The objective for the rest of the season

[superdimitri]

We'll start winning when we know for sure we are down. Then the pressure will be off and we can play without fear again.

We should be aiming to finish as high as we can anyway to get more money. I don't think Kompany will know for sure who is going to start and go until the summer. The fact is we will have to let some go if they want to and if we get big bids in for some players they'll go too.

[Big Vinny K]

If we do reach 20 points I’m really looking forward to the new thread and special graphics of the “6 worst sides in Premier League History”.

The worst 5 league sides is a topic that has been discussed a lot. There’s endless debates on sky sports about this and I believe Netflix are making a blockbuster fly on the wall drama about this. Di Caprio is being lined up to play Paul Jewell and Pacino is playing Billy Davies.

[turbo5]

For me the objective is to stop the spiral slide down the league/leagues . It happens to bigger clubs than ourselves look at Sunderland /Leeds and even ourselves when we dropped from the old 1st Division down the leagues.
A football team is much bigger than the 11 players on the pitch that majority of us judge them against.

I personally struggle to see this confidence void team storm the Championship next season and have fears we may be at the wrong end of the table, a poor start and the lack of confidence could easily carry on. We haven't a clue on the dynamics in the dressing room and training grounds , is VK that nice soft spoken articulate person we hear on TV or is he a stubborn clueless ex player living on his past reputation who happened to get lucky in the lower leagues. Any remnants of the Dyche era has now been removed bar one or two players . The all modus operandi will have changed within the club including the owner manager investors players and staff This is now a VK/AP club using their own teams and methods.

The experiment or whatever strategy VK and AP have introduced is clearly not working at this level, are they going to continuously put their hand in the fire and burn their fingers like we have seen game after game this season or will they change something. It's akin to a gambler sticking on the black ball and the white keeps winning but they stick with the black ball hoping it will come good. The same could be said about VK !

The business side of the club will need work, firstly for me it is to retain the fan base, It might not be important in the PL with other revenues but the lower the league the more fan dependant you become . I think we will retain majority of fans next season regardless of results, Mainly loyalty to our town team club an sticking with them but also the fear they would miss out on another season like the previous championship winning season, but failure to perform maybe a defeat or two from our rivals will see a massive dive in the coming seasons. Let's not forget even the most die hard disappeared in the 80's when we were down to 2000 fans.
The investors in the club are seeing their shares/assets drop like a stone, the PL revenues will drop substantially , the business model they were shown and the man to do it aren't performing how long will it be before they are on AP door wanting change. Will they keep their invest or want a fire sale to recoup their investments.
You measure the strength and success of the club in bad times like you do any business, its easy when the times are good and you are waving and fist pumping fans but can they over come it , rebuild and get back on track with a plan to challenge again ? only time will tell

[Jamesy]

We'll start winning when we know for sure we are down. Then the pressure will be off and we can play without fear again.

We should be aiming to finish as high as we can anyway to get more money. I don't think Kompany will know for sure who is going to start and go until the summer. The fact is we will have to let some go if they want to and if we get big bids in for some players they'll go too.

I wish I could agree with you on this. However, this squad aren’t capable of winning even when the pressure is off.
When that capital R goes next to Burnley FC on the Premier League table, nothing will change. We will still get humped in the remaining games.

[South West Claret.]

VK simply has to get more than 19 points; we do not want to be known as one of the five worst teams in PL history.



https://theanalyst.com/eu/2024/02/worst ... gue-teams/
https://theanalyst.com/eu/2023/09/lowes ... e-history/

What an absolute disaster this year is, we are a shadow of the team we were this time last year.

A bit embarrassing I agree but if Burnley are aiming at being a yo yo club then it doesn’t really matter I suppose.

[CoolClaret]

If we do reach 20 points I’m really looking forward to the new thread and special graphics of the “6 worst sides in Premier League History”.

The worst 5 league sides is a topic that has been discussed a lot. There’s endless debates on sky sports about this and I believe Netflix are making a blockbuster fly on the wall drama about this. Di Caprio is being lined up to play Paul Jewell and Pacino is playing Billy Davies.

Heard Michael Caine has a cameo as Stan Ternent as well - looking forward to it!

[Poulton-le-Claret]

Win a few games and not to finish below Sheff Utd. That's how low the bar is.

[Jakubclaret]

A bit embarrassing I agree but if Burnley are aiming at being a yo yo club then it doesn’t really matter I suppose.

That served west brom well for awhile it's been a few years now in the wilderness. You just aren't guaranteed to keep bouncing back I think more than a few people will be in for a shock. it's the same sort of people that back a season instant return that were also convinced the PL would be easy. A deluded correlation is in existence.

