Burnley v City. Fan comments

Last updated : 19 August 2011 By Michael Morris

claretsFirst up in this (hopefully regular) feature is my colleague Tony Scholes, editor of www.clarets-mad.co.uk

Burnley view:

The season hasn't got off to the best of starts. We were held to a home draw against Watford on the opening day of the season and then followed that up a week ago with something of a horror show at Crystal Palace. It was the news two days before the Palace game that rocked everyone with the shock sale of left-back Danny Fox to Southampton for a fee believed to be around £1.8 million and the club defending the decision by suggesting the figure was above their valuation.

At least one player tweeted his disappointment at Fox going whilst the manager made little effort to put a brave face on it. It had been a financial decision made by the board and that in itself has worried people that maybe the finances are not as good as they perhaps should be.

No wonder the Palace performance was poor, and we didn't even get the chance to make up for it on Tuesday because our game at Birmingham was called off because of their European exploits. Still, at least it's given us a break to and an opportunity to recover from Palace and we've also made a couple of signings.

Danny Ings arrived from Bournemouth on Monday and just today (Thursday) we completed the signing of Zavon Hines from West Ham. Incredibly it's thought he's the first ever Burnley player to have the Christian name Zavon. That's two new forwards and there are promises of further recruits before the window closes although it's unlikely there will be any further arrivals before the game against Cardiff on Saturday.

Saturday will be the first game Marvin Bartley sits out. He was red carded at Crystal Palace and will now serve a three match suspension. That should allow Dean Marney to return to the side and I would think we'll probably revert to a 4-4-2 system with striker Charlie Austin returning at the expense of David Edgar who filled in as a defensive midfielder.

I think our team could be something like: Lee Grant, Kieran Trippier, Andre Amougou (formerly Bikey), Ben Mee, Brian Easton, Wade Elliott, Dean Marney, Chris McCann, Ross Wallace, Charlie Austin, Jay Rodriguez. Subs from: Brian Jensen, David Edgar, Michael Duff, Keith Treacy, Zavon Hines, Danny Ings.

And from me, a Cardiff view:

After a stunning start to the season with three wins in the first week including an opening day success at West Ham, Cardiff came back down to earth on Wednesday this week with a 3 - 1 home loss to Brighton.
 
The stats show Cardiff were better than such a defeat but sitting in the stand watching it you just knew it wasn't going to be our day when Kevin McNaughton's wayward pass set up Albion's opening goal. After the game questions were then asked of the defence and the attack. A lack of pace up front, a lack of pace at the back. On another day Cardiff could have won that game on chances created but this week none of them troubled the Brighton keeper.
 
So onto Turf Moor and Burnley. A team who have not had a great start. A home draw and an away defeat was followed by a week off. They were due to play Birmingham this week but the Blues are in Europe. So we face a rested side looking for their first league win.
Will Malky keep Earnie and Miller together or will he introduce the more athletic Gestede into the fray.
 
Turf Moor has not been a great ground for Cardiff in recent visits so I'm am not sure which way this one is going to go. Head tells me a draw is most likely. Heart wants us to win 2 - 1.