend reverse a tad.

Of course, hence being so happy to have picked up early points. That said you are never 'lucky to be top' after 10 games so whatever happens over the next 10, we've earned where we are right now.

[Audax]

Championship League is actually exciting when they play 2 matches a week as the norm. I even thought that when the Rovers were in the Premier League. While the Premier League is like a separate chapter every week, there is a real continuity in the Championship League, you don't want to lose of course but can often make up lost ground quickly and vice-versa.

If you look at the stats, I didn't notice how positive Burnley's goal differential is, 19 for, 6 against.

http://int.soccerway.com/national/england/championship/20132014/regular-season/r21389/

And a lot of the clubs have outscored the highly-vaunted QPR even considering QPR has played one less match. But QPR has only given up 2 goals. That interactive table at soccerway is fascinating, you can press the stat at the top and get the order, highest scoring, etc.

[Tom]

Burnley can hardly beat teams they haven't played but on evidence so far there is nothing to suggest they wouldn't beat them

Sadly they aren't there by luck and I can see it lasting, Hull went up by having a solid manager and a disciplined team

[Waggy76]

Of course, hence being so happy to have picked up early points. That said you are never 'lucky to be top' after 10 games so whatever happens over the next 10, we've earned where we are right now.

Very true and fair play too you !

[G Somerset Rover]

Conversely trueblue, we're a Jordan Rhodes injury away from being up @#/? creek without a paddle.

[trueblue]

Conversely trueblue, we're a Jordan Rhodes injury away from being up kean creek without a paddle.

I agree SR, from now on Jordan plays in bubble wrap!

[Steve Moss]

As for teams we've played against, I must admit, I've looked at the fixtures and can't see any teams we've played - or indeed who we're due to play - who are above us in the league. Any ideas why that may be?

You're missing the point. Or willfully avoiding it.

Burnley will not play teams "above it" on the current league table. But looking at the current league table, Burnely has played below average teams (1+24=25/2= 12.5 for the average ranking). Over the last 10 games you've played teams with an average ranking of 16.6. Over the last 6 you've played teams with an average ranking of 14.6. Anyway you cut it, Burnley has been lucky in the average quality of teams it has faced.

By contrast, Rovers have played teams averaging 11.6 on the table (slightly better than average over 10 games) or 9.3 (significantly above average over 6 games).

And when Rovers went to Turf Moor, we went into your house and walked away with a draw. This in a away game against the supposedly best team in the league.

Coupled with your light bench, I firmly believe all of the above indicates that Burnley's time at the top will be short lived

Conversely trueblue, we're a Jordan Rhodes injury away from being up kean creek without a paddle.

We have Best and DJ Campbell, both of whom should do well in the league. Dunn and Rochina are coming back online. Our other players were peppering the goal against Watford. Unlike Burnley, we have plenty of depth and can ride out most injuries.

[longsiders1882]

Steve you have some very valid points which come the end of October will have been thoroughly tested as we face 3 teams from the top. Without doubt our squad size represents a great threat but that doesn't seem to be your main point.

This appears to be that we aren't very good and are only top because we've played rubbish teams, including for example last nights opponents who I recall beat you 2-0. Well we can't hide now and come the end of the month we will clearly be firmly back in our place - well unless it turns out we are better than you are giving us credit for of course, then you are just praying or injuries and suspensions I guess.

[philipl]

The dingles can only play the teams put in front of them.

We are in a notoriously "anyone can beat anyone" league so fair dos- they have got the points they have.

Agreed they have a testing set of games coming up but anyone thinking our next three fixtures are bankers needs their heads examined.

[RevidgeBlue]

All things being equal you would think we are better equipped than most to cope with the demands of the marathon season.

As for Burnley, good luck to them, they've done really well so far and they'll finish where they deserve after 46 games but I don't think their squad size will permit them to maintain their current pace.

[longsiders1882]

Ah Revidge, stop being measured and sensible will you. You'll be getting a bad name!

[Steve Moss]

Steve you have some very valid points which come the end of October will have been thoroughly tested as we face 3 teams from the top. Without doubt our squad size represents a great threat but that doesn't seem to be your main point.

This appears to be that we aren't very good and are only top because we've played rubbish teams, including for example last nights opponents who I recall beat you 2-0. Well we can't hide now and come the end of the month we will clearly be firmly back in our place - well unless it turns out we are better than you are giving us credit for of course, then you are just praying or injuries and suspensions I guess.

Longsiders1882- You are being overly sensitive.

I thought I was clear as to my opinion and the basis for the same, but I will simplify if further:

1. Burnley is well managed, above average team.

2. Over the last 10 games, Burnley has played primarily below average teams.

3. Burnley's current league standing is due to a combination of 1 and 2, and won't last.

4. Rovers is the better team, both based on the recent Turf Moor results and as we have more depth in the squad and on the bench.

