Dyche: January Signings Unlikely

[ClaretTony]

Garlick is no fool

He knows giving Dyche money to spend will end up with us having a very expensive bench warmer who doesn't fit the system

Is this the Garlick who wrote today that we are now four and a half years into an unbroken top flight reign?

[Steddyman]

Time for a new manager then. I’d prefer to go down playing exciting football than watch the dross we are subjected to. No point signing flair players anyway, as we found with Defour the system that Dyche plays trains any flair out of them.

[ksrclaret]

Is this the Garlick who wrote today that we are now four and a half years into an unbroken top flight reign?

Not sure what you're implying with that comment? That Garlick is a fool?

[ClaretTony]

Not sure what you're implying with that comment? That Garlick is a fool?

No just referencing the nonsensical comment about why he would not be giving money for signings

[ksrclaret]

No just referencing the nonsensical comment about why he would not be giving money for signings

I thought you were picking up on the factually incorrect statement that we're four and half years into an unbroken top flight reign.

[cricketfieldclarets]

Do people still think we need no signings in january too? And only a couple in august?

We are too old
Too slow
Too one dimensional
Too predictable

[randomclaret2]

Just looking at our next few fixtures we could be in a real mess in a months time

[tim_noone]

Do people still think we need no signings in january too? And only a couple in august?

We are too old
Too slow
Too one dimensional
Too predictable

4 out of 4

[cricketfieldclarets]

Just looking at our next few fixtures we could be in a real mess in a months time

Hopefuly todays positive is the wakeup call to the playees, manager, chairman and board that we are where many of us knew we were after the bournemouth game. In a complete mess.

[Jakubclaret]

No just referencing the nonsensical comment about why he would not be giving money for signings

Targets are already probably identified, SD will convey this, so that's down to the purchasing acquisition (whoever writes the cheques) my humble opinion is the targets just simply don't want to come not for the money as a reason whatever reasonably offered, more attractive clubs will trump with more enhancing career prospects & city based geographically speaking. Players will look at vydra & Drinkwater ect & assess whether there's a likelihood of improving as a player.

[Wile E Coyote]

oh , hang on ! our under fire manager cannot strengthen his squad though he wants to. and somehow he is useless. ??

[cricketfieldclarets]

Apparently we are in talks with Drinkwater and Chelsea. Can only think its for a refund

[Vegas Claret]

Apparently we are in talks with Drinkwater and Chelsea. Can only think its for a refund

Dyche "we want to send him back"
Lampard " we don't want him"

end of conversation

[ashtonlongsider]

I think the key to us signing anyone in this window, especially now that we've been draw into a perilous situation, will revolve around getting players out first. To my mind we are top heavy with players on good wages with very little chance of impacting on the team. Personally think that's why it's 'unlikely'.

[Corky]

I've said on another thread that SD talks or should I say waffles his way through most interviews now. I don't think he takes them seriously. About a little over a minute into his post match ramble/drone he pointed to his left and said that's a fine!!! I have no idea what that means but it suggested to me he is not really interested in engaging with the media.

I wonder whether him saying that signings are unlikely are him being mischievous and trying to throw people off the scent. I sincerely hope so.

[ClaretAL]

Would would Dyche show his hand and say yes we are bringing a couple in? This would just allow the agents of the potential players to put us in a corner.

CT, you seem to have a better grasp of what is going on at the club, where is the blocker in Transfers at our club, is it purse strings, or from a team management side? without mentioning names.

[AlargeClaret]

How is DD going to transform us? Thought we had already had him for 4 months and he has done the square root of nothing

Re:DD you’re 100% correct ,though I’m more referring to his ability /potential or a midfield player of his quality . After getting battered /injured etc he was always gonna struggle getting back in if we were “ doing ok” which in all fairness we were up until last couple of games .

[beddie]

Surely it's down to the budget given to SD at the beginning of the season, if he's already blown it then there won't be any signings this January, if there's money available I would think we'll be looking at availability within that budget. No doubt SD and MG would discuss further finances outside the budget if a player that SD really wants suddenly becomes available.

[AlargeClaret]

Dyche will not split the Westwood,cork partnership up unless of injuries or suspension,so talk of signing a new cm is irrelevant

Anyone would think it’s akin to splitting up Laurel and Hardy or Morecambe and Wise ,though imo it’s more akin to splitting up “ Hale and Pace” or Little and Large”

While Westwood could thrive with a high quality CM at his side I really think JC has to go along with other the rest of the dead wood like Barnes who has become an absolute embarrasment

[jedi_master]

There is clearly money available to Dyche - lest we forget, we are believed to have offered upwards of £20m in the summer for Kalvin Phillips (indeed, MG confirmed we had offered a 'club record' sum for a player, as I recall).

We didn't spend that, and still haven't. Dyche may well be dampening expectations because he knows how difficult it is for us to bring players in. I think the old "Clubs put their prices up if we say we want someone" argument is daft, or do we really believe Chief Exec's at Premier League clubs are that dense? We're clearly quite able to buy a player or two in the £15-20m range this January, whether we do will be down to if the person wants to come, if the club wants to sell, and if Dyche actually thinks they're better than what we have.

I was content with the summers business on the basis that I thought Drinkwater was a terrific signing (which he was, on paper). As it is we still have a massive, massive need to upgrade the centre of our midfield. We have barely replaced Joey Barton, let alone Steven Defour. I will be angry personally if we aren't bringing in a guy in the £12-15m range (i.e, someone who clearly is here to start or compete to start) for that position in THIS window.

[jojomk1]

Cork caught on the ball again yesterday leading directly to their 2nd goal. Prob the worst game I've seen from Westwood.
Cork is 30 yrs old now and Westwood will be 30 in April
We may bypass them with our hoofball tactics but for me the bigger worry is their ineffectiveness to win back the ball when we are not in possession
Unless we can get some pace/strength in this key area of the pitch we will struggle
Would be interesting to know exactly how many successful tackles/headers these two guys put in per game

[kentonclaret]

I do find it hilarious on this board at times, how some posters get themselves all giddy when a new head of recruitment is appointed only to be informed by the manager when the transfer window opens that there will be zero signings.

Head of Recruitment at Burnley FC must really be a pipe and slippers job.

[cricketfieldclarets]

I've said on another thread that SD talks or should I say waffles his way through most interviews now. I don't think he takes them seriously. About a little over a minute into his post match ramble/drone he pointed to his left and said that's a fine!!! I have no idea what that means but it suggested to me he is not really interested in engaging with the media.

I wonder whether him saying that signings are unlikely are him being mischievous and trying to throw people off the scent. I sincerely hope so.

Tim Noone said the same. Hes gone from being uber confident and owning the interviews to umming and ahhing.

[beddie]

cricketfieldclarets. Well at least he didn't make his main conversation about diving.

[FactualFrank]

If the only thing we did this window was spend the reported £20m offer on Phillips last summer, on a central midfielder who can grab the game by it's balls, then that would do me. Someone who when they get the ball, you just know they have the class to drive us forward. We can cope everywhere else until summer if we had that.

[ClaretAL]

If the only thing we did this window was spend the reported £20m offer on Phillips last summer, on a central midfielder who can grab the game by it's balls, then that would do me. Someone who when they get the ball, you just know they have the class to drive us forward. We can cope everywhere else until summer if we had that.

Or may be promote Benson who does exactly that, then you have Taylor - Dwight - Benson, who know each others game inside out compared to the 11 yesterday who first met on the pitch at 12:30

[FactualFrank]

Or may be promote Benson who does exactly that, then you have Taylor - Dwight - Benson, who know each others game inside out compared to the 11 yesterday who first met on the pitch at 12:30

I've seen very little of Benson, is he as good as McNeil?

[D8BFC]

If the only thing we did this window was spend the reported £20m offer on Phillips last summer, on a central midfielder who can grab the game by it's balls, then that would do me. Someone who when they get the ball, you just know they have the class to drive us forward. We can cope everywhere else until summer if we had that.

Ben Pearson @ PNE.

[ClaretAL]

I've seen very little of Benson, is he as good as McNeil?

To be fair Frank I haven't seen enough of him, but what i have seen of him, I wouldn't have questioned him being in the 1st team squad, same as i said about Dwight, and it concerns me that we only managed to see him I the squad by cause of injury build ups, so it does make you wonder. But then there are others in the U23 who could fall under the same umbrella, but im sure those who do attend the U23 regularly will have a far better insight than me, so stand to be corrected.

[ksrclaret]

If the only thing we did this window was spend the reported £20m offer on Phillips last summer, on a central midfielder who can grab the game by it's balls, then that would do me. Someone who when they get the ball, you just know they have the class to drive us forward. We can cope everywhere else until summer if we had that.

I totally agree with what you're saying, but if we're going to persist with the horrible 442 we might as well keep our money in our pocket. There's no room for a midfielder like you've described, as our players aren't encouraged to get on the ball unless we've got nothing to lose.

[Blackrod]

CM has to be number one priority and we will probably need to blow our budget if we can’t find any gems. They need to be capable of starting and not just bench filling. Ideally could do with a RB but this could wait until summer if we seriously strengthen midfield.

We really need to look at offloading Brady, Lennon, Hendrick, Cork etc who offer mediocrity at best.

I’d like to hear from Garlick about the positive impact the Rigg appointment has made as there is no evidence of it from a fan perspective. It would also be nice to hear that Garlick isn’t happy with the standard of football and there is at least some pressure on Dyche. At present it looks to be the most comfortable manager’s job in league football.

[FactualFrank]

I totally agree with what you're saying, but if we're going to persist with the horrible 442 we might as well keep our money in our pocket. There's no room for a midfielder like you've described, as our players aren't encouraged to get on the ball unless we've got nothing to lose.

But that's a lot due to the lack of quality in central midfield. If you have someone who can control a ball and turn quickly, it gives the rest of the players more confidence. The defence don't need to keep lumping it or keep going down the channels, they can pass it into the middle and work our way forward that way too.

[JTClaret]

We are in desperate need of creativity in midfield. When we are playing poorly, as we are, there is so much pressure on McNeil it's ridiculous.

[Marney&Mee]

If the only thing we did this window was spend the reported £20m offer on Phillips last summer, on a central midfielder who can grab the game by it's balls, then that would do me. Someone who when they get the ball, you just know they have the class to drive us forward. We can cope everywhere else until summer if we had that.

A blind man on a galloping horse can see we need a CM. Westwood is more than good enough. Cork good, but needs power, vision and someone who can move the ball forward quickly (like Defour did...when Cork had his best season)

Brady, Barnes, Bardsley are no more than squad players. Yet Bardsley is our first choice right back in reality.

The squad needs a lift in this transfer window. 3 players needed. A right back like Trippier used to be for us. Strong and quick CM. Speed up front/out wide.

But I think we can all see that...

[cricketfieldclarets]

I've seen very little of Benson, is he as good as McNeil?

Albeit pre season I was very impressed

[cricketfieldclarets]

If the only thing we did this window was spend the reported £20m offer on Phillips last summer, on a central midfielder who can grab the game by it's balls, then that would do me. Someone who when they get the ball, you just know they have the class to drive us forward. We can cope everywhere else until summer if we had that.

Have to agree that's an absolute priority. But a right winger as well would be brilliant.

[evensteadiereddie]

Wow, this thread is in its very own race to the bottom.

Look at our position and the games left, even if we only scratch draws against the lesser teams and rag one win, we should end up on 37. Rag another - or begin to play much more strongly and bingo !
If there's ever a good time to have a bad patch, this is it. No need to panic, a bit of belief - well done to the wanchors who were booing yesterday, way to go ! - Dyche will see us through again.

[ClaretAndJew]

Wow, this thread is in its very own race to the bottom.

Look at our position and the games left, even if we only scratch draws against the lesser teams and rag one win, we should end up on 37. Rag another - or begin to play much more strongly and bingo !
If there's ever a good time to have a bad patch, this is it. No need to panic, a bit of belief - well done to the wanchors who were booing yesterday, way to go ! - Dyche will see us through again.

We’d need to have a shot on target for that to happen.


Villa are a lesser team, a team that have struggled away from home, we just rolled over for them.

Looking at the month ahead I can’t see how we’re going to get a point. Leicester at home maybe? That’s it.

We’ve lost our nouse. We don’t defend like we used to. We don’t play for each other like we used to. Something needs to change.

[Dyched]

Leicester will be the toughest imo.

[Dyched]

We don’t play for each other like we used to. Something needs to change.

That’s the biggest concern. Football teams can play shite. But when they stop helping out their mates, there is no hope.

[evensteadiereddie]

Exactly. We go at shite teams like Villa from the kick-off and not give them a foothold in the game, never mind a two goal start. We go back to basics as we did last year and, sure, we'll get picked off at Chelsea and ManU but so long as we scrap and put off defeat for as long as we can and we can see improvement.
I think we do play for each other but it's clear that confidence levels fell yesterday and the booing and shrieking from some of the Claret "faithful" didn't help the lads one bit.
As I said yesterday, our crossing tends to be excellent but we do need McNeil and JBG to run at the box and get some stingers in much more often.

[claret_in_exile]

I rather hope that yesterday was our "Boxing Day 2018" moment of the season; it can only get better from here.

I don't think the squad have become irredeemably awful because of one performance. Remember, we gave Man Utd a decent game a couple of days before and the fixtures will decompress a bit.

I'm not sure Barnes is a squad player as stated above. He's been our best striker, albeit mostly during the start of the season.

I think we'll do OK if we can add another CM, get Ben Gibson contributing and keep JBG fit. Another forward to spice things out would be ideal, but we're not going to carry four forwards (Wood, Barnes, Jay and Vydra).

I suspect that a lot of what SD says in press conferences is expectation management, rather than the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

[FactualFrank]

I rather hope that yesterday was our "Boxing Day 2018" moment of the season; it can only get better from here.

I don't think the squad have become irredeemably awful because of one performance. Remember, we gave Man Utd a decent game a couple of days before and the fixtures will decompress a bit.

I'm not sure Barnes is a squad player as stated above. He's been our best striker, albeit mostly during the start of the season.

I think we'll do OK if we can add another CM, get Ben Gibson contributing and keep JBG fit. Another forward to spice things out would be ideal, but we're not going to carry four forwards (Wood, Barnes, Jay and Vydra).

I suspect that a lot of what SD says in press conferences is expectation management, rather than the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

This is the thing - it's not just one performance.

[claret_in_exile]

This is the thing - it's not just one performance.

Though we can all see the frailties and there have been some turgid performances this season, my point is that we did do well against Manchester United the previous game and we just got through the busiest time of the year. A squad like ours will suffer more than most with the calendar between Christmas and New Year. I'm rather hopeful that this was the nadir. Of course, if we haven't hit the bottom yet, however, I'd be very concerned.

[ksrclaret]

How many times now have we spoken about having a 'Boxing Day against Everton' moment this season? After Sheff Utd away, after Tottenham away and now after Villa at home. Maybe a couple more.

The reality is the Boxing Day moment came about because a number of things combined to refresh the whole team. The long awaited selection of Heaton, Bardsley back in, the brilliant emergence of McNeil, the reformation of the Barnes-Wood axis. Also, the return to basics in a 442.

Now again, we find ourselves needing a complete refresh of the team because the whole things stinks of stagnation. The problem now is, most of the above from last season are now part of the problem. Where do we go from here, then? I struggle to see what can be done to refresh the team now, so I don't think we'll be able to recreate the Boxing Day effect.

[claretspice]

How many times now have we spoken about having a 'Boxing Day against Everton' moment this season? After Sheff Utd away, after Tottenham away and now after Villa at home. Maybe a couple more.

The reality is the Boxing Day moment came about because a number of things combined to refresh the whole team. The long awaited selection of Heaton, Bardsley back in, the brilliant emergence of McNeil, the reformation of the Barnes-Wood axis. Also, the return to basics in a 442.

Now again, we find ourselves needing a complete refresh of the team because the whole things stinks of stagnation. The problem now is, most of the above from last season are now part of the problem. Where do we go from here, then? I struggle to see what can be done to refresh the team now, so I don't think we'll be able to recreate the Boxing Day effect.

I think we can. We saw in the second half yesterday (and on Saturday) the impact that Rodriguez, used correctly, can have on our attacking play used correctly. Similarly, by allowing McNeil a more central role we can add more fluency to our possession play. But just as we had to commit to being very direct to get the best out of Wood and Barnes in tandem, that will need us to equally commit to playing on the deck more. We're a better team than we're showing at the minute.

But equally, we need to strengthen. It's all very well Garlick patting himself on the back for 4.5 unbroken years at this level, but there's no room for complacency and quite obviously, there is scope to improve the squad. Rodriguez or McNeil off Wood might improve our build up play, but there are other limitations in our team. For example, as we saw in the final 20 minutes yesterday (admittedly when we were running out of Gas) if an opponent is playing deep and narrow, the quality of your full backs in attack becomes pivotal. Bardsley offers neither pace to get round and behind teams, nor any sort of quality on the ball. He might as well not have been on the park for that final period of the game. A new option at right back ought to have been a priority during both of the last two windows - it needs to be now.

[randomclaret2]

Benson doesnt even start every game for the U23s

[NewClaret]

As I said yesterday, our crossing tends to be excellent but we do need McNeil and JBG to run at the box and get some stingers in much more often.

Glad it’s not just me that thinks this. Overall, I don’t have as much of an issue with our footballing style as many on here, but I would like to see us with more variety to our play. We can’t just rely on getting it out wide and crossing. There were several times when McNeil & Charlie Taylor had a chance to run in to the box yesterday and they just swung a cross in/on one occasion had a shot (I think).

If we actually ran at defenders, committed them and put some low balls in, I’m sure the sheer surprise of not having to deal with a high ball in to the box would mean we scored more goals/actually won some PK’s.

[Spijed]

How many times now have we spoken about having a 'Boxing Day against Everton' moment this season? After Sheff Utd away, after Tottenham away and now after Villa at home. Maybe a couple more.

The reality is the Boxing Day moment came about because a number of things combined to refresh the whole team. The long awaited selection of Heaton, Bardsley back in, the brilliant emergence of McNeil, the reformation of the Barnes-Wood axis. Also, the return to basics in a 442.

Now again, we find ourselves needing a complete refresh of the team because the whole things stinks of stagnation. The problem now is, most of the above from last season are now part of the problem. Where do we go from here, then? I struggle to see what can be done to refresh the team now, so I don't think we'll be able to recreate the Boxing Day effect.

After the Sheff United game we won two in a row, like wise after Spurs.

That's why yesterday was disappointing

[cricketfieldclarets]

This is the thing - it's not just one performance.

Or one window.