Burnley divisive XI' would be a fun thing to do... Thread worthy!

[gawthorpe_view]

Worst suggestion so far.

Divisive suggestion?

[gawthorpe_view]

Best freebie ever.

But still a divisive choice at left wing for some, not me, but plenty I know didn't rate him.

[taio]

But still a divisive choice at left wing for some, not me, but plenty I know didn't rate him.

It would be playing him left wing

[ClaretTony]

Interesting shout and one I’ve not heard before. Think he typified peak Dyche playing as a pressing 10, plenty of other factors as to why it’s gone downhill from there though too.

Very much other factors but I thought it was during the time Hendrick played in that role was when we were at our best. Again, not just due to him, but I could never understand the negativity towards him.

[karatekid]

Randall was a serial shagger, he was often in the circulation nightclub on Friday nights looking for a bit of action.

No different to any other lad in Burnley then

[South West Claret.]

I think at the time Hendrick didn’t seem to “do anything” that’s why the negativity was there from some people.

[NottsClaret]

Logged on to agree with this.

Always remember it, as a youngster it opened my eyes to how little some football fans know about football.

My dad and his mate had him down as one of our best players at the time, but loads seemed to slate him every week on the Longside. Turned out when he left, he was actually a couple of levels better than we were.

[groove]

Jean Louis Valois.

I couldn't stand the fella. He was a flair player who won over the crowd with cheeky step-overs and jinking runs, but he wouldn't deliver that final ball - However, he scored good goals.

Sounds like most of our wingers now.

[ClaretCliff]

Turned up for Brazil tonight didn't he

No. That was EndrickS

[Fretters]

Ian Moore must be in there - plenty liked him - I thought he was a dog chasing a balloon. I’d probably have him alongside Martin Paterson, another who, his goal at Reading aside, I didn’t think much of.

There’s loads who have really divided opinion and plenty who still continue to do so… Hendrick, Brownhill, Amdouni, Wood, Marney, Jones, Vitinho, Roberts, Trafford, Jensen, to name a few of the current / more recent ones.

Probably easier to name the ones that divide opinion than those that are universally seen as either great or pretty rubbish!

Ian Moore suffered from his price tag. When he went to Leeds for £50k (another Cotterill transfer masterstroke), my Leeds mates loved him. They even preferred him to Blake who was also there. Absolute madness!

[DingleDangle]

John Pender - I'm sure I remember people putting 'og' after his last name, due to the number of own goals he apparently scored. But formed good defensive partnerships with Steve Davis MK1 and MK2 (I think?)

Sure I remember Gareth Taylor getting some pelters from some fans because of his lack of pace, but he could score goals. Similarly with Tony Philliskirk.

Do we include Robbie Blake when he first joined us? I don't think we realised or maybe knew he was carrying an injury (hernia?) at the time, I seem to remember. Was it also Stan that said he had diving boots on?

[DingleDangle]

Jean Louis Valois.

I couldn't stand the fella. He was a flair player who won over the crowd with cheeky step-overs and jinking runs, but he wouldn't deliver that final ball - However, he scored good goals.

I was one of JLV's fans, however he frustrated the living daylights out of me because I wanted him to do well in every game, but flattered to decide.

I'd also maybe give a shout for Paul Smith in a similar vain too.

[DingleDangle]

Adrian Randell… worshipped by some, seen as lazy and too casual by others

Loved Ady Randall, but another that used to frustrate the hell out of me and maybe many others. Loved watching him warming up before games, doing keepy ups from one side of the pitch to the other without the ball hitting the ground. In matches it was like he was ice skating past players, but never seemed to do much else. Always seemed to be so much more, but you rarely saw it. So much potential wasted and unlocked. Think I was also starstruck because he went to the same hairdressers as me at the time as well lol.

[Peter Loo]

Loved Ady Randall, but another that used to frustrate the hell out of me and maybe many others. Loved watching him warming up before games, doing keepy ups from one side of the pitch to the other without the ball hitting the ground. In matches it was like he was ice skating past players, but never seemed to do much else. Always seemed to be so much more, but you rarely saw it. So much potential wasted and unlocked. Think I was also starstruck because he went to the same hairdressers as me at the time as well lol.

