Just how big is Saturday's game?

Milltown1882 · Post by **Milltown1882** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 11:18 am

We've had some huge games in recent years, Boro at home in the title season and Leicester the year before standout as huge crucial games in recent times.

In the context of recent years just how big is Saturday? Win and nine points clear with five to play should surely be enough, lose and three becomes a lot tighter with us playing Chelsea and them playing Southampton next.

Not quite Orient levels of huge but this feels like the biggest game for a long, long time.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 11:26 am

Not quite Orient? I assume you weren't around back then.

Saturday's game isn't huge at all - doesn't bear comparison with some of the big games we've had in recent years.

bfccrazy · Post by **bfccrazy** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 11:27 am

In measurement terms - about .01mm smaller than your forehead.

So ..... MASSIVE!

Milltown1882 · Post by **Milltown1882** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 11:28 am

bfccrazy wrote:In measurement terms - about .01mm smaller than your forehead.

So ..... MASSIVE!

As you say when I go on holiday, get off the internet and get out in the sun

Sidney1st · Post by **Sidney1st** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 11:32 am

For the Orient faithful it's not that big a game.

For the younger fans it's a big game.

Milltown1882 · Post by **Milltown1882** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 11:32 am

ClaretTony wrote:Not quite Orient? I assume you weren't around back then.

Saturday's game isn't huge at all - doesn't bear comparison with some of the big games we've had in recent years.

28 so unfortunately not.

Given we'd go 9 points clear of them with 15 to play for I'd be calling that huge.

hampsteadclaret · Post by **hampsteadclaret** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 11:34 am

It’s a pretty big match in terms of finishing as high up the table as possible and the money that goes with that.

It’s a fat 6 pointer and if we win it Leicester won’t catch us.. we want to be ‘the best of the rest don’t we..?’

Plan B = do not lose it....a draw would be ok.

UpTheBeehole · Post by **UpTheBeehole** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 11:35 am

It'd be huge if we were on the same points. We're not, we're 6 points above them, so we can lose it and still end up comfortably above them. A point is status quo.

Not huge.

NottsClaret · Post by **NottsClaret** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 11:39 am

It's big because it's the next one. Not as big as the Leicester and Boro games in recent years, nowhere near as important as Sheff Utd in the play offs. Hopefully we'll never play a game of Orient's magnitude again.

Lancasterclaret · Post by **Lancasterclaret** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 11:42 am

Its only big in that if we win we are pretty much in the Europa League next year.

If we don't win, we still might be in it next year and we will still be in the premier league next year.

So its not that big in the context of any of the really big games I can think of.

JohnMac · Post by **JohnMac** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 11:44 am

In terms of the club's history, not at all a big game. It could define our finishing position, so important. But in reality, no more important than the last game or the one following.

It's a joy to be able to get back on't Turf after an absence of what seemed like months though.

Lancasterclaret · Post by **Lancasterclaret** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 11:46 am

It has been months hasn't it?

Carport · Post by **Carport** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 11:47 am

To guarantee 7th

Win = 2 further wins needed out of five
Draw = 3 further wins
Lose = 4 further wins

MACCA · Post by **MACCA** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 11:48 am

Certainly the biggest of the season so far.

I'd certainly take a point if offered now, I just hope we put in a preformance in and we have a strong ref.
I think a lot of eyes will be on this game, and the result will either be used to build us up as the real deal, or knock us down as can't hack the pressure by the pundits IMO.

Milltown1882 · Post by **Milltown1882** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 11:48 am

Six weeks to the day won't it? Almost as bad as end of the season to pre season!

HiroshimaClaret · Post by **HiroshimaClaret** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 11:51 am

ClaretTony wrote:Not quite Orient? I assume you weren't around back then.

Saturday's game isn't huge at all - doesn't bear comparison with some of the big games we've had in recent years.

Dyche will of course maintain his `one game at a time`mantra and no-one can argue with that, but even Dyche will know, deep down, as this is Burnley in 2018, not 1987, that this, in context, is a huge game in the `history` of Burnley football club. Not `Orient` huge (no game will ever be that huge again!) but for our club to almost cement a place in European competition and for him individually to take `his group` into Europe will enhance his reputation beyond his wildest dreams!

jlup1980 · Post by **jlup1980** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 11:52 am

It's a big game in terms of finishing 7th, but the sheer fact that we're fighting for 7th shows what a luxury position we're in!! I'm not going to be a bag of nerves when I get to the Turf that's for sure. Three points and 7th is ours but realistically I'd be very happy with a point. Whatever happens we'll still be very much in charge of our own destiny.

claretspice · Post by **claretspice** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 11:56 am

It is a smaller game than the one we lost to Leicester 3 years ago when they beat us 1-0 and we went down, for a start. It's also undoubtedly smaller than the draws with Boro and Brighton in the run in 2 years ago.

