Sean Dyche returns to Vicarage Road on Saturday, looking to add three more points in the ClaretsÂ’ quest for European football next season.
The English Premier League game is scheduled to kick off at 15.00 GMT on Saturday 7th April at Vicarage Road, the spiritual home of the Hornets.
Former Watford manager Dyche, is on record as saying he enjoyed his five years with the Hornets before he was sacked following a change of ownership when the Pozzo family took control of the Hertfordshire outfit.
The game will have added poignancy, following the untimely death
of former Watford Assistant Manager Ray Wilkins
There will no doubt to be a minute
allowed prior to kick off to remember the life of one of BritainÂ’s favourite
footballing sons.
Looking forward to the game ahead, Watford boss Javi Garcia has been drilling his squad this week in learning the arts of playing against what he describes as Burnley’s “long ball tactics”.
The Watford manager with the greatest of respect, might need
reminding to analyse SaturdayÂ’s opponents from the North West with a little
more clarity
Who can possibly ignore the twenty-one-pass goal Jeff Hendrick
finished off in a well-earned 1-0 Burnley victory at Goodison Park earlier this
season?
Burnley striker Ashley Barnes is candidate for goal of the month following last SaturdayÂ’s spectacular mid-air scissors kick at the Hawthorns. The goal was so astonishing in its brilliance, even the mercurial Christian Ronaldo tried to emulate it in a Real Madrid canter in Turin in midweek.
BarnesÂ’ striking partner in crime, ex-Leeds player Chris Wood
is also nominated but this time for EPL player of the month
The goals have
started to flow freely for the Burnley duo, in part I feel down to the
footballing nous ex-Tottenham and England international Aaron Lennon has
brought to the Clarets squad.
To make it a hat trick of nominations at Turf Moor for the month of March, Sean Dyche is also nominated as EPL manager of the month, following three straight ClaretsÂ’ league wins on the bounce.
It is starting to sound ridiculous to keep referring to the seventh placed artful Clarets as a plain old fashioned English long ball outfit who only know how to play one way.
The sublimely gifted Icelander, Johann Berg Gudmundsson is
the walking contradiction of long ball football
Sadly, his silky skills look
likely to miss the trek to Hertfordshire
A niggling calf injury, picked up
last week in training will probably keep him out of the game.
Ben Mee who has been an inspiration all season at the heart
of a mean Burnley defence is also doubtful
Burnley gaffer Dyche has another
dilemma to ponder, thrice England capped Tom Heaton is fully recovered from his
shoulder injury and is hoping to win his place back in the Burnley goal
Nick Pope has been splendid for Burnley, keeping ten clean
sheets whilst deputising for the Burnley skipper
Pope could still force his
way into SouthgateÂ’s England squad for the World Cup in Russia
Heaton harbours
similar ambitions, Dyche has a huge selection headache with this one!
Leicester City realistically, are the only team on the radar
who can thwart the ClaretsÂ’ European ambitions
They are up next at Turf Moor
in what promises to be a titanic struggle for three valuable points
Dyche will
as always be sticking to his “one game at a time mantra” and I expect the
Clarets to line-up:
(4-4-2) Pope, Lowton, Tarkowski, Long, Ward, Cork, Westwood,
Lennon, GK Nkoudou, Barnes, Wood
Just a thought, but I wonder if the Pozzo family ever regret sacking Sean Dyche back in 2012? (TEC).
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Source : DSG