Yes DD as I said back in the thread he became postman after he stopped playing pro-football apparently.

[NL Claret]

All honesty I think you could have used either/or. Alan Taylor or Steve Taylor, Alan Taylor (ex Norwich and WHU) had is fair share of detractors. Steve Taylor was fairly well liked first time around… but got plenty of stick, but not as much as when he returned for his second spell.

For me, from the same era… Paul Magee

Also Dean Marney (though few would admit to giving him stick now… he was one I could NEVER understand getting stick, but I always like midfielders who enjoyed doing the dirty work in midfield)
Adrian Randell… worshipped by some, seen as lazy and too casual by others
Dwight McNeal
(Among many).

I couldn’t understand the criticism Marney used to get in his early days, there was one poster who likes to think he’s an expert also wasn’t a fan but eventually changed his tune. He used to make stats up that he used to get less points when he was in the team than when out injured / suspended when in was the other way round. The reason for the dislike of Marney was purely down to who signed him, Wallace was the same, strange times under Laws.

[boatshed bill]

I think at the time Hendrick didn’t seem to “do anything” that’s why the negativity was there from some people.

Pivotal in our best PL season. But many didn't get it.

[NL Claret]

John Pender - I'm sure I remember people putting 'og' after his last name, due to the number of own goals he apparently scored. But formed good defensive partnerships with Steve Davis MK1 and MK2 (I think?)

Sure I remember Gareth Taylor getting some pelters from some fans because of his lack of pace, but he could score goals. Similarly with Tony Philliskirk.

Do we include Robbie Blake when he first joined us? I don't think we realised or maybe knew he was carrying an injury (hernia?) at the time, I seem to remember. Was it also Stan that said he had diving boots on?

Taylor used to get stick as he rarely scored with his feet, that was bizarre as he was a decent CF was Taylor.

Yes, Stan did say that, not sure how Blake passed a medical as he needed a hernia op not long after we signed him.

Philliskirk scored a hat trick at home to Barnet and was booed off when subbed.

[daveisaclaret]

I liked Jeff Hendrick but in the season we came 7th we went just shy of 3 months without a win, barely scoring a goal, with him playing off the striker. It was grim. The run of 5 wins on the bounce that saved the season started with Wood's return from injury with Wood coming off the bench for Hendrick to score winners and then replacing him in the starting line-up.

[CoolClaret]

I liked Jeff Hendrick but in the season we came 7th we went just shy of 3 months without a win, barely scoring a goal, with him playing off the striker. It was grim. The run of 5 wins on the bounce that saved the season started with Wood's return from injury with Wood coming off the bench for Hendrick to score winners and then replacing him in the starting line-up.

This is true when we had Wood and Barnes absolutely firing on all cylinders - the most deadly duo in Europe I believe at one point!

But up until Defour/Brady's injury when we played a little bit more of a progressive style Hendrick was instrumental.

A very good player for us. Rich mans Josh Brownhill, imo.

[Peter Loo]

This is true when we had Wood and Barnes absolutely firing on all cylinders - the most deadly duo in Europe I believe at one point!

But up until Defour/Brady's injury when we played a little bit more of a progressive style Hendrick was instrumental.

A very good player for us. Rich mans Josh Brownhill, imo.

Ah the days of Shaun Dyche at Burnley eh.

[taio]

Ah the days of Shaun Dyche at Burnley eh.

Sean Dyche

[Peter Loo]

I wondered how long that would take to be spotted...no seconds at all is the answer ho ho.

[Fretters]

I liked Jeff Hendrick but in the season we came 7th we went just shy of 3 months without a win, barely scoring a goal, with him playing off the striker. It was grim. The run of 5 wins on the bounce that saved the season started with Wood's return from injury with Wood coming off the bench for Hendrick to score winners and then replacing him in the starting line-up.

Hendrick was one of the best we had at winning 2nd balls, he was vital to our system that season.

