[Archived] The Championship 2013/14

[somersetrover]

Watford 2-0 up on Brighton. That would be a good result for us.

[Ricky]

Finished 2-0, so now they are 2 points behind us with 1 game in hand. Better than it looked this morning.

Watford finally manage to hold on to a 2-0 lead after being 2-0 up in their last 2 games and still losing both 4-2.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

We have had a few injuries. Wallace has been out long term, Ings had a minor injury as did Marney.

We've had the usual minor knocks but fortunately only a single long term one to a first team player.

Shaping up to be a cracking Derby this next one with much more than just bragging rights riding on it for both teams.

You've been very, very lucky with injuries up to now. That's a paper thin squad you've got. Having said that I watched most of the game yesterday and I could see why you're where you are. A well organised, hard working team that has a good shape. Nobody is being asked to do more than they're capable of. Mobile up front with two strikers who show for the ball at all times. Midfield decently balanced with a mixture of grafters and players. Defence, a good stopper in Shackell and a decent cover player in Duff. Trippier's a good full back bur Mee's the weak link. We could have some joy down that left flank because Knightly doesn't cover his fullback like Arfileld does.

If we were playing tomorrow I'd want a goal start,

[longsiders1882]

Was Ross Wallace starting before he got injured? I used to rate him as a youngster when he was at Celtic and Sunderland but he never seemed to fulfil his potential, he had a lovely left foot.

He was playing. Been up and down for us, really lacked consistency until the end of last season/start of this.

Is it luck or is it excellent work behind the scenes by the staff - most likely a bit of both. Early exits in the cups may well prove to be a blessing in disguise as it is really bunching up at the top of the table

[K-Hod]

Players always play through the pain barrier in a winning side, all the best teams do well with injuries....

[Amo]

I thought he claimed for constructive dismissal

That's not the same as being sacked. He resigned because he felt his position was 'untenable'. Venky's never gave him his marching orders and it's hard to imagine a scenario where they ever would.

[yoda]

That's not the same as being sacked. He resigned because he felt his position was 'untenable'. Venky's never gave him his marching orders and it's hard to imagine a scenario where they ever would.

If you claim for constructive dismissal that is what your are saying though

[Mike E]

If you claim for constructive dismissal that is what your are saying though

Nah, that'd be unfair dismissal.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Players always play through the pain barrier in a winning side, all the best teams do well with injuries....

Correct.

[thenodrog]

You've been very, very lucky with injuries up to now. That's a paper thin squad you've got. Having said that I watched most of the game yesterday and I could see why you're where you are. A well organised, hard working team that has a good shape. Nobody is being asked to do more than they're capable of. Mobile up front with two strikers who show for the ball at all times. Midfield decently balanced with a mixture of grafters and players. Defence, a good stopper in Shackell and a decent cover player in Duff. Trippier's a good full back bur Mee's the weak link. We could have some joy down that left flank because Knightly doesn't cover his fullback like Arfileld does.

If we were playing tomorrow I'd want a goal start,

Three words would have sufficed there Tyrone...... attitude and application.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Yeah, both of those attributes will get you a long way in football. Especially in this league.

[Stuart]

Sounds like a fancy way of saying Labore et Labore to me.

[thenodrog]

Labore et Arte might be closer.

[SamDingle]

That's a paper thin squad you've got. Having said that I watched most of the game yesterday and I could see why you're where you are. A well organised, hard working team that has a good shape. Nobody is being asked to do more than they're capable of. Mobile up front with two strikers who show for the ball at all times. Midfield decently balanced with a mixture of grafters and players. Defence, a good stopper in Shackell and a decent cover player in Duff. Trippier's a good full back bur Mee's the weak link. We could have some joy down that left flank because Knightly doesn't cover his fullback like Arfileld does.

Have to say, that's a pretty good assessment.

[K-Hod]

The main thing I noticed was how Burnley are much more of a complete TEAM than QPR who are just a hotch potch of individuals, thought Burnley should have beaten them, they had that many good chances at 3-2 up, and even at 3-3.

[CapeTownRover]

think our players will be up for the Burnley game. its going to be crazy no doubt, but all depends the form of both teams going into the game. Burnley might go in with poor form, and we might be on a run etc, so its still too early to say that Burnley might beat us. Longsiders will be nervously watching, and so will alot of our fans.

