Telegraph: season so far each club

[LeadBelly]

Daily Telegraph started a series of "season so far" for the Prem today covering Arsenal- Burnley for the first day.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/20 ... rnley-has/

Arsenal get C-; Villa C+; Bournemouth, BHA and Burnley all B. A reasonably balanced view of things I think.
I dont think this is behind a firewall (Ive got a subscription to DT sports); if it is, I can cut and paste our writ-up.

[Bezwick]

You need to be a subscriber to read the article. Could you copy-paste, please?

[Spike]

Are you a Telegraph salesman

[LeadBelly]

Burnley piece is reproduced below (each club is covered under the headings enboldened here)
Burnley
Moment of the season: Not a particular moment as such but, after a run of three successive defeats, Saturday’s 3-0 victory over West Ham United was well timed and a significant boost ahead of similarly winnable-looking games away to Watford and at home to Crystal Palace.

Player of the season: That old war horse Ashley Barnes is still going strong at 30 and can always be relied upon to make life difficult for defenders - he has five goals to his name in 11 Premier League matches. But the understanding being forged between winger Dwight McNeil and striker Chris Wood has become a central pillar of Burnley’s attacking threat and a source of many of their goals. Stop McNeil and you stop a vital supply line. Wood is averaging a goal every other game in the top flight this term and McNeil’s delivery has much to do with that. Ashley Westwood’s resurgence last season has continued this term, the midfielder proving both a combative and creative presence.

Biggest surprise: Erik Pieters was drafted in as cover at left back this summer but the former Stoke City defender took full advantage of an injury to Charlie Taylor to impress early on in the season, including two assists in the opening day victory over Southampton. Now Taylor has forced his way back into contention, impressing in Saturday’s resounding 3-0 win over West Ham, and Sean Dyche may have genuine competition in the left back position.

Biggest headache: Since the September international break, eight of the 12 goals Burnley have conceded have come from crosses, a vulnerability that Dyche will doubtless hope to address. It has been a problem that has reared its head more away from home but opponents have been given too much time and space in which to deliver from wide areas and Burnley have looked uncomfortable dealing with those balls into the penalty area. Beyond that, McNeil’s form is attracting interest from bigger clubs and Burnley may have a battle on their hands trying to retain the 19-year-old winger, a former Manchester United trainee who has enjoyed a meteoric rise over the past 12 months.

Manager’s popularity: Dyche is the longest-serving manager in the Premier League after Eddie Howe, the man he replaced in October 2012 when Howe left for the Bournemouth job he still holds. There are plenty of similarities between what Sam Allardyce did at Bolton Wanderers to what Dyche has done with Burnley and, while his football is not to everyone’s tastes, the fans are under no illusions about his importance to the club.


Board’s popularity:Dyche, like the vast majority of managers, would like more money to spend and is always urging the club to push the boat out that bit more but, in an age when too many clubs have suffered due to the recklessness or incompetence of their owners, Burnley’s admirable board - led by chairman Mike Garlick - run a very tight ship and continue to punch above their weight. They have also taken measures to expand their scouting network overseas, as well as their analysis teams, under the watch of technical director, Mike Rigg, who was appointed a year ago.

Best case scenario from here… Offers for Burnley’s best players, including winger Dwight McNeil, are rebuffed in January, their impressive home form continues and, having managed to nick some important wins on their travels, Dyche’s side consolidate a top ten Premier League finish for the second time in three seasons, despite having one of the division’s smallest budgets.

Worst case scenario from here… A treacherous looking December and January, comprising games against champions Manchester City, Spurs, Chelsea, Leicester City and Manchester United twice takes it toll and Burnley are sucked into a long relegation battle. And Dyche is made an offer from a Premier League rival that is too good to turn down - and leaves Turf Moor after seven years at the helm, with McNeil following him out of the door.

Overall grade: B

[LeadBelly]

Not a Telegraph salesman no. I think their sports coverage is good though & was prompted to subscribe (just for sport for 12 months) by the rugby world cup as their rugby coverage is probably better than Guardian or BBC etc.
The comments under the articles can be good too- much better than the puerile stuff usually in The Guardian.

[cockneyclaret]

Scouting network overseas?? Or does that mean the whole of Ireland now

[Bosscat]

Not a Telegraph salesman no. I think their sports coverage is good though & was prompted to subscribe (just for sport for 12 months) by the rugby world cup as their rugby coverage is probably better than Guardian or BBC etc.
The comments under the articles can be good too- much better than the puerile stuff usually in The Guardian.

My Brother gets the Telegraph (he is a crossword fan and likes theirs) so I read the Telegraph Saturdays sports pullout on a Sunday afternoon when we go up for a coffee... its a pretty good read and he always saves any BFC articles from midweek for me