Priorities

[Colburn_Claret]

With tonights result do we give some players a rest on Saturday, even with a chance of getting into the last 8, and save our best for Cardiff.
It's a lot to expect us to go strong in 2 quick games, especially as extra time is still a possibility.

Thank God we have a big squad.

[Burnley1989]

I suspect he will, probably not as many as previous rounds though.

[randomclaret2]

Promotion has to be the priority.

[Milltown1882]

League over cup every day of the week.

[jedi_master]

Cardiff next Tuesday is massive, and only three days after the FA Cup. I wouldn’t take risks in the Preston game, our second string is better than anything they have in their squad, just need to take our chances.

Hladky
Sonne Worrall Esteve Pires
Shelvey Hannibal Bauress
Benson Foster Koleosho

[Rileybobs]

Not sure why tonight’s result has any bearing on the team Parker will select on Saturday. Parker himself said he has set the team a points target that he thinks will be enough for automatic promotion.

[IanMcL]

As with Southampton, no doubt we will play those with less game time, however, they blend easily. Edwards still needs pitch time, so an hour from him. Half for Benson. Sarmiento, Koleosho both need time on pitch. Aye Aye Ashley and Foster as a 9 needs time. The young midfielder. Even Brownhill needs minutes. We will still be strong! Maybe Tresor can do 5 minutes and win the match!

[Quickenthetempo]

All the team are well rested with 8 days break and most players having some time on the sidelines at some point.

There's only Esteve and Cullen that could do with a break

People like Benson, Brownhill, Foster, Shelvey and Edwards will need as much game time as possible.

[randomclaret2]

Surely its the 3 days to the Cardiff game thats the issue, not the 8 days before the Preston game. We may also face extra time

[RVclaret]

We’ve got 5 games in 14 days including the cup. It’s another chaotic period where the full squad needs to be used. I’d be making almost full changes to the team at PNE.

[ClaretPete001]

We’ve got 5 games in 14 days including the cup. It’s another chaotic period where the full squad needs to be used. I’d be making almost full changes to the team at PNE.

So would I...!

[Quickenthetempo]

Surely its the 3 days to the Cardiff game thats the issue, not the 8 days before the Preston game. We may also face extra time

They will have to arrange a behind closed door friendly for the players not involved in the cup, to keep them ticking over.
11 days is too long.

As for the 3 day gap, most of the squad are as fresh as can be.

[Darnhill Claret]

Rest anyone with any tight muscles
Hladky
Sonne, Worrall, Esteve 1st half, CJ second half, Pires,
Shelvey, Hannibal,
Edwards 60 min/Benson, Bauress 60 min/Brownhill, Sarmiento,
Foster 60 min Barnes,
Plus one other sub as required. Maybe Anthony on for Sarmiento 75 min, or later if scores still level.

[Darnhill Claret]

If chasing, then maybe Flemming instead of Ash.

[willsclarets]

Funny enough I think our changes will suit that awful pne pitch. Shelvey picking out some longer passes, Barnes doing some grunt work up top, a start for Benson perhaps who can actually shoot from range. Not only do we need to rest players, I think giving them a different headache will benefit us.

[Spike]

Even with changes we will be too strong for PKE and will make them wish they never heard of the word abuse
Their only hope is a dodgy ref

[houseboy]

League over cup every day of the week.

Not sure. A cup is a trophy. And the result of promotion is the real possibility of a season long agony. The only thing we get from promotion is twelve months pride of being in the top flight and a lot of money. In the end isn’t being a football club about trying to actually win stuff as opposed to growing the bank account?

[Colburn_Claret]

Funny enough I think our changes will suit that awful pne pitch. Shelvey picking out some longer passes, Barnes doing some grunt work up top, a start for Benson perhaps who can actually shoot from range. Not only do we need to rest players, I think giving them a different headache will benefit us.

I just had a thought, do we want Benson to play on that cow patch, I'd hate to think he got injured again.

[mybloodisclaret]

I just had a thought, do we want Benson to play on that cow patch, I'd hate to think he got injured again.

Exactly my thoughts Colburn, that surface disintegrates under foot far more than many at this level. Then fact that often Benny likes to slow his man down before an acceleration to beat them, probably tells me that this kind of surface is most likely to cause calf strains and tears.

We will need Benny in the last 20 minutes of far bigger games yet.

[jrgbfc]

I`d take winning a cup over another season of getting smashed every week in the Prem. Our squad is strong enough that we can go for both.

[Burnley1989]

Not sure. A cup is a trophy. And the result of promotion is the real possibility of a season long agony. The only thing we get from promotion is twelve months pride of being in the top flight and a lot of money. In the end isn’t being a football club about trying to actually win stuff as opposed to growing the bank account?

Pretty much my feelings these days, winning promotion is like a wild night out for me, you tend to regret it when you sober up the next day

[AlargeClaret]

Thankfully we’ve got loads of players chomping at the bit who need game time like Sarm, Benson, Shelvey, Koleo ( if fit?) Brownhill , we have a good reserve keeper and decent-ish defensive options . As it’s a pretty fluid squad , changes won’t be particularly harmful imo . Though I do hope SP takes this seriously.

[jlup1980]

It's not like the Dyche days when we had a squad of 18-20 players! We have a huge squad, easily big enough to make changes to win the game. Our next two league games take priority over PNE. Beating Cardiff and Luton is absolutely crucial as we have a tougher run in than Sheff U. We need to put the struggling teams to the sword. Strangely, CB is probably the only position we look a bit short. I'd start Foster in the hope he finds the net, which could pay dividends if he gains confidence coming into the run in.

Hladky
Sonne CJ Worrall Pires
Shelvey Bauress
Benson Brownhill Sarmiento
Foster

There's more than enough quality and experience in that 11.

[martin_p]

Play the best team we have available, there’s a place in the FA Cup quarters at stake! It always makes me laugh when people accuse the FA of devaluing the cup while threads like this exist.

[SirBob]

Hope we don’t start Benson in the cup, needs protection, cameos off the bench in this league are his main strength

[willsclarets]

Exactly my thoughts Colburn, that surface disintegrates under foot far more than many at this level. Then fact that often Benny likes to slow his man down before an acceleration to beat them, probably tells me that this kind of surface is most likely to cause calf strains and tears.

We will need Benny in the last 20 minutes of far bigger games yet.

I don't think we can avoid using benny because of an under par pitch. Its not as bad in wide areas, and if he's so susceptible to injury its going to happen anyway. We need him on Saturday, and I bet he's absolutely raring to go.

[Dark Cloud]

Tough call Saturday. Humphreys injured and 3 back up CB's allowed to leave in the recent window. Yes, we have some scope for a bit of rotation and for getting some game time for fringe players or those returning to fitness, but we're also now in a position where we're a couple of injuries from potential disaster in some areas. Should we lose another CB or a key player like Edwards or Cullen or certain others for example. We're suddenly looking like a team who could just have at last found the keys to unlocking those brick wall Championship defences, but only if we can get our absolutely best XI on the pitch and with so few games left we're going to need that every single match if we're going to overhaul Sheffield U.

[martin_p]

Tough call Saturday. Humphreys injured and 3 back up CB's allowed to leave in the recent window. Yes, we have some scope for a bit of rotation and for getting some game time for fringe players or those returning to fitness, but we're also now in a position where we're a couple of injuries from potential disaster in some areas. Should we lose another CB or a key player like Edwards or Cullen or certain others for example. We're suddenly looking like a team who could just have at last found the keys to unlocking those brick wall Championship defences, but only if we can get our absolutely best XI on the pitch and with so few games left we're going to need that every single match if we're going to overhaul Sheffield U.

It’s not a tough call, play the best team for the game. Humphreys got injured in training which just shows ‘protecting’ players isn’t necessarily the answer. We’ve scored zero goals in 180 minutes of football against Preston this season, we need to be at our best to beat them (and they won’t be playing a weakened team).

[houseboy]

Pretty much my feelings these days, winning promotion is like a wild night out for me, you tend to regret it when you sober up the next day

Brilliant analogy. I was thinking last night about if we get promotion, auto or otherwise, all the fans will be singing and celebrating but other fans will look at us and think ‘they’ll soon calm down when things get real’. Let’s have a good go at the cup and then promotion would just be a (dubious) bonus.

[Claretnick]

Play the best team we have available, there’s a place in the FA Cup quarters at stake! It always makes me laugh when people accuse the FA of devaluing the cup while threads like this exist.

Agreed.
Who thought when Jimmy Mullen got us out of the 4th tier we would ever see Premier League and European football in our lifetime. Well we have done that and the remaining dream is to see us play in a FA cup final.
Beating PNE on Saturday takes us one step nearer and into the business end of the competition. We have the squad to compete in cup and league...UTC

[NottsClaret]

I'd play the strongest team at PNE because I'm going to watch and want to win the cup.

[jrgbfc]

Sad how many fans have been brainwashed into thinking being in the Prem for the money is all that matters. There`s an international break in a few weeks, i`m sure we can cope with a few midweek games.

[BradTee93]

Strongest side possible for Saturday no hesitation. A chance to get into the QF of the FA Cup shouldn't be sniffed at! With the 5700 backing as well we'll have.

[dsr]

If footballers played an 8 game season, one game per month from September to April, there would be calls for players to be rested in January. A fit footballer can play two games a week, in consecutive weeks. without a problem.

[dsr]

We’ve got 5 games in 14 days including the cup. It’s another chaotic period where the full squad needs to be used. I’d be making almost full changes to the team at PNE.

Even when stretching the facts as far as they can be stretched, we haven't got 5 games in 14 days. Saturday 1st March to Saturday 15th March is 15 days.

Besides, when you look at it the other way, it's 5 games in 35 days, 22nd February to 28th March.. Is that excessive for a professional footballer?

[Goobs]

Simple fact is our 2nd string beat a near full strength prem team.

No reason to doubt they can beat PKE. Keeps the fringe players happy and a chance to win a shirt for the upcoming league games.

Hldaky
Sonne
Worrall
CJ
Dodgeson (is he still here?) If not Pires
shelvey Bauress
Sarmiento Brownhill Benny
Barnes

[RVclaret]

Even when stretching the facts as far as they can be stretched, we haven't got 5 games in 14 days. Saturday 1st March to Saturday 15th March is 15 days.

Besides, when you look at it the other way, it's 5 games in 35 days, 22nd February to 28th March.. Is that excessive for a professional footballer?

Sat 1st 3pm until Saturday 15th March 3pm is 336 hours, which, divided by 24 is 14 (feel free to correct me). I’ll admit the kick off on the 1st is a couple of hours earlier.

The point is you don’t look at it the other way, 5 games in 14 days is excessive and it’s what leads to 1) poorer performances 2) extra injuries. We’ve seen both occur this season when we had a similar run of fixtures around Christmas/New Year. Most top flight clubs are seeing more and more injuries due to the increased volume of games. Arsenal’s season is over because of it.

[dsr]

Sat 1st 3pm until Saturday 15th March 3pm is 336 hours, which, divided by 24 is 14 (feel free to correct me). I’ll admit the kick off on the 1st is a couple of hours earlier.

The point is you don’t look at it the other way, 5 games in 14 days is excessive and it’s what leads to 1) poorer performances 2) extra injuries. We’ve seen both occur this season when we had a similar run of fixtures around Christmas/New Year.

And by the same token, if you have breakfast today and you have breakfast again tomorrow, you've had breakfast twice in one day.

In the 15 day period over Christmas and New Year, we won 3 and drew 2. I don't think the 2 disappointing 0-0's can be entirely put down to tiredness, because let's face it, disappointing 0-0's are a feature fo the way we play. Who was injured? I genuinely can't remember.

Not so long ago we won promotion to the PL with a 61 game season and very little squad rotation. Now it's deemed to be unreasonable to play 50 games, even with extra substitutions. Why are they so unfit nowadays?

[Selby Claret]

Even when stretching the facts as far as they can be stretched, we haven't got 5 games in 14 days. Saturday 1st March to Saturday 15th March is 15 days.

Besides, when you look at it the other way, it's 5 games in 35 days, 22nd February to 28th March.. Is that excessive for a professional footballer?

These games in days quotes always make me smile because they ensure the matches are bracketed either side of the first and last fixtures

Game 1 is on day 1 and game 5 is on day 15 - so it also means in between we've only 3 games in 13 days....

[Big Vinny K]

And by the same token, if you have breakfast today and you have breakfast again tomorrow, you've had breakfast twice in one day.

In the 15 day period over Christmas and New Year, we won 3 and drew 2. I don't think the 2 disappointing 0-0's can be entirely put down to tiredness, because let's face it, disappointing 0-0's are a feature fo the way we play. Who was injured? I genuinely can't remember.

Not so long ago we won promotion to the PL with a 61 game season and very little squad rotation. Now it's deemed to be unreasonable to play 50 games, even with extra substitutions. Why are they so unfit nowadays?

We’ll have plenty of players playing in internationals and travelling half way around the world too.

