Never a better opportunity to stay up this season.

[Rileybobs]

I hope we sign Lokonga.- we need a centre mid - but I can't help think some people are expecting too much of him and conversely too little of Brownhill, Cork and JBG.

I expect Brownhill to improve on his last season at this level. But if we’re relying on Cork and in particular JBG then we’re going to struggle. Both have little to offer now at this level in my opinion.

[KlyBfc]

Absolutely no doubt this season is going to be a challenge. Our current starting 11 is weaker than last year (though our squad is probably stronger) and you couple that with the fact last years starting 11 was so used to winning (gives an extra bit) we are definitely starting at a lower point and up against it. We are also going to struggle to have any points into September and that means we’ll be playing catch up which is never easy.

I do think VK will get them blended together and get a few more signings in, but I think it will take a few of months to get that cohesion, I just hope the fans back the side with everything whilst they get going.

[taio]

I expect Brownhill to improve on his last season at this level. But if we’re relying on Cork and in particular JBG then we’re going to struggle. Both have little to offer now at this level in my opinion.

I disagree. But it was more a point of expectation of Lokonga against those players. If they don't have anything to offer we should be getting rid.

[jdrobbo]

Whilst I agree that it’s easily feasible that we survive and whilst I acknowledge that other teams that we’d expect to struggle potentially, have weaknesses….can we all just take a step back and remember how utterly brutal and demanding the Premier League is? It’s a HUGE step up from the division that we’ve just won. MASSIVE.

[CrosspoolClarets]

May be a good time to remind everyone of the record the 100+ point teams have in their first season up. It’s excellent.

My prediction is 8th. The league is brutal, it will see off Luton and Sheffield, but we are brutal too.

[Newcastleclaret93]

May be a good time to remind everyone of the record the 100+ point teams have in their first season up. It’s excellent.

My prediction is 8th. The league is brutal, it will see off Luton and Sheffield, but we are brutal too.

You think 8th?

Where do you think the goals are going to come from for an 8th finish

[KlyBfc]

May be a good time to remind everyone of the record the 100+ point teams have in their first season up. It’s excellent.

My prediction is 8th. The league is brutal, it will see off Luton and Sheffield, but we are brutal too.

The issue with comparing us to any other teams is we have lost 4 regular starters from last season in
Barnes
Harwood Bellis
Maatsen
Tella
Who not only were excellent and crucial performers for us they knew the system and with such vast changes and difficult opening fixtures I don’t see us starting the season with any newly promoted bounce.

[RVclaret]

The issue with comparing us to any other teams is we have lost 4 regular starters from last season in
Barnes
Harwood Bellis
Maatsen
Tella
Who not only were excellent and crucial performers for us they knew the system and with such vast changes and difficult opening fixtures I don’t see us starting the season with any newly promoted bounce.

Barnes has been upgraded quite significantly with one of Europe’s most talented young strikers.

Harwood-Bellis was great but young and O’Shea looks just as good if not better.

Tella has been upgraded to Redmond and (possibly) Daramy.

Maatsen the only one there we’ve not replaced yet.

[Conroy92]

We could essentially be starting the season with a midfield partnership that was not deemed good enough under Dyche.

I am amazed people think we are going to finish in the top 10.

[Pickles]

I said on another thread I think we'll be 7th which feels a bit optimistic, I'll give you that, but if you can't be positive before a ball's been kicked you might as well give up. We're a left back and a centre mid away from having a chance of top ten/upper midtable and I see nothing to tell me those players won't arrive. Maybe a couple of centre mids.

[Newcastleclaret93]

I said on another thread I think we'll be 7th which feels a bit optimistic, I'll give you that, but if you can't be positive before a ball's been kicked you might as well give up. We're a left back and a centre mid away from having a chance of top ten/upper midtable and I see nothing to tell me those players won't arrive. Maybe a couple of centre mids.

I don’t mind the optimism I just don’t understand the logic.

What makes you think we can possibly reach them heights? I would put that on par with Leicester winning the premier league.

[Elizabeth]

We could essentially be starting the season with a midfield partnership that was not deemed good enough under Dyche.

I am amazed people think we are going to finish in the top 10.

Luckily it’s City and that midfield you mention will be a second choice one

[Elizabeth]

Whilst I agree that it’s easily feasible that we survive and whilst I acknowledge that other teams that we’d expect to struggle potentially, have weaknesses….can we all just take a step back and remember how utterly brutal and demanding the Premier League is? It’s a HUGE step up from the division that we’ve just won. MASSIVE.

I’m sure Kompany will prepare the squad for this step up but I’m equally sure he will be telling them to aim high and don’t let it overwhelm them.
The other big positive is that Kompany has kept players already with plenty of PL experience who will no doubt be telling the others that there is nothing to fear

[Pickles]

I don’t mind the optimism I just don’t understand the logic.

