The Match Thread ESPN has a gamecast Burnley 2 v 2 Watford Craig Forsyth 45.mÃn 0:1 Mark Yeates 70.mÃn 0:2 Charlie Austin 77.mÃn 1:2 Keith Treacy 84.mÃn 2:2 Burnley welcome the Hornets for the first match of the season. The Hertfordshire folk are travelling the motorways for the first time. BURNLEY • The Manager – Eddie Howe, talking after the friendly against Sunderland "We knew with the changes made we would be slightly weaker, but we defended really well and saw the game out in a really professional way. There were really positive signs from the two new lads - and all the squad really. I felt everyone played their part and the young lads really had a go when they came on.” “"I think we are right where we want to be. Next week is going to be about a lot of tactical work and preparation, but fitness wise the lads are fine.” • The Clarets Lee Grant Andre Bikey caution 53.min Daniel Fox Ben Mee Kieran Trippier Keith Treacy goal 84.mÃn replaced Wade Elliot 64.mÃn Ross Walace Dean Marney Chris McCann Charlie Austin goal 77.mÃn replaced Martin Paterson HT Jay Rodriguez Substitutes Brian Jensen David Edgar Keith Treacy Marvyn Bartley Charlie Austin Update on the Burnley’s statistics WATFORD • The Manager – Sean Dyche “Mainly the physical and mental preparation of the players because that first half was not good enough, I made them aware of that. It is good in a way that it came in pre-season as it works as a reminder but the first half was simply not good enough. It was unacceptable on any level, from any of us - the coaches and the players - but it was a good reality check of where we are as a group." • The Hornets Scott Loach Lloyd Doyley cautioned 90.mÃn Adrian Mariappa Martin Taylor Carl Dickinson Mark Yeates goal 70.mÃn John Eustace (c) Ross Jenkins Craig Forsyth goal 44.mÃn Marvin Sordell Troy Deeny replaced Chris Iwelumo 68.mÃn Substitutes Rene Gilmartin David Mirfin Piero Mingoia Troy Deeney Gavin Massey Update on the Hornet's latest statistics Who will win? Current form Burnley’s pre-season matches produced some good results especially their win against Sunderland. Watford on the other hand have not ventured too far from Hertfordshire and the results have been disappointing, one win two draws and two defeats, scoring and conceding six goals is not Akureyri's Prediction: 1:3 Watford’s recent poor series of results will count for nothing as Chris Iwelumo returns to Turf Moor to haunt his former employer. skál/skÃ¥l/cheers/salut Don't forget The Hornet’s Nest Drop in for some match chat. Travellers may want some information about Burnley. please log in to view this image
I will be adjusting the presentation over the coming games. Not having 606 is to be a big pain with supporters scattered over many forums I have dropped the fans thoughts. Also I have dropped the last match and history parts as the same information will appear many times. I will bring the history bits back for games against teams we do not play against regularly, Bristol Rovers in the cup for example. And after this thread I think posting on Thursday for Saturday games and Sunday for midweek games is a good schedule. Any way I feel the season is here now I have done the first match thread.
It's like hearing the first cuckoo or seeing the first leaves fall - you know what's around the corner. Bring it on!!
Great to see the match thread back AK, and excellent work as per usual! Getting very excited now the first match is only a couple of days now!
wooohooooo! The season is sooo close! Thanks so much Ak, a fabulous first thread of the season...bring it on!
Nice one Ak - My first reply to a Match thread and feel I am becoming part of the team. Roll on Saturday afternoon. Come on you 'Orns!!
Win lose or draw, what we really need on Saturday is a spark from one of the new attacking players. Whether that's silky skills from Yeates or Iwelumo flattening a centre back en route to a couple of goals, I really don't care. If we are moving towards hoofball, we need to believe very early that we can do that and do that very well. If the emphasis is on having two fantastic wingers who can cross or go inside, complemented by some exciting young attacking midfielders and strikers, and Iwelumo just being the icing on the cake, we need to believe early doors that Yeates and Forsyth can do the business, because they'll be a key part of that. Either way, once we have that belief, the results will come. And when youngsters have that belief, half the time they play better than fully developed men.
Fair comment NNW This season we have a better balance ie some left footed players, and some more older heads , add to that our talented kids! and you have a good mix! plus we are still active in the transfer market , so who knows the next DG might just be around the corner! the creative midfielder we were missing in pre season is now back (hopefully) Sean Murray and maybe this season is the one which Connor Smith breaks on to the scene! There is a lot to feel good about! although this season will be different to the last two,instead of starting well then falling away, I think the start will get us worried but we will get stronger as the season goes on!
Agree with you Norway in that we will start the season slowly. Not only do we have number of new players, but many of our squad (I'm thinking of the younger players) have little experience of the Championship. We should not panic if results do not go favourably for the first 10 games. I am most fascinated by seeing which of our players will step up to the plate this season? Will Sordell kick on from last season, or take a backwards step in the absence of DG? Who will provide our creativity? Yeates? Forsyth? Will Loach fulfill some of his potential? Will any of our youngsters 'explode onto the scene'? I'm tipping Massey, but think our dark horse could be Whichelow....? Which of our new signings will be duds? What type of football will we play this year? I'm hoping for sublime attacking football, but anticipate slightly more pragmatic 'workmanship'. We will hopefully concede less soft goals! For me, it's these unknowns that make the start of the season so exciting. For what its worth, I think we'll sneak a 0 -0 on Saturday!
WAHAY!!!! Much like a baby lamb symoblising the start of Spring, or the first festive card recieved symbolising the beginning of Christmas, the Icelandic match thread symbolises the start of the Football League!!! Well done AK, I will be religously following this on Saturday, whilst I am "entertaining" guests at home.
Nice one AK I just cant wait for Saturday, regardless of what the result is (obviously a win would be nice!!). I agree that a slow start to the season can be forgiven - the first 10 games will be mostly about the squad gelling together. Thats said, knowing Watford we'll probably be top of the league by October Ahhh one can dream...
Probably BBT. Just as long as we don't have a repeat of Boothroyd's last full season. Looking back, we were three halves of football and three minutes away from the Premier League. Has a team ever come that close to the top flight with such a miserable six-month period of the season?
GAME ON!!! And I've taken over my dad's season ticket so I can bitch and moan even when we win just like he used to! Actually I tend to be far more optimistic but we'll see how long that lasts.