[bfcjg]

Paul Gascoigne split opinions, the dewy eyed Clarets thought it was the teams fault for not utilising his talent,getting into space for him etc, majority though thought he was an unfit has been. To a certain extent Ian Wright split opinions as it was the natural born Claret who made way for him,and when Paytyon eventually played he was sensational and the "I told you so"brigade were out in force.

[PremierLeagueClass]

Vitinho is the clear choice from the current squad. I’ve changed my own mind about him 6 or 7 times already, never mind anybody else.

[Bullabill]

I wondered how long that would take to be spotted...no seconds at all is the answer ho ho.

Is that you Captain Mainwaring?

[South West Claret.]

No pike.

[bfcmatt]

Got to make room for Jelle Vossen in the team.

[Foshiznik]

Trafford
Vitinho
Edgar
Cort
Jordan
JBG
Hendrick
Brownhill
Wallace
Delfouneso
Bamford

[dandeclaret]

Good thread this - players who I've seen cause plenty of arguments either pre internet in the ground, or post internet on boards / social media etc...

Goalkeepers - Kiraly and Hart stand out as the 2 that seemed to most split opinions.

Defenders - Shackell, Whooshy, Branchy

Midfielders - James O'Connor (Jimmy one yard), Hendrick, Brady, Comstive, Brenda No Conell, Eagles

Attackers - Wood, Vydra, Moore, Jay more recently,

[dandeclaret]

John Pender - I'm sure I remember people putting 'og' after his last name, due to the number of own goals he apparently scored. But formed good defensive partnerships with Steve Davis MK1 and MK2 (I think?)

Sure I remember Gareth Taylor getting some pelters from some fans because of his lack of pace, but he could score goals. Similarly with Tony Philliskirk.

Do we include Robbie Blake when he first joined us? I don't think we realised or maybe knew he was carrying an injury (hernia?) at the time, I seem to remember. Was it also Stan that said he had diving boots on?

In the days of teletext there used to be a joke that Penderog was up there with Shaun Goater for the amount of times he scored against Burnley.... people often wondered who this Dearysoff lad was that played for the team regularly.

[jedi_master]

I just mentioned him on another thread but I reckon he fits the moniker of 'divisive' too - Paul Barnes. He was better than I remembered at the time having seen his goals and all-round play back recently but he seemed to be seen as a bit lazy and one note when he was at Burnley. 30 goals in 65 league games though.

[Peter Loo]

I just mentioned him on another thread but I reckon he fits the moniker of 'divisive' too - Paul Barnes. He was better than I remembered at the time having seen his goals and all-round play back recently but he seemed to be seen as a bit lazy and one note when he was at Burnley. 30 goals in 65 league games though.

Barnes came to Burnley with a very good goalscoring record didn't he and continued it.

[CoolClaret]

The reason for the dislike of Marney was purely down to who signed him, Wallace was the same, strange times under Laws.

Absolutely spot on.

Marney was a great player for us since his debut.

[DingleDangle]

Seem to remember Gerry Harrison splitting opinions. Steve Harper seemed to as well. Might be mind playing tricks, but I'm sure I remember Drissa Diallo with split opinions too.

[andyh]

Gareth Taylor maybe?

[Longford Claret]

Roger Hansbury, Chris Pearce.

[DingleDangle]

Gareth Taylor maybe?

Already mentioned Gareth Taylor further up this page.

[Hedontplayforyou]

Ian Moore - some rated him whereas I was always frustrated by him. Grafter but a bit of a headless chicken.

Gareth Taylor - his lack of pace really hindered his game but could use his head .

Alan Mahon - I thought he was a decent player but injuries hampered him a lot.

I really liked John McGreal I thought he was superb albeit lacking in pace but his composure was brilliant , those back headers to the keeper were almost a trademark . No doubt he will have helped a young Gary Cahill, who was already fantastic, develop into a fine centre half.

[ArmchairDetective]

Glad to see Jean Louis Valois mentioned. For some reason he was my first thought but doubted anyone would suