We asked Tom Bodell over on Vital Watford a series of questions in relation to the match at Turf Moor this Saturday and here are his responses
Hopes, fears & expectations for the season?
More fears than anything else!
With the Pozzo family`s takeover and the dismissal of Sean Dyche I was certainly a bit disappointed, so the hope was that it didn`t all go pete tong as the Pozzo`s quickly found out how different British football was to Italian or Spanish.
That fear hasn`t come to pass, so the expectation is that we match or improve last season`s 11th-place finish – something which looks more and more likely each week!
Hope? Play-Off`s or promotion. We can dream!
Were you disappointed to see Sean Dyche go?
Yes, I think everybody was.
Sean was an incredibly popular man despite a slow start to life as a manager. He really came into his own in the second half of last season after finding his feet and if our good run of form had kicked off a few weeks earlier, we may have made a decent stab at reaching the Play-Off`s.
He is forthright and honest, and unlike previous managers, he doesn`t treat the fans like idiots. He knew if his side had served up a poor performance and he wouldn`t try to furnish you with platitudes to paper over the cracks or resort to blaming the officials.
Are you pleased with Gianfranco Zola?
Gianfranco has been excellent. He has shown a real tactical nous and much like his predecessor, he tells it how it is and sees the game the same way as the fans – something supporters will always respect.
That fact that after an inconsistent start we same to have found out best 14, 15, or 16 players – there`s a healthy amount of rotation – and that we`re in the top-six has only strengthened his position with supporters.
Key man on Saturday?
Attacker Fernando Forestieri has been superb this season. One of the most gifted footballers to turn out for the club in recent years, the little Argentine-Italian has more than a shade of the Lionel Messi about him.
Diminutive and so benefitting from a low centre of gravity, he`s always looking to beat his man and make things happen. An absolute menace and I think like everyone else, I`m praying he recovers from a hamstring strain to feature on Saturday.
One Hornet you`d drive to his next club and why?
Joe Garner is inept. Period.
He doesn`t ever look like scoring at this level at the fact he has gone out on-loan to Carlisle United and immediately hit it off suggests he`s not become a bad player over the course of last season. He can score, but League One is his level.
One Burnley player you`d snare and why?
Kieran Trippier was Sean Dyche`s number one target before he left this summer, or so I`m informed, and I think he would be an even better addition now we play with wing-backs. He looks exciting, explosive and comfortable going forward.
Any injuries or suspensions?
Plenty!
Forestieri (hamstring) missed Hull last Saturday and is working his way back. Prince Buaben (thigh), Nyron Nosworthy (hamstring), John Eustace (back) and Neuton (ankle) are all at various stages of their individual recoveries but I don`t think any of them will be fit to feature on Saturday.
Match prediction?
2-1 to the ‘Orns!
Thanks to Tom for his time answering our questions. If you want to know how I answered a similar set of questions from Tom,nip over to Vital Watford and take a look!
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