Coaching legend - Chapter 550 Welcome Home
After losing to Chelsea, Burnley’s performance has been up and down.
On February 10, Burnley challenged Fulham away.
Although it was an away game, Burnley could not let go of any game easily. There was no way to lose to a strong team like Chelsea. But when encountering a mid-to-lower-level team like Fulham, they had to strive for victory.
Burnley’s performance was excellent.
Especially the attack in the frontcourt was quite good. Wilshere scored his first goal for Burnley and also his first Premier League goal in his career. Gareth Gray also scored a goal with a supplementary shot during the game.
Fulham’s offense was weak and posed little threat to Burnley.
In the end, Burnley defeated Fulham 2-0.
After 26 rounds of games, Burnley has accumulated 24 points. It is only 11 points away from the safety point of 35 points.
Judging from the current trend of Burnley, it should not be a problem to get 11 points in the remaining 12 rounds.
Everyone is full of confidence.
Unfortunately, the 27th round of the Premier League has allowed all Premier League opponents to see Burnley’s weakness. Especially the weakness of the back line.
On February 21, Burnley challenged Aston Villa away.
Villa is currently a strong team in the Premier League. Although it is not as strong as Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool, it is also a force that cannot be ignored in the Premier League. Especially under the coaching of Martin O’Neill, it even defeated Manchester United and Chelsea in the first half of the season.
Ancelotti, who came to England for the first time, called Villa’s performance the “biggest surprise” since he came to the Premier League, and he himself suffered at Villa Park.
If George is coaching Blackburn now, he will not be afraid of dealing with a pseudo-strong team like Villa.
But now George’s team is Burnley.
Facing fast and flexible players such as Ashley Young, Downing, and Alabangho, Blackburn’s back line is very tight.
Especially the middle road guarded by Campbell.
Although Campbell is old. But his sense of position is getting better and better, and his frontal defensive ability is also getting stronger and stronger. But the shortcomings in terms of explosiveness and speed are undoubtedly exposed.
Just like Alabangho.
What skills does Alabangho have? Apart from being fast, he is nothing. If it was a few years ago, facing such a player with rough skills and relying on speed to make a living, Campbell would not care at all. But now it is not possible.
Alabangho is telling Campbell, old man, you are old.
Facing Campbell, Alabangho did not do anything else. He is just explosive and fast. Running past Campbell with speed, Campbell has no way to stop him.
The same is true for Ashley Young.
These Villa stars just use speed to hit you, and you have no way to stop them.
This game made Burnley’s defense line full of loopholes. In the end, Burnley ate three goals away from home, and only Thomason Locke scored a goal to save face.
Lost 1-3.
George was helpless about this game.
In terms of offense, those young players with high talent may be able to beat the old master with random punches. But defense is not something that can be done overnight.
Although George relies on Campbell, Campbell is old after all.
Another defender, Simon Hack, has good physical fitness. Unfortunately, his awareness and position sense are too poor. With the increase of experience, these problems may be corrected. But not yet.
However, in these few games, George discovered.
Simon Hack is not very suitable for playing as a central defender.
It should be changed.
George does not want his team’s defense line to be paper-mache. Then he, a coach who started out as a defensive player, is really embarrassed.
Weak teams should strengthen their defense. Defense is the way for weak teams to survive. If the defense is not done well, weak teams can only wait for failure.
On February 27, the 28th round of the Premier League began.
Burnley played against Portsmouth at home.
Portsmouth has also suffered many disasters this season.
Or the worst team in the Premier League this season must be Portsmouth.
On May 27, 2009, Suleiman Al-Fahim, CEO of the Abu Dhabi Development and Investment United Group of the United Arab Emirates, successfully acquired the team in his personal name. Al-Fahim was the leader of the group’s acquisition of Manchester City last year. In October, Al-Fahim transferred 90% of the shares to Saudi Arabian businessman Ali Al-Faraj.
At that time, Portsmouth fans cheered. Finally, a rich man invested in them. Unfortunately, they were too optimistic.
Don’t think that all the rich people in the Middle East are as rich and generous as the Abu Dhabi Group.
It was a complete tragedy for the Saudi Arabian businessman to come to Portsmouth. He took over Portsmouth in October, and the economic crisis began in January and February.
Just one day before the game, on February 26, Portsmouth filed for bankruptcy protection, and the club was officially placed under trusteeship.
That means Portsmouth is finished.
Now Portsmouth’s points are at the bottom of the Premier League. Applying for bankruptcy and the club being placed under trusteeship, according to the Premier League regulations, points will be deducted. Nine points will be deducted.
That means Portsmouth has no hope this season. They will definitely be relegated.
George could only cry out to God for help.
It just so happened that the day before the game, Portsmouth filed for bankruptcy.
George’s starting lineup for this game is still the same as before.
It’s just that the position has changed a little. George let Daniel and Campbell partner up to play as central defenders. And threw the reckless Simon Hack to the left side.
When Daniel debuted, he played as a left back. But George thought about letting Daniel play in the middle. But he couldn’t implement it and had already left Burnley.
This time there are too many loopholes in the back line.
Forced George to play this way. Simon Hack, according to George’s previous temper, would have been thrown to the youth team long ago. Or put up for sale.
But in Burnley, Simon Hack is a big guy among the short guys. He is fast, strong, and fierce in defense. George can only use his speed to try his performance on the wing.
However, in this game, Burnley’s back line was not tested at all.
The players of Portsmouth have completely lost their motivation for the game.
The team’s relegation is inevitable. The club has filed for bankruptcy. Are they now considering where their future lies? Who is still in the mood to play the game.
Welbeck scored two goals at home and defeated Portsmouth 2-0.
At the end of the 28th round of the Premier League, Burnley’s points reached 27 points.
Burnley moved forward step by step. After this game, Burnley has jumped out of the relegation zone. The Premier League ranking has reached 16th, and below Burnley are Wigan Athletic, West Ham United, Hull City, and Portsmouth.
Although Burnley is only one point higher than Wigan Athletic and two points higher than West Ham United, Burnley’s ranking is climbing step by step.
On March 6, Burnley ushered in the 29th round of the Premier League.
“Evan, you have been very comfortable recently.”
In the 29th round of the Premier League, Burnley’s home opponent is Stoke City.
George gave Evan a hug on the sidelines. Stoke City’s head coach is Evan, George’s assistant coach back then. Evan is indeed not simple. It is the sixth season in Stoke City. He actually brought Stoke City, which was in the English League One, to the Premier League.
And Stoke City performed very well this season. It is now ranked 11th in the Premier League. It has completed the task of relegation early.
Being able to achieve such results in a small club like Stoke City. Evan’s strength is evident.
There are even many people in the English football world who say that Evan is a rising new generation of local head coach in the English football world.
“Well. George, why are you back again?” Evan was very dissatisfied.
Evan was full of complaints about Burnley.
“Evan, I am different from you.” George smiled and shook his head.
The two old friends met and chatted for a while.
After the game started, Stoke City’s performance was unexpectedly brave. Even George was shocked.
Is Stoke City crazy? Or is Evan crazy?
Evan is indeed crazy. People have always said that Evan is George’s assistant coach. He won the Premier League and Champions League championships with George. Evan is now the head coach and doesn’t want to hear these things.
Although he has a good relationship with George, Evan doesn’t like to live under George’s shadow all the time.
So he wants to prove to others that he is not George’s vassal.
But he never had the chance.
Now he finally found an opportunity.
Evan wants to prove it.
Therefore, Evan attaches great importance to this game. Stoke City certainly followed Evan’s wishes. Therefore, in the game, Stoke City performed very bravely. Fortunately, Burnley is not made of mud. Especially in the home game.
The two sides went back and forth, and the game was very lively.
The score was one to one in the first half. It was not until the second half that Stoke City’s attack slowed down.
Everyone played very slowly in the second half.
George finally breathed a sigh of relief. Evan still gave himself face.
Although Stoke City is average in strength, its playing style is a typical English team’s style. Very fierce. George is reluctant to play against them, and it is easy to get injured. Burnley now has few players, and if they have hands, they will be stretched.
Fortunately, Stoke City took full steps.
The final game was 1-1.
At the end of the 29th round of the Premier League, Burnley’s points reached 28.
There are nine games left in the Premier League. As long as they get ten points in these nine games, there will be no problem with relegation.
Only three wins are needed.
Although the British football media will report some Burnley games, it is only in the beginning. After playing ten games, the British football world gradually focused on the championship team.
But in the 30th round of the Premier League, the British football world’s attention returned to Burnley. It should be said that it returned to George.
Because in the 30th round, Burnley will challenge Blackburn away.
Before the game, the “Blackburn Evening News” wrote a big headline: George, welcome home!