What makes you think we can possibly reach them heights? I would put that on par with Leicester winning the premier league.

Absolutely fair! We're working off hunches really aren't we.

But I just think when all's said and done come the end of the month we'll have the players we all know we need. We finished 7th under Dyche and I think a side under Kompany can do the same if not better. Perhaps not immediately, I'll concede that. But it'll be a deeper squad than we've ever had in the Premier League. Granted, not with the seasons of experience Mee and Tarkowski provided but that isn't the be-all and end-all.

We started fairly slowly last season and there was definitely some doubts last summer. But I was adamant from the beginning we'd walk that division and walk it we did.

Kompany's the real deal, he'll manage at the very top. And Pace has backed him and will continue to do.

[Newcastleclaret93]

Absolutely fair! We're working off hunches really aren't we.

But I just think when all's said and done come the end of the month we'll have the players we all know we need. We finished 7th under Dyche and I think a side under Kompany can do the same if not better. Perhaps not immediately, I'll concede that. But it'll be a deeper squad than we've ever had in the Premier League. Granted, not with the seasons of experience Mee and Tarkowski provided but that isn't the be-all and end-all.

We started fairly slowly last season and there was definitely some doubts last summer. But I was adamant from the beginning we'd walk that division and walk it we did.

Kompany's the real deal, he'll manage at the very top. And Pace has backed him and will continue to do.

Fair enough I can certainly see us doing well once cm and LB is strengthened.

For me to be able to reach 7th we would need a lot of goals, I am not sure who gets them goals for us currently.

I can see Benson getting 5+
Foster getting 5+
Amdouni getting 5+

But apart from that I’m struggling to see where more are coming from. Unless like you say Pace backs VK and gets a Weghorst replacement in

[CoolClaret]

I don’t think any one player that we have/will sign will score more than 10 goals.

Not many PL players get to double figures in a season - think Wood did it for us sort of 3/4 times and Barnes once. Can’t think of any others.

I envision a few of the squad on 4-9

[Spijed]

I don’t think any one player that we have/will sign will score more than 10 goals.

Not many PL players get to double figures in a season - think Wood did it for us sort of 3/4 times and Barnes once. Can’t think of any others.

I envision a few of the squad on 4-9

Sam Vokes got 10 in 16/17

[Elizabeth]

I don’t think any one player that we have/will sign will score more than 10 goals.

Not many PL players get to double figures in a season - think Wood did it for us sort of 3/4 times and Barnes once. Can’t think of any others.

I envision a few of the squad on 4-9

A really good point.

For Wood to do it so often put him in a small group of PL players to do it in consecutive seasons.

[123EasyasBFC]

I’d start with all 3. Cork in the 6, Brownhill and JBG ahead of him.

Yeah that’s a fair shout actually

[roperclaret]

We could essentially be starting the season with a midfield partnership that was not deemed good enough under Dyche.

I am amazed people think we are going to finish in the top 10.

I agree regards not finishing top half. However if you look at the points per game we won that season with Cork and Brownhill playing CM I think you would be very surprised. It was Dyches insistence on playing Westy and his first time round the corner without looking balls that cost us.

[CoolClaret]

A really good point.

For Wood to do it so often put him in a small group of PL players to do it in consecutive seasons.

Sam Vokes got 10 in 16/17

Yeah Wood was really good for us as a goal scorer - criminally underrated by a large % of our fam base.

Different systems of course and in a 442 you expect your strikers to get the vast majority of the goals.

Can’t see anyone hitting 10.

Think people will be a bit disappointed if they think Amdouni will bag over 10

[CoolClaret]

May be a good time to remind everyone of the record the 100+ point teams have in their first season up. It’s excellent.

My prediction is 8th. The league is brutal, it will see off Luton and Sheffield, but we are brutal too.

Might be a good time to remind you that our top scorer of last season and most creative outlet aren’t on the team anymore

[jrgbfc]

If we don't strengthen centre mid I think we'll struggle to stay up. Think some people are getting a bit carried away after last season.

[FCBurnley]

What injuries do Cullen and Benson have or are they being sold ? Nobody knows. Those two plus Tella and Zaroury were the heart of our team last season. We start with City and then have a blank week followed by a bunch of tough games. I think we will do amazingly well to finish above the bottom 5.

[Pickles]

Double figures in the Prem is a big deal and usually an expensive one! I think expecting our forward players to get around five or six each would be a decent return. Wouldn't say no to another striker coming in though!

