New revelations in the
footballing media suggest Sean Dyche snacks on earthworms and Jose Mourinho’s
newly reported managerial salary hike at Old Trafford, means it can only be a
caviar diet from now on in for the Portuguese “Special One”
The two stories epitomize the real difference between mega
money Manchester United’s privileged position and the necessary prudence
Burnley must exercise just to survive in the top flight of English football.
Mourinho is allegedly throwing open the United cheque book to
bring Alexis Sanchez from the Emirates to Old Trafford, whilst Sean Dyche is
looking to add to his squad with the timidity of a parsimonious parishioner
from neighbouring Padiham.
Burnley entertain the Reds of Manchester in a three o’clock
kick off at Turf Moor on Saturday 20th January and will hope to get
their faltering season back on track after a recent poor points return over the
festive period.
Thirty four points are already in the bag for the Clarets and
Dyche will be looking for a better performance from his team than was witnessed
in a dire 1-0 defeat to Roy Hodgson’s fast improving Crystal Palace last Saturday.
Burnley are presently plagued by a bout of injuries which
seems to have unsettled the normally resolute Clarets. I expect Matt Lowton to
replace Phil Bardsley who was culpable for the goal Burnley conceded to Sakho’s
driving run in the Selhurst Park reverse.
Burnley’s Eire international Jeff Hendrick is not a natural
number ten and seems about as comfortable in that position as Theresa May does
at number ten Downing Street.
Icelandic international Johann Berg Gudmundsson is currently making waves for Burnley and is getting near to the top of his form and I have a suspicion the wide man could "do a Robbie Blake" for the Clarets and bring the points home for Sean Dyche's men.
Wales’ Sam Vokes and Austria’s Ashley Barnes will no doubt be
coupled together to pressurize the always suspect Reds' back four and Hendrick will in
all probability be rested on the bench.
Kiwi Chris Wood is injured yet again and Stephen Ward is also doubtful for Saturday but Burnley’s recruit from Elland Road, Charlie Taylor is staking a real claim to make the left back berth his own.
Tom Heaton is still a long way off first team duty and I predict Burnley will line up: Pope, Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor, Defour, Cork, Gudmundsson, Arfield, Barnes and Vokes in a 4-4-2 formation.
As for Manchester United, who knows? Such is the plethora of
talent and sheer number of players available providing Mourinho with unlimited
options and perhaps Arsenal’s Sanchez will also be available for selection?
Three points for Burnley and another famous scalp on Saturday
for Sean Dyche would reduce the point’s difference between the Mancunian caviar
eaters and the east Lancashire earthworm snackers to just thirteen points.
It’s increasingly
difficult to separate footballing fact from fiction, but in Sir Alex Ferguson’s
famous words, “Football, bloody football!” (TEC).
Source: DSG