I could very well be wrong. The only data set that counts is the 46 games played over a season, not a mere 10. But on balance, I think Rovers will do better than Burnley over the course of the season and I've explained my reasons why. We'll see.

[darrenrover]

Burnley have done extremely well this season to date, fair dos.

I think Steve Mosses points are extremely valid however and should be considered.

Time will tell and I firmly believe we'll be looking down on our East Lancs foes come the end of April.

Where's our resident bookie MM these days to offer some odds?

[longsiders1882]

We will indeed Steve. Didn't mean it to come across as being sensitive by the way, just saying it is possible we are better than you are giving us credit for, after all you talk about the game at ours where we outplayed you for 2 thirds of the game whilst you admittedly had 30 minutes at the start of the second half.

It's a long season, let's see what it brings but I like this quote from our manager, maybe gives a clue a to what is helping out start:

"The next challenges are to make sure we keep them fit, and what happens if one or two do get away from us.

"That's when the mentality is really tested and when our resolve as a group is important."

[Guest Norbert]

You can't say 'that lot' have been lucky so far this season. Vokes and Ings have been on fire, so something is going right. I'm not sure there is much depth though, so a couple of injuries/sales and things could wobble.

[booth]

The dingles can only play the teams put in front of them.

We are in a notoriously "anyone can beat anyone" league so fair dos- they have got the points they have.

Agreed they have a testing set of games coming up but anyone thinking our next three fixtures are bankers needs their heads examined.

To be fair it was Longsiders who started comparing the two teams when I suggested they hadn't played anyone currently in the top half yet apart from two teams and only claimed one point from those two games.

If I remember correctly he said "what does that say about your team?". Up till then no one had claimed we were going to win all our Oct fixtures. All that was said was that Burnley had a tough Oct compared to their relatively easy start to the season. Longsiders agreed with this then true to form got snarky because it got pointed out and had to have a dig at our league position.

Typical dingle, walking round with a chip the size of Blackburn on his shoulder.

[longsiders1882]

That's an interesting interpretation booth, not quite how I remember it developing but there you go, I guess we all read and interpret things according to our own pre conceptions and prejudices.

[booth]

You can read it if you like. Them things you see up top are called numbers and each one takes you to a page of posts in chronological order.

If you look at the fixture list, they've probably had their easiest start to the season regarding opponents, for quite a while. The test is when they play the teams around them and morale gets knocked down to size after a few defeats. October is a tougher month for them for sure.

Taking into account how we outplayed them in the second half at their place with all our flaws, I think they'll come unstuck personally as for the home team they looked average. And then there's the lack of depth in their squad.

Not sure what that says for your team then, played at best similar standard of opposition and 8 points worse off? And you have a premier league infrastructure.

No question we've some tough October fixtures but I'm not sure there are any really easy fixtures in this league. We can only beat what is in front of us, we are second in the league and still in the league cup. It may be hard for you to see but our manager has done this without spending a penny, in fact whilst losing his top scorer, he deserves any plaudits currently coming his way. One final thing, yep it's getting tougher, yep our squad depth will bite and yep come the end of the season we will be doing well if we can manage top 10 but in this manager I've no doubt we have someone who absolutely knows how to get the maximum out of his squad.

[longsiders1882]

I do recall the posts booth (but thanks for the heads up on numbers and pages etc - not sure I'll ever get the hang of it but you never know) I just don't interpret it as getting snarky, you do - never the twain and all that.

Having said that, there is an interesting interpretation of the comments re we've played easier opposition and you the harder opponents because, of course, we have played you and you have played us ......

[OJRovers]

I don't think position in the table matters so much in the Championship (in determining which games are more difficult), I think current form is much more of an indicator.

You get some teams down the bottom going on a winning streak eg Ipswich last year.

I think Rovers have done well over the last 5 games because we've played some teams doing well. The draw at Burnley stands out as a good result given the red hot form they are in - which IMO won't last the season!

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

I think Rovers have done well over the last 5 games because we've played some teams doing well. The draw at Burnley stands out as a good result given the red hot form they are in - which IMO won't last the season!

It is amazing how momentum built up early season can keep going - mainly due to the confidence it gives. IMO Burnley need a lot of luck with injuries to keep up in the top 6 - but it isn't impossible - even for them to go up automatically.

Possibly the biggest current difference between the two teams - and our chances for the season as a whole - is the players we still have to return from injury and the depth of our squad. With DJ coming back - even an injury to Rhodes may not be the end of the world - (add to that Dunn and Rochina, plus all the players that currently can't get a game) I don't think Burnley have the same luxury. For them keeping injury free is going to be absolutely key.