The three we've had in the league were Kabasele getting a stupid second yellow at Norwich (while looking injured), Mariappa getting another silly second booking at home to Villa, and Kabasele's unfortunate straight red at home to Wolves. The latter two were during the Xmas period, where we put such a shift in, it kind of buggered us for the next few games Think Burnley are just smarter than us in this regard tbf, you'd never catch Ashley Barnes dead doing the kind of stupid **** Mapps or Kabs do sometimes
Bit nervous ahead of this one. Its a great opportunity for us, but I despise playing Burnley. They are solid and unspectacular. I would not be surprised if this ended goalless or a close 1-0 either way. Its going to be edgy.
They are way smarter and way more cynical than us. They obviously practice how to injure opposition players without getting sent off behind closed doors. The way they targetted Dawson, took him out of the game and kept 11 on the pitch was remarkable from a psychopathic perspective. Im just glad I dont support a team that goes to such depths and is so completely devoid of integrity.
Pedro on the bench. Pereyra out for Welbeck. Doucoure out for Cleverley No Holebas on the bench so there's a good chance we see Mariappa...
Cautiously happy to see Welbeck start, can't be any worse than Pereyra at the weekend. Happy to see JP finally on the bench, maybe we'll see him come on. Bit on edge about Doucs being rested, but I understand why, plus Cleverley can do a job. Never thought in the year of our Lord 2020 that I'd be nervous about the lack of Holebas from the squad, but there we are! Hopefully it's Pussetto rather than Mapps who they're thinking of using if/when Masina comes off
If you were a black or mixed-race player, would you advise him to go to Burnley where he's certain to get grief from a section of his own fans (probably all sitting together to make their presence felt)? And if you were a decision-maker at Burnley, would you want to court trouble for the club by signing a black or mixed-race player, knowing that he'd have a miserable time and that the club's reputation would suffer if he did? I know nothing about the inner workings of Burnley, but it seems to me a reasonable possibility that the club isn't racist at all but they know a lot of people who are.
Decent line-up. Happy for Welbeck to get a chance from the start, although I don’t have high expectations given how long it’s been since he played regular football. Most pleased to see Joao Pedro on the bench, if only to give us something a bit unpredictable if we need a goal.
A strange decsion given that playing in 30 degree heat (well, almost 30 degrees) would be right up Pereyra's street, you'd think.
Nice to see Pearson saw Bobby was no good atm. We need workers not shirkers right now, and I fee Welbz will want a chance to prove he can still be an asset.
Cleverley played well when he came on, and Doucouré's touch was all over the place. Not convinced by Welbeck but Pereyra is confirmed as being absolute pony so might as well give him an hour then chuck on our lord and saviour João Pedro
Not convinced with Dawson at CB. If Cathcart is injured fair enough but I'm expecting 1 or 2 hairy moments. Kabasele nothing to add most know what he can be like.
It appears the aim will be a bit more defensively solid for the first 60 minutes, then Doucs and Pereyra should give us something in reserve to exploit the space when the game gets stretched later on.