IT'S just not the same is it? International football, I mean.

Between the months of August and May, Saturday afternoons are for one thing and one thing alone - club football (unless you are a supporter of a Premiership team, in which case 3 O'clock Saturday afternoon kick offs are a quaint throwback to pre-Sky days).

It would be my guess that if you were to ask most season ticket holders, and for that matter most walk-on fans, what they would rather watch, Burnley would win out over England on every occasion.

True, the quality may not be as high at Turf Moor (although having witnesses England's 90 minutes of shooting practice against the undemanding Andorrans at Old Trafford), such a statement is subject to revision), but that's hardly the point.

There's an infinitely stronger, more intense relationship between supporter and club, than exists between supporter and country.

That's largely due to the fact that there's so much more emotional (not to mention financial) investment in the Clarets than could ever be the case with the national team.

It's only logical. How could England, who most supporters watch eight or nine times a year on television, possibly hope to vie for the affections of Burnley supporters who see their team in the flesh every other week or even more frequently?

Thankfully, next week we get a double dose of the Clarets, with visits from Colchester and Barnsley. Most supporters have earmarked six points from the games. But since when has it been as easy as that?

The table suggests there will be goals in both fixtures.

Between them the U's and the Tykes have witnessed 38 goals in their 10 championship games. So, two guaranteed 0-0's then.

Meanwhile, transfer deadline day came and went with a whimper at Turf Moor. Which, to be fair, was not wholly unexpected. In terms of the last remaining transfer-listed player at the club, it was never going to be easy to offload Gifton Noel-Williams.

Whether it be fair or not, strikers are ultimately judged on goals scored, and in Gifton's case there haven't been anywhere near enough of them.

On the plus side, John McGreal, previously linked with a move back to Ipswich, is still at the club.

He may not be in the first flush of youth, but for this writer's money, only Gary Cahill would rival him for the title of best central defender at the club during Steve Cotterill's reign.