GW 34 Wednesday/Thursday Live Chat: Burnley for Europe

Double game week craziness continues with three more scheduled games prior to the weekend rollout of FPL GW-35. In the meantime we got the confirmed Premier League champion, any guesses? Right, Manchester is blue in 2017/2018! Manchester City got an unexpected present from their deadly rivals when the Red Devils lost to all-but-relegated West Brom at Old Trafford last Sunday. My congratulations to all Citizens’ fans reading us, your team was nearly unstoppable, what a story this season!

Here are the remaining rescheduled midweek fixtures:

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Wednesday, April 18

Bournemouth v. Manchester United

Thursday, April 19

Burnley v. Chelsea

Leicester v. Southampton

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What’s the motivation left?

Bournemouth

The Cherries are currently 10 points clear of the relegation zone, and they still have a rather kind schedule for the last three games of the season. They have no mounting pressure, unlike the visiting Manchester side. Bournemouth can secure their Premier League status by taking another high-price scalp in front of their home crowd.

Manchester United

Is there some pride and true love for the badge on your t-shirt left in football these days? The fans who paid to see sleepy and sluggish United stars slump to a rather humiliating defeat against West Brom deserve a rebound. Will Paul Pogba finally show up on the pitch? Where is Alexis Sanchez’s consistency? Is Jose Mourinho the right coach? So many questions...

Burnley

Everyone expected a Burnley slump once Premier League status was secured, but the Clarets responded with five wins in as many games. They look like the most motivated team in the division to me; which makes Sean Dyche a candidate for manager of the year (don’t blink Mr Guardiola!).

Burnley are just two points behind Arsenal (believe it!) and that decisive sixth spot, which would grant entry to Europa League football next season. Interestingly, they will travel to London to face the Gunners in GW 37. The Clarets are now in a position to showcase their value as a team and individually, while trying to potentially earn a better contract either at Burnley or elsewhere. So don’t be surprised if they dispatch Chelsea tonight.

Chelsea

Chelsea’s story is quite opposite to tomorrow’s opponents. Antonio Conte will be gone in five weeks. I think it is fair to say that his expensive signings of Alvaro Morata and Tiemoue Bakayoko flopped. Eden Hazard didn’t assert himself as a true leader. To sum up, they are yet another top English side in deep disarray, and only Roman Abramovich with Marina Granovskaya may have an idea of what’s coming. I don’t see any motivation left in this team, as there will be a new Chelsea project next season.

Leicester City

No motivation and nothing to play for, while comfortably stuck between Burnley and the lower part of the table. Some individuals (Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez, Kasper Schmeichel, Harry Maguire to name a few) are playing for their new potential deals and/or finally outside of Leicester’s dream team, but that’s it.

Southampton

The Saints are almost fallen. Though scoring some much needed goals of their own, they have conceded three in each of their past four games. What is symptomatic to me is not the score, but the manner. Last but not least, the team collapsed against a mediocre Chelsea at home after leading 2-0. With a game in hand, they are still only three points behind Crystal Palace, but the calendar is quite milder for Roy Hodgson’s team. They need to win against Leicester or it may be too late... if it’s not too late already (the defeat by West Ham may have been the death knell). And am I still allowed to joke about Mark Hughes relegating two teams in one season? Yes I am!

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In the end, let me open a quick poll about your belief in Burnley’s potential to finish this season. I’m a personal fan of Sean Dyche and wish him and the team all the luck in his remaining five matches.

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Those were my thoughts, so I’m off to grab a cold beer, enjoy the games, and chat with you. What’s on your minds during these midweek matches? Talk to us in the comments below.

Thank you for reading us!

Alexey