COMMENT: Charlie sets the case for defence at Burnley
2:00pm Thursday 4th October 2012 in Sport
HE used to build walls. These days Charlie Austin is building a reputation as one of football’s most feared strikers.
A return of 14 goals this season – an incredible 10 in his last five games – has made him one of the hottest prospects in the Champion-ship.
With January fast approaching, Burn-ley had better watch out.
It is to be hoped the board have already made eff-orts to keep the Hungerford-born hot shot in the form of contract extension offer, at least.
It is one thing to hold out for the highest bid for one striker. To let another slip through their fingers in the following window without a fight would be unforgivable.
But I’m sure the new chairmen would be on the ball with this, even if ultimately their attempts prove to be unsuccessful.
For it isn’t just about what the board can or can’t offer in their attempts to avoid a New Year sale.
His team-mates must do their bit too.
To an extent they already have.
Austin has benefited from some excellent service in averaging two goals in his last five outings, and in the games that have yielded goals before that.
But for a man who had just scored a second hat-trick of the season, and career third, Austin could not have looked more miserable in the aftermath of Tuesday night’s game.
For having worked so hard to give his side the lead THREE times, the Clarets caved in to concede cheaply.
From building walls, he has been made to bang his head against one.
He was quick to recognise that it was a team effort – they attack as a unit and defend as one.
But he can’t do all the hard work on his own.
He can’t keep having such a volume of goals not counting for as many points as they should, or he could be tempted by those January suitors, of which there are bound to be several.
The queue must be growing by the game – certainly by the goal – and at the moment the two things tally.
Loyalty is not widespread in football, but Austin is bound to feel a sense of that towards manager Eddie Howe.
Although he was unable to offer him his first professional contract due to Bournemouth’s transfer embargo at the time, he was the one that made Austin see the dream could become reality by taking him on trial. Swindon snapped him up.
But as soon as Howe had the means to make him his striker after leaving the south coast, he signed him for Burnley.
The work he has done with him on the training ground, the players he has brought in and used to compliment him – allied to Austin’s raw natural talent – have contributed to the striker he is today.
But until there are fewer contributions in the goals against column, Austin’s future could hang in the balance.
Comments(18)
fylde exile
says...
3:50pm Thu 4 Oct 12
fylde exile
says...
3:50pm Thu 4 Oct 12
no ney never
says...
4:31pm Thu 4 Oct 12
No one wants rid of Charlie or Eddie, we believe in what Eddie is trying to achieve. We know he is capable (given a half decent budget). What we are lacking at the moment are the signs on the pitch which reinforce that belief.
Howe the lads
MikeMada
says...
5:36pm Thu 4 Oct 12
With Eddie, I see the commitment to attack and a strong DESIRE (note my word) to sort out the defence. That hasn't happened yet and I feel sure that it will. Eddie is still learning, we have an unsettled back four, not to mention niggling injuries too. And, according to reports, the boys really showed how they felt after the game in no uncertain terms - which is inspiring for the future.
And, although delighted at Charlie's great return, there are strong signs that the forwards and midfield are not successful at hanging onto the ball well enough when we get in front. So they have work to do and adapt their play when needed.
It will come, the season's still early and we're easily in touch.
The true supporters look to support their team, not incessantly knock it, so, 'exiled claret' it's clear you aren't much of a supporter!
I'm with Eddie and UTC!
burnleyglentoran
says...
6:22pm Thu 4 Oct 12
Harwoodstblue
says...
7:16pm Thu 4 Oct 12
burnleyglentoran wrote:Austin for Rovers in January. He'll take the money at a bigger club and Eddie back to Bournemouth. He's said he's not interested so that means he's probably going to take a step up.
AUSTIN FOR ENGLAND
Harwoodstblue
says...
7:16pm Thu 4 Oct 12
burnleyglentoran wrote:Austin for Rovers in January. He'll take the money at a bigger club and Eddie back to Bournemouth. He's said he's not interested so that means he's probably going to take a step up.
AUSTIN FOR ENGLAND
dredlox76
says...
