Back by very popular demand is the return of Ask The Opposition. Our segment where we ask fans of opposing teams forums some questions and post a selection of the responses back on here.
I've asked questions to Burnley fans on Clarets Mad and here are their responses. Thanks to some newbie users for providing some of the questions (they have been credited):
Q1: After a poor start to the season, do you think Van Gaal is the right man for Manchester United?
Diddy86: Right now, I think anyone would struggle. Long-term, suspect he'll do alright.
wherewasi: You need to stick with him or you'll end up in a circle of constantly changing managers. After panicking repeatedly over the last year... Fellaini, Mata, sacking Moyes, di Maria.. time to show some balls.
ClaitonClaret: I don't think you will make top 4 again this season as the top four from last season, Spurs and Everton will be the top 6. If Man Utd finish 7th or even better then maybe you have stopped the rot and will be on the way back. Hard to envisage Man Utd being out of the top 6 for any length of time. I think that either Everton or Spurs may finish higher than they did last season.
claretspice: Yes, he's the right man. You've just got to do what you didn't to with Moyes, accept youre in a period of transition and it will be bloody and painful for a year or three.
claptrappers_union: Obviously LVG is a proven manager throughout Europe and should be the right man for the job. To be fair, if he isn't the man, then who is?
dsr: Don't know. How could anyone know? But if what they say about the players' reaction to Moyes is correct, then I'm not sure there is a "right man". It took 10+ years to replace Busby.
oldcolner: van Gaal has had bad patches notably at Barca second time and as assistant to Koeman. His success will depend on getting players to follow his plan as he seems rather intransigent. He will also have to get new signings to blend together, it could take some time. He looks like Moyes did rabbit in the headlights just now.
Q2: How do you expect both Manchester United and Burnley to do in the league this season?
Diddy86: United - struggle to break top 6 unless they get used to this 3-at-the-back system. Looks shaky to me. Us - if we make additions, scrape to safety. If not, we'll have a battle on our hands.
claretspice: You'll be top 6 or 7, how high is a matter of debate. We'll be bottom 6 or 7, and probably towards the bottom 3 or 4. Without reinforcements to the squad before the window shuts, its going to be tough to survive.
claptrappers_union: Manchester United will make the Champions League, though I don't think they will make the top two... not for a couple more years yet. I think Burnley will be relegated. Although we probably have a better squad than 5 years ago, the Premier League is so much stronger. Look at the likes of the teams who were promoted with us, QPR and Leicester - their finances should give them a fighting chance at least. Burnley don't have billionaire backers and its proving difficult to even bring in even the top of the range Championship Quality players in. Maybe if we had sign some decent players before the window shuts, I might change my mind.
ColdPieWarmBeer: UTD poor by UTD's standards, damage done whilst players stand around scratching their heads for a few months at what LVG is asking them to do, stronger finish, upper mid table/Burnley to go down and providing Dyche doesn't leave, fighting and with a bit of dignity.
dsr: Man Utd probably at the bottom end of the top 7, possibly dropping to 8th; Burnley near the edge of the relegation zone, hopefully at the right end of it. (He says optimistically.) Looking at QPR at weekend gives me hope that we won't finish bottom, at least.
Q3: Sean Dyche has been labelled the “Ginger Mourinho” by your fans. Is this how highly you rate him? (suggested by 432JuanMata)
Diddy86: He's worked wonders on a shoestring budget. Nobody realistically expected us to maintain our explosive start, but his man-management is up there with the best, if not the best we've had here.
wherewasi: No. I rate him higher.
ClaitonClaret: Yes without a doubt, we couldn't have got any better.
Bin_Ont_Turf: I personally don't like him being called that (I don't use every thread on here to tell everyone that though) he's better than Mourinho. Would Mourinho or even that Whisky nosed Bacon chops have got Burnley up last season like Dyche did? No they wouldn't.
claretspice: He's rated incredibly highly for doing a simply stunning job last year, although this season will be a huge learning curve for him. He's no Mourinho though - conducts himself with far more class for a start.
claptrappers_union: He is highly regarded obviously. He employs are hard working team ethic with players giving 100% for him. Makes no promises such as long term plans, success or whatever. He is here to do a job with his famous 'one game at a time' mantra. Though, if Burnley do OK, I think he will have no option but to move on if another club wants him. His hands are tied at Burnley FC.
CrustyCrouton: He worked a miracle last season in getting the favourites for relegation to finish 2nd, hence the nickname. He will need to do it again this season to keep it
Boliclaret: After last seasons 93 point total with 11 away wins and only 5 defeats I rate him very highly. So do others so he needs to be backed or he might become our ex manager.
dsr: Higher. And I don't call him "Ginger Morinho" - Billy Ingham as the "Ginger Pele" was ironic, not a true comparison.
Q4: Last time you were in the Premier League, Owen Coyle was your manager. Who do you personally feel is better for you between the two? Coyle or Dyche?
Diddy86: Coyle had no plan B. Dyche does. Dyche - no question.
wherewasi: People here are too influenced by Coyle's departure. Up to this stage, the achievements are similar. People shouldn't forget that Coyle came in on the back of the club and squad being in a terrible state; Dyche (eventually) inherited some of the boon Coyle and his team had left.
ClaitonClaret: Dyche has a solidity about him that reminds me of many successful managers of the past.
Bin_Ont_Turf: If anyone answers this question with Coyle then they want to be booked on a flight to Switzerland.
claretspice: Its hard to imagine two more different managers. Coyle's brand of careless optimism would probably have kept us up last time, despite the task being every bit as tough as it is last year. With luck a full year of Dyche's military rigour and tactical nous, we'll be able to make that step.
claptrappers_union: Dyche is more of a tactician and focuses on results and and what happens on the field, he's not that interested in anything else. Coyle used attacking football which football fans love, but there was no Plan B. Coyle made himself into a bit of a figure head with talks of 'leaving a legacy', 'building for the long term', 'young and hungry players', the fans, the community blah blah. Thats what was disappointing when he left for Bolton because everything he said meant nothing. He left the club during the transfer window and took all his staff with him. Everything fell to pieces from there, it all seemed a bit of pointless exercise in the end. This time, I'd imagine the club are move prepared for a sudden departure this time.
dsr: Dyche. Coyle banged on and on and on about "it's not about the money, if a player comes and asks about money I don't want him at this club", and then as soon as someone offered him money he was off.
oldcolner: Coyle was good in the circumstances we were in, but then he made sure we were relegated though by taking promised loan players Wilshere and Holden to Bolton and all the back up team. Sean worked miracles last year I expect him to do likewise this year as new players blend together and when big Sam comes back.
Q5: I saw the image posted of the likely lineups for your first game against Chelsea. By all accounts you did pretty good during the game. Is the lack of investment something that frustrates you, and why do you think more signings haven’t been made?
Diddy86: It is frustrating. Nobody REALLY knows what efforts have truly gone into investing. We're a small town with a small-town club. Perhaps the mentality of the board could change to be a tad more daring but we seem to think more about the long-term stability of the club that the short-term.
wherewasi: No. Not frustrated by what you call lack of investment. More signings haven't been made because (primarily thanks to the trail blazed by Man Utd - thanks for nothing) the financial gulf even in the top league is so vast as to make the competition meaningless.
ClaitonClaret: For me there has been no surprise about the difficulty in landing targets. We are probably 25th in the list of preferred clubs for most players.
Bin_Ont_Turf: Not frustrated just yet. We haven't made more signings because we are extremely poor (money wise) in this market.
claretspice: Yes, because 8 or 9 players at the core of the first eleven are well equipped to survive - they just need some help. I think there have been a combination of factors, not least some naive assumptions by board, recruitment staff and manager and a certain arrogance that they could 'win' negotiations by playing a cute game which has backfired.
clareturion: Signings haven't been made because we have risk averse, tight ar$ed board who couldn't negotiate their way free from being held hostage by Mother Theresa.
CrustyCrouton: Very much so, all our fans are beginning to feel frustrated being expected to fork out over £600 for season tickets without seeing any money being spent by the Board on the 1st XI. We are too cautious and unambitious.
claptrappers_union: Because, apparently, we don't have a pot to **** in. We have good Chairmen, a loyal and sensible board, but the club NEEDS new investment to cement a place at the highest level.
ColdPieWarmBeer: As amateurish a transfer window as UTD's was last season. The inevitability of it all is what's flattening.
dsr: Mildly. We've got £100m extra income over four years, and we're asked to commit well over £10m at a time in fees + wages for players that are little better than we already have. We were by a distance the second best side in the division last season, and established Premier League players are way out of our price range. Of the newly promoted clubs, QPR are known to have bottomless reserves and Leicester have been promised £180m by their owners, so basically we can only sign players that no other team wants. We've found no-one expensive yet who the board and management consider worth having, so I'm happy to go along with that.
oldcolner: we can never match the big spenders.you have spent more since June than we have ever spends since 1888.its a fact of life so we have to live with it.
Q6: The last time you were in the Premier League, you memorably beat Manchester United 1-0 at Turf Moor. With Manchester United’s bad form so far this season including losing 4-0 to MK Dons, do you think you can cause another upset? (suggested by 432JuanMata)
Diddy86: Yes. Simple as that!
ClaitonClaret: Upsets are always possible. At the moment it would be less of a shock than last time.
Bin_Ont_Turf: We can cause another upset, as long we defend a bit better than we been doing of late.
claretspice: Of course we can - you aren't as good a side as in 2009. You'll start as heavy favourites, of course, though.
Boliclaret: Why not? We have a better team and Unt's empire has crumbled somewhat since then. Without being blase though, you have quality players and you will click again at some point.
dsr: No. If we win, we'll be above you, so it won't be an upset.
But yes, I think we can win (not to say we will, but certainly we can). It would help if Rooney has an off-day like last time, but Rooney's off-days are quite common now.
Q7: What do you think of Di Maria signing? Will he change United? Did we overpay? (suggested by 432JuanMata)
Diddy86: Decent player. Will he fit in? Not convinced. Did you over-pay? Yes.
wherewasi: Good player. Clearly he's better than nearly anything else you've got so he'll add. Yes - you paid top dollar because you're in panic mode again.
ClaitonClaret: Great player, hope he settles well but not too soon.
claretspice: Good player, not obvious where he fits into Van Gaal's 3-5-2 formation, and you probably have overpaid, although credit to you for biting the bullet and doing what you need to do to get good players in that the manager wants.
CrustyCrouton: Great player, did very well to get him to go to a Club who are not in Europe. However he is not worth that and is not addressing the more pressing issue of the Defence and Midfield.
Boliclaret: Yes you overpaid but thats the nature of the beast that is modern football. He'll be a class act but hopefully will need time to settle if you see what I mean
oldcolner: Is he a panic buy, he looks good on you tube, like lots of others. You will always have to pay a premium, given your finances.
Q8: Which XI would you like to see your team field against us?
wherewasi: Heaton Trippier Duff Shackell Ward Jones Marney Arfield Wallace Jutkiewicz Ings
ClaitonClaret: Any 11 will be too good for you.
claretspice: There isn't much choice: Heaton, Trippier, Mee, Duff, Shackell, Marney, Jones, Arfield, Taylor, Ings, Jutkewicz.
CrustyCrouton: Our best team has played the two League games already. Would hope for some new players but unlikely.
Boliclaret: Hopefully the team that started at Swansea, injuries permitting.
ColdPieWarmBeer: Same against Chelsea and Swansea. Team practically picks itself.
BelialofBacup: Same as last 2 games, swap Kightly for Taylor - and if there's some good new lads in, maybe stick them in
Q9: Finally, your predictions for the match?
Diddy86: Ings, 1-0 win.
wherewasi: 2-0 to you.
ClaitonClaret: Burnley win 2-0.
claretspice: No idea, but I'd like to think we can run you close.
CrustyCrouton: 0-0
Boliclaret: If you're nervous and fluff chances then 1-1 with a late Clarets equaliser which will kick start the season.
ColdPieWarmBeer: Tight game, expect to hear 'but they've got DiMaria who cost more than they've spent in their history' churned out at some point.
I've asked questions to Burnley fans on Clarets Mad and here are their responses. Thanks to some newbie users for providing some of the questions (they have been credited):
Q1: After a poor start to the season, do you think Van Gaal is the right man for Manchester United?
Diddy86: Right now, I think anyone would struggle. Long-term, suspect he'll do alright.
wherewasi: You need to stick with him or you'll end up in a circle of constantly changing managers. After panicking repeatedly over the last year... Fellaini, Mata, sacking Moyes, di Maria.. time to show some balls.
ClaitonClaret: I don't think you will make top 4 again this season as the top four from last season, Spurs and Everton will be the top 6. If Man Utd finish 7th or even better then maybe you have stopped the rot and will be on the way back. Hard to envisage Man Utd being out of the top 6 for any length of time. I think that either Everton or Spurs may finish higher than they did last season.
claretspice: Yes, he's the right man. You've just got to do what you didn't to with Moyes, accept youre in a period of transition and it will be bloody and painful for a year or three.
claptrappers_union: Obviously LVG is a proven manager throughout Europe and should be the right man for the job. To be fair, if he isn't the man, then who is?
dsr: Don't know. How could anyone know? But if what they say about the players' reaction to Moyes is correct, then I'm not sure there is a "right man". It took 10+ years to replace Busby.
oldcolner: van Gaal has had bad patches notably at Barca second time and as assistant to Koeman. His success will depend on getting players to follow his plan as he seems rather intransigent. He will also have to get new signings to blend together, it could take some time. He looks like Moyes did rabbit in the headlights just now.
Q2: How do you expect both Manchester United and Burnley to do in the league this season?
Diddy86: United - struggle to break top 6 unless they get used to this 3-at-the-back system. Looks shaky to me. Us - if we make additions, scrape to safety. If not, we'll have a battle on our hands.
claretspice: You'll be top 6 or 7, how high is a matter of debate. We'll be bottom 6 or 7, and probably towards the bottom 3 or 4. Without reinforcements to the squad before the window shuts, its going to be tough to survive.
claptrappers_union: Manchester United will make the Champions League, though I don't think they will make the top two... not for a couple more years yet. I think Burnley will be relegated. Although we probably have a better squad than 5 years ago, the Premier League is so much stronger. Look at the likes of the teams who were promoted with us, QPR and Leicester - their finances should give them a fighting chance at least. Burnley don't have billionaire backers and its proving difficult to even bring in even the top of the range Championship Quality players in. Maybe if we had sign some decent players before the window shuts, I might change my mind.
ColdPieWarmBeer: UTD poor by UTD's standards, damage done whilst players stand around scratching their heads for a few months at what LVG is asking them to do, stronger finish, upper mid table/Burnley to go down and providing Dyche doesn't leave, fighting and with a bit of dignity.
dsr: Man Utd probably at the bottom end of the top 7, possibly dropping to 8th; Burnley near the edge of the relegation zone, hopefully at the right end of it. (He says optimistically.) Looking at QPR at weekend gives me hope that we won't finish bottom, at least.
Q3: Sean Dyche has been labelled the “Ginger Mourinho” by your fans. Is this how highly you rate him? (suggested by 432JuanMata)
Diddy86: He's worked wonders on a shoestring budget. Nobody realistically expected us to maintain our explosive start, but his man-management is up there with the best, if not the best we've had here.
wherewasi: No. I rate him higher.
ClaitonClaret: Yes without a doubt, we couldn't have got any better.
Bin_Ont_Turf: I personally don't like him being called that (I don't use every thread on here to tell everyone that though) he's better than Mourinho. Would Mourinho or even that Whisky nosed Bacon chops have got Burnley up last season like Dyche did? No they wouldn't.
claretspice: He's rated incredibly highly for doing a simply stunning job last year, although this season will be a huge learning curve for him. He's no Mourinho though - conducts himself with far more class for a start.
claptrappers_union: He is highly regarded obviously. He employs are hard working team ethic with players giving 100% for him. Makes no promises such as long term plans, success or whatever. He is here to do a job with his famous 'one game at a time' mantra. Though, if Burnley do OK, I think he will have no option but to move on if another club wants him. His hands are tied at Burnley FC.
CrustyCrouton: He worked a miracle last season in getting the favourites for relegation to finish 2nd, hence the nickname. He will need to do it again this season to keep it
Boliclaret: After last seasons 93 point total with 11 away wins and only 5 defeats I rate him very highly. So do others so he needs to be backed or he might become our ex manager.
dsr: Higher. And I don't call him "Ginger Morinho" - Billy Ingham as the "Ginger Pele" was ironic, not a true comparison.
Q4: Last time you were in the Premier League, Owen Coyle was your manager. Who do you personally feel is better for you between the two? Coyle or Dyche?
Diddy86: Coyle had no plan B. Dyche does. Dyche - no question.
wherewasi: People here are too influenced by Coyle's departure. Up to this stage, the achievements are similar. People shouldn't forget that Coyle came in on the back of the club and squad being in a terrible state; Dyche (eventually) inherited some of the boon Coyle and his team had left.
ClaitonClaret: Dyche has a solidity about him that reminds me of many successful managers of the past.
Bin_Ont_Turf: If anyone answers this question with Coyle then they want to be booked on a flight to Switzerland.
claretspice: Its hard to imagine two more different managers. Coyle's brand of careless optimism would probably have kept us up last time, despite the task being every bit as tough as it is last year. With luck a full year of Dyche's military rigour and tactical nous, we'll be able to make that step.
claptrappers_union: Dyche is more of a tactician and focuses on results and and what happens on the field, he's not that interested in anything else. Coyle used attacking football which football fans love, but there was no Plan B. Coyle made himself into a bit of a figure head with talks of 'leaving a legacy', 'building for the long term', 'young and hungry players', the fans, the community blah blah. Thats what was disappointing when he left for Bolton because everything he said meant nothing. He left the club during the transfer window and took all his staff with him. Everything fell to pieces from there, it all seemed a bit of pointless exercise in the end. This time, I'd imagine the club are move prepared for a sudden departure this time.
dsr: Dyche. Coyle banged on and on and on about "it's not about the money, if a player comes and asks about money I don't want him at this club", and then as soon as someone offered him money he was off.
oldcolner: Coyle was good in the circumstances we were in, but then he made sure we were relegated though by taking promised loan players Wilshere and Holden to Bolton and all the back up team. Sean worked miracles last year I expect him to do likewise this year as new players blend together and when big Sam comes back.
Q5: I saw the image posted of the likely lineups for your first game against Chelsea. By all accounts you did pretty good during the game. Is the lack of investment something that frustrates you, and why do you think more signings haven’t been made?
Diddy86: It is frustrating. Nobody REALLY knows what efforts have truly gone into investing. We're a small town with a small-town club. Perhaps the mentality of the board could change to be a tad more daring but we seem to think more about the long-term stability of the club that the short-term.
wherewasi: No. Not frustrated by what you call lack of investment. More signings haven't been made because (primarily thanks to the trail blazed by Man Utd - thanks for nothing) the financial gulf even in the top league is so vast as to make the competition meaningless.
ClaitonClaret: For me there has been no surprise about the difficulty in landing targets. We are probably 25th in the list of preferred clubs for most players.
Bin_Ont_Turf: Not frustrated just yet. We haven't made more signings because we are extremely poor (money wise) in this market.
claretspice: Yes, because 8 or 9 players at the core of the first eleven are well equipped to survive - they just need some help. I think there have been a combination of factors, not least some naive assumptions by board, recruitment staff and manager and a certain arrogance that they could 'win' negotiations by playing a cute game which has backfired.
clareturion: Signings haven't been made because we have risk averse, tight ar$ed board who couldn't negotiate their way free from being held hostage by Mother Theresa.
CrustyCrouton: Very much so, all our fans are beginning to feel frustrated being expected to fork out over £600 for season tickets without seeing any money being spent by the Board on the 1st XI. We are too cautious and unambitious.
claptrappers_union: Because, apparently, we don't have a pot to **** in. We have good Chairmen, a loyal and sensible board, but the club NEEDS new investment to cement a place at the highest level.
ColdPieWarmBeer: As amateurish a transfer window as UTD's was last season. The inevitability of it all is what's flattening.
dsr: Mildly. We've got £100m extra income over four years, and we're asked to commit well over £10m at a time in fees + wages for players that are little better than we already have. We were by a distance the second best side in the division last season, and established Premier League players are way out of our price range. Of the newly promoted clubs, QPR are known to have bottomless reserves and Leicester have been promised £180m by their owners, so basically we can only sign players that no other team wants. We've found no-one expensive yet who the board and management consider worth having, so I'm happy to go along with that.
oldcolner: we can never match the big spenders.you have spent more since June than we have ever spends since 1888.its a fact of life so we have to live with it.
Q6: The last time you were in the Premier League, you memorably beat Manchester United 1-0 at Turf Moor. With Manchester United’s bad form so far this season including losing 4-0 to MK Dons, do you think you can cause another upset? (suggested by 432JuanMata)
Diddy86: Yes. Simple as that!
ClaitonClaret: Upsets are always possible. At the moment it would be less of a shock than last time.
Bin_Ont_Turf: We can cause another upset, as long we defend a bit better than we been doing of late.
claretspice: Of course we can - you aren't as good a side as in 2009. You'll start as heavy favourites, of course, though.
Boliclaret: Why not? We have a better team and Unt's empire has crumbled somewhat since then. Without being blase though, you have quality players and you will click again at some point.
dsr: No. If we win, we'll be above you, so it won't be an upset.
But yes, I think we can win (not to say we will, but certainly we can). It would help if Rooney has an off-day like last time, but Rooney's off-days are quite common now.Q7: What do you think of Di Maria signing? Will he change United? Did we overpay? (suggested by 432JuanMata)
Diddy86: Decent player. Will he fit in? Not convinced. Did you over-pay? Yes.
wherewasi: Good player. Clearly he's better than nearly anything else you've got so he'll add. Yes - you paid top dollar because you're in panic mode again.
ClaitonClaret: Great player, hope he settles well but not too soon.
claretspice: Good player, not obvious where he fits into Van Gaal's 3-5-2 formation, and you probably have overpaid, although credit to you for biting the bullet and doing what you need to do to get good players in that the manager wants.
CrustyCrouton: Great player, did very well to get him to go to a Club who are not in Europe. However he is not worth that and is not addressing the more pressing issue of the Defence and Midfield.
Boliclaret: Yes you overpaid but thats the nature of the beast that is modern football. He'll be a class act but hopefully will need time to settle if you see what I mean
oldcolner: Is he a panic buy, he looks good on you tube, like lots of others. You will always have to pay a premium, given your finances.
Q8: Which XI would you like to see your team field against us?
wherewasi: Heaton Trippier Duff Shackell Ward Jones Marney Arfield Wallace Jutkiewicz Ings
ClaitonClaret: Any 11 will be too good for you.
claretspice: There isn't much choice: Heaton, Trippier, Mee, Duff, Shackell, Marney, Jones, Arfield, Taylor, Ings, Jutkewicz.
CrustyCrouton: Our best team has played the two League games already. Would hope for some new players but unlikely.
Boliclaret: Hopefully the team that started at Swansea, injuries permitting.
ColdPieWarmBeer: Same against Chelsea and Swansea. Team practically picks itself.
BelialofBacup: Same as last 2 games, swap Kightly for Taylor - and if there's some good new lads in, maybe stick them in
Q9: Finally, your predictions for the match?
Diddy86: Ings, 1-0 win.
wherewasi: 2-0 to you.
ClaitonClaret: Burnley win 2-0.
claretspice: No idea, but I'd like to think we can run you close.
CrustyCrouton: 0-0
Boliclaret: If you're nervous and fluff chances then 1-1 with a late Clarets equaliser which will kick start the season.
ColdPieWarmBeer: Tight game, expect to hear 'but they've got DiMaria who cost more than they've spent in their history' churned out at some point.