TALKING TACTICS: Sven paid the price for start

Common wisdom suggests that time is the perfect healer.

In the case of our Carling Cup exit, I have to strongly disagree.

In the promotion season it was widely documented that our exploits in the competition spurred the team on to that memorable afternoon at Wembley.

The opportunity to reach the quarter-finals of a major competition should take precedence over any subsequent fixture.

You place silverware into a trophy cabinet, not a respectable league position.

Football is a results driven industry.

Glance across towards the Bob Lord Stand on Tuesday night and the bespectacled figure of Sven-Goran Eriksson will be nowhere to be seen.

The Swede has paid the price for an underwhelming start to the season by Leicester City.

Eriksson won 17 major trophies prior to becoming England manager in 2001.

In all honesty his stock has been in decline ever since.

He was the wrong appointment at the King Power Stadium, and, as a result, has saddled the club with expensive, mediocre signings.

A win percentage of 43.64% emphasises the level of underachievement in relation to the financial outlay.

Chairman Vichai Raksriaksorn has made it perfectly clear that promotion is a requirement, not an ambition.

I expect our opponents to utilise a 4-4-2 formation.

Expect a high tempo, coupled with an aggressive display.

David Nugent and Jermaine Beckford will be entrusted to provide the firepower.

In the second to third phase build up they will mix short possession football with a direct approach.

Lee Peltier and Paul Konchesky will combine with the midfield in order to progress with the ball.

Serious consideration has to be given to a counter attacking 3-5-2/5-3-2 system.

Burnley must allow Leicester City time on the ball.

Keep each line tight and compact.

With large numbers committed to defending such a small area, the options of the opposition will be limited. Allow the attacker to become frustrated, and wait for them to make an error of judgement. The only conceivable option will be to test Lee Grant from distance.

The team must concern themselves with allowing minimal space behind the defensive line.

When we win possession it must be immediately directed towards Jay Rodriguez.

Allow Ross Wallace, Kieran Trippier, Chris McCann and Charlie Austin to get ahead of the ball.

All others should look to close up behind, and prevent such an attack against ourselves.

The two key components are discipline and raw pace.

The former can be drilled into the squad down at Gawthorpe.

The latter is of no concern.

It is a tool which the majority of our squad have in their locker.

If Burnley harbour genuine ambitions of achievement, then it is imperative that they distance themselves away from 4-4-2!

It does not work – results thus far emphasise that!