What the papers say: Burnley (Talking Tactics)

[LoyalRoyalFan]

That diagram is just awful.

We would never make a move like that.

[Isaac Hunt]

The latest installment.....

By Phil Smith
Published on Friday 14 October 2011 12:00

SCOUT Phil Smith concludes his three-part look at Burnley’s opponents Reading, who travel to Turf Moor tomorrow.

Part Three: If Burnley harbour genuine ambitions to dine from the top table of English football once more, then the brief is simple- win your home games.

Optimistic maybe, but during the week I spent a considerable amount of time formulating a blueprint for Championship success, based on the automatic promotion slots.

To cut a very long story short, an average of two points per game is the unquestionable marker for such a feat.

Managers are known for dissecting the season into chapters.

The three league fixtures before the trip to South Wales in the Carling Cup should be classed as an individual segment.

A home fixture tomorrow followed by trips to Barnsley and Coventry, are, with all due respect, not the most testing of challenges.

Football is not played on paper, but a glance at the fixture list for November emphasises the need to keep the winning momentum for the next seven days at least.

Ross Wallace can play a key role this weekend.

Success can be achieved by directing our attack down the visitors’ left side.

Double exposure in transition will be evident.

Inconsistency is the key word when describing Joseph Mills.

Question marks are evident with regards to his positioning and decision making.

As I mentioned on Friday, he will drift in centrally.

Wallace and Kieran Trippier should be able to double up on the wing.

Burnley may not get much change out of Shaun Cummings. The Chelsea academy product has been one of the key performers for the Berkshire outfit this season.

For me, he deserves to be classed as one of the best in this division.

Reading entrust Mills to provide from a set-piece. The left back has sizeable shoes to fill, considering his predecessor was Ian Harte. The former Republic of Ireland international was named in the 2010/2011 Championship team of the season.

Accuracy is somewhat sporadic. Certain deliveries can land on a fifty pence piece, while others provide more questions than answers.

Burnley will need to be alert to the threat of a short corner. This appears to be a preferred technique. The delayed delivery looks to take advantage of any decision to utilise the offside trap, (see diagram). Man marking must be evident for Adam Le Fondre. Nullify his movement and you nullify this particular routine.

I finish this week with a question posed to me by a reader, regarding the possibility of a 4-2-3-1 system. Evidently, this is the preferred formation of Barcelona and Spain – the two greatest teams on the planet!

The formation allows a team to control the game through possession, and wear opponents down until they commit a mistake. Defensively utilised, it allows for an explosive counter-attack, exploiting space behind the defensive line. Giants of world football excluded, it allows for so-called lesser teams to absorb pressure and maybe, just maybe, aid David against Goliath.

Preparation is the key. “Hoof it to the big man” is no longer an acceptable instruction for those wishing to be successful

[Ian Royal]

I think he may have got progressively more full of shit.

It's impressive because he comes quite close to getting us spot on, yet gets a few quite simple things utterly wrong.

[Chaney]

LOL LOL

[JIM]

Did he get paid for all that rubbish. Considering the result Burnley 0 Reading 1

[SpaceCruiser]

Looks like all that advice wasn't taken on board by Burnley!

[postwhisperer]

ReadingFC Reading FC
Jem Karacan just tweeted to say Tabby is OK and travelling back on the coach with the team, they've picked him up from hospital #readingfc

PriceGareth Gareth Price
@JonnyFordham wow after all that only one place! Hopefully though it is a sign of things to come and the #readingfc spirit of not giving up!

stestupid1 Ste Andrews
99th minute winner!! sweet!!! #readingfc #rfcnomatterwhat

Brownie1871 Andy Brown
“@JemKaracan4: Tabbys ok peops! On the coach! Happy days!” <=== great news he is OK #readingfc

xo_isabella Isabella Hockley
Love getting out of work to a #readingfc win

MeganDouglas26 Megan Douglas
fab win for my team. #readingfc

JonnyFordham Jonny Fordham
McDermott says Tabb should be okay, gone to hospital for scans on his head and neck after keeper booted the ball at his head #readingfc

Chappers88RFC Chris Chapman
"@tommyrfc: And that ladies and gentlemen is why you don't leave early! #readingfc" agreed! URZZZZZZ

HeathrowRoyal Matt Bargent
GTFI!!!! #readingfc

TommieTankk Tom Higginson
on comes the beast! #readingfc

Sam_O_Cleere Sam Cleere
Oh look, Brian Howard scored for Millwall! Something he never did for us! #readingfc

tommyrfc Tom Robertson
I don't want seem like I'm jumping on the anti-Mills bandwagon but all Burnley's attacks are coming down that side #readingfc

Sam_O_Cleere Sam Cleere
Booooorrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnngggggggggggg #readingfc

MrVin30 Mr Kevin
If #readingfc win today, I'm going to open my 24 pack of bud.

marv_bfc Martin
#readingfc's away support is very annoying. Every time we play them, it's poor. #twitterclarets

PAN1F Helen Bullen
Good morning Tweeps! It's 8.25am here in FL, watching the Liverpool v Man Utd match in bed. Hoping for a #readingfc win today, come on URZ!!

cjhornby CHRISTOPHER HORNBY
Playing golf at Bearwood Lakes whilst the mighty #readingfc play today.In between every duff shot no doubt be checking the score.#Urrrrrz

royalbray Bray
Now that is how u go out! Wowzas. GG is my milk....Now sitting at Euston Burnley bound...Anyone fancy a pint in Preston later? #readingfc

[superreadingfan]

Wow some excellent insight there, I enjoy reading what the fans think! Please postwhisperer continue this for every match, it is so cool, like you!

[Platypuss]

Wow some excellent insight there, I enjoy reading what the fans think! Please postwhisperer continue this for every match, it is so cool, like you!

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postwhisperer

[Arch]

Wait! superreadingfan lives in Texas?!

[Mr Angry]

Wow some excellent insight there, I enjoy reading what the fans think! Please postwhisperer continue this for every match, it is so cool, like you!

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postwhisperer

Top murking Platypuss!!

[Mr Angry]

So the guy wrote 3 reports based on his extensive scouting knowledge and experience, with the first section making it out quite clearly that Burnley would rip us apart with their superior pace and skill against our ponderous back 4 and dodgy keeper.....................


..........................................what was the score??


Oh yeah.

Burnley 0 Reading 1.

No wonder this guy has to make up rubbish for the Clitheroe and Eccles Pigeon Fanciers Gazette (or whatever the whippet and flat cap brigade read up there) cos as a scout, he is totally rubbish.

[melonhead]

Inconsistency is the key word when describing Joseph Mills.

Question marks are evident with regards to his positioning and decision making.

As I mentioned on Friday, he will drift in centrally.

Wallace and Kieran Trippier should be able to double up on the wing.

Burnley may not get much change out of Shaun Cummings. The Chelsea academy product has been one of the key performers for the Berkshire outfit this season.

For me, he deserves to be classed as one of the best in this division.

mills may be inconsistent, but after a dodgy start where they obviously targetted him it sounded like he got much better, put in some good tackles, and some good deliveries.
and spot on with cummings.

[paultheroyal]

Wow some excellent insight there, I enjoy reading what the fans think! Please postwhisperer continue this for every match, it is so cool, like you!

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postwhisperer

LOL - now that is embarrassing

[floyd__streete]

Gr8 scouting from Burnley

[Upper West Ginger]

The aforementioned Clit Hero Advertiser has a selection of phpotos from the match online now, with report to follow:
http://www.clitheroeadvertiser.co.uk/sport/football/burnley-fc/photos_burnley_fc_0_reading_1_1_3878620