This might be an unpopular suggestion but...

ClaretMoffitt · Post by **ClaretMoffitt** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 11:02 am

Do we really need to sign anyone?

I'm not saying we shouldn't or that we wont because we almost certainly will; however, when you consider that we will have two top quality players returning from injury and (presuming Ben stays) nobody leaving. With a team that has good competition in every place on the pitch and managed to finish 7th with arguably its two most creative players out for half the season, would it really be such a disaster if nobody else walked in through the door?

Personally, and this is the first time I've ever said this, I would have total faith in this squad to do well this coming season even if we didn't sign another player throughout this window.

taio · Post by **taio** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 11:04 am

We definitely need signings. Not loads but say three or four.

DCWat · Post by **DCWat** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 11:04 am

We’ve lost a number of players, only have Long as centre half back up and Brady / Defour are coming in on the back of injuries.

We need players in, no doubt.

Bordeauxclaret · Post by **Bordeauxclaret** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 11:05 am

Yes 100%. Most of all a centre back. We got through the end of last year making do, we were one injury/suspension away from having to play a full back there.

We’ve also lost a few players and have another potential 10-15 games to contend with and a lot of travelling.

evensteadiereddie · Post by **evensteadiereddie** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 11:06 am

With Brady, a rejuvenated Lennon and, hopefully, Defour back we are in very good shape and looking forward to another decent season.. As always though, mid-season injuries and suspension will stretch us. I'd leave it until January unless Dyche is absolutely determined to bag a target or two now.

cricketfieldclarets · Post by **cricketfieldclarets** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 11:07 am

Yes. Even the to teams go backwards when they dont.

Almost every team who didnt defend their title in the premier league didnt add to what they had. You need to keep improving and motivating the existing players to raise their levels.

We need at least one cb. At least one winger. At least one forward thinking midfielder. and at least one striker. Arguably a big dominant box to box player too.

ClaretMoffitt · Post by **ClaretMoffitt** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 11:08 am

I was thinking centre back looked like it needed a place but I also remember Dyche saying last season that Taylor could make a good CB and it would give him potential for more game-time if he was only 1 position behind our next back up.

piston broke · Post by **piston broke** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 11:17 am

For all the goals we scored last season I was always wondering where the next would come from. Brady was just hitting his best form when he got hurt and we were lopsided without him, all the pressure on JBG to produce. I’d rather have a guaranteed creative No.10 than a CH, even if he costs £30m.

evensteadiereddie · Post by **evensteadiereddie** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 11:17 am

cricketfieldclarets wrote:Yes. Even the to teams go backwards when they dont.

Almost every team who didnt defend their title in the premier league didnt add to what they had. You need to keep improving and motivating the existing players to raise their levels.

We need at least one cb. At least one winger. At least one forward thinking midfielder. and at least one striker. Arguably a big dominant box to box player too.

Absolutely - every team or squad "needs" new, improved players to create a er, new and improved squad. It's a question of how urgent the need is for us. I don't want Dyche to go out and spend for the sake of it.

SGr · Post by **SGr** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 11:21 am

Us not signing players won’t stop other teams strengthening heavily, simple as.

Bordeauxclaret · Post by **Bordeauxclaret** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 11:52 am

Having Brady and Defour back will be a big plus but neither are going to have a full pre season like most of the others.
Plus we can’t assume we won’t pick up similar injuries to other players this year.

Devils_Advocate · Post by **Devils_Advocate** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 12:11 pm

A CB is essential for both adding back up immediately and building for when the next of our first choice CBs move on (like we did bringing in Tarks to back up Mee and Keane)

We are also massively short up front. Barnes had an amazing season but for a top half team he should be an impact player like he was at the start of the season when we played our best football. Walters needs moving on and one of Wells or Vokes could be 4th choice but that leaves us needing a second top class striker to challenge Wood for a starting place or play alongside him if we go 4-4-2

Im_not_Robbie_Blake · Post by **Im_not_Robbie_Blake** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 12:13 pm

Need a centre back and Jay!

paulus the woodgnome · Post by **paulus the woodgnome** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 12:19 pm

SGr wrote:Us not signing players won’t stop other teams strengthening heavily, simple as.

Like Everton last season? My point being that buying new players guarantees nothing. I'm not saying we don't need new players, but I'd rather we didn't make signings for the sake of it.

SGr · Post by **SGr** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 12:21 pm

paulus the woodgnome wrote:Like Everton last season? My point being that buying new players guarantees nothing. I'm not saying we don't need new players, but I'd rather we didn't make signings for the sake of it.