[CoolClaret]

Win a few games and not to finish below Sheff Utd. That's how low the bar is.

'El Crapico' on the 20th April is the game. Must not lose.

[Jamesy]

Win a few games and not to finish below Sheff Utd. That's how low the bar is.

You certainly wouldn’t be able to limbo dance under it pal!

[kentonclaret]

Asking for a couple of clean sheets and getting ourselves organised defensively should be the least we are entitled to expect before the end of the season.
Scoring goals and winning games would probably be setting the bar a bit too high.

[agreenwood]

Three more points to at least put this to bed

[superdimitri]

One thing we have generally improved is knowing a bit better when to kick it out of play rather than play a risky pass. It's been good to see players playing the ball out of play or long balls rather than encouraging the opposition more.

We can save the Man City play out the back at all costs style play for fixtures when we are clear favorites.

I know it's a cliche but I honestly don't think some of the very best managers in the world could do what they do with a more limited budget. Pep couldn't play the way he wants to if he were our manager. It's a very different game when 90% of the time you're the favorite.

[willsclarets]

For me it rests on forests deduction. Luton have spurs, arsenal and man City in 3 of their next 4. If forest get 6 points that puts then 2 ahead of us with them coming to the turf last game.

If at a minimum we can take 6 points from our next 4 (Chelsea, wolves, Everton, Brighton) with sheff united the 5th game, It's not beyond the realms of possibility we're in the mix last handful of games.

[Longsidejono]

Biggest objective for me is to give the flag wavers a rest who’s told them to start waving them 10 mins before the players walk out poor kids are knackered by the time they walk out

[StayingDown4Ever]

I know it's a cliche but I honestly don't think some of the very best managers in the world could do what they do with a more limited budget. Pep couldn't play the way he wants to if he were our manager. It's a very different game when 90% of the time you're the favorite.

You’re probably right in that he couldn’t play the way he wanted with our squad. I would hazard a guess though that he’d have realised that after a couple of games and tried something else.

[TheOriginalLongsider]

We’ve just got 4 points from our last 2 games. Muric is back in goal. There’s a good chance that Forest will get deducted points and we have them at home in the last game. I remain hopeful that we can do it. Hopeful, not confident ! I’m not sure what I’d prefer though, an exciting end to the season and staying up or going down and trying to reproduce last season’s form

[alwaysaclaret]

For me it rests on forests deduction. Luton have spurs, arsenal and man City in 3 of their next 4. If forest get 6 points that puts then 2 ahead of us with them coming to the turf last game.

If at a minimum we can take 6 points from our next 4 (Chelsea, wolves, Everton, Brighton) with sheff united the 5th game, It's not beyond the realms of possibility we're in the mix last handful of games.

Absolutely rests on forest, big 3 pts yesterday and such a shame we couldn't see it through last week. Big ask but it's huge that we take 3 pts from both Everton and forest, but at least I feel that's possible with muric he stays in, yes could still be mistakes in him, but feel much more confident with him than without him.

[morninbob]

5 wins and 1 draw, beating Both Everton and florist would give us a chance.

[houseboy]

Planning for next season in the Championship starts now. So the priority is undoubtedly deciding who stays and who gets the bullet.

And yes, that includes the manager and his staff.
Big decision for AP, I'd say.

There is absolutely no decision to be made about the manager. If we are going down who better to be in charge than the man who walked us easily into the PL last season? Have people so easily forgotten what we did in the Championship under this man? We strolled to an (almost) record breaking championship eventually won at Ewood. We played football rarely if ever seen at that level.
Have people forgotten that under Dyche we went straight back down but came straight back up by keeping faith in him. I really don’t understand what goes on in some people’s heads at times.

[Spijed]

Whether do-able or not, and regardless of whether Forest get any deduction the aim should be to gain six points on them in the next eight matches.

That would leave us going into the last game a win away from going above them at the end of the season.

It's as simple as that.

[South West Claret.]

Would have thought the objective was to stay up this season.

[taio]

There is absolutely no decision to be made about the manager. If we are going down who better to be in charge than the man who walked us easily into the PL last season? Have people so easily forgotten what we did in the Championship under this man? We strolled to an (almost) record breaking championship eventually won at Ewood. We played football rarely if ever seen at that level.
Have people forgotten that under Dyche we went straight back down but came straight back up by keeping faith in him. I really don’t understand what goes on in some people’s heads at times.

This is certainly the approach the Board should, and I would hope, take. Kompany deserves the chance to learn much needed lessons to take into next season. If we get relegated and we don't start the season well, he'll obviously come under pressure but, again, he deserves the chance after a remarkable and overachieving Championship season. The majority of supporters will continue to back him in the meantime.

