At 35 years old I have never witnessed us in the top flight and grew up following the Clarets through the lower league's, so this is the most exciting time of my life. As for having a choice which team to play first. Well, I would have opted for a home game and ideally against a team that is one of the clubs we need to aim to finish above if we are to stay up. Stoke are one of those teams, but with the record you had at home last season makes this game look as hard as anything we could face. Due to us facing 4 of the top 5 clubs from last season after the opening game, it makes it even more important for us to get off to a start and at least put a point on the board.
Are you happy with the squad as is it, or would you like a few new faces before Saturday?
Very happy with the squd and not at all bothered about our poor pre-season. We lacked pace in defence last season and that seems to have been addressed. We also have a natural left winger for the first time in many years and to top it off we have choices in attack. Many people believe we have bought poorly because they are all young, but with a 15k a week wage limit we could not buy experience. Should we go down, then we will have a young squad with a little Premier League experience that should leave us in a good position for many years.
Burnley seem to have a good record at the Britannia, could this play a part or is this a totally new ball game in the top flight?
I suppose all teams have bogey teams or good hunting grounds, but they usually go round in circles and form means nothing for teams outside the top 4 or 5 in this league. Most of the games are like cup finals. It probably gives the fans extra confidence, but half of our team will not have faced Stoke for Burnley. Your style of play over the past 5 seasons as changed too and you seem to be a much harder team to beat.
Which Stoke players will you be wary of? Any Potters players seem to always do well against you?
Fuller without a doubt. Highly disliked amongst Clarets mainly for his time at Preston. Considered to be a cheat of the highest order, but he is a very good player that can score from nothing and really upset defenders. He usually gets at least one against us. Oh and any player that can throw a ball from one end of the pitch to another is a danger for any team especially when you have some big target players to aim for.
Who should we be keeping an eye on from a Claret's point of view?
Too be honest we have a lot of young potential talent and we are all wondering the same thing. Hopefully some of them can step up and prove their potential. I would suggest our midfield is full of real talent that can unlock any team. Blake and Elliott have the skill and experience while Eagles and Guerrero have pace and bags of raw talent. I'm still unsure which players will start, so others to watch out for are McCann and McDonald. Both young and gifted central midfielders. 4 of those 6 will start and probably Alexander behind them in a 4-1-4-1 formation.
What's your prediction for the result then?
I have been saying that we will win this 2-1, but maybe the pre-season has had an effect on my judgement. I will go for a 2-2 draw.
Good luck for the rest of the season and make sure you stuff Rovers as it would be very nice indeed to see them get relegated with Hull and Portsmouth whom I predict are for the drop.
Kind regards,
Andy Smith (smitrit)(SWCSC)
Burnley Fans Online Editor
South Wales Clarets Supporters Club