Everton sold Lukaku and didn’t replace him. But yes, I agree that signing players for the sake of it is a stupid strategy.

cutsy123 · Post by **cutsy123** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 12:27 pm

Of course we need players. Id say at least 5

Btw we dont need jay

Quickenthetempo · Post by **Quickenthetempo** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 12:34 pm

SGr wrote:Everton sold Lukaku and didn’t replace him. But yes, I agree that signing players for the sake of it is a stupid strategy.

How could Everton replace Lukaku in reality?

£75m strikers don't sign for teams outside of the top 6.

SGr · Post by **SGr** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 12:41 pm

Quickenthetempo wrote:How could Everton replace Lukaku in reality?

£75m strikers don't sign for teams outside of the top 6.

Never said they had to spend £75m. The fact is they didn’t sign a striker even remotely like him, despite having a team geared around him. Their recruitment was very poor. £25m on Klaasen, etc...

summitclaret · Post by **summitclaret** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 12:54 pm

Cant believe that some people think we don't need signings. We must sign at least 1 cb. If ben won't sign an extension we probably need 2. One should be younger to train up like keano/tarks.

We need a nr 10 unless we are changing formation. If we are not then an out and out striker. Also a right-footed winger as lennon is too up and down and needs to know his place is not guaranteed. Also latter would enable jbg/robbie to play nr 10 if needed.

Finally someone like clucus to beef up midfield options.

Signing all of the above would enabe Walters and wells to move on and actually play football again.

Please don't say that we cant afford the above because we can.

jurek · Post by **jurek** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 12:54 pm

Signing no one might be a popular suggestion if you were a potential investor
and the club needed a new stadium but apart from that can't think of any good reason
why we shouldn't or couldn't sign players in positions that Dyche deems fit.

We need back up at centre-half and possibly more if Mee doesn't stay and another forward/winger as a bare minimum.
Possibly even a couple of loan players on top of that.

Squad quality and size is relatively important especially if we wish to progress in the Europe
as well as maintain our position/status in the league.

Be more than surprised, if not totally amazed if we didn't bring anyone in.

claretspice · Post by **claretspice** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 12:56 pm

Yes. We've got only one "reserve" at centre half (3 for 2 slots) central midfield (4 for 3 slots) and out wide (3 for 2 slots) as it stands.

That's not enough depth. We need one more, ideally, in each of those departments.

Devils_Advocate · Post by **Devils_Advocate** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 1:05 pm

claretspice wrote:Yes. We've got only one "reserve" at centre half (3 for 2 slots) central midfield (4 for 3 slots) and out wide (3 for 2 slots) as it stands.

That's not enough depth. We need one more, ideally, in each of those departments.

And if Dyche preferred option is 4-5-1 with the No.10 role being a more mobile midfielder type role it also leaves 5 strikers for 1 slot with 4 of them not good enough to start in a 4-5-1 formation.

We dont just need some players we also need to get some better balance throughout the squad as we are very top heavy in numbers but short up top in terms of quality

thatdberight · Post by **thatdberight** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 1:13 pm

ClaretMoffitt wrote:Do we really need to sign anyone?

Define 'need'.

It's a bugbear of mine; the unqualified use of this word. It only makes sense if the consequence of failure is explicit (or the need is existential; e.g.humans need to eat. Fair enough, you'll quickly stop being a human if you don't eat.) Otherwise, it's not a fully formed question.

So; need or else.... what?

CaptJohn · Post by **CaptJohn** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 1:25 pm

We need reinforcements for sure. We've lost three squad members and need at least three players as a minimum.
1 x CM (Brian O'Neil)
1 X wide left midfielder/striker (Taffy)
1 x right side defender. (Colin Waldron)

Ideally as well I'd like an old fashioned inside forward similar to Gordon Harris

(Showing my age

)

edenclaret · Post by **edenclaret** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 1:35 pm

#23 Define 'need'
Pedantic question.
We all have a sense of what it means in this context.
For me:so that we don't drop down the table;become embroiled in a relegation dogfight etc.

Of course we should try to sign new players to more or less maintain, or even improve on last season, especially in view of Europa.
However, for a club like Burnley, where team ethic and spirit are so important, it's vital to get each signing right. Just one 'bad apple' could almost destroy it all.
That's why I have no stress about the seeming lack of progress in this.
'No deals are better than bad deals'

evensteadiereddie · Post by **evensteadiereddie** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 5:27 pm

Excellent point , eden, excellent.

KRBFC · Post by **KRBFC** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 5:35 pm

With 2 likely to leave, we'd have 17 outfield players, 2 of those returning from injuries. Plus the hectic schedule with European football. What world do you live on if you don't think we need players in?