For the next few weeks we have mid week games so that’s 2 games a week. The intensity of the modern game means for all teams and players that is not easy. Players are monitored these days more than ever and a lot of the analysis is around preventing injuries before they happen - it’s not an exact science of course and you can get freak injuries all the time. But generally players are a lot fitter these days and clubs are more risk adverse in allowing players to play too many games if they have niggling injuries or the data is telling them that they think a player could suffer a more serious injury if they play too many minutes etc.

That said it’s pretty much the same number of fixtures for all teams and the advantage we have this season (along with Leeds and Sheffield United) is that we have stronger squads and much better benches every week than the rest of the league. So we should be able to cope with more games and managing injuries better than other teams.

[Cornwallclaret]

It’s not like the Dyche era or before.. our bench the other day was immense, we’ve never had backup like it in my lifetime If all were fit and available we could put 2 competitive teams out in the championship, it’s all about getting the balance right on the day and changing it if necessary from the bench if needed UTC

[jrgbfc]

Mix it up a bit but making 10 or 11 changes just sends out the completely wrong message, our own squad included.

[Colburn_Claret]

Brilliant analogy. I was thinking last night about if we get promotion, auto or otherwise, all the fans will be singing and celebrating but other fans will look at us and think ‘they’ll soon calm down when things get real’. Let’s have a good go at the cup and then promotion would just be a (dubious) bonus.

I can understand the apathy to the Prem from a fans pov, but you talk as if we can shrug off the cost of not gaining promotion as if it's nothing. There will be consequences for failure, they might not be terminal but it won't be pretty.

[jrgbfc]

I can understand the apathy to the Prem from a fans pov, but you talk as if we can shrug off the cost of not gaining promotion as if it's nothing. There will be consequences for failure, they might not be terminal but it won't be pretty.

Thats up to Alan Pace to worry about, us lowly fans can`t do anything about the finances. Personally think its all going to end in tears anyway so why not enjoy a bit of glory/success if we can?

[Colburn_Claret]

Thats up to Alan Pace to worry about, us lowly fans can`t do anything about the finances. Personally think its all going to end in tears anyway so why not enjoy a bit of glory/success if we can?

Each to his own, but I find that a very strange attitude.

I would think that the majority of fans given the choice of us winning the cup, but going into liquidation in 5 years time. Or playing football in league 1 in 50 years time, would chose the latter.

[MrTopTier]

Win every game.

[jrgbfc]

Each to his own, but I find that a very strange attitude.

I would think that the majority of fans given the choice of us winning the cup, but going into liquidation in 5 years time. Or playing football in league 1 in 50 years time, would chose the latter.

Was it not you who was highly critical of Dyche for playing the weakened team out in Athens? Is it not the same argument? When chances like this come along you have to just go for it and not overthink things?

[Colburn_Claret]

I have no recollection of having a go at Dyche about Athens, I don't even remember who our team was in Athens. I'd be even more amazed if you did.
Getting to the Prem and then staying in the Prem, will always be a priority for any team of Burnley's status. If opportunity arises where we are safe to move our focus to a cup run that's fine, we aren't anywhere near sure of automatic yet.

The OP was to gauge the feeling of the fans as to which team to pick based on the fact we have a quick turnaround to Cardiff. Some want to go for it, some would give our bench a run out as they need the game time, and should be good enough. Some would save our best to prioritise the Cardiff game. As far as I can read you are the only one who doesn't give a toss whether we are promoted or not. hmm

[jrgbfc]

Must have got you mixed up with someone else then. And not sure where i`ve said i`m not bothered about promotion.

[martin_p]

I have no recollection of having a go at Dyche about Athens, I don't even remember who our team was in Athens. I'd be even more amazed if you did.
Getting to the Prem and then staying in the Prem, will always be a priority for any team of Burnley's status. If opportunity arises where we are safe to move our focus to a cup run that's fine, we aren't anywhere near sure of automatic yet.

The OP was to gauge the feeling of the fans as to which team to pick based on the fact we have a quick turnaround to Cardiff. Some want to go for it, some would give our bench a run out as they need the game time, and should be good enough. Some would save our best to prioritise the Cardiff game. As far as I can read you are the only one who doesn't give a toss whether we are promoted or not. hmm

But this ‘prioririse’ thing only works if you believe the notion that playing our strongest team against Preston reduces our chances of a win at Cardiff 3 days later. It’s by no means a given. Liverpool rested virtually their whole team against Plymouth, got knocked out of the cup, then only managed a draw at Everton