It might be as big as or bigger than the game against Leicester 4 years ago, when we were both virtually up and the game was really about the glory of winning the league.

BOYSIE31 · Post by **BOYSIE31** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 12:05 pm

ClaretTony wrote:Not quite Orient? I assume you weren't around back then.

Saturday's game isn't huge at all - doesn't bear comparison with some of the big games we've had in recent years.

im the same i do not think its a big game but then i have never seen my team play in europe like some on here will have done.
so cant go down so i would say yes saturday is now the biggest game this season for obvious reasons.

Rick_Muller · Post by **Rick_Muller** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 12:12 pm

Surely the biggest game is always the next game...

BOYSIE31 · Post by **BOYSIE31** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 12:16 pm

Lancasterclaret wrote:Its only big in that if we win we are pretty much in the Europa League next year.

If we don't win, we still might be in it next year and we will still be in the premier league next year.

So its not that big in the context of any of the really big games I can think of.

Only thing now to play for so huge for me.

Goobs · Post by **Goobs** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 12:21 pm

In the context of finishing 7th it could have a big influence, however a lot of people seem to be taking it for granted that 7th = Europa league, which it doesn't. Southampton wouldn't be the first team to win the FA Cup and be relegated in the same season (if indeed they do go down) and they only have to win two games to win the FA Cup.

PLTMGMBJ · Post by **PLTMGMBJ** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 12:24 pm

I'm in the camp of it being nowhere near as big as the Orient game. I won't shed too many tears if we finish 8th as it'll be a marvellous achievement still. Whereas the Orient game would have probably sounded the death knell for our club. We've been in Europe before so even though it'd be nice, it's not as though we haven't been there before. Just finish as high as we can and take each game as it comes.

Colburn_Claret · Post by **Colburn_Claret** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 12:26 pm

It's big if we win, but not over if we lose, so in that scenario not massive.
European football would be the icing on the cake, but S'oton and Palace have bigger games coming up.

cutsy123 · Post by **cutsy123** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 12:27 pm

Right here. Right now. This is a huge game

Win and weve almost grabbed a european spot

How can that not be huge?

cricketfieldclarets · Post by **cricketfieldclarets** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 12:28 pm

I can't understand anyone who doesn't think its huge.

For us to be playing the team immediately below us, in a game late in the season with 7th and even 6th still up for grabs - our highest position in the best (worse) part of half a century its absolutely massive. Add to the fact chances are it would mean we will probably end up in Europe it's a massive game. Same goes for Chelsea and Arsenal.

No wonder we can't get an atmosphere these days if people can't see the importance of beating the last two premier league champions in our next two home games.

Is it as big as Orient? Perhaps not. But that was now over 30 years ago. But winning this takes us up to another level yet again. It will be massive in our ambition for attracting the next level of player too!

Goobs · Post by **Goobs** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 12:31 pm

cutsy123 wrote:Right here. Right now. This is a huge game

Win and weve almost grabbed a european spot

How can that not be huge?

That is n't true though, is it? Finish 7th and Saints win the FA Cup and all we have done is finished 7th for which there will be no European football.

bfcjg · Post by **bfcjg** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 12:32 pm

Its bigger than Benjamin Big of Bigsville.

4:20 · Post by **4:20** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 12:41 pm

Beat Leicester, go on a bad run but its just enough to pip them to 7th on the last day by goal difference or something, we qualify then going on next season to win the Europa Cup against all odds then having a wonder season in the Champions league...we might all be looking back on that Leicester game as one of the pivotal games in the clubs history....then again, whatever the result Saturday, it might have no effect whatsoever. I'd like to think of it as a massive game though, I love this type of big match, the build up, the tension, the what ifs. Battling for 7th in the Premier League with our rivals for a potential Europa Cup spot, pinch me.

houseboy · Post by **houseboy** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 12:57 pm

UpTheBeehole wrote:It'd be huge if we were on the same points. We're not, we're 6 points above them, so we can lose it and still end up comfortably above them. A point is status quo.

Not huge.