[Blue blood]

Pains me to say it, but if they were not the dingles, I'd really want them to go up - especially over teams who're just throwing lots of money at promotion, in the hope money, over managerial skill and the team's teamwork and effort - QPR being the biggest culprits. Burnley have a squad of nobodies, working their gonads off for each other, and the manager is tactically matching most other teams with very limited resources.

However, as for the derby I still think we'll win. Why? Because Burnley have bottled it time after time. Last season they had the best opportunity to beat us TWICE and still fluffed it up, not to mention a decent shot at it at their place this season. Mentally, all three times, they've fluffed it. Added to which it's our cup final - playoff chances are possible but slim, whereas one bad day at the office - albeit against their biggest rivals - is not going to make or break Burnley's season.

Possibly with Bowyer's negative tactics and our indifferent form of late it'll be a draw, but one way or another I'm confident the 35 year record will continue.

[Guest Norbert]

I can see where you are coming from BlueBlood. I'd want them to beat QPR to the play offs and see Harry fail............but they're Burnley so I don't.

[Stuart]

A derby day win would be a massive boost to our confidence and possibly even our promotion chances, such would be the buzz generated. We fans really deserve something like that after the events since Venkys arrived.

A draw would be a great result... for Burnley (and their play-off chances).

A defeat would be disastrous.

A defeat with Bowyer playing negative tactics... I dread to think.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Have to say, that's a pretty good assessment.

That's because I watch both teams in a game. Much as I like to see Rovers win I haven't got blue and white eyes. Another thing I noticed about Burnley is that their discipline is good. No stupidity regarding the officials. Some teams, Rovers a few times this season - Burnley in the famous 2-0 game a few years ago for example, beat themselves. This Dingles team won't. If we want to come out on top we'll have to raise our game to a higher level than we've seen previously this season. In the past we've had better class players that were capable of doing the business when it mattered. Have we got that edge now ? We'll see soon enough

[arbitro]

That's because I watch both teams in a game. Much as I like to see Rovers win I haven't got blue and white eyes. Another thing I noticed about Burnley is that their discipline is good. No stupidity regarding the officials. Some teams, Rovers a few times this season - Burnley in the famous 2-0 game a few years ago for example, beat themselves. This Dingles team won't. If we want to come out on top we'll have to raise our game to a higher level than we've seen previously this season. In the past we've had better class players that were capable of doing the business when it mattered. Have we got that edge now ? We'll see soon enough

I think Rovers under Bowyer are a really well disciplined side. Hanley at Wigan and Campbell at Blackpool aside there haven't been many situations when indiscipline has been evident. I often think that sometimes we should pressurise referees more when decisions are going against us. It's something the bigger teams have always done and they invariably get away with it.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

I think Rovers under Bowyer are a really well disciplined side. Hanley at Wigan and Campbell at Blackpool aside there haven't been many situations when indiscipline has been evident. I often think that sometimes we should pressurise referees more when decisions are going against us. It's something the bigger teams have always done and they invariably get away with it.

I wasn't really referring to indiscipline re Rovers when I said we've beaten ourselves this season Arbitro. I was really looking back at the un forced errors we've made a crucial times in certain games. I would agree by and large we're a well behaved team.

[JonnyBRFC]

I wasn't really referring to indiscipline re Rovers when I said we've beaten ourselves this season Arbitro. I was really looking back at the un forced errors we've made a crucial times in certain games. I would agree by and large we're a well behaved team.

Really? I'm pretty sure i've seen many suspect back passes from Burnley this season. Including the one against us at the turf. They also had a nightmare v Southampton in the cup.

.

[SamDingle]

In the past we've had better class players that were capable of doing the business when it mattered. Have we got that edge now ? We'll see soon enough

That's certainly true. Despite the hype, there was a large gulf in quality between the sides in the meetings from 2000 - 2010.

The three 1-1 draws since you came down reflect where we are now, two championship clubs with a couple of players each who will end up in the Prem, the rest are where they should be.

I'd take us maintaining our 4 year unbeaten run in derbies and another point towards promotion.

[Guest Norbert]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26006243

The prospective Leeds owner is a bit mad. Let's hope he passes for comedy value.