ARTICLE: The cupboard was bare

[ClaretTony]

Article from davet on Supporters club weekend to London

See link
https://www.uptheclarets.com/the-cupboard-was-bare

[ClaretAndJew]

Are you sure this isn't a future article for the January transfer?

[CleggHall]

Another amusing one Dave - thanks.
Harsh reality I am afraid, as you say "it is what it is".
It seems a long time since I saw Burnley at White Hart Lane, 4-3 then with hat tricks from Irvine and Gilzean, happy days?

[Rumpelstiltskin]

Brilliant Dave !

[Sykoclaret]

Excellent read Dave and an accurate assessment of what and where we are. Couldn't have put it better myself.

[Ric_C]

A few injuries and we look pretty dis-jointed.

Looking over SD's tenure as a whole, the best times and the most fluid we have been, are when we have a combination of grit in midfield and width via the fullbacks. I't so frustrating at the moment as we are a couple of players short of being really competitive in this division. However if you take a few out of the current team, then everything else folds like a pack of cards.

The front 2 of Barnes and Wood are great together, but lost when one is injured.

If Taylor is injured, then we have 2 fullbacks with no pace to get up the pitch, this then invites other teams to press up against us almost suffocating our defence, and pressurising us into mistakes.

If Westwood is out, then we lose both his industry and passing AND Hendrick filling in wide right, we become over exposed in this system playing 2 natural wingers, as said before, the width normally comes from the fullbacks who are protected by players such as Hendrick.

In January it is imperative we sign a pacy right back and an athletic strong midfielder who can break up play, no excuses this time.

[bfcjg]

Hillarious, the lift scene you described was brilliant.

[Buxtonclaret]

Great read, as ever, Dave.

[Ashingtonclaret46]

Good read Dave and a reminder that football is only a game which fills part of our lives with mixed emotions. No point these days in taking it serious because, as you say, it is what it is and we will never win the PL!

[Bosscat]

We had a similar experience to "the Lift episode" on Leeds Station when boarding the train back to Skipton.... A rather large group of young (flesh flashing) ladies who had been enjoying the festivities of early December in Leeds.... this same "slightly" inebriated group joined our carriage on the Skipton train......

Then lets just say we were entertained with singing (and other loud and raucous shenanegans) all the way to Keighley ... and the boob flashing as the train pulled out to Skipton was highly amusing. Totally made up for the football

[tim_noone]

Very accurate on poverty reaching Banbury...said it myself.The grand Plaza was a great choice unfortunately I didn't make the Breakfast!! Great trip organised by Barrie.

[ashtonlongsider]

Excellent article. Great therapy reading that Dave. Thank you for articulating in word what I having been thinking for the last month or so. Well since the Bramhall Lane debacle. Legs, Hearts, Mind. Think SD needs to re emphasise this when the players come back from their Christmas jolly.

[D8BFC]

A few injuries and we look pretty dis-jointed.

Looking over SD's tenure as a whole, the best times and the most fluid we have been, are when we have a combination of grit in midfield and width via the fullbacks. I't so frustrating at the moment as we are a couple of players short of being really competitive in this division. However if you take a few out of the current team, then everything else folds like a pack of cards.

The front 2 of Barnes and Wood are great together, but lost when one is injured.

If Taylor is injured, then we have 2 fullbacks with no pace to get up the pitch, this then invites other teams to press up against us almost suffocating our defence, and pressurising us into mistakes.

If Westwood is out, then we lose both his industry and passing AND Hendrick filling in wide right, we become over exposed in this system playing 2 natural wingers, as said before, the width normally comes from the fullbacks who are protected by players such as Hendrick.

In January it is imperative we sign a pacy right back and an athletic strong midfielder who can break up play, no excuses this time.

Absolutely 100% spot on.

[levraiclaret]

" through the streets more or less totally populated by shifty looking Eastern Europeans these days?"

Really?

[tim_noone]

" through the streets more or less totally populated by shifty looking Eastern Europeans these days?"

Really?

Its changed a bit from ten years ago...a bit more industrial on the road in and empty shops etc. Got a pizza wedges and drink for £3.99 good food good price....shifty buggers though

[Rodleydave]

and swarthy looking too...