Clarets v Swans Match Preview.
Clarets v Swans Match Preview.
Turf Moor, Burnley, BB10 4BX.
Kick-off – 15.00. Saturday, 15th October 2022.
Saturday brings the visit of Russell Martin’s Swansea City and the prospect of an intriguing clash between two of the new generation of English Football League managers. Burnley boss Vincent Kompany and the Swans manager share a mutual enthusiasm for possession-based football; the ethos is simple, pass the ball in possession and press the opposition without it.
Swansea on the back of 5 wins out of 6 games will severely test the Clarets own promotion credentials in what will undoubtedly be a fascinating game of “who breaks first”. Burnley on the back of a narrow 1-0 away win at Coventry City will be hoping to make home advantage count. Kompany will want the Burnley fans to become their “third man” and egg the Clarets on to victory.
Russell Martin has brought “new age” thinking into the Swans set up, he is a vehement proponent of vegetarianism and is also a committed adherent of Buddhism.
Commenting on his preferred style of play he says, "I played in teams who were dominant with the ball and loved it. I also played in teams who didn’t have much of the ball and hated it. My style is probably shaped by that and the teams I’ve enjoyed watching play football like Barcelona, Manchester City and Spain. I’ve tried to replicate that at the level I’m at and with the players I’ve had. If I didn’t do that, I probably wouldn’t have gone into coaching or management." This sounds a lot like the sort of philosophy the Burnley boss adheres to, which should make for one mightily entertaining clash on Saturday afternoon.
Ones to watch: Burnley summer transfer target and Republic of Ireland international Michael Obafemi and Burnley’s Nathan Tella would have made a potent goalscoring force for the Clarets if the Burnley pursuit of the player had been successful. It will be interesting to see how the two hopefully fully fit players perform on opposing sides on Saturday.
Verdict: The team that can play without fear and turn possession into goals will continue their upward trajectory in the Championship league table. A narrow Clarets win for me, purely because of home advantage.
Footnote: Burnley’s Connor Roberts joined the Clarets from Swansea City in August 2021 on a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee. He will almost certainly be a part of the Welsh FIFA World Cup squad and it is understood Burnley will receive a pay out from the World Cup prize fund of around £100,000 for his participation in the finals. I hope he is on the winning side come Saturday teatime.
From: The Editor’s Chair – Clarets Mad.
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