My sentiments entirely. I'm not viewing this game as big at all now. It might have been until Saturday but we have a cushion and it wouldn't be a disaster if we lost but I don't think we will anyway. I think we'll play safety first to make sure we don't lose then anything else is a bonus.

RocketLawnChair · Post by **RocketLawnChair** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 1:04 pm

Somebody said above its not as though we haven't played in Europe before. ******* hell even I wasn't born then and I am 45 this year!!

Course its a big game, We have a generation of fans now who now think being in the championship is a disaster (my son whose 18 being one) and they want to see us play in Europe and why bloody not I say.

Orient 87 is part of our history but that's exactly what it is History. We need to keep moving forwards and I see us making it into European competition this season as a massive step in our progression and progression lets not forget is something that Sean Dyche puts so much emphasis on.

So whilst I wont forget the Orient game and everything that surrounded and caused it I don't expect fans of this generation to even give it a second thought other than perhaps once a season my lad asking "so were we really that shite dad?"

IndigoLake · Post by **IndigoLake** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 1:07 pm

It's big if we win as we'd open up a serious gap between ourselves and Leicester. Not that big a deal if we draw or lose as we'll still have a bit of a cushion.

CaptJohn · Post by **CaptJohn** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 1:09 pm

Anyone who witnessed the Orient game and who endured the tension of that whole season (Think Crewe and Rochdale away for levels of tension in the stratosphere) will know that Saturdays game is no where near the same level of importance to the club. However it's damned great for the current crop of young fans to be in with a shout of watching European football at the Turf (I was lucky enough to see us against Stuttgart, Lausanne, Napoli and Eintracht Frankfurt in our Fairs Cup adventure) so I'll be there screaming my head off for the lads so that maybe, just maybe I'll get another chance

claretspice · Post by **claretspice** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 1:16 pm

You can argue that it is because of the legends and folklore that the successes of the 60s created that Orient really mattered.

Without that history, Orient might not have led to the massive rebirth that it did. But it just so happened that around about 1987 there were a lot of Burnley supporters who had caught the bug in the last golden age and who re-caught it as a direct result of Orient, and who had kids of about the right age to become hooked.

One of the reasons I think its so important that we grasp our opportunity now is that its a chance to create new legends and a new golden age, 50 years on from the last golden age. In 25 or 30 years time, it might be the kids who get hooked now who mean we don't just become another Oldham or Bury or Barnsley or similar.

But for all that, this game is nowhere near as big as Orient, and nor is it as big as the pivotal games that secured us promotion.

burnley007 · Post by **burnley007** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 1:18 pm

2 situations can't be compared;

Orient game was huge, but utterly terrifying. A week of utter dread and fear...
Leicester game is just another step on our current incredible Dyche journey. It's positive after positive. Who knows where it will end. Not huge, just part of a bigger journey.

BabylonClaret · Post by **BabylonClaret** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 1:19 pm

It's a big game no doubt but bigger for Leicester as they definitely need to win if they want to qualify for Europe.

I just want to put one over on them as the away fixture could have gone either way until Brady went off injured.

Add to the mix that Arsenal face Man U and we could be 2 points behind 6th place if things go well.

Lets keepnthe momentum going

Dyched · Post by **Dyched** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 1:22 pm

Massive. Imo anyway.

It all depends on what context you take it in. The biggest game I think of was Wembley 09. That was incredibly massive. For our club to be 90 mins away from the PL was huge. Weve had big games since of course. But this little old football club is on the brink of EUROPEAN football. That is incredible.

Orient may have been huge. But for all the wrong reasons and some of those players treated as heroes is so wrong. They got into that mess.

Wether we qualify or not. Im pround as owt to support this club.

14th in the Championship to Europe in 6 years.

timshorts · Post by **timshorts** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 1:34 pm

I'm not going to this game. There are some games that I also didn't go to that I can still remember what I was doing years afterwards. From those above:-
a) I was at Forest when the Orient game was on, and remember following somebody along the street that had a radio on so that I could hear the score
b) Likewise, I remember chasing somebody along that had a newspaper so that I could read the headline on the back page after the Newcastle semi-final (I guess I was about 10).
c) For the Boro game, I'd been on a work course and was watching Merthyr play at Chesham (away).
d) Brighton - I was there.

I don't think this is up in that league, so I doubt I'll remember - although it's importance may prove later on to be more significant than it looks now.

