Clarets v Q.P.R. Match Preview.
Clarets v Q.P.R. Match Preview.
Venue: Loftus Road Stadium, South Africa Road, London, W12 7PJ.
Kick-off – 1.00pm – Sunday, 12th December 2022.
It’s back to business as the Championship resumes hostilities after a one month enforced break from duty because of FIFA’s insistence the World Cup would be held in the early European winter months but played in the desert heat of Arabic Qatar.
The current sixth placed manager-less Super Hoops take on Vincent Kompany’s table topping Clarets in a televised fixture at Loftus Road in what promises to be a stern test for the East Lancashire outfit. Well-travelled Neil Critchley is hotly tipped to replace the Glasgow Ranger’s new supremo and former QPR boss Michael Beale, but it appears Critchley is unlikely to be in the Super Hoops hotseat before kick-off time on Sunday.
The good news for Clarets fans is that Burnley will emerge from the World Cup break with an almost fully fit squad. Flying left winger Annas Zaroury will miss the game because of Morocco’s unexpected winning run in Qatar but the good news is that the long term injured trio of Ashley Westwood, Scott Twine and Darko Churlinov are all close to being full match fit and are rumoured to be available for selection but will probably only feature off the bench.
All things considered it seems that Burnley boss Vincent Kompany has a selection dilemma on his hands. Jay Rodriguez, Ashley Barnes, Nathan Tella, Johan Berg Gudmundsson, Manuel Benson and Darko Churlinov can all be utilised in attacking roles and it’s not hard to see why Burnley are top the table going into what is ostensibly the second part of the Championship season. The strength of the Burnley squad is now bordering on the ridiculous and transfer rumours suggest more players will arrive in January.
It is little wonder Mr Kompany is being linked with the vacant Belgian national team’s job, but happily for Burnley fans he seems at present disinclined to take up the opportunity.
One’s to watch: Ilias Chair will be missing from the Super Hoops line-up because he is involved in the Morocco World Cup like Burnley’s Annas Zaroury, but the former Arsenal prodigy Chris Willock and Scottish international Lyndon Dykes will certainly test the Clarets defensive resolve. Both have netted six times each already this season.
Leading Championship scorer Jay Rodriguez is fit and ready to play, but Ashley Barnes made a strong case for inclusion in the Burnley starting eleven after bagging a brace against Blackburn Rovers in the last game before the enforced break. The Clarets are scoring freely from all around the team and it’s hard not to see them scoring a goal or two at Loftus Road.
Verdict: A draw or an away win seem the likeliest outcome to this encounter and without sitting on the fence I back the Clarets to win 2-1.
Footnote: Returning to my recurring theme of players who are rightly regarded as legends who have played for both clubs; Sunday’s protagonists had the experience of employing shall we say the “colourful” Joey Barton and the former Clarets’ brilliant wingman Dave Thomas. The two players were both fully capped England internationals, but Dave Thomas holds a special place in my heart because I have had the pleasure to meet this gracious gentleman on two occasions. Dave’s roots were firmly planted in the North-east of England, and I always think of him as the “Genial Geordie”.
Dave now struggles with his sight, after he was originally diagnosed with severe glaucoma, and from there on Dave’s vision suffered a steady decline. In 2003 the DVLA revoked his driver’s licence, and in 2008 he was registered blind. However, I can still “see” his laser precision in-swinging corners causing mayhem in opposition penalty areas. One of the best was Dave.
Final note: England will have played France before the Clarets take on QPR, it will not be a walk in the park, but I expect England to book a place in the semi-finals of this World Cup. Good luck lads.
From: The Editor’s Chair – Clarets Mad.
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