As I outlined yesterday, we have a very busy midweek ahead and it is looking like 7-8 full match previews spread across today's two newsletters and with a similar day in prospect tomorrow. You can read one of them below, but please remember, it is only meant as a sample of what the newsletter provides and you are seeing only 10% of today's total content.
We opposed Vale at the weekend for their short trip to local rivals Crewe Alexandra ......
Local derby. Vale are a team I want to watch closely over the first 2-3 games, they have a lot of financial problems and boss Rob Page has been told to trim a third off his wage bill, from around £2.5m down to 1.7m, that is the reality of life at lower league football and a lot of the bigger earners at the club including, Tom Pope, Chris Lines, Mark Marshall and Ben Williamson have been "allowed" to leave, if we just look at that quartet alone, Williamson and Marshall played 89 of 92 starts between them last season, in the three that they (Williamson) missed, they conceded eight goals and took just a single point. The four scored 25 goals and had 14 assists between them (obviously some overlap there) which is a big contribution to a team who only managed 55 goals and Pope alone has scored a whopping 51 goals over the last three campaigns.
Vale had a 15-9-22 record last season, only Yeovil who finished 9 points adrift of the other 23 teams in L1 lost more games and the Valiants only took 9 points from their final 13 starts, in addition to the players they have lost, there are a couple of injuries to deal with,including to goalkeeper Chris Neal ( one win in six without him last season) and after his replacement Sam Johnson made a number of mistakes in pre season, they have had to sign Jak Alnwick on a free transfer this week to step in. Also missing is injured POTY Michael O'Connor, who is key to so much they do offensively, he missed three starts in all comps last season, Vale lost all three and failed to score in the two league games.
Crewe are unlikely to be any world beaters, but are always liable to find one or two gems from the wonderfully run academy ,did the double over their neighbours last season and look a little more setlled right now, so many missing players for the visitors and a lot needs to gel and quickly for them.
That finished 0-0, to be honest, Vale were the better team and dominated much of the play, but created few chances and looked toothless up front, goals, or a lack of them, are going to be a real issue this season. They took some immediate action yesterday and signed young striker JJ Hooper from sixth tier Havant, he might work out well and I have no personal knowledge of him, but two Football League clubs, including one in League 2 decided he was not for them and it is a big step up, af full three rungs on the football ladder/pyramid. It highlights exactly where, given their resources,Vale have to look for players and that is the bargain basement !
I will highlight the difference between these two clubs a little later, but we also discussed the Clarets ahead of their visit to Elland Road in an early Saturday kick off .....
The Clarets are looking to bounce back immediately to the top flight, but only three of the last 15 relegated teams have managed that and none won on opening day last season, with two losing and it is hard to see Burnley's summer transfer business being an upgrade, given that they have lost Danny Ings to Liverpool and Kieran Trippier to Tottenham and replaced them with what I would describe as largely journeyman or untried options, Jelle Vosen could come good, but was not wanted by Middlesbrough who decided they could do better, after having all season to look at him. Trippier was an ever present in the EPL, the first defensive name on the team sheet and has provided 16 assists from right back in the last two seasons, Ings has scored 38 goals and also provided 13 assists in the last two campiagns and we are talking about a team who only managed 28 goals in total last season. Matthew Lowton was signed from Aston Villa as a replacement for Trippier and he is injured today, very promising right back Tendayi Darikwa will step in, but this is surely way ahead of schedule, I have only heard really good things about him, but he has just a single season at League 1 level to his name, only joined Burnley last weekend, this is a major step up and an intimidating venue to make your debut and Dallas could give him a tough Championship welcome if he starts on the left. Anyway, a lot of unknowns for the Clarets and a major goal contribution to replace for a team who are hardly prolific.
Burnley scored a late equaliser to come away with a point and they will be pleased with that, it was a workmanlike performance and it was United felt they did enough to win, but the Clarets know what needs to be addressed and they have apparently put in a £4m bid for Henri Lansbury and joined in the race for Andre Gray of Brentford, both of whom would break the previous record transfer fee paid by Burnley, Gray would at least double it. That is not really the Burnley way and I do not fully trust the rumours, but they do have a double lot of EPL money to play with and at the very least, this news will serve to focus the minds of any/everyone starting tonight and they will know that regular places are only going to become more limited in the coming weeks. Burnley are another team who need a win to kick start things and settle the nerves, manager Sean Dyche (pictured giving the "evil eye") did not neglect the cups last year, even when EPL survival was a priority, so he is unlikely to do so this time round and whatever starting 11 he names, will clearly be one he feels can win and I agree.
1.5 units Burnley -0.75 ball 2.21 asian line/Sportmarket.
Good Luck.