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 1:39 pm

There are some real killjoys on this thread. Is it a big match like Orient in an existential sense or like Sheff Utd in a financial sense? Of course not. Thankfully we're in a position now where we don't need to worry about those things - instead there is an opportunity to all but secure our highest league finish in forty-odd years and give ourselves a real chance of European football, something that most fans wouldn't have even dared to dream about in their time supporting the club. Isn't chasing those dreams exactly what football should be about?

It's a big game, no doubt, but unlike others referred to it's of the everything to gain, nothing to lose variety. Why some people think that makes it less of an occasion is beyond me.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 1:44 pm

Rick_Muller wrote:Surely the biggest game is always the next game...

That's exactly what the manager would say

Jeffbfc · Post by **Jeffbfc** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 1:57 pm

BabylonClaret wrote:Add to the mix that Arsenal face Man U and we could be 2 points behind 6th place if things go well.

Arsenal are actually away at Newcastle this weekend on Sunday with United yet to come.
That wont be an easy game up in Geordie land.

TVC15 · Post by **TVC15** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 2:01 pm

Not huge for me.

Win, lose or draw we still have a great chance of finishing 7th. And if we don't we will finish 8th and at worst 9th. Any of these would be a brilliant achievement.

As good as being in Europe would be for the stature of the club personally I would not be too bothered if we missed out either given the impact it has had on other teams recently.

Whilst we are quoting our manager...."we can only control the controllables" !!

Vegas Claret · Post by **Vegas Claret** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 2:19 pm

ClaretTony wrote:Not quite Orient? I assume you weren't around back then.

Saturday's game isn't huge at all - doesn't bear comparison with some of the big games we've had in recent years.

Spot on Tony, Saturday doesn't even register in the top 20 for me

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 2:38 pm

Vegas Claret wrote:Spot on Tony, Saturday doesn't even register in the top 20 for me

Wasn't going on in 1960 when we won the league but there have been enough final day games where promotion/relegation hinged so without a doubt those big last day games come top.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 2:38 pm

Vegas Claret wrote:Spot on Tony, Saturday doesn't even register in the top 20 for me

Wasn't going on in 1960 when we won the league but there have been enough final day games where promotion/relegation hinged so without a doubt those big last day games come top.

RalphCoatesComb · Post by **RalphCoatesComb** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 2:43 pm

Sidney1st wrote:For the Orient faithful it's not that big a game.

For the Orient faithful, nothing is a big deal any more.

Still makes me shudder to think what could have been

Stalbansclaret · Post by **Stalbansclaret** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 3:00 pm

I was at the Orient game and that was obviously BIG but in a genuinely terrifying way. Saturday v Leicester is massive in a very positive way ..I can't wait for the game and the thought that we could be walking out of the Turf at 5pm with our beloved club having one foot in Europe is supremely exciting.

cutsy123 · Post by **cutsy123** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 3:07 pm

Goobs wrote:That is n't true though, is it? Finish 7th and Saints win the FA Cup and all we have done is finished 7th for which there will be no European football.

If saints win the FA Cup i will eat my own ****

Blackrod · Post by **Blackrod** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 3:09 pm

claretspice wrote:You can argue that it is because of the legends and folklore that the successes of the 60s created that Orient really mattered.

Without that history, Orient might not have led to the massive rebirth that it did. But it just so happened that around about 1987 there were a lot of Burnley supporters who had caught the bug in the last golden age and who re-caught it as a direct result of Orient, and who had kids of about the right age to become hooked.

One of the reasons I think its so important that we grasp our opportunity now is that its a chance to create new legends and a new golden age, 50 years on from the last golden age. In 25 or 30 years time, it might be the kids who get hooked now who mean we don't just become another Oldham or Bury or Barnsley or similar.

But for all that, this game is nowhere near as big as Orient, and nor is it as big as the pivotal games that secured us promotion.

A good way of looking at it. It's a big game no doubt but not as big as others in our recent history. It would be the icing on the cake really.

cricketfieldclarets · Post by **cricketfieldclarets** » Mon Apr 09, 2018 3:12 pm

How can anyone not think winning is a big deal and opening up the gap and PROBABLY qualifying for Europe as a result.

As it stands if we were to qualify for The Europa we would potentially play:

Italy:

Inter Milan
AC Milan
Fiorentina

France:

Marseille

Germany:

Bayer Leverkusen
RB Leipzig
And probably Schalke from the cup

Holland:

Feyenoord
AZ Alkmaar

Spain:

Betis
Sevilla
Villareal
(And a long shot that Real Madrid could end up in it)

Portugal:

Sporting Lisbon
Braga