Burnley team of the past 25 years - at their peak

[CardiffClaret]

Hi all - long time viewer, first time poster!

My first Burnley game must have been around 25 years ago. With a bit of extra time on my hands during the lockdown, this got me thinking; what would be my Burnley team of the past 25 years, but based on the players at the peak of their careers, not necessarily when they were playing for Burnley. Criteria is:

- Must have played for Burnley in past 25 years
- Can include permanent or loan players
- Selection based on the standard of the player at the peak of their career - not necessarily when they played for Burnley.

This is what I came up with:

GK: Hart
RB: Trippier
LB: Unsworth
CB: Cahill
CB: Kean
RM: Lennon
LM: Waddle
CM: Gascoigne
CM: Barton
CF: Wright
CF: Cole

Bench:
Robinson
Tarkowski
Sinclair
Defour
McNeil
Ings
Crouch

Interestingly the defence is weaker than the midfield and attack (Unsworth and Kean being the obvious weak links), but that team would be challenging for the Premier League I think...

What are your thoughts?

[warksclaret]

Thats some team-my only question mark might be Keane but struggling to find someone better

[TheFamilyCat]

Liam Robinson shouldn't be anywhere near that bench!

[gtclaret]

Excellent team, unfortunately Keane is the only player at his best when he played for us, the rest were either past it, ot in the case of Trippier, went onto better things

[CardiffClaret]

The other player that went on to better things is Cahill, but obviously he was only a loan player for us

[Herts Clarets]

Possibly David May in defence?

[Bordeauxclaret]

I’d honestly consider Taylor instead of Unsworth.

[Bordeauxclaret]

I think Heath would make the cut as well.

[tim_noone]

Excellent team, unfortunately Keane is the only player at his best when he played for us, the rest were either past it, ot in the case of Trippier, went onto better things

But Based on players at their peak. And Barton Lifted the players on the Pitch...and pushed us forward.

[ClaretTony]

I’d honestly consider Taylor instead of Unsworth.

Really? Unsworth at his best was a very good player.

[bodge]

Barton and Unsworth in the same team would be interesting.

[gtclaret]

The other player that went on to better things is Cahill, but obviously he was only a loan player for us

Yes Cahill, didn't think of him, he was only about 18 when he played for us

[gtclaret]

With regards to Barton, although he was excellent for us, he was not at his peak, in his earlier days he would have been a regular for England but for his other issues

[cricketfieldclarets]

Hart
Trippier Cahill Keane Thomas
Barton
Waddle Gascoigne Defour
Wright Cole

[Bordeauxclaret]

Really? Unsworth at his best was a very good player.

I know he was.

[warksclaret]

Jon Harley-our left back, was a great player at his peak too.

[ClaretTony]

Jon Harley-our left back, was a great player at his peak too.

I thought Jon Harley did a decent job for us but I don't think he could be considered a great player

[warksclaret]

Tony -I remember him playing regularly for Chelsea (one of the very few English players at the time) in very good company. Admit he does not have the credentials of the names on the team listed

[Iloveyoubrady]

McNeils Peak is in the future though. Same can be said of Pope.

[huw.Y.WattfromWare]

Was Unsworth ever really a LB? Stephen Ward for me. Wouldn’t argue with The remainder of the OPs selection.

[Dougall]

Keane better than Frank Sinclair? Or Mitchell Thomas?!

[bodge]

John McGreal as well to consider who was imperious albeit at Championship level.

[nil_desperandum]

Possibly David May in defence?

Yes, I would consider that he had a much better career in his Old Trafford days than Keane has had in his career so far.
Other than that I would try to get Defour into the team, presumably at the expense of Lennon with a bit of shuffling of formation

[AfloatinClaret]

A reasonable team certainly, but they're not Robbie Blake.

[CardiffClaret]

Keane better than Frank Sinclair? Or Mitchell Thomas?!

That second CB position was the one I struggled with the most. No obvious choice. Frank Sinclair was the other I was considering. Possibly swayed by the fact I would have only been about 5 years old when he was at his best at Chelsea and so don’t remember it too well!

[CardiffClaret]

Yes, I would consider that he had a much better career in his Old Trafford days than Keane has had in his career so far.
Other than that I would try to get Defour into the team, presumably at the expense of Lennon with a bit of shuffling of formation

I don’t think May ever played for England, whereas Keane already has 10 caps, but perhaps that’s more a reflection of the standard of defenders in the England set up in their respective eras rather than the standard of player!

[DCWat]

That second CB position was the one I struggled with the most. No obvious choice. Frank Sinclair was the other I was considering. Possibly swayed by the fact I would have only been about 5 years old when he was at his best at Chelsea and so don’t remember it too well!

Sinclair was a decent player in his prime. He always had a fifty pence head though!!

[cricketfieldclarets]

Probably have to have May. He’s the only player we’ve had who’s been an integral part of a European winning side.

Was a huge part of that United win...

[Bosscat]

The other player that went on to better things is Cahill, but obviously he was only a loan player for us

Was that before he became ... Cahill; US Marshall

[Marney&Mee]

Trevor Steven
Chris Waddle

Steven still playing in 1997. Not sure about waddle

[kaptin1]

Gordon Cowans in midfield? Division 1 and European cup winner in his prime, albeit only made 6 appearances for us right at the end of his career. Accept his time at Rovers may put some people off.

[nil_desperandum]

Probably have to have May. He’s the only player we’ve had who’s been an integral part of a European winning side.

Was a huge part of that United win...

I would have May in the team ahead of Keane, but he didn't play in the final against Bayern, he just enjoyed celebrating the win more than many of those who actually took part.

[timshorts]

Heaton for Hart. Hart always had issues. They were covered up a lot when playing in a good team.
Taylor for unsworth. Tempted to put unsworth back in for cahill.
Steven in for waddle.
Oghani in for Wright. Of course.
Dyche managing.

[cricketfieldclarets]

I would have May in the team ahead of Keane, but he didn't play in the final against Bayern, he just enjoyed celebrating the win more than many of those who actually took part.

I know I was being facetious . The original John Terry.

[nil_desperandum]

I know I was being facetious . The original John Terry.

Yes, thought you probably were - hence my comment about his celebrations!
Still, a very good centre back though.

[dsr]

Possibly Mitchell Thomas at left back.

And I think I'd go for Ben Mee ahead of Michael Keane. Cahill can do the fancy work; Mee is a pure stopper and very fine one.

[nil_desperandum]

Possibly Mitchell Thomas at left back.

And I think I'd go for Ben Mee ahead of Michael Keane. Cahill can do the fancy work; Mee is a pure stopper and very fine one.

Leaving aside the Keane v Mee argument Are you seriously suggesting that Mee would have got anywhere near that fine Man Utd team that May was an integral part of for several seasons?
Had it not been for the consistency of Bruce and Pallister he would probably have been an automatic choice week in week out rather than part of a rotation system.