[gtclaret]

The good thing is that we have Man City in the first game realistically we have almost no chance whoever we sign ,the next game is postponed,so our season begins at home to Villa.This gives use three weeks to fill the gaps without it impacting our start

[jdrobbo]

I’m sure Kompany will prepare the squad for this step up but I’m equally sure he will be telling them to aim high and don’t let it overwhelm them.
The other big positive is that Kompany has kept players already with plenty of PL experience who will no doubt be telling the others that there is nothing to fear

Yes, good points

[Big Vinny K]

Some very strange comments about Cullen and Benson.
We know Benson was injured at the end of last season.
And we know Cullen picked up a knock in a pre season friendly.

Why when we are clearly investing significant money in the team and backing VK would we consider selling the player of the season who is at the heart of how we play the game and the player who was arguably the most important to us in terms of match winning performances ?

There’s been one fake story about Benson going and zero stories about selling Cullen.

Will be so glad when we kick off next Friday !

[No Ney Never]

F**k me, Ukraine would be f**ked if they showed the level of confidence in their ability that some of you are posting on here about ours. It's no wonder that anyone who wants to better themselves move away from the area to somewhere where positivity is embraced, instead of hanging around with a bunch of negative losers.
Its no wonder there's complaints on here about being stuck in sh*t jobs, on sh*t money and unable to afford anything with the mental attitude some of you display.
FFS, yes we are still developing a new style and rebuilding, but we are Burnley, very good at anything we put our mind to. We value ourselves and what we can achieve.
I've worked alongside people from all different parts of this country who big themselves up, but turn out to be completely useless. People from Burnley put themselves down, but can be very good at whatever they put their mind to. Stop putting yourself and the town down!!!

[Elizabeth]

Some very strange comments about Cullen and Benson.
We know Benson was injured at the end of last season.
And we know Cullen picked up a knock in a pre season friendly.

Why when we are clearly investing significant money in the team and backing VK would we consider selling the player of the season who is at the heart of how we play the game and the player who was arguably the most important to us in terms of match winning performances ?

There’s been one fake story about Benson going and zero stories about selling Cullen.

Will be so glad when we kick off next Friday !

I think it’s the way people interpret the relationship between buying to make future profit and using resources you’ve currently got to be successful in the present.
The balance of the scales is a fine on to keep level

[Big Vinny K]

I think it’s the way people interpret the relationship between buying to make future profit and using resources you’ve currently got to be successful in the present.
The balance of the scales is a fine on to keep level

I get that - but not after 12 months at the point we are stepping up into one of the best leagues in the world. And also not when there is zero foundation of prospective suitors or offers or even interest in the players.
If we and some of these young players perform well in the Premier League then it’s pretty inevitable that there will be some interest and if offers come in which would see us make a huge profit then none of us would be surprised to see us sell - because that’s what we have always had to do (just like most of the league tbh).

[equinox]

If Weghorst plays (starts and finishes) in every game this season I'm fairly confident that he would get us 10 goals.

[Rileybobs]

F**k me, Ukraine would be f**ked if they showed the level of confidence in their ability that some of you are posting on here about ours. It's no wonder that anyone who wants to better themselves move away from the area to somewhere where positivity is embraced, instead of hanging around with a bunch of negative losers.
Its no wonder there's complaints on here about being stuck in sh*t jobs, on sh*t money and unable to afford anything with the mental attitude some of you display.
FFS, yes we are still developing a new style and rebuilding, but we are Burnley, very good at anything we put our mind to. We value ourselves and what we can achieve.
I've worked alongside people from all different parts of this country who big themselves up, but turn out to be completely useless. People from Burnley put themselves down, but can be very good at whatever they put their mind to. Stop putting yourself and the town down!!!

Overreact much?

[boyyanno]

F**k me, Ukraine would be f**ked if they showed the level of confidence in their ability that some of you are posting on here about ours. It's no wonder that anyone who wants to better themselves move away from the area to somewhere where positivity is embraced, instead of hanging around with a bunch of negative losers.
Its no wonder there's complaints on here about being stuck in sh*t jobs, on sh*t money and unable to afford anything with the mental attitude some of you display.
FFS, yes we are still developing a new style and rebuilding, but we are Burnley, very good at anything we put our mind to. We value ourselves and what we can achieve.
I've worked alongside people from all different parts of this country who big themselves up, but turn out to be completely useless. People from Burnley put themselves down, but can be very good at whatever they put their mind to. Stop putting yourself and the town down!!!

I'd say this is one of the worst posts of the week but I've seen the other one you've made about Emma Hayes

[No Ney Never]

Overreact much?

An overreaction to what?

My comments are more to do with my experience of the social and economics of many neighborhoods and individuals in the Burnley area.

[Elizabeth]

I get that - but not after 12 months at the point we are stepping up into one of the best leagues in the world. And also not when there is zero foundation of prospective suitors or offers or even interest in the players.
If we and some of these young players perform well in the Premier League then it’s pretty inevitable that there will be some interest and if offers come in which would see us make a huge profit then none of us would be surprised to see us sell - because that’s what we have always had to do (just like most of the league tbh).

