THERE is a saying in football that it doesn't matter how you win, just so long as you do win. Judging by the prevailing mood inside Turf Moor on Saturday afternoon, that theory would not cut too much ice with the Burnley faithful at the moment.

First things first, the Clarets did win on Saturday, and four points out of six constitutes a good start to the league campaign. The problem lies in the manner in which the bulk of these points were obtained.

Because frankly, Burnley were boring last weekend. Dull rather than dynamic, impotent not impassioned. And whilst this might do for other clubs, Clarets fans have traditionally demanded a certain amount of style from their side.

This decade alone provides ample evidence of that. Jimmy Mullen was loved because the passion he so evidently felt for the club was translated into adventurous, attacking football in the sides he fielded. Similarly, Adrian Heath will always be warmly remembered for his romantic, Keeganesque doctrine.

Stan Ternent's philosphy is somewhat different. This is not necessarily a criticism, merely an observation. Stan is more cautious, less inclined to trust the vagaries of flair, preferring the artisan to the artist.

This manifests itself in a number of ways. Example - his almost slavish adherence to five at the back, or in midfield. Example - signings such as Armstrong, Mellon, Johnrose and West, solid yet unspectacular. Example - excluding Glen Little in the starting 11 on Saturday. It was puzzling indeed that Burnley's most naturally gifted and exciting talent failed to start. Stan claims the winger was dropped to the bench as he had been below par to date. Yet using this theory, there would have been an exceptionally good case for omitting all those who starred in the Manchester City embarrassment last Wednesday.

Yet things may be about to change. The injury to Steve Davis, coupled with the lack of defensive cover (Brass and Swan) both being injured, gives the manager two options. The first is a 3-5-2 formation, but it is hard to see Stan being convinced by this. The other is 4-4-2, with Armstrong and Thomas linking up in the heart of defence. This system would also afford the opportunity to play Little on the right and Paul Smith on the left.

With these two firing in crosses to Payton, Lee or Cooke, the results could be explosive. Go on, Stan - you know you want to...

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.