Often Partisan

Can the Young Blues Stop the Claret Tide? Burnley Preview

Burnley come to St Andrews to kick off a festive campaign that sees Blues play five games in the next fifteen days. Sean Dyche’s side haven’t been in the greatest of form lately and will be looking to change that against an injury-ravaged Birmingham City side.

Burnley

The Clarets come into this game having only won one game in their last seven and only having scored four goals in their last six games. Charlie Austin has nineteen of their thirty-four goals in this division but right now Burnley have not been firing on all cylinders and they lie in seventeenth place, two places and four points ahead of the home side.

Michael Duff and Chris McCann return to the Burnley side after missing the last game through suspension whilst winger Keith Treacy will be looking for a starting position after his return from injury.

Blues

Where do we start with Blues? It was confirmed on Thursday that eight of the 20 players who make up the squad are teenagers and include 18-year-old Emmitt Delfouneso, who was given the squad number 31 on Friday. Delfouneso, whose older brother Nathan plays across the expressway, is a centre back and has played in most of the u21 development league squad games this year.

Lee Clark has a major defensive headache – does he play Paul Robinson at right-back and reward Mitch Hancox for his impressive cameos with a start in the left-back berth or does he bring in Will Packwood or even Hayden Mullins to cover for the injured Paul Caddis? I suspect Papa Bouba Diop may continue in the central midfield role and whilst Callum Reilly was okay on his debut I feel he might make way for either the aforementioned Mullins or Ravel Morrison in the middle.

As much as Burnley are in a similar predicament pointswise I once again fear for Birmingham City. Blues’ squad is now looking painfully thin and with so many games in so little time you can see Clark sweating about how he’s going to manage the players he has got to play in them all. I hate saying this but Burnley look excellent value to me at 21/10 to win this game (at least those were the odds when I looked) . I hope I’m proved massively wrong.

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13 Responses to “Can the Young Blues Stop the Claret Tide? Burnley Preview”

  • Bluehobba says:

    I’m still going for a 1-0 home win, King the scorer. Happy Christmas!

  • Paul Carter - The Festive Voice Of Reason he says:

    Cmon Dan FFS let’s have a bit more positivity. We’ve played well in the last 2 home games and I can’t see why we can’t today. I’m going for 2-0.

    The first thing I’m gonna do when I take my seat is cajole all around me to cheer the feck up, remember we’re Blues and this is how it rolls for us and get supporting. I shall be shouting out loud to all around me, no moaning!! I may knock out a couple of solo Xmas carols as well.

    (just a small fact Delfouneso currently plays on loan for Blackpool is from Tyesely and rumoured to be Blue through and through)

  • Paul Carter - The Festive Voice Of Reason he says:

    Dan why do you keep deleting my posts?

    • almajir says:

      Paul

      Every time you change your name, the spam filter puts you on approval. Thus you have to wait for me to physically moderate your posts – and I’m not always around.

      comment policy can be found here

  • FrancisHattonLatchford says:

    I’m hearing Marlon is out with knee-knack.

  • Bluenosesol says:

    LC has made it clear we wont be buying any players in January, it wouldnt make sense to sign loanees as he can only play 5 at a time and we are expecting offers for our higher value players , the funds of which will be utilised to ward off administration, So on reflection, LC’s policy of developing our youth players Dario Gradi style makes perfect sense. I am hoping that young Callum Reilly makes the side again and that Delfouneso makes the squad. If these kids perform, then at least on the pitch, we will be AOK and who knows, LC might win over a few more fans. I’m dreaming of a Blue and White Christmas, Just like the One’s I used to know!

  • DoctorD says:

    I’m going for a 1-2 defeat. We concede in the first half hour, battle back with an equaliser and then concede in the 78th minute. After a late flurry we come away with nothing.

  • AR says:

    Someone who told me Marlon was out, also said that Fahey has had a bust-up with Clark and is on the list. I hope this is wrong, but has anyone else heard anything?

  • kirkus says:

    paul said we played well last week,yeah for 20mins,jesus


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