I’m on the side that says give talent a chance at your club before thinking about selling them off

[Elizabeth]

If Weghorst plays (starts and finishes) in every game this season I'm fairly confident that he would get us 10 goals.

He wouldn’t but it’s unlikely it will be put to the test.

I would have liked him to be tried in the Joelinton role at Newcastle . We know Joelinton also couldn’t save his life if it depended on a goal as a striker. As soon as he played a withdrawn role he excelled

[equinox]

He wouldn’t but it’s unlikely it will be put to the test.

Well I think he would.

[CrosspoolClarets]

Fair enough I can certainly see us doing well once cm and LB is strengthened.

For me to be able to reach 7th we would need a lot of goals, I am not sure who gets them goals for us currently.

I can see Benson getting 5+
Foster getting 5+
Amdouni getting 5+

But apart from that I’m struggling to see where more are coming from. Unless like you say Pace backs VK and gets a Weghorst replacement in

The equivalent last year was Brighton who finished 6th and their top scorer was MacAllister with 10 who was in midfield. So I think it is a mistake to think we need a lot of goals from a single person, particularly the way we play.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt

[claretspice]

There are plenty of goals within the team, but even last season we generally needed the focal point to our attack given by Rodriguez or Barnes. I happen to think Weghorst might well get a few goals if he's first choice, but he has a tidy link up game (which is why United wanted him in the first place) and I reckon that's his biggest potential value to us.

Unless he leaves, and I hope he doesn't, he'd start for me next Friday.

[Newcastleclaret93]

The equivalent last year was Brighton who finished 6th and their top scorer was MacAllister with 10 who was in midfield. So I think it is a mistake to think we need a lot of goals from a single person, particularly the way we play.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt

That’s a fair comment.

Mine was more in relation to total team goals. To get in the top half as many people are suggesting, you need to get north of 50 goals a season (as a general rule).

I am not sure across our squad how we get that many goals at the moment. I suspect this is an area VK is trying to address with all these forward signings.

[claretspice]

That’s a fair comment.

Mine was more in relation to total team goals. To get in the top half as many people are suggesting, you need to get north of 50 goals a season (as a general rule).

I am not sure across our squad how we get that many goals at the moment. I suspect this is an area VK is trying to address with all these forward signings.

Anybody setting their expectations this season as top 10 has made a mistake. 15th is an excellent finish.

[Spijed]

The equivalent last year was Brighton who finished 6th and their top scorer was MacAllister with 10 who was in midfield. So I think it is a mistake to think we need a lot of goals from a single person, particularly the way we play.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt

When we finished 7th we didn't score that many goals, but one point that isn't highlighted is that we kept quite a few clean sheets to mean we only needed to score once to win a number of matches.

Stating the obvious, If we aren't as defensively solid in the coming season therefore we'll need far more goals.

Do we have the players though?

[Longsider]

Our lack of strength in midfield worries me. Also in typical Burnley fan panic mode , everywhere I look on the web people are saying we will do really well, over achieve, top half finish etc. Lots of people like us. I'm more used to everyone hating us. Unchartered water this for me.

[ksrclaret]

I do think we're in for a reality check with a return of 0 points from the first three games. A combination of some really tough opponents and the fact we've just not addressed that midfield area, and the left back position is a real issue with nobody in the squad suited to the role really.

I hope we've addressed those two issues by the close of the window, but I suspect it won't be until our trip to Forest on a Monday night in Sept that we begin to pick points up. Just my opinion, but some on this board are in for a culture shock.

[equinox]

the left back position is a real issue

It really isn't.

[ksrclaret]

It really isn't.

It really is.

[boyyanno]

It really isn't.

Last year's starting left back is no longer with us and we don't have a recognised one currently (Kompany seems to see Taylor as a sub CB).

How can you not think LB is an issue?

[equinox]

Last year's starting left back is no longer with us and we don't have a recognised one currently (Kompany seems to see Taylor as a sub CB).

How can you not think LB is an issue?

Because I've seen Charlie Taylor perform IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE as an integral part of a damn good back four.

It's all very well cruising along in the Championship with your fancy on loan Chelsea full back bullying weak opposition but now we're back with the big boys give me Charlie Taylor all day long.

[Newcastleclaret93]

Because I've seen Charlie Taylor perform IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE as an integral part of a damn good back four.

It's all very well cruising along in the Championship with your fancy on loan Chelsea full back bullying weak opposition but now we're back with the big boys give me Charlie Taylor all day long.

I think it’s very very clear that Taylor will not feature at all this season. He certainly will not be starting at lb in the prem