REPORT: Horrible

[groove]

Second lowest scorers in the PL (only relegation threatened Norwich have scored fewer) and failed to score in home games against Norwich and Watford (managed to keep first clean sheet in the PL for over a year).

No real sign of us turning any corners (or scoring from them).

Along with Everton, we have the best goal difference in the bottom 7.

[ClaretTony]

Along with Everton, we have the best goal difference in the bottom 7.

People getting obsessed with the lack of goals unfortunately, but we have rarely done better.

[tiger76]

People getting obsessed with the lack of goals unfortunately, but we have rarely done better.

Saturday was our 5th 0-0 of the season, and if we could only have turned 2 or 3 of those into victories, the 2nd half of the campaign would look a lot brighter.

Despite the fact we have amassed more points than 18/19 during the 1st half of the season something feels different this time, and well not all is lost yet, it will take a major upturn in form to drag us clear of danger.

We appear to have lost the important ability to win ugly, and given we are rarely going to sweep teams aside we somehow need to rediscover this habit quickly.

[ClaretTony]

We appear to have lost the important ability to win ugly

I said it during the second half that this was a game we'd have gone and won 1-0 three or four years ago.

[tiger76]

I said it during the second half that this was a game we'd have gone and won 1-0 three or four years ago.

Yep! ditto the Norwich match, we didn't play well, but if Weghorst scores that huge chance early in the 2nd half, we probably go on to claim 3 vital points.

That's the difference we've never been prolific in the PL, but what we used to do was ensure our goals counted to the max.

We do now seem to have sorted the defence and the clean sheets are now becoming more common, but until we can start putting the ball in the back of the net the elusive wins aren't going to come.

[groove]

That's exactly what we are missing this season, the ugly 1 nil wins. It's those fine margins, missed chances and not getting the rub of the green that could seal our fate. It also shows we're not a million miles off where we would expect to be. It's imperative we start finding the net though.

[ClaretPete001]

Just looked back on the table from season 18/19 when after 19 games we only had 12 points. Walking out after the 5-1 drubbing by Everton I genuinely thought that we were doomed.

The table at time, where most teams had played an even amount of games had the bottom team Huddersfield on 10 points whilst Crystal Palace in 14th had 19 points, we were in 18th on the 12 points. This year we are bottom on 13 points with Brentford in 14th on 23 points with them having played from 4 games more.

After 24 matches in 18/19 we had 23 points so in the five matches after Everton we amassed 11 points and put a 4 point gap between us on 17th and Cardiff in 18th. This to me suggest that the next 5 matches will decide our season if we can get 2 wins and a draw I will be happy.

I would rather go into the the final 19 matches with the strikers we have now than we had then.

After the 19th game we went on an 8 match unbeaten run and Wood and Barnes scored in all but 1. In fact, Wood and Barnes scored a hat full in the second half of the season.

So, I beg to differ. The Wood and Barnes of 3 years ago would be the first names on my team sheet

[tiger76]

After the 19th game we went on an 8 match unbeaten run and Wood and Barnes scored in all but 1. In fact, Wood and Barnes scored a hat full in the second half of the season.

So, I beg to differ. The Wood and Barnes of 3 years ago would be the first names on my team sheet

Then we need to hope Cornet & Weghorst can replicate that form in the next few months to give us any chance of staying up.

[Foreverly Claret]

Excellent report .I was totally depressed ; freezing cold and soaked to the skin in the ground ; couldn't get a drink at half time...got even wetter walking to the car on Lyndhurst Road then sat in a traffic jam from the Kettle Drum to the lights at Cliviger for a good half an hour before slogging my way back to Leeds .On top of that I couldn't find the pie I got for the journey home...when I got home there it was on the front passenger seat...my wife had been sat on it !!!! That's no way to warm a pie . Horrible is the word .What's the weather forecast for Tuesday ?

[ClaretPete001]

Then we need to hope Cornet & Weghorst can replicate that form in the next few months to give us any chance of staying up.

Yes, if you can somehow eliminate any meaningful activity in the pre-frontal cortex - there is definitely hope.

Actually, it's just come back to me 18/19 was our European year. And last year when we had a poor start we had injuries to key players like Wood and Mee.

The thing that stood out about last season was that as we secured our place in the Premiership; particularly, the win at Fulham we then got tanked by Leeds 4-0 at home, lost to Liverpool and then Sheffield United.

It struck me for the first time in quite a number of years it looked like there was very little left in the tank.

[Silkyskills1]

[quote="Foreverly Claret" post_id=1744256 time=16442658 .What's the weather forecast for Tuesday ?
[/quote]

Wet.

[Andreshotboots]

Excellent report .I was totally depressed ; freezing cold and soaked to the skin in the ground ; couldn't get a drink at half time...got even wetter walking to the car on Lyndhurst Road then sat in a traffic jam from the Kettle Drum to the lights at Cliviger for a good half an hour before slogging my way back to Leeds .On top of that I couldn't find the pie I got for the journey home...when I got home there it was on the front passenger seat...my wife had been sat on it !!!! That's no way to warm a pie . Horrible is the word .What's the weather forecast for Tuesday ?

Not quite as horrendous as Saturday, but never the less still horrendous

[barracuda]

Awfully negative title to a report on the club that we love and are so proud of. Was a decent clean sheet considering we were against a new manager bounce. We didn't find that edge and the fine margins did not go our way (again). Like it or not - this is true you numbskulls!

Why not title it 'Bad timing' … and include the weather aspect. No need to encourage the negativity that sweeps this now toxic forum.

In the past we have had many games like this and nicked a one nil under the same regime and same framework and approach

I am so disgusted and embarrassed by our negative fans and and them on social media - negativity akin to Everton (Moyes out, Martinez out. BFS Out, Benitez Out), Newcastle (Anyone out). We need to back our lads and our manager who deserve so much better respect

Makes me puke when I see posts saying our players are not trying. Rubbish. And we might not play like Brazil... but who else does eh?

[Murger]

Awfully negative title to a report on the club that we love and are so proud of. Was a decent clean sheet considering we were against a new manager bounce. We didn't find that edge and the fine margins did not go our way (again). Like it or not - this is true you numbskulls!

Is that you Sean? If it is, stop gobbing off on a message board and coach your team on how to pass the ball 5 yards.

[andyh]

I think we are very similar to previous seasons. We’ve had 5 good games, 5 bad games and the rest are meh.

We are just not getting any luck. Our bad games have been when it matters most. Our good games when we are up against good opponents. Look at our goal difference this year compared to previous years.

I do think refereeing decisions have largely been unfavourable. Whether that is random or refs not being as equitable as I would like who knows.

Bottom line is we need to win some games. Do that and who knows what will happen. We are most likely to do that by supporting Sean. We don’t have the players who are just underperforming that a new manager could lift.
(Sadly I think age is the problem and there is no cure for that)

[Swizzlestick]

When the chips are down, in the big games against teams around us, we’ve been desperately poor - Newcastle, Leeds, Watford. I don’t think we’ve been particularly unlucky. And, while I’m not necessarily espousing it, a new manager would bring fresh, tactical ideas. Are we really seeing the best from McNeil under this manager e.g.?

[Rodleydave]

Foreverley Claret...ditto... except no pie was harmed... where in Leeds are you

[jedi_master]

Excellent report .I was totally depressed ; freezing cold and soaked to the skin in the ground ; couldn't get a drink at half time...got even wetter walking to the car on Lyndhurst Road then sat in a traffic jam from the Kettle Drum to the lights at Cliviger for a good half an hour before slogging my way back to Leeds .On top of that I couldn't find the pie I got for the journey home...when I got home there it was on the front passenger seat...my wife had been sat on it !!!! That's no way to warm a pie . Horrible is the word .What's the weather forecast for Tuesday ?

Those lights in Cliviger are a joke.

So much of a joke that a stream of about 30 cars coming down the hill towards them past the Kettledrum opted to go straight through them on red after realising they were never going to change (including my car) after a 20 minute wait. No cars moving in any direction, all just sat waiting for seemingly nothing. They have been there absolutely ages, must be a nightmare living in that part of Cliviger at the moment - roads an absolute tip.