1:41am Fri 5 Oct 12
MikeMada wrote:Totally agree just what I was saying in the previous Charlie article, we need a bit of positivity the lads and Charlie have stated they know where their going wrong defensively and are gonna sort it out in house, good on em, I have no doubts about Eddie and most if the lads commitment to Burnley they just need to sort the defence out, as Charlie mentioned you can look at it two ways negatively in that we're 15th or positively that we're unbeaten in 3 games and there's only 8 points between us and the top of the league, I've been to all the matches on the Turf and will be going to a few away too, there's more to come and other than the Brighton match we ain't played that badly and even a neutral would say we haven't had the rub if the green, it's a very tough league in which anyone can beat anyone, If Charlie keeps shopping goals and we can sort the defence we'll be up there soon, so to all the miserable clarets ( mainly exiled ones by the look of it, and bastardos in disguise) is your glass half full or half empty? Mines half full. UTC.
There is no doubt work to be done on the defence and most promoted teams have a solid back four. Interestingly, this wasn't quite the case when we got promoted. Coyle too was a gung-ho attack minded manager and how we suffered in the Premiership.
With Eddie, I see the commitment to attack and a strong DESIRE (note my word) to sort out the defence. That hasn't happened yet and I feel sure that it will. Eddie is still learning, we have an unsettled back four, not to mention niggling injuries too. And, according to reports, the boys really showed how they felt after the game in no uncertain terms - which is inspiring for the future.
And, although delighted at Charlie's great return, there are strong signs that the forwards and midfield are not successful at hanging onto the ball well enough when we get in front. So they have work to do and adapt their play when needed.
It will come, the season's still early and we're easily in touch.
The true supporters look to support their team, not incessantly knock it, so, 'exiled claret' it's clear you aren't much of a supporter!
I'm with Eddie and UTC!
midas
says...
10:06am Fri 5 Oct 12
Harwoodstblue wrote:No need to joke about it but Rovers cannot afford him! Perhaps a couple of million an Jordan Rhodes might swing the deal but do we want a striker whose only scored 3 goals for Rovers?
burnleyglentoran wrote: AUSTIN FOR ENGLANDAustin for Rovers in January. He'll take the money at a bigger club and Eddie back to Bournemouth. He's said he's not interested so that means he's probably going to take a step up.
dredlox76
says...
10:15am Fri 5 Oct 12
Rovers1975
says...
5:02pm Fri 5 Oct 12
midas wrote:Rovers can afford him and Burnley can't afford not to sell him. We'll buy him just to stop him scoring for you. Ooooh the anger and bitterness would reach a new level, even for the mighty clarets who have made anger and bitterness their own motto over the last 4 decades.
Harwoodstblue wrote:No need to joke about it but Rovers cannot afford him! Perhaps a couple of million an Jordan Rhodes might swing the deal but do we want a striker whose only scored 3 goals for Rovers?
burnleyglentoran wrote: AUSTIN FOR ENGLANDAustin for Rovers in January. He'll take the money at a bigger club and Eddie back to Bournemouth. He's said he's not interested so that means he's probably going to take a step up.
dredlox76
says...
6:43pm Fri 5 Oct 12
Rovers1975 wrote:Tell me why it's always Bastardos like you that are coming and commenting on Burnley stories? Guess you'll be bored now that you can't whinge about Kean, you might actually have to start supporting your team. You won't be buying Austin before December the 2nd so let's see how many he can fire past you lot then. Get on your own stories in the meantime.
midas wrote:Rovers can afford him and Burnley can't afford not to sell him. We'll buy him just to stop him scoring for you. Ooooh the anger and bitterness would reach a new level, even for the mighty clarets who have made anger and bitterness their own motto over the last 4 decades.
Harwoodstblue wrote:No need to joke about it but Rovers cannot afford him! Perhaps a couple of million an Jordan Rhodes might swing the deal but do we want a striker whose only scored 3 goals for Rovers?
burnleyglentoran wrote: AUSTIN FOR ENGLANDAustin for Rovers in January. He'll take the money at a bigger club and Eddie back to Bournemouth. He's said he's not interested so that means he's probably going to take a step up.
Rovers1975
says...
9:43pm Fri 5 Oct 12
dredlox76 wrote:I think you'll find dingles have monopolised commenting on Rovers due to an obsession based on envy and pure anger. After the defeat by Boro the other week for example, the first comment was by, you've guessed it, another dingle with a short term, selective memory. The truth is I am bored and enjoy turning the extra large key that most dingles have on their backs. All to easy really, I should probably try harder. Pray Charlie boy doesn't get injured because you're 1st cup final isn't that far off now dingle. love and kisses x x x x
Rovers1975 wrote:Tell me why it's always Bastardos like you that are coming and commenting on Burnley stories? Guess you'll be bored now that you can't whinge about Kean, you might actually have to start supporting your team. You won't be buying Austin before December the 2nd so let's see how many he can fire past you lot then. Get on your own stories in the meantime.
midas wrote:Rovers can afford him and Burnley can't afford not to sell him. We'll buy him just to stop him scoring for you. Ooooh the anger and bitterness would reach a new level, even for the mighty clarets who have made anger and bitterness their own motto over the last 4 decades.
Harwoodstblue wrote:No need to joke about it but Rovers cannot afford him! Perhaps a couple of million an Jordan Rhodes might swing the deal but do we want a striker whose only scored 3 goals for Rovers?
burnleyglentoran wrote: AUSTIN FOR ENGLANDAustin for Rovers in January. He'll take the money at a bigger club and Eddie back to Bournemouth. He's said he's not interested so that means he's probably going to take a step up.
no ney never
says...
5:25am Sat 6 Oct 12
Angry and envious we too don't have owners who know nothing about football.
Angry and envious that we don't have debts hidden away in an indian bank
Angry and envious that no company wants to have their name associated with ours.
Angry and envious we haven't almost destroyed the functioning of our club.
Angry and envious we don't have a manager.
Angry and envious we didn't complain about big sam's hoofball and get him the sack.
Angry and envious we don't have this country's top goal scorer so far this season.
Angry and envious we too don't look like a bunch of sad inbred muppets and have an accent that sounds like a retard from cornwall.
So you just keep turning that key as each twist appears to unlock so many reasons why we Clarets are full of envy and anger.
Howe the lads
Rovers1975
says...
10:48am Sat 6 Oct 12
COYB
dredlox76
says...
1:00pm Sat 6 Oct 12
no ney never wrote:That's a bit harsh on the Cornish!
oh aye, we ae really angry and envious.
Angry and envious we too don't have owners who know nothing about football.
Angry and envious that we don't have debts hidden away in an indian bank
Angry and envious that no company wants to have their name associated with ours.
Angry and envious we haven't almost destroyed the functioning of our club.
Angry and envious we don't have a manager.
Angry and envious we didn't complain about big sam's hoofball and get him the sack.
Angry and envious we don't have this country's top goal scorer so far this season.
Angry and envious we too don't look like a bunch of sad inbred muppets and have an accent that sounds like a retard from cornwall.
So you just keep turning that key as each twist appears to unlock so many reasons why we Clarets are full of envy and anger.
Howe the lads
dredlox76
says...
1:10pm Sat 6 Oct 12
Rovers1975 wrote:All I can reiterate is that very time I come and read a Burnley article regarding our club one of you Chicken Lovin' trolls has commented on our posts, trying to wind us up, it doesn't work so why bother, save it for the match we'll sort it out before during and after that. I was at the so called 'riots' after the burnley game and can tell you we didn't just smash up our town centre the main problem was the police who decided to kettle everyone into the town centre and then lay into them whether you were causing trouble or not, we tried to get out of the town centre and coppers in riot gear attacked my uncle who was just trying to get out of the centre, big baton bruises all down the backs of his legs, he tried to walk past em with his hands in the air and that's what he got, so it's no wonder there was damage in the town centre is it really.
Oh dear. Good try ****. I think you'll find the anger and envy came long long long before any of that drivel you've invented there sonny. Your tin pot club has a back catalogue littered with embarrassing moments of anger and envy born out of an obsession of hating Rovers 1st and supporting your club 2nd. Smashing your own town centre up ring any bells? Is suggesting our accent sounds like a 'retard from cornwall' really the best you can come up with? I'd rather have an accent like Stephen Hawking than some medieval yarksha pig farmer like all the big chinned slavering chavs down Burnley way. Try harder next time envy boy.... love and kisses as always and don't get so bitter.....you tried your best and that's all that counts TTFN x x x x
COYB
Concentrate on your own team and stop posting **** on here.
exiled claret says...
3:13pm Thu 4 Oct 12