Mission to Burnley (including spoilers from page 9)

[claretonthecoast1882]

‘Royston Vasey wasn’t built in a day though’. New club logo!?

Could certainly knock a few t shirts out to some

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

Imagine the majority of those who have abused Pace and his family online and in person over their religion and nationality probably will feel a bit stupid after they watch the documentary.

[Colburn_Claret]

If Manny Benson wants to go on live TV and say
‘God directed the ball in the top of the bastards net’ then not only would he be wrong it would also be severely underselling himself and his abilities that he has quite rightly worked so hard for.

& I would also call him a lunatic for that.

Basically keep your views to yourself and don’t try and impose nonsense to justify one’s actions

What a load of rubbish.
Who's imposing anything on anybody.
Why should anyone be ashamed of having faith, regardless of their religion.
Why do you get so upset about something you don't believe in, none of it is affecting you unless you choose to let it.

Live your life, and let others live theirs as they see fit.

[claretonthecoast1882]

Basically keep your views to yourself and don’t try and impose nonsense to justify one’s actions

Irony

[martin_p]

If Manny Benson wants to go on live TV and say
‘God directed the ball in the top of the bastards net’ then not only would he be wrong it would also be severely underselling himself and his abilities that he has quite rightly worked so hard for.

& I would also call him a lunatic for that.

Basically keep your views to yourself and don’t try and impose nonsense to justify one’s actions

If you can show me the bit where they ‘impose nonsense’ I might agree, but stating your view is not the same as imposing it.

[cblantfanclub]

In the conversation with John B before the sound is dipped and picture blurred Pace says with reference to who we now know is VK Mike is not keen on him (paraphrase). As he's talking to John B I'm guessing he's talking about Garlick. Glad Pace appears to be his own man.
Also noted Spiral has a lot of spare time.

[RVclaret]

Basically keep your views to yourself and don’t try and impose nonsense to justify one’s actions

Irony

[martin_p]

In the conversation with John B before the sound is dipped and picture blurred Pace says with reference to who we now know is VK Mike is not keen on him (paraphrase). As he's talking to John B I'm guessing he's talking about Garlick. Glad Pace appears to be his own man.
Also noted Spiral has a lot of spare time.

No, I think that was in reference to the third person, I.e. not Kompany and not (we assume) Wilder. This is where Pace said something about not expecting to like him (or words to that effect) but he was impressed when he met him in person. People have speculated this might be Rooney.

[CoolClaret]

Basically keep your views to yourself and don’t try and impose nonsense to justify one’s actions

Irony

What nonsense am I imposing to justify my actions then COTC?

Your way of trying to point score without actually adding anything to the conversation is really boring. Trump esque

[martin_p]

What a load of rubbish.
Who's imposing anything on anybody.
Why should anyone be ashamed of having faith, regardless of their religion.
Why do you get so upset about something you don't believe in, none of it is affecting you unless you choose to let it.

Live your life, and let others live theirs as they see fit.

I’m not in any way religious myself and there’s little doubt it can cause lots of problems. But there’s also little doubt it’s a positive force in many peoples’ lives. I’m always amused when football fans dismiss faith. I’ve been a Burnley supporter for nearly 50 years now and it’s blind faith in the face of all evidence that has got me through many seasons (particularly the late 80s). A belief that, despite what is in front of you, things can get better.

[martin_p]

What nonsense am I imposing to justify my actions then COTC?

Your way of trying to point score without actually adding anything to the conversation is really boring. Trump esque

By your own standards just stating your view is ‘imposing nonsense’.

[CoolClaret]

If you can show me the bit where they ‘impose nonsense’ I might agree, but stating your view is not the same as imposing it.

Watch episode 4 when Pace’s daughter is talking about the Dyche sacking/relegation/Kompany appointment.

Invoking God to justify an action is the literal definition of ‘imposing a belief’

[CoolClaret]

What a load of rubbish.
Who's imposing anything on anybody.
Why should anyone be ashamed of having faith, regardless of their religion.
Why do you get so upset about something you don't believe in, none of it is affecting you unless you choose to let it.

Live your life, and let others live theirs as they see fit.

