[jjamez]

So, this is the final game of what has been a hugely successful 2017 for both sides in all fairness. Burnley upset a few pundits last season by staying up, whilst also taking some big points off the big clubs along the way, this side of the summer break they have continued to upset the apple cart, currently occupying 7th place and again taking points off the big sides, beginning with a 3-2 win away at champions chelsea's stamford bridge, a point away at both spurs lierpool and manure, whilst seemingly being capable of grinding out wins by the odd goal.

From a town perspective, there can be no denying that the penalty shootout victory down in london town against reading will be the standout moment for many a town fan for many a year. Lets not forget that last season was something that we could only have ever dreamed about, firstly being up near the top of the championship for as long as we were, many thought we would fade away into midtable oblivion once the bubble burst but we proved them wrong. Then this season, everyone thought that we would be relegated without a whimper, breaking derby county's unwanted record points tally in the process, but again, we continue to do the unexpected. Saturdays fixture sees possibly the countries two most unfancied teams and contenders for underdogs of the year award go head to head. Both sides with undoubted talent in their ranks and two highly rated managers to boot, yet people will continue to overlook them because the 'big' clubs is where the money is at, but I dont think i would have it any other way, I quite like seeing these professional pundits making stupid remarks and claims about us smaller clubs and winding up with egg on their faces and no idea on how to wiggle out of the mess they have created for themselves.

   

JJ's highlights of the year

1) we've already mentioned the penalty shootout victory down in london town, but who can forget the cauldron capitulation, the massive bottlejob, you know the one, the one where the vast majority of the sheffield wednesday fans thought it was job done after leaving the john smiths stadium. They got one ahead thanks to fletcher, the phone lights came on, the atmosphere cranked up, only to be doused out by a colin quaner cross being turned into the net by a wednesday defender on its way into the path of nahki wells. It became another edgey affair, and at the cruicial moment, a former town tormentor in fernando forestifairy, cracked under the pressure, opening town the door to the biggest dream they ever thought was possible.



2) Town coming out on top against jose's manchester united. Having seen own thumped when they played one of the big boys at home, a more defensive outlook was taken, in the attempt to frustrate the red devils and find a way to come out on top. the plan worked as united gifted town two quick goals, the first coming from mooy stealing the ball away from mata, before turning home the rebound from tom ince's shot. The second came moments later when lindeloff forgot to head the ball allowing man mountain laurent depoitre the chance to round david de gea and slot into an empty net. Marcus rashford got a late goal back for united, but a strong sense of unity on the pitch and from the stands saw town hold firm and come out with the three points.



3) Michael hefele's derby day delirium. You probably know the one. its the one where yellow kasey palmer got subbed in the first half, izzy brown came on and gave town the lead pretty much soon after. leeds equalised and the game became as open and scrappy a derby game can be, until cult figure das hef turned home a deflected mooy shot in the final few minutes. what ensued was wagner rushing down the touchline to celebrate with the players, garry monk throwing a wobbly and hef giving the most iconic post match interview from a town player in a long time. think you remember now.



4) Towns opening day win against crystal palace. now we were not to know the trouble that would follow for palace under de boer, but from a town perspective, being away first game of the season and coming away with a fairly comprehensive 3 points was a big statement and gave a huge sense of belonging to everyone. it also put us top for a while, yes it would be a while before we got our next away win, as the first one was key to players and fans having the confidence that we would be competitive



5) the fa cup draw against manchester city. town welcomed money bags fc to huddersfield, only to pit the fringe players up against the likes of aguero and de bruyne. that was not the highlight, it was the fact that it should what could be possible if we did get promoted with essentially every seat taken and everyone in those seats pushing the side on. its continued into this season and long may it continue.



bonus) the managerial master garry monk ditching leeds for bigger and better things, only for the upstanding, respectful, not at all bitter man to be given the boot by middlesborough, a team that is famed for its patience, due to the style of football he was playing for the money he spend. must be a glowing recommendation on his cv and a huge massage of his ego.



Onto saturdays game, which continues the hectic schedule that sides are having to contend with, town come into the game on the back of a 1-1 draw against stoke, town had a few openings but at times sometimes chose the wrong option when it came to passing, shooting and taking that extra touch. argubly town were not ruthless or clinical enough, whilst stoke were always going to be a threat from set pieces due to the height they possessed, whilst at the back end of the game when town were hunting the winning goal they became a threat on the break.

after the burnley game on saturday, town have a quick turnaround in order to travel to leicester, so it will be highly likely that dw will rotate a few players for this game, with the two full backs probably likely to be switched, whilst lolo will probably come in for mounie. other changes could be possible with lolley maybe getting a run out, whilst sabir and palmer could come in from the wild. elsewhere, hef and billing are due back into full training and could be outside bets to get a perch on the bench.