As I won't be getting home to Chesterfield tonight till past midnight, I will be going left at the Kettledrum and over the tops through to Todmorden, can't be arsed with those lights again.

[JohnMcGreal]

Awfully negative title to a report on the club that we love and are so proud of. Was a decent clean sheet considering we were against a new manager bounce. We didn't find that edge and the fine margins did not go our way (again). Like it or not - this is true you numbskulls!

Why not title it 'Bad timing' … and include the weather aspect. No need to encourage the negativity that sweeps this now toxic forum.

In the past we have had many games like this and nicked a one nil under the same regime and same framework and approach

I am so disgusted and embarrassed by our negative fans and and them on social media - negativity akin to Everton (Moyes out, Martinez out. BFS Out, Benitez Out), Newcastle (Anyone out). We need to back our lads and our manager who deserve so much better respect

Makes me puke when I see posts saying our players are not trying. Rubbish. And we might not play like Brazil... but who else does eh?

It's a match report. The title and content accurately describe the events on Saturday.

If you want a more positive match report, maybe you should go and read the report for a different match? This one was horrible. Fans are negative but it's not unjustified.

You seem to be more upset at that than you are at the state of affairs at the club, both on and off the pitch.

[NottsClaret]

It's a fair report and a realistic thread. Can't wait for tonight. Wind and rain forecast too.. going to be a grim Groundhog Day.

[tiger76]

It's a fair report and a realistic thread. Can't wait for tonight. Wind and rain forecast too.. going to be a grim Groundhog Day.

Excellent to hear the foul weather forecast, I'd happily settle for a battling draw tonight.

Mind you that's easy for me to say as an armchair fan, for those attending you'll probably need to wrap up warmly.

[ClaretTony]

Awfully negative title to a report on the club that we love and are so proud of. Was a decent clean sheet considering we were against a new manager bounce. We didn't find that edge and the fine margins did not go our way (again). Like it or not - this is true you numbskulls!

Why not title it 'Bad timing' … and include the weather aspect. No need to encourage the negativity that sweeps this now toxic forum.

In the past we have had many games like this and nicked a one nil under the same regime and same framework and approach

I am so disgusted and embarrassed by our negative fans and and them on social media - negativity akin to Everton (Moyes out, Martinez out. BFS Out, Benitez Out), Newcastle (Anyone out). We need to back our lads and our manager who deserve so much better respect

Makes me puke when I see posts saying our players are not trying. Rubbish. And we might not play like Brazil... but who else does eh?

Sorry you didn't like it and I can confirm that 'Bad Timing' did not reflect what I saw on Saturday. Neither did I see anything from Watford that suggested a new manager bounce. And as for numbskull, that's pathetic but I've been called far worse.

I'll continue to write my reports as I see fit thanks very much and I'll continue to write them on the following day to ensure there is no knee jerk reaction.

[Belgianclaret]

A special song for Foreverlyclaret (skip the ads if they appear)

Keep up the spirits - a dramatic win tonight will kickstart the season - UTC !


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iX_TFkut1PM

[ClaretPete001]

Sorry you didn't like it and I can confirm that 'Bad Timing' did not reflect what I saw on Saturday. Neither did I see anything from Watford that suggested a new manager bounce. And as for numbskull, that's pathetic but I've been called far worse.

I'll continue to write my reports as I see fit thanks very much and I'll continue to write them on the following day to ensure there is no knee jerk reaction.

In response to Barracuda - the fans were quite supportive on the ground. There was slight booing at the end but I thought some of that was aimed at the ref who was pretty poor.

Not sure what anyone is supposed to say after 1 win in 19 and a home draw against a team in the bottom 3.

[ClaretTony]

There was slight booing at the end but I thought some of that was aimed at the ref who was pretty poor.

Seriously?

[ClaretPete001]

Seriously?

Yes, I could be totally deluded but the ref' had started to wind everyone up and my gut feeling was that it contributed to the booing.

The atmosphere before and during the game was surprisingly positive given we are bottom of the league, the weather was horrible and the game was quite turgid but hardly a surprise.

I get the sense that most Burnley fans appreciate the effort and honesty of the team but that's just my perception.