An inexperienced Luton back line were put to the sword by a clinical clarets attack, as Scott Parker starts how he means to go on in his first Burnley game.

Safe to say that was f**king dreadful. Edwards seems to fancy us as Barcelona these days, but i’d prefer a return to the more conservative style that took us up imo. Some signings are needed otherwise mid-table (or worse) beckons this season with that defending.

First time that “Scott Parker” and “Clinical Attack” have existed in the same sentence

What a first game for Scott Parker. We’ve got a squad absolutely dripping with quality (just look at the bench today) and he seems to have got us playing well fairly quickly. Odobert, Foster, Esteve, O’Shea, Koleosho all fantastic. Such a promising start to the season.

Hard to judge Luton too much with a makeshift back-line and Morris and Adebayo missing, but they looked very poor.

Nobody is surprised

Best league in the world, thanks for having us lads

Not a surprise to any town fan. There is a reason we weren’t backing others’ predictions of a top season, and it comes in 3 parts.

Firstly, the injury crisis from last season was completely crippling. We currently miss: Bell, Burke, Hashioka, Clark, Nakamba, Brown and Andersen. Five of those remain from the season just gone; all but two are defenders. It’s utterly crippling. Holmes and Pelly being benched suggests they may have knocks too. Had to start two teenagers who clearly weren’t ready, Nelson and Johnson. It’s mental, proper death spiral.

Secondly, the transfer window has been absolutely torrid for us. Impossible to know what exactly as happened, but we’ve lost three starters in Osho, Lokonga and Barkley, and a good squad player in Berry. In turn, we have only signed Baptiste and Walters, who, though seeming promising, do not change the fact we now have gaping holes in both central defence and midfield. I would personally guess that people are far more willing to take the piss with prices and wages now we have parachutes, refusing to accept it’s mostly going on the new stadium. But even then, we should have had more through the doors…

Finally, our tactics simply do not work. 3-4-3 briefly worked in the pl because we were so far out of our depth in the middle that working it wide mitigated our attacking issues, as our defensive ones, post injury crisis halfway through, were simply inescapable. But we need to dominate now – 2 in the middle doesn’t cut it. The defensive line is far too high, and Edwards is too hesitant to make changes. I have faith, as a non bedwetter, that he’ll recognise this, but he needs to do so pronto. We at least look more comfortable with the ball than the last time we were here – it’s the options available more than the quality in possession imo. And obviously it’s harder to play off an underdog mentality we thrived on now.

The problems added up to a pretty simple conclusion. We all knew what would happen happen, and it did. In many senses, it’s better to get a toughie out the way quickly because our weaknesses are so glaring they’re impossible for bots or staff to avoid – I love them both, but they’re facing one of their hardest ever tasks now, and for the first time in a while, are really struggling with it.

That leaves little to say for Burnley, because it was more us playing poorly than anything. And the game confirmed what we knew about them: sensational attack, Brownhill far too good for this league in the middle, a defence composed but hesitant when really threatened with a cross, especially to the back post. Trafford clearly bucked up how he deals with them mind. And Pires looked a bit dodgy.

This will be a transitional season for the hatters. The 3 man midfield that got us up is all still here, but none must have been fully fit. Quality is here but there are so many things happening at the club with power court finally kicking into gear and the horrors of the second half of lasts season, that I have no idea how we’ll do.

Championship is much more enjoyable than the prem. I don’t care what people say.

That starting XI in the Championship is absolutely ridiculous and yet we can’t call it Premier League quality.

Superb match, well done Scotty.

Bad week for Tommy Robinson so far.

Welcome back scum 🙂