Burnley come into the game on the back of a 2-2 draw at the theatre of dreams. the clarets got an early lead through ashley barnes, whilst a steven defour free kick doubled their advantage before jesse lingard scored two second half goals to restore parity. After they face us, they return to turf moor to face dw clone jurgen klopps liverpool. so they too may make a few changes, however, neither side have a huge squad to rotate from.

last time out they lined up like this, and in regards to squad available stephen ward is expected to miss out, whilst james tarkowski serves the last game of his ban. there was rumours that ben mee might have picked up a knock against united but it looks like he has shaken it off

   29 Pope       - reserve goalkeeper who may have earned a spot on the plane to russia
   26 Bardsley  - former manure defender who seems to have been around for ages
   28 Long       - only playing because they are short at the back    
   6  Mee        - not you, him. solid defender of man city breeding
   3  Taylor     - former leeds product, took his bat and ball home and left for free
   4  Cork       - began at chelski, left to swansea, highlight must be playing for team gb
   17 Berg      - icelandic midfielder, played for teams such as charlton and some icelandic one
   13 Hendrick - irish midfield that used to play 6 years for derby
   16 Defour    - highly talented belgian midfielder used to play for porto and anderlecht
   37 Arfield    - psuedo canadian midfield that used to play everywhere for us, deemed not good enough by town
   10 Barnes   - pseudo austrian striker, played for a fair few south coast clubs, average strike rate.

Substitutes

   2  Lowton   - product of sheffield united academy, dont mention wembley (or do)
   8  Marney   - old man of the team, tough tackler, poor mans hogg
   9  Vokes     - welsh striker finally found a home at turf moor
   18 Westwood -once highly rated, career stalled at vanilla
   19 Walters  - another old man of the side, used to play for stoke, runs a lot
   21 Wells     -  second man to make it out of the triangle, used to play for bradford and us
   22 Lindegaard - former manure keeper, hopefully plays. not that cracking

what the reporter says
"It's a toss up as to which of these clubs has provided the biggest surprise success story of the season so far.

"Is it humble Huddersfield, sitting 11th, six points clear of the relegation zone after a 45-year absence from the top flight?

"Or unfancied Burnley, punching above their weight and hanging on to the shirt-tails of the top six and dreaming of Europe?

"Huddersfield versus Burnley doesn't scream Premier League glamour and many neutrals might struggle to name many of the players on view, but in an age where money speaks volumes their respective success brings a warm glow to romantics everywhere."



what the gaffers say

Huddersfield Town head coach David Wagner on players being sold in the transfer window: "I think clubs have heard my message from last week.

"Save your phone calls, because we're not selling any player that we want to keep here come January."

Burnley manager Sean Dyche on his side's good form: "I don't think the fans here are too drunk on it all.

"They know there's a reality to it. We have to work for everything we get.

"From the outside I think the fans are enjoying the ride but I think they're well aware there's no gimmes and we have to earn the right in everything we do."

and just before i let us all go,

an interesting article that appeared in a national rag

https://www.theguardian.com/football/201...e_btn_link

[Lord Snooty]

Nice one, jjamez.

Can you believe both Merson and Lawrenson have tipped us to win this?

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Love the annual review you've done. Can't imagine we've ever had anything like this.

[theo_luddite]

Top notch post jjamez, memo to brain, rejig your foxes draft Theo or it will look like a copy and paste job

[Lord Snooty]

Haha. I was thinking of doing a best moments of 2017 thread but I reckon young jjamez has done enough there.
I'd like to add to those the Brighton home match last season when we ran them ragged. And also the first home game this season against Newcastle. The atmosphere was absolutely bloody brilliant that day and the goal we scored was up there with some of the best team goals ever, something like 14 passes involved if I remember rightly.

[jjamez]

i thought it might unravel someones plans

[Lord Snooty]

The Hef is back on the bench.

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Usual changes. Depoitre, Hadjergonads and Molly Malone back in.

No Wood in the Burnley line up but still Nakki can only get on the bench.

[Amelia Chaffinch]

Good for morale having Hef back, not that they need it atm.

[Amelia Chaffinch]

Surprised it's still 0-0. Sean Dyche needs to shut up. Scotty Arfield lucky to still be on the pitch.

[Lord Snooty]

Another point closer to safety.

Not much else to say really.

[jjamez]

I thought that was shite. Too many players off the boil/fatigued.