[Colburn_Claret]

Consolidate.
We're still going down, but relegation playing like we have the last few weeks please. We need some positivity to take into next season.

[gandhisflipflop]

There is absolutely no decision to be made about the manager. If we are going down who better to be in charge than the man who walked us easily into the PL last season? Have people so easily forgotten what we did in the Championship under this man? We strolled to an (almost) record breaking championship eventually won at Ewood. We played football rarely if ever seen at that level.
Have people forgotten that under Dyche we went straight back down but came straight back up by keeping faith in him. I really don’t understand what goes on in some people’s heads at times.

Bang on.

[TsarBomba]

Really pleased to see Cullen back in the team, and now Muric.

Hopefully a consistent starting 11, and the building of familiarity and patterns in our play again will give us a head start going into next season.

After the Palace debacle, I was erring on Kompany out, as I thought he had lost the dressing room a little.

The last 2 games have given some encouragement.

[SouthLondonexile]

Now that common sense seems to have been established, eg Muric in goal , Fofarna ( excuse spelling) up front , Berge being Berge at last, Foster fit, let’s give it a good old go to the last game and see where that gets us.

[NewClaret]

There is absolutely no decision to be made about the manager. If we are going down who better to be in charge than the man who walked us easily into the PL last season? Have people so easily forgotten what we did in the Championship under this man? We strolled to an (almost) record breaking championship eventually won at Ewood. We played football rarely if ever seen at that level.
Have people forgotten that under Dyche we went straight back down but came straight back up by keeping faith in him. I really don’t understand what goes on in some people’s heads at times.

Honestly have no idea what has been going on through some fans minds this year. You summarise the situation perfectly.

[MT03ALG]

My somewhat optimistic prediction after 19 games was 45 points but am now down to a maximum of 34 points

[CoolClaret]

Really pleased to see Cullen back in the team, and now Muric.

Hopefully a consistent starting 11, and the building of familiarity and patterns in our play again will give us a head start going into next season.

After the Palace debacle, I was erring on Kompany out, as I thought he had lost the dressing room a little.

The last 2 games have given some encouragement.

They certainly have done and it's brought everyone back on side I feel.

That's the sort of thing I was alluding to in the OP but now... crikey get a point (or more) at Chelsea and who knows?

Dare to dream eh?

[NewClaret]

Really pleased to see Cullen back in the team, and now Muric.

Hopefully a consistent starting 11, and the building of familiarity and patterns in our play again will give us a head start going into next season.

After the Palace debacle, I was erring on Kompany out, as I thought he had lost the dressing room a little.

The last 2 games have given some encouragement.

That’s why it’s really important that decision makers in board rooms don’t panic and come to the wrong conclusions. In any

I just hope we can use the next nine games to:

- develop our players. Esteve looked very good yesterday, but made an error for the free kick. As did Vitinho, but gave the ball away cheaply a few times. I’d just like to see every one of them to use this time to improve their game.

- rebuild some of the atmosphere and bond between the players and fans so we can go in to next season with a bit of optimism.

- finish with a more rounded team that looks more solid at the back, more threatening at set pieces, back in our old shape, etc.

- a bit more game time for Benny when the times right.

[superdimitri]

You’re probably right in that he couldn’t play the way he wanted with our squad. I would hazard a guess though that he’d have realised that after a couple of games and tried something else.

Maybe, but there's a big trend with all the best managers to stick to the way they want to play, to keep their own philosophy rather than to change. Especially not drastically change.

Kompany has changed our system. The first obvious move was to a 4-4-2. But as I said in other threads, with the way Berge and Cullen play together and our better performances recently I do wonder if he would have been better just sticking to the original system rather than asking our players to play out of their comfort zone.

[bobinho]

Time to drop those who aren’t going to be here next season. He will know deep down who will want out, and we all know that Assignon and Fofana won’t be here already.

Reintegrate those binned off, and give others who we will be relying on a go. There is nothing whatsoever now gained from playing (say) Amdouni if he wants out in the summer, or Bruun-Larsen if his loan is not an obligatory purchase. Focus on Burnley FC and its future and not these players who are nowhere near good enough anyway.

Whilst I agree in principle with most of this, the reintegrations will be difficult, if not impossible.

[BabylonClaret]

Still some questions but largely there's more to be positive about after the last couple.

Interestingly the players looked up for it big time after the final whistle. They looked like players who did believe they might do it.

Keep the same starting lineup (I'm a bit ambivalent about Odobert but this side is doing alright) and give ut a right go. Our objectives should be simple - catch the team above. Then go for the one after that.