I do let people live and let live but if someone wants to invoke a deity to justify their action then I can criticise that - because these sorts of delusions are very dangerous and leads to societies where people’s liberties become infringed from Theocratic rule.

I won’t give a bigger retort re ashamed of faith (specifically LDS) because I will get the thread locked.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

I’m just starting episode one

I’ll be round later knocking on your doors to talk about our lord and saviour Alan Pace

[Bosscat]

I’m just starting episode one

I’ll be round later knocking on your doors to talk about our lord and saviour Alan Pace

Praise the lord GIADJ ... I am with you Brother

Amen

[helmclaret]

I’m just starting episode one

I’ll be round later knocking on your doors to talk about our lord and saviour Alan Pace

Nice to see your smart response to my earlier post without even watching it!

[nil_desperandum]

I just hope Pace and VK know what they're doing. To be fair they do seem to judging by last season but I don't want us to end up in some John Bond situation again.

I can't think of a single similarity with Bond.
Bond - experienced but fading manager with a reputation for splashing the cash on players past their sell-buy date
Kompany - inexperienced but visionary young manager, building a reputation for investing in young talent with a view to building a team and the potential for sell-ons at huge profit.
Also in Bond's day we had no investment and no PL TV money.

[martin_p]

Watch episode 4 when Pace’s daughter is talking about the Dyche sacking/relegation/Kompany appointment.

Invoking God to justify an action is the literal definition of ‘imposing a belief’

I’ve watched episode four and for a start she’s being misquoted on this thread. She doesn’t say letting Dyche go was an act of faith, she says even when times were bad, letting Dyche go, relegation, they had to have faith that something greater was coming and uses the phrase ‘god has a plan’. The bit about having to believe something better is coming when times are bad could be the literal definition of a football supporter!

[boyyanno]

Watch episode 4 when Pace’s daughter is talking about the Dyche sacking/relegation/Kompany appointment.

Invoking God to justify an action is the literal definition of ‘imposing a belief’

Your comments are getting more and more crackpot the longer this thread continues.

For starters invoking God to justify an action is not the literal definition of imposing a belief.

The literal definition of "imposing a belief is": To force someone to accept something, especially a belief or way of living.

There's literally not one shred of the documentary where Pace or anyone else forces his beliefs on others.

If he wants to justify his own actions based on his beliefs then he's entitled to do so, just as you're entitled to say you disagree with those beliefs based on your own.

[helmclaret]

Amazing reactions on here to what is a well put together 4 part documentary on a fantastic season.

[CoolClaret]

For starters invoking God to justify an action is not the literal definition of imposing a belief.

The literal definition of "imposing a belief is": To force someone to accept something, especially a belief or way of living.

Wrong.

Imposing a belief isn’t necessarily a forcing act, it can be an assumption that another person in conversation holds a similar belief system that the other person may not adhere to.

[NottsClaret]

Only watched the first one, it's pretty good so far. That concludes my review.

[THEWELLERNUT70]

There's classic narcissist traits of a couple of posters on this thread

Duely noted ( taps nose )

[martin_p]

Wrong.

Imposing a belief isn’t necessarily a forcing act, it can be an assumption that another person in conversation holds a similar belief system that the other person may not adhere to.

So when you said it was the literal definition you were literally wrong as you’ve now conceded there can be more than one definition (although yours isn’t the one that people would generally understand).

And if you literally look up the literal definition it literally isn’t yours!

[Paul Waine]

You’ve done well to get it for £20! I only managed £26 for 12 months. Okay, an extra tenner for the entertainment channel? I’ll probably go for that too.

Hi chekhov, it maybe we've both got NOW for the same price, £6 extra for "boost" - but I'm going to cancel that after the first free month. Yes, I'll pay £10 for a month of entertainment, go value even if all I watch is Mission to Burnley.

[CoolClaret]

By your own standards just stating your view is ‘imposing nonsense’.

It really isn’t, if your premise is that my view that suggesting a viewpoint of ‘god having a plan’ as being imposing a belief is also me imposing my ‘belief’ then you’re wrong.

Infalsifiable views cannot be equated to falsifiable views at the debate table - because anything that I may claim has the potential to be demonstrably true or demonstrably false.

A viewpoint that can just fall back ‘faith’ is impossible to intellectually discuss and so therefore can be disregarded.

[arise_sir_charge]

Some proper crackpots on here.

[martin_p]

It really isn’t, if your premise is that my view that suggesting a viewpoint of ‘god having a plan’ as being imposing a belief is also me imposing my ‘belief’ then you’re wrong.

Infalsifiable views cannot be equated to falsifiable views at the debate table - because anything that I may claim has the potential to be demonstrably true or demonstrably false.

A viewpoint that can just fall back ‘faith’ is impossible to intellectually discuss and so therefore can be disregarded.

There’s no point in any debate when the premise is a misquote anyway. And as I said, the view that better times are coming when you’re down is pretty much a universal hope whether you’re religious or not.

[daveisaclaret]

Every post longer than a sentence in this thread has been awful, please all stop immediately.

[CardyTheClaret]

Watch episode 4 when Pace’s daughter is talking about the Dyche sacking/relegation/Kompany appointment.

Invoking God to justify an action is the literal definition of ‘imposing a belief’

Is it ****! And the fact that you don't understand why makes YOU the lunatic. Honestly, I've read some utter shite on here over the years but this tops the lot.

[CoolClaret]

There’s no point in any debate when the premise is a misquote anyway. And as I said, the view that better times are coming when you’re down is pretty much a universal hope whether you’re religious or not.

“We’re a very religious family and we put a lot of faith in knowing that, you know, God knows what is going to happen and we have to trust that… Being able to get his take on things, is like a superpower……….

From a faith standpoint I would say that, yeah, God has a plan, I think that Burnley and Vincent and everything was on the cards even if we couldn’t see it when relegation happened and even when Sean Dyche was being let go, erm we had to have faith that something greater was coming and something greater was absolutely coming”.

I think that’s absolutely fair game to pull apart - I feel like posters will defend absolutely anything people connected to the club do when the going is good and the opposite if it isn’t, which I believe isn’t being intellectually honest.

To properly pull the aforementioned quote would absolutely get this thread locked so I won’t bother but I or any poster / fan should absolutely be able to criticise this aspect of our ownership.

To your last point - of course but that’s just the human condition.

Justifying one’s actions from the view of ‘Gods plan’ is a slippery slope, IMO, not to mention that we’re also meant to be ‘agents of free will’

[boyyanno]

This guys a nutter. Wants to look like an intellectual but has no idea what he's saying.

Doesn't even know what literal means by the looks of it.

[Cornwallclaret]

I wasn't going to watch it all in one go but ................
I have watched all in one go

Spoiler alert WE WIN THE ****ING LEAGUE

Vincent K is a bloody miracle worker ... what a motivator ... and also Craig B ****ing brilliant.

Loved every minute of it

I’m with you mate, as a claret now living in Devon I was absorbed in every minute, loved it seeing my town my club portrayed this way. How any claret on this board is remotely criticising this programme is beyond belief UTC love my club

[boyyanno]

“We’re a very religious family and we put a lot of faith in knowing that, you know, God knows what is going to happen and we have to trust that… Being able to get his take on things, is like a superpower……….

From a faith standpoint I would say that, yeah, God has a plan, I think that Burnley and Vincent and everything was on the cards even if we couldn’t see it when relegation happened and even when Sean Dyche was being let go, erm we had to have faith that something greater was coming and something greater was absolutely coming”.

I think that’s absolutely fair game to pull apart - I feel like posters will defend absolutely anything people connected to the club do when the going is good and the opposite if it isn’t, which I believe isn’t being intellectually honest.

To properly pull the aforementioned quote would absolutely get this thread locked so I won’t bother but I or any poster / fan should absolutely be able to criticise this aspect of our ownership.

To your last point - of course but that’s just the human condition.

Justifying one’s actions from the view of ‘Gods plan’ is a slippery slope, IMO, not to mention that we’re also meant to be ‘agents of free will’

You'd notice Pace talks about how his beliefs affect his own actions.

