Concerned about Defour

[Fretters]

We all saw how a proper pre-season benefited him last season. I hope he's back soon and isn't missing out on much of the fitness side of things in training. I like Westwood but a fully fit Defour is the best player at the club IMO.

[Quickenthetempo]

There's no reason in the world that the fitness staff at the club can't get him up to scratch after the season starts. Everything gets monitored.

Half hearted games against Macclesfield aren't the reason they get fit.

[Fretters]

There's no reason in the world that the fitness staff at the club can't get him up to scratch after the season starts. Everything gets monitored.

Half hearted games against Macclesfield aren't the reason they get fit.

But full hearted games against Preston help.

[KateR]

am always concerned about him in regard to be out as much as he appears to be, have to say I really like Westwood though, everyone benefits from a run in playing games for the first team.

[Wile E Coyote]

he is a real asset, but that's the nature of the game, he may well pick up another knock and be sidelined again.
all teams have key players, spurs without kane would have looked average at best, although he was useless in world cup when it mattered.
I can only think of chelsea and city who can perhaps lose a key player and effortlessly slot a replacement in effectively.

[Quickenthetempo]

But full hearted games against Preston help.

Maybe, but 60 minutes of Prem football should get him fitter.

For me the pre season is more beneficial for new players trying to learn how we play. These guys are fit as fiddles. They don't even balloon up in summer anymore.

[jlup1980]

He's probably the main reason we need another CM. I can't see him getting through an entire season injury free, but that was the risk we took when we signed him. If he arrived without question marks around his fitness he would have cost a lot more than he did!! We need him fit for the majority of our games though; a fully fit Defour can be the difference in tight games.

[JTClaret]

Do we really believe it was the pre-season that changed him, and not a clearing of the air with Dyche?

[RocketLawnChair]

A fully fit Steven Defour week in week out would never have been available to Burnley for £8 million quid.

[Quickenthetempo]

Do we really believe it was the pre-season that changed him, and not a clearing of the air with Dyche?

That and putting 3 in the middle of the park so he wasn't over worked to breaking point.

[Dyched]

There were also a World Cup place up for grabs this summer.