IanMcL · Post by **IanMcL** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 10:22 pm

1 centre back at least. 1 midfielder, as Marney and Arfield gone. 1 front/wide/10 player.

colne-claret · Post by **colne-claret** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 10:52 pm

Centre back, Defensive Midfielder, Attacking Midfielder & Winger at least.

boatshed bill · Post by **boatshed bill** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 10:53 pm

KRBFC wrote:With 2 likely to leave, we'd have 17 outfield players, 2 of those returning from injuries. Plus the hectic schedule with European football. What world do you live on if you don't think we need players in?

Who are the two likely to leave?

colne-claret · Post by **colne-claret** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 10:58 pm

boatshed bill wrote:Who are the two likely to leave?

Walters

boatshed bill · Post by **boatshed bill** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 10:59 pm

colne-claret wrote:Walters

I'd be more concerned if they were 2 from Pope, Mee, Vokes.

KRBFC · Post by **KRBFC** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 11:13 pm

boatshed bill wrote:Who are the two likely to leave?

2 from Walters, Wells, Vokes.

tim_noone · Post by **tim_noone** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 11:22 pm

Wells will be staying.

colne-claret · Post by **colne-claret** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 10:40 am

tim_noone wrote:Wells will be staying.

Really? I’d imagine he’d be looking for more regular football but then again I think that about Vokes. Mate of mine who knows Vokes rekons he will be staying though.

houseboy · Post by **houseboy** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 10:58 am

taio wrote:We definitely need signings. Not loads but say three or four.

3 or 4 IS loads for us.

houseboy · Post by **houseboy** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 11:03 am

cutsy123 wrote:Of course we need players. Id say at least 5

Btw we dont need jay

That's half a team if you assume we don't need a goalkeeper. Just how bad do you think we are?

Lancasterclaret · Post by **Lancasterclaret** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 11:04 am

Pretty sure that if we don't sign anyone we will be caught out with injuries and suspensions.

HiroshimaClaret · Post by **HiroshimaClaret** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 11:08 am

We do...we really do!

Can`t see Heaton and Pope both being here so a new keeper in.
A centre-half to push Mee (hopefully) and Tarkowski.
The new Marney and a new Robbie Blake.

houseboy · Post by **houseboy** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 11:08 am

The CB thing is a weird one. Dawson would be a great addition but if you assume Tarks and Mee would not be dropped (why would they?) then do we really think that a player like Dawson would come here to sit on the bench?

Just food for thought.

Bin Ont Turf · Post by **Bin Ont Turf** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 11:30 am

It's more a case of getting a shift on than do we need any.

cutsy123 · Post by **cutsy123** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 11:45 am

houseboy wrote:That's half a team if you assume we don't need a goalkeeper. Just how bad do you think we are?

More for rotation. Last seasons bench werent good enough for the prem

Top Claret · Post by **Top Claret** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 12:14 pm

Mee is a priority on a new contract. If Mee signs Dawson would not be required due to his excessive wage demands, we should look for someone younger who we could develop and bring on.
With May and Arfield leaving a midfielder is a priority and Clueless would be a good fit

houseboy · Post by **houseboy** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 12:33 pm

cutsy123 wrote:More for rotation. Last seasons bench werent good enough for the prem

I realise this but squad rotation has it's drawbacks.
Firstly it only happens normally at big clubs because they have the money to have expensive players sitting on the bench.
Secondly would good players come to sit on the bench at Burnley, they might do it at City or Chelsea etc. but I just don't think they would here.
Thirdly our strength is in a settled side so any rotation would be limited to the cup matches and if we have no run what then?

Personally I believe in the old saying 'don't change a winning side' so rotation doesn't do it for me anyway and I believe that is Dyches' theory as well. When Benitez was at Liverpool it was squad rotation gone mad and I know a lot of Liverpool fans who hated him for it.

We do need some new faces yes, mainly as back up, but I think 2 or at most 3 would suffice, and I think the priority should be a striker because we just didn't score enough goals last season. We wouldn't need a CB as such a priority if we weren't under siege for most of the game and our results tailed off toward the end of last season, especially at the Turf, because teams worked out that if they sat back like we do we would have to come out more and we just didn't have enough threat. It's a fine balancing act at our club because we have money, yes, but we aren't awash with it and as Dyche has said so many times we could buy almost anyone but it's the wages that kill it.

Tuddybfc · Post by **Tuddybfc** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 2:40 pm

When as it stands we’re 1 injury off Kevin Long, 2 injuries off Kevin Long and Charlie Taylor and have a lack of depth out wide, yes. Striker would be nice but not essential, would also rather prefer a different option to Vokes, Barnes, Wood etc. A faster, more impact player (who is a decent standard, unlike Wells) as opposed to Jay Rod.

Falcon · Post by **Falcon** » Tue Jul 17, 2018 1:02 pm

I think if we kept the same squad we'd probably stay up barring an injury crisis.

However, I'd like us to make steady progress year on year and the lack of depth in certain positions is alarming.