What a madman imposing his beliefs like that

[CoolClaret]

Is it ****! And the fact that you don't understand why makes YOU the lunatic. Honestly, I've read some utter shite on here over the years but this tops the lot.

Imposing beliefs isn’t limited to physical force or coercion though - suggestive language or social pressure can also be seen as imposing.

Justifying an action as part of Gods plan can absolutely be seen as imposing a belief.

I do appreciate that the first dictionary definition of imposing is to be done so with force or coercive means.

This is getting away from the point though, which is, if you put a viewpoint out into the Public then it is fair game to criticise.

[CoolClaret]

I’m not in any way religious myself and there’s little doubt it can cause lots of problems. But there’s also little doubt it’s a positive force in many peoples’ lives. I’m always amused when football fans dismiss faith. I’ve been a Burnley supporter for nearly 50 years now and it’s blind faith in the face of all evidence that has got me through many seasons (particularly the late 80s). A belief that, despite what is in front of you, things can get better.

I like this passage and know exactly what you’re saying a bit in jest -

I’d just say, its anything but blind faith, as we have demonstrable, falsifiable evidence that we actually did once used to be good and therefore it’s a fully rational viewpoint that we could once again be good, even when we were absolutely s**t

[GodIsADeeJay81]

Just finished episode one

Pace was clearly a bit shell shocked when we got relegated judging from the look on his face

Interesting that he felt that one candidate was very similar to Dyche, that maybe didn’t go in their favour, and also VK may not have been their first choice originally but he talked his way into that position

Seeing the training facilities on show to the world like this just reinforces how important that it was to upgrade them during the early part of Dyche’s reign as manager

Made me laugh when I saw the blokes at the wedding keeping track of the game on phones/tablets etc

Pace - I like him and I’d work for him, he seems well motivated to do the right thing for the club, as well as for himself, but he’s not afraid to make the big decisions

“Can we return to where we came from” - I like that phrase, non of this “where we belong” we’ve heard from other clubs

[arise_sir_charge]

Just finished episode one

Pace was clearly a bit shell shocked when we got relegated judging from the look on his face

Interesting that he felt that one candidate was very similar to Dyche, that maybe didn’t go in their favour, and also VK may not have been their first choice originally but he talked his way into that position

Seeing the training facilities on show to the world like this just reinforces how important that it was to upgrade them during the early part of Dyche’s reign as manager

Made me laugh when I saw the blokes at the wedding keeping track of the game on phones/tablets etc

Pace - I like him and I’d work for him, he seems well motivated to do the right thing for the club, as well as for himself, but he’s not afraid to make the big decisions

“Can we return to where we came from” - I like that phrase, non of this “where we belong” we’ve heard from other clubs

On the point of one of the candidates being like Dyche, I think that must be Wilder.

Watching the later episodes where VK is openly questioned by board members about tactics and signings I can’t for one minute imagine Sean Dyche taking kindly to that. He had an arrogance about him with the press and fans etc that makes me think he’d have been very difficult when confronted like that. I can’t imagine that would fit with the way ALK want to do things.

Similarly when VK calls out players, the younger squad makes this easier than say a squad full of folk who’ve been round the block a bit.

[CoolClaret]

You'd notice Pace talks about how his beliefs affect his own actions.

What a madman imposing his beliefs like that

Speaking of literal definitions - taking action based upon beliefs of unfalsifiable claims is exactly what an irrational person does.

[Tricky Trevor]

Any geeks on here ,downloaded on my iPad ,want to send it to our son in Oz ,looked in ICloud ,files ,browse whatever ,but can’t find it ?

I get miffed downloading on ipad. No option where to save and as you point out they can disappear. I notice in files I have 2 download buttons, check them both if you are similar.

[claptrappers_union]

Having slept on it and reading some comments, I've had a few more thoughts, so I'm going a bit nerdy and break up into the sections for my second review.

History: I wish it framed Burnley FC's history more into the beginning to set the scene; much younger viewers don't know that we've won the League twice, where the club has been, and its recent success in the context of the multi-million-pound Premier League era.

Family Club: I'm never really sure what it means. How is Burnley FC a family club compared to Brighton, Newcastle, Liverpool, Manchester City or Luton Town? Every football club is 'special'. I've seen Sunderland Til I Die, Welcome to Wrexham, All or Nothing, and they all say the same thing - that the <insert football club name here> is unique.... why? What makes Burnley different to Blackburn, or Blackburn to Preston, or Preston to Cardiff, or Cardiff to Rotherham? Anyway, I would've wanted more of that - because it was always alluded to but not shown. It could look like a run-of-the-mill type of small football club to anyone outside the BB10 postcode.

Fans: Football fans, in general, are depicted as feckless idiots—overweight, ugly, snarky locals who just give hand gestures to other feckless idiots during matches. Not a criticism as such; it's just that they are all shown like that, including away fans.

Fan Engagement: Alan is shown to have a good relationship with fans. He has enhanced the club's digital communication immensely, and projects like this elevate this. But he has no relationship with the local press; all communication is controlled within the club now, and I remember when we got relegated after the Newcastle game, and players didn't come out to show their appreciation to the fans. That was a pre-determined decision from the top... then it was radio silence - with no acknowledgement that the team had even been relegated, no reassuring statement to the supporters or anything. I think that was poor form.

I don't think the board have integrated themselves into the fanbase as much as the documentary lets on. Apart from 'popping in' to the FanZone once and cleaning a table and being accosted by kids outside the ground, his interaction with football fans is minimal and awkward, but that said, if I were the chairman of a football club, I'd be the same, I think.

The Manager: Kompany is faultless. I was surprised by his business acumen, his evident understanding of player scouting and analytics, his relationship with the board and the players, and the grey area in between. The scene where he explains the issue with late accounts to the team was like describing it to Primary School children - but that's all they needed to know, and I wouldn't have expected a football manager even to undertake that task. I feel this documentary will do him a lot of favours for his managerial career and will be must watch for fans of the clubs he manages in the future. I hadn't realised how involved he actually was. This is the type of manager clubs should be having - who has some input on prospective players, business decisions and style of play. Not a manager who is given players to use and is instructed how to play.

Perception of the Club: The documentary has shown the club as a 'modern football club' for the first time in a long time. Whenever I've watched behind-the-scenes stuff around Turf Moor and Burnley FC over the years, the image of the club is that its old-fashioned, 1970's style boardrooms and grotty training facilities.

It's a shame that the empty concourses looked a little tired in some of the opening shots, but on the other hand, it was great seeing Turf Moor full and buzzing, and the series showcased the recent upgrades to Gawthorpe, the new boardrooms, the chairman's lounge and the investment in technology the club uses. Also, small things like the BFC branded water bottles, the PowerPoint presentations in the training ground, and the modern corporate areas added to the new culture within the organisation. The strength is that the club could send this docu-series to investors and potential players to demonstrate that Burnley FC is an elite setup worthy enough to get involved in compared to some of the bigger clubs in the Premier League and across Europe.

When you filming for an entire season and a bit, you have to leave some stuff on the cutting room floor. I am a professional filmmaker myself, but as I mentioned earlier, the ticket allocation at Ewood would've been a great addition - adding the derby hype - I would've liked to have seen some comment on that. I wish there were some angle on Foster before Kompany defended his price tag at the board meeting; Twine's injury story and Barnes' evolution might've helped cement some emotion. Jay being a Burnley boy as well, I feel there is an angle there. I liked the clip of Barnes whinging in the tunnel, and the signing of Al-Dakhil - that is the stuff I want to see in a football documentary... oh and I wish they also showed Barnes handball at the end of the Blackburn match.

But all in all, I think it's a good piece of work. I wonder I will feel about it if I revisit it in a decade. Will I see it as the kickstart of something special time in Burnley's history or something else? I'll always be a cynic, but it's a memento of the special season, thats for for sure.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

On the point of one of the candidates being like Dyche, I think that must be Wilder.

Watching the later episodes where VK is openly questioned by board members about tactics and signings I can’t for one minute imagine Sean Dyche taking kindly to that. He had an arrogance about him with the press and fans etc that makes me think he’d have been very difficult when confronted like that. I can’t imagine that would fit with the way ALK want to do things.

Similarly when VK calls out players, the younger squad makes this easier than say a squad full of folk who’ve been round the block a bit.

One of the criticisms that people had about Howe was that he couldn’t manage older players, but it’s being taken as a good thing that VK has a mainly younger squad despite Howe having to move on the older ones when he was here

[boyyanno]

Speaking of literal definitions - taking action based upon beliefs of unfalsifiable claims is exactly what an irrational person does.

Maybe, but I'd also say it's what nearly every person does on the planet.

Ever not walked on the pavement cracks?

Ever disliked someone without knowing why?

The list could go on and on. It's pretty clear that what you really don't like is his religious beliefs, you might as well come out and say it.

I'm not religious myself but I can accept other people's beliefs and that they may be motivated by them. No problems if they don't try and foist it on me- and they haven't tried to do that to anyone from what most rational people can see.

[CoolClaret]

Maybe, but I'd also say it's what nearly every person does on the planet.

Ever not walked on the pavement cracks?

Ever disliked someone without knowing why?

The list could go on and on. It's pretty clear that what you really don't like is his religious beliefs, you might as well come out and say it.

I'm not religious myself but I can accept other people's beliefs and that they may be motivated by them. No problems if they don't try and foist it on me- and they haven't tried to do that to anyone from what most rational people can see.

I’m not perfect - nor is any man.

I can confidently say I’ve never engaged in any superstitious stuff at all, disliked someone without knowing why - probably and probably unfairly of me.

Of course I don’t like his beliefs or beliefs around it that are ultimately discriminatory in nature and I find them very strange, specifically the LDS aspect (really encourage people to read about the origin of their beliefs).

Echoing Clarettrappers views here, I am of the belief that a lot more of the doc could have been selling the club to neutrals, on our rich history and pedigree in the game, a lot less on Pace and co and their beliefs which were revisited numerous times.

The notable absence of the real history of the club, Blackburn ticket fiasco, the last game against Cardiff and Barnes’ send off and also even getting Jay on and giving a monologue about the club and what it means being a local lad.

You can tell it was a bit haphazard - the first episode had players sitting down and giving their thoughts etc in front of the camera then that didn’t happen again.

I’m honestly underwhelmed by the whole thing and thought it could’ve been so much better as an advertisement for our great club.

[Tricky Trevor]

After watching all 4 my thoughts.
Religion was mentioned twice, once by AP and once by his daughter. There was more religion at the two weddings he missed games for.

His passion for the region and the club was obvious and looked genuine.

VK talking football and motivating was on another level. Incredible man

His point in the boardroom on his opinion of Ash Barnes changing was insightful.

The arrival of Al-Dakhil with his contract and bonuses being explained was enlightening, even if the figures were omitted.

I loved the scene with the lady in the fan zone and APs actions.

Ash Barnes will become a manager.

8/10. If it comes out on DVD I’ll have one.

[martin_p]

I like this passage and know exactly what you’re saying a bit in jest -

I’d just say, its anything but blind faith, as we have demonstrable, falsifiable evidence that we actually did once used to be good and therefore it’s a fully rational viewpoint that we could once again be good, even when we were absolutely s**t

The rational viewpoint was that we’d never get back. Football had changed from the time we were great and, like most of the traditional Lancashire clubs, we’d been left behind. We needed money but had no prospect of getting any, the days of benevolent benefactors or big money buy outs were an unforeseeable future. The obvious outcome played out as we took the pitch against Orient needing a win and some favours to even continue existing. Times were bleak, faith is very much all we had.

[Paul Waine]

Is there a subscription free version of that link somewhere?

Hi martin_p, I think you've already managed to read Carol Midgeley's TV (critic) review - 4 stars - in The Times, however, I'm copying here for any of those that haven't clicked on the link.

Mission to Burnley review — double act get their classic story arc

Carol Midgley - Thursday August 10 2023, 4.15pm, The Times

★★★★☆
There’s an amusing “authentic” moment in a later episode of Mission to Burnley (Sky Documentaries/Now) when, amid joyous celebrations that Burnley are back up in the Premier League, a glowering woman approaches the club’s euphoric American chairman, Alan Pace. “Can you fetch a cloth and wipe these tables?” she bellows. “They’re filthy.”

Ah, there’s the Burnley I know and love from growing up in these parts. People keep you grounded. Pace, with his upbeat Ted Lasso-ish mien, did fetch a cloth and begin scrubbing, although whether he would have done so if a documentary crew hadn’t been in tow is debatable.

Film-makers take a risk when they follow a football club for months on end. What if it’s a damp squib season with little drama? Well. The series hit lucky with the classic story arc, starting with a low and ending with a high, which it couldn’t have known when starting out. (All episodes are available.)

Plus it has two contrasting star characters: Pace, a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons), and Vincent Kompany, the tall, suave, hugely charismatic former Manchester City captain, whom Pace brought in as the new manager. Pace rates Kompany so highly that he is almost dreamy-eyed around him. While Pace’s faith is in God, Kompany’s seems to be in the disciplines of very hard work and creative play.

It started with the sacking of manager Sean Dyche and the ensuing rage from fans, especially when Burnley were relegated, the camera frequently panning over the mill chimneys and rows of terraced houses to remind us of the club’s grassroots.

In episode two Pace is approached outside the club by young boys for a selfie. “People blame you for us getting relegated,” one of them says bluntly as a smiling Pace visibly deflates. “Out of the mouth of babes,” he says.

I was surprised by how much intimate access the cameras got, recording the private, gutted reactions of the owners ALK Capital shortly after being relegated, and also the in-depth board discussions about money.

Letting the cameras in at such pressured times (although with a marked absence of swearing) felt like an act of faith in itself, especially given that Pace’s wife says early on: “It truly has been the most stressful period in our entire marriage. I have asked several times, ‘Is this worth it?’ ”

His daughter tells of seeing the family called “Yankee rats” amid worries about debts. Later she says: “We had to have faith something greater was coming. And something greater absolutely was coming.” That it was broadcast the night before Burnley host reigning champions Manchester City in the opening match of the new Premier League season feels like a nice symmetry. My late father, a lifelong Burnley devotee, would have gorged this series in one sitting.

[CoolClaret]

Having slept on it and reading some comments, I've had a few more thoughts, so I'm going a bit nerdy and break up into the sections for my second review.

Great post and agree with your well articulated points - especially on heritage and the ticketing fiasco

[boyyanno]

I’m not perfect - nor is any man.

I can confidently say I’ve never engaged in any superstitious stuff at all, disliked someone without knowing why - probably and probably unfairly of me.

Of course I don’t like his beliefs or beliefs around it that are ultimately discriminatory in nature and I find them very strange, specifically the LDS aspect (really encourage people to read about the origin of their beliefs).

Echoing Clarettrappers views here, I am of the belief that a lot more of the doc could have been selling the club to neutrals, on our rich history and pedigree in the game, a lot less on Pace and co and their beliefs which were revisited numerous times.

The notable absence of the real history of the club, Blackburn ticket fiasco, the last game against Cardiff and Barnes’ send off and also even getting Jay on and giving a monologue about the club and what it means being a local lad.

You can tell it was a bit haphazard - the first episode had players sitting down and giving their thoughts etc in front of the camera then that didn’t happen again.

I’m honestly underwhelmed by the whole thing and thought it could’ve been so much better as an advertisement for our great club.

I can acknowledge and appreciate those comments. I also wanted to see more about the history of the club, selfishly I would have quite liked to see a little more about Barnes and I definitely wanted to see the reaction to the Rovers ticket fiasco. I also thought we may see somthing about sponsorship and how ALK have had to be flexible in their beliefs with regards to gambling sponsors etc- I thought that might give it a nice edge but alas no.

I still enjoyed it though tbh.

[martin_p]

Echoing Clarettrappers views here, I am of the belief that a lot more of the doc could have been selling the club to neutrals, on our rich history and pedigree in the game, a lot less on Pace and co and their beliefs which were revisited numerous times.

The only vie I’ve seen from a neutral thinks the documentary didn’t make enough of the clash between ALK’s religious beliefs and running a football club, so appealing to the neutrals equals more religion.

Removing the mentions of religion may have given the doc makers an extra two minutes to cover all the stuff you wanted.