Been a hard cloud to come down from since Friday, such was the conviction and detail in our performance. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve tried to catch snippets of our display on the tv and online and I have to say, I’m incredibly excited about when I next get to cheers the lads on, this coming Saturday….

BUT…

Luton Town are likely to be a different animal. Their forwards will be aggressive and they’ll try and break up and stifle play…sound familiar?

So, as Burnley fans, if the possession and pleasing on the eye football that we witnessed in Huddersfield is to become the norm for us at this level, how do we deal with teams who don’t just let us play?

It’s fair to say that we have well and truly got under skin of all sides in the top six during recent years, even though, after testing their patience and resolve, they still usually came out on top.

Do we need to accept that in some games, they maybe ugly affairs, with lots of breaks in play and dare I say it, time wasting? Will we remember what it’s like to be a club who very much plays ‘effective’ football to win points? I do hope that should our start continue and if other teams do try to spoil our attractive performances, that we don’t make hypocritical fools of ourselves online.

Things in this division can change very quickly indeed and I expect Luton to do whatever they can to give us far more if a game than Huddersfield did.

Really looking forward to it.

UTC

Every match will present the team with different
challenges.We will win many and lose a few.
With each new challenge the team will become stronger, we ,as fans will need to be patient this season and get behind the lads.

So to cut to the quick, will every game be like Friday?
Answer - no.

Vinny'll sort it.

Relax.

alf_resco wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 31, 2022 10:44 pm

So to cut to the quick, will every game be like Friday?
Answer - no.

Indeed. Get yourself a biscuit! Excellent work

ElectroClaret wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 31, 2022 10:48 pm

Vinny'll sort it.

Relax.

This is my problem: I’m extremely relaxed. It’s not normal!

Yes Luton will be well organised, strong, aggressive, and intense. They've got a bit of quality too with their right wing back James Bree, their midfielders Allan Campbell and Luke Freeman, and their strikers Carlton Morris and Elijah Adebayo are also real handfuls.

I'll be really interested to see how we cope with the test they will give us. I remember when Bielsa first took over at Leeds and set about implementing a system that was all about high intensity attacking and possession that stood out from the rest of the league. Everyone kept saying they'd come unstuck against the more robust Championship outfits, but they ended up narrowly missing out on the play off final in his first season and then going up in his second season.

I know what you're trying to do but come on, it's Luton at home. Not exactly a different animal.

We just need to be more clinical. Barnes can't dither on the ball in front of goal like Friday.

But we will be better. VK has only had a few weeks to throw it together and not allowed to use the better players here.
Teams in this division can't handle football like that first half just like we couldn't handle City.

Quickenthetempo wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 31, 2022 10:57 pm

We just need to be more clinical. Barnes can't dither on the ball in front of goal like Friday.

Are you referring to the incident where Barnes had got between the defender and the ball and just before he shot he was hit by the defender? A penalty if the referee and assistant hadn’t missed it? A possible red card as well.

I watched their game yesterday against Birmingham. Muric will have one of his biggest tests of the season in coming for crosses because they have 4 really big lads and an excellent delivery, the front two are also more than a handful. The gaps between their defenders yesterday were huge though and an area we can definitely exploit. Their main play maker yesterday was Luke Freeman which tells you about their standard, very much a sum of the parts better than the individuals team. If we play anything like we did in the first half on Friday and don't give away silly set pieces we will win on yesterdays evidence.

Burnley Ace wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 31, 2022 11:12 pm

Are you referring to the incident where Barnes had got between the defender and the ball and just before he shot he was hit by the defender? A penalty if the referee and assistant hadn’t missed it? A possible red card as well.

Yes, it was a pen, but it was offside also.

He had 6 yards start on the defender, he has to get a shot away.

For some reason this game reminds me of when Burnley played Yeovil in 2013 - a team that you feel, given their recent history, don't really belong in the Championship - (and then I look back a bit further and remember Luton in the top flight with players like Kingsley Black).

I think this game's going to be a bit like that - I expect it to be tight and 0-0 at half time - but I expect Burnley to win it 2-0

I think Luton got as close as they're going to be last season with the payoffs

Nothing to fear

Kompany will be on it. He’s mentioned the difference with Luton in the post Hudds press conference so will have all the things in place. Won’t be an easy game but in some respects it’s good to have an early challenge from a more direct team. Will certainly help prepare for when we face Dyche’s Stoke later in the season.

If Maxwel is still here I expect him to be in the squad, if not starting. I don't expect Costelloe to start but I do think we will see CJ in the starting line up

as the season goes on all the opponents will try to weigh up what threat we pose.Our players strengths and weaknesses will be scrutinised to buggery.
We will do the same.
That opening match , although not big on goals, will make more than a few coaches apprehensive.
It was quite stunning attacking football.
Burnley will just have to adapt to each team as best they can. It appeared that we have very capable players in the new look squad. Its up to the opponents to figure us out, if they do , then we will lose a few, if they get it wrong , then they will get beat , and the points are ours. The prospects are good.

bfcmik wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 31, 2022 11:40 pm

If Maxwel is still here I expect him to be in the squad, if not starting. I don't expect Costelloe to start but I do think we will see CJ in the starting line up

Kompany did say somewhere that he would be phased in after the game. Could be a boost in attacking numbers. Hopefully Jay back as I think he’ll still be class at this level.
Not sure about CJ, think Taylor was good at Cb and I think Kompany fancies him in there as he maybe doesn’t have the technical ability wanted to play as high as maatsen.

Good thoughts folks. I think we’ll win 3-1

It's Luton i know it sounds big headed but we have nothing to worry about just the fact it will be out first home game Infront of a packed out turf will see us win never mind the Brazilian flair with a bit of Dutch pace and Irish bo**ocks to go with it. I'm going 0-0 looool.

Can't underestimate them. With another try they could have beaten Huddersfield last season. Norwich lost to Cardiff despite Cardiff having a man sent off. Anything can happen in football.

We need to respect them and try our best to break them down. We must not give stupid fouls away as they will want set pieces. Essentially it will be the opposite of what we've been used to seeing and we should know from our recent success that anything is possible playing the way Luton do.

Atmosphere will be absolutely buzzing, hopefully a new signing or two this week in the areas we need and I’m confident of a win!

Can’t wait for it.

Will be a good test. Luton are well organized and a typical championship side in terms of physicality. However, nothing to be afraid of if the players reach the same level of Friday. Then it will be a comfortable win. Just need to be a little more clinical in front of goal. Replacing Costello by Rodriguez or Twine may already provide more goal power. Costello played well but his finishing skills are not there yet.

This will be a good physical test for our new centre half pairing of Harwood-Bellis and Taylor.

VK said that the first 3 games will be a good measure of where we are.

All different in terms of the challenge they will give the team.

Will give us a good idea of where we are at.

The lads made mistakes on Friday according to VK in the sense that they were not positionally always in the right place when we lost the ball but the hard work and team ethic covered up this.

He is under no illusion that whilst it was a good start - there is still a lot to do with the squad and not all games will go like that. The times it goes wrong could be heavily punished.

We played some good stuff on Friday but I won't judge until the end of August.

Huddersfield were possibly the poorest opponent we have played in the last 7 years.

I still say that we wouldn't have come home with the 3pts against a decent championship side and that we are still 3-4 players short of were we want to be, with the lack of fire power concerning.

I would expect Luton to be a different animal and expect us to win by the odd goal

Top Claret wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 01, 2022 7:50 am

I still say that we wouldn't have come home with the 3pts against a decent championship side and that we are still 3-4 players short of were we want to be, with the lack of fire power concerning.

I don't think VK would disagree with the need for bodies as he has repeated this several time already in interviews - We needed more bodies that what we had last season and we have lost 11-12 players from last season and only brought in 8-9 so we are still down.

With regards to the lack of fire power. VK mentioned after the game at the press conference that he has never had a team with an out and out goal scorer and whilst he would be delighted if one of the team could get 30 goals this season, he doesn't expect to have that player in his squad this season. Last season, his team scored over 100 goals but these were shared across the team. Therefore he has set the expectation that he wants contributions from across the team.

Luton will surely offer more of a test than Huddersfield, but play as we did 1st half, and crucially take our chances, then it should be a home win to mark Vinny's TM debut.

We will have to stand up to the physical challenge mind you, and we can likely expect more teams to employ this approach as the season progresses.

Quickenthetempo wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 31, 2022 11:22 pm

He had 6 yards start on the defender,

Now you are being silly!

Top Claret wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 01, 2022 7:50 am

We played some good stuff on Friday but I won't judge until the end of August.

Huddersfield were possibly the poorest opponent we have played in the last 7 years.

I still say that we wouldn't have come home with the 3pts against a decent championship side and that we are still 3-4 players short of were we want to be, with the lack of fire power concerning.

I would expect Luton to be a different animal and expect us to win by the odd goal

I have to contradict you. I think we made them look that bad, it wasn’t a case of them being bad.

And this is always the way. When the other team literally can’t get the ball off you, there is little they can do. It doesn’t matter if they kick, fight, be physical, long ball short ball or whatever, it’s impossible to disrupt a team that never gives you the ball.

I learned this when I was about 19 playing against Vale Weavers , and not once in the next 30 years of playing did it ever change

BurnleyFC wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 01, 2022 7:10 am

This will be a good physical test for our new centre half pairing of Harwood-Bellis and Taylor.

Hopefully we keep the ball as well as Saturday and don’t give them opportunities to test them too much.

tiger76 wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 01, 2022 8:36 am

Luton will surely offer more of a test than Huddersfield, but play as we did 1st half, and crucially take our chances, then it should be a home win to mark Vinny's TM debut.

We will have to stand up to the physical challenge mind you, and we can likely expect more teams to employ this approach as the season progresses.

Will be interesting to see how they and other teams set up against us now. Do they press us and make it hard to play or soak it up & park the bus?!

One very minor criticism from Friday was I thought we could have been more progressive occasionally - choosing to pass backwards/infield instead of putting it in front of a wide player & really stretching them. Not sure if that’s tactical or a sign we’re still developing in the new style.

Anyway, my point being that at home I expect we’ll need to put the ball at risk more & get in behind at every opportunity. And finish them as you rightly say.

RVclaret wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 01, 2022 6:28 am

Atmosphere will be absolutely buzzing, hopefully a new signing or two this week in the areas we need and I’m confident of a win!

Can’t wait for it.

Me either. Hoping Friday’s performance will create a buzz to be at VK’s first home game & a packed TM will show the new manager and players what an atmosphere we can create.

CharlieinNewMexico wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 01, 2022 8:40 am

I have to contradict you. I think we made them look that bad, it wasn’t a case of them being bad.

And this is always the way. When the other team literally can’t get the ball off you, there is little they can do. It doesn’t matter if they kick, fight, be physical, long ball short ball or whatever, it’s impossible to disrupt a team that never gives you the ball.

I learned this when I was about 19 playing against Vale Weavers , and not once in the next 30 years of playing did it ever change

I agree with you. When man city reduce PL teams to spectators it’s not because the PL opponents are all very poor teams, it’s because City are so well at pressing and retaining the ball, exactly what the clarets did to Huddersfield. But even City lose now and then.

Well. They have to get the ball first. I recall my mate saying on Friday oh look Huddersfield are bringing on a big striker. I said to him they have to get the ball to him and they never did. The only thing I worry is balls into the box from set pieces. Other than that I'm not too concerned.

Better team than Huddersfield but I doubt they can implement a pressing game like ours.
I think they’ll leave possession to us and try to strike on the counter.
We can cut them to pieces, but our system always holds a risk of losing possession in dangerous areas.
It will be another entertaining game no doubt, but I think we will beat them handsomely

I see this as a test for how our season will go.

Not too many people are mentioning this but all these new signings are all tiny. Not many of the 1st team are above 6' tall. One central defender seems about all.

We are very vulnerable to Dyche-type football that we used to play. Set pieces and corners are going to get our nerves jangling all year.

I hope I'm wrong.

Leisure wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 01, 2022 8:40 am

Now you are being silly!

A great video put together to show off Josh Cullens night on Friday. https://twitter.com/freflchampvids/stat ... 4AlciNimFA

Just freeze frame on 20 seconds if it starts from the beginning. Barnes was at his best when hitting things first time. There was a stat a little while ago that he had never scored for us after taking more than 2 touches. It's probably the same now.

I thought Luton were excellent today. They did exactly what I expected them to do… were physical, aerially powerful, looked effective in the final third and dangerous from set pieces. They provided a totally different challenge and a point was a fair outcome. They will go well this season.

I thought we were good at it under SD, but they took time-wasting to another level.

We'll have to get used to teams like Luton, no ones going to roll over for us.

ElectroClaret wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 06, 2022 5:42 pm

We'll have to get used to teams like Luton, no ones going to roll over for us.

Spot-on

I thought they looked like a bang average plucky side. If we score first I think we paste them, they spent the entire game timewasting.