What a day last Saturday was. What a week this has been on the export docks. What a week we have ahead of us as we follow our beloved Burnley Burnleys.
Let’s talk about the Ottawa Senators.
Sounds like Thomas Chabot’s going to be a full go for training camp! And Josh Norris has been golfing! And Travis Hamonic is also going to be ready for camp. Nobody will be able to accuse health of holding back these Sens. Until someone else gets hurt, that is.
A Cardiff City Voodoo Doll
Imagine such a thing. Imagine one small supernatural bundle of cushion and cloth, capable of enacting harsh punishments on the spirits of a soccer team. Would it have not looked like last Saturday?
A recap, for those who didn’t watch a game that became a proxy battle between Malaysia and Detroit:
- In the 9th minute, Cardiff goalie Ethan Horvath (not an American, what ever gave you that idea) allowed the worst own goal I have ever seen. I haven’t watched that soccer. But. You know. Bad own goal.
- In the 14th minute, Cardiff winger Yakou Méïté hit the post.
- In the 22nd minute, Cardiff striker Wilfried Kanga appeared to score, but was ruled offside.
- In the 31st minute, Luca Koleosho put the Burnleys up 2–0, and the rout was on.
The game was a massacre, one not ruled complete until Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson made it 5–0 in what would turn out to be his farewell goal. The aftermath found the lads one of just three teams with two wins in two games, multiple goals clear of Sunderland and Watford at the top of the table.
Other matters of note:
- Kompany Watch: Bayern opens its league season on Sunday on the road against Wolfsburg. Would be a shame!!
- Weghorst Watch: We had another sighting. He subbed in for Lyle Foster with about twenty minutes to play.
- Scott Parker Hair Watch: To be honest, I didn’t notice it in the middle of the game. I was also watching on my phone with the game on mute as I rode in someone else’s vehicle to a baby shower. So, there’s that. It looked good in the pictures I saw.
The Men We’ve Lost (and Those We’ve Picked Up in Exchange Through Soccer’s Active Labor Market)
SANDER BERGE!
Gone, to Fulham.
BASHIR HUMPHREYS!
Here, on loan from Chelsea with the option to buy.
ANASS ZAROURY!
Gone, to RC Lens in France.
JOE WORRALL!
Here, from Nottingham Forest.
MICHAEL OBAFEMI!
Gone, to Plymouth Argyle.
JÓHANN BERG GUDMUNDSSON!
Gone, to Al-Orobah in Saudi Arabia.
**
Berge is the big one, and Zaroury’s not a small one. He was cool, and it was fun to have a Moroccan around with their international team thriving. JBG, though, is the one that hurts. The nostalgia! Is Jay Rodriguez the only Burnley left from 2019, when we became Burnley fans? Also, JBG was signed after that Iceland Euros run, right? Just making sure I have the canon down.
Alas. The iceman goeth to the desert.
Worrall and Humphreys are exciting, with Joe Worrall really looking like his name is Joe Worrall. They’re both center backs, and while Humphreys has played some on the left, Burnley has a ton of center backs right now. If you believe the rumor mill, Dara O’Shea will go and Maxime Estève will stay, but the rumor mill’s a little more talkative when it comes to players from the British Isles. Seven days ‘til the window closes.
Sunderland, ‘Til They Die
The details:
- Burnley at Sunderland
- Saturday, 10:00 AM EDT
- CBS Sports Network
The opponent:
Sunderland’s 2–0–0 as well, and they also have their eye on promotion, and they also haven’t been challenged much in their first two Championship matches (although local friends PNE did already knock them out of the League Cup). Six goals for, none against. They did play Cardiff City in one of those. Maybe they had access to the voodoo doll too.
Betting markets seem to have Sunderland not as good as Burnley, but this game is in Tyne and Wear (Tyne or Wear? Tyne? Wear?) and that is not where Turf Moor is located. Little road trip for the fellas. Opportunity to make a statement at the Stadium of Light. (Very cool name.)
The starting XI?
Rodriguez started against Cardiff in place of Wilson Odobert, and Václav Hladký started in place of James Trafford. Besides that, there weren’t any changes to the lineup from the Luton game. Maybe we’ll see other changes, but theoretically, the starters should still be in there. Keep an eye on O’Shea, I guess.
Remember Cupping?
The League Cup!
This is the round of 57, for those keeping track.
The details:
- Burnley at Wolverhampton
- Wednesday, 2:30 PM EDT
- Paramount Plus?
Guessing we see some of the backups and nobody who in any universe could be sold by Friday. Maybe Worrall and Humphreys debut?
Ladies!
In their last two matches against Hull City, Burnley FC’s women have won by a combined score of 16–0. Nine of those goals came on Sunday, the Clarets making easy work of the Paper Tigresses. Impressively, this was not enough to leave Burnley in first place. Rugby Borough beat Halifax 10–0. What a league, the FA Women’s National League Premier Division Northern Division.
This Sunday, the ladies take on Stourbridge on the road. Then, on Wednesday, they open FA NWL Cup play against Fylde. Lot happening. Whole lot happening.
THE Major League Soccer
In disappointing news, my local MLS team has yet to fold and has yet to follow the NWSL’s lead and get rid of the draft. Hate it.
Austin FC plays Nashville on the road tomorrow night. The game probably has some contrived rivalry name. Both teams are currently outside of playoff position, but both are within a game!!
The University of Texas should buy that stadium and use it for intramural rugby. It would be such a cool intramural rugby stadium.