[Clive 1960]

just go out there and give it your best and see what we get and after Forest we're docked 4 pts who knows and with Everton case being heard in April again who knows the outcome and then we have a little matter of Forest last game of the season so who knows...

[Rick_Muller]

just go out there and give it your best and see what we get and after Forest we're docked 4 pts who knows and with Everton case being heard in April again who knows the outcome and then we have a little matter of Forest last game of the season so who knows...

assuming it ends up like that - with the last game of the season being the relegation decider... Unless the decision to punish Forest includes a "you will not take any further action by accepting the reduced points deduction" I can see them taking legal action against the Premier League if they go down.

and in answer to the OP - try and win every game right? one game at a time...

[Darnhill Claret]

The objective for the rest of the season is to continue to improve our performances, as we have done for the last several games, just as it was at the beginning of the season. The other objective is to improve our results and points tally and our final objective is to try and improve our position in the Premier league table. Think that covers it.

[agreenwood]

Well we can put this to bed.

Small wins.

[CoolClaret]

Well we can put this to bed.

Small wins.

Mad what a change of keeper can do for a team...

[agreenwood]

Mad what a change of keeper can do for a team...

I agree-ish, because he’s also cost us points in two big games and even yesterday he mixed in some lapses with some brilliant saves. We may not have stayed up, but we’d probably have more points had Muric been in goal. He’s not the only factor in our recent upturn though. Esteve, Assignon and the reintroduction of Cullen (and his return to form), have all improved us.

[CoolClaret]

I agree-ish, because he’s also cost us points in two big games and even yesterday he mixed in some lapses with some brilliant saves. We may not have stayed up, but we’d probably have more points had Muric been in goal. He’s not the only factor in our recent upturn though. Esteve, Assignon and the reintroduction of Cullen (and his return to form), have all improved us.

He's a pretty ginormous one, even with the cock ups. The team is much more spread out in possession and we can stretch the pitch and pass out (minus the odd cockup) to much greater effect. Muric gets the most out of Cullen as well for me and their partnership helps get us ticking.

Can chalk the uptick in form down to a few factors but the bottom lines is that before the change of keeper we had 20 losses out of 28, with the change we have just 1 out of 7.

I know it doesn't work exactly like that but to me it's pretty significant.

[agreenwood]

He's a pretty ginormous one, even with the cock ups. The team is much more spread out in possession and we can stretch the pitch and pass out (minus the odd cockup) to much greater effect. Muric gets the most out of Cullen as well for me and their partnership helps get us ticking.

Can chalk the uptick in form down to a few factors but the bottom lines is that before the change of keeper we had 20 losses out of 28, with the change we have just 1 out of 7.

I know it doesn't work exactly like that but to me it's pretty significant.

We’re definitely better on the ball with Muric in goal and he also commands his box far better than Trafford does at this stage in career.

[kentonclaret]

Can chalk the uptick in form down to a few factors but the bottom lines is that before the change of keeper we had 20 losses out of 28, with the change we have just 1 out of 7.

None of those 7 matches were against teams in the upper echelons of the PL Table and 3 were against sides currently in the bottom 6. The next 3 fixtures against sides currently in the top 7 will give a truer picture of whether the apparent improvement in the level of performance can be translated into taking points off the better sides in this league.

[CoolClaret]

None of those 7 matches were against teams in the upper echelons of the PL Table and 3 were against sides currently in the bottom 6. The next 3 fixtures against sides currently in the top 7 will give a truer picture of whether the apparent improvement in the level of performance can be translated into taking points off the better sides in this league.

We could lose the next three and i'd still say the same because the lose % would still be half of what it was previously.

Our season also isn't defined by wins/results against teams in the 'upper echelons'. The top three teams are nearing a 70% win rate and Villa/Spurs in 4th/5th are well over 50% win rate - they all pretty much beat the teams around us home and away regularly.

Our season is defined by consistently getting points from teams around us/teams from 7th/8th down.

[agreenwood]

None of those 7 matches were against teams in the upper echelons of the PL Table and 3 were against sides currently in the bottom 6. The next 3 fixtures against sides currently in the top 7 will give a truer picture of whether the apparent improvement in the level of performance can be translated into taking points off the better sides in this league.

We’ve been better against the lower sides too since Muric returned to be fair.

It’s actually 1 loss in 6 since Muric returned. Trafford was in goal in the draw at West Ham.

[CoolClaret]

We’ve been better against the lower sides too since Muric returned to be fair.

It’s actually 1 loss in 6 since Muric returned. Trafford was in goal in the draw at West Ham.

Apologies, you're quite correct.. I saw that (1 in 7) online and didn't double check it - 1 in 6 then - let's hope this run is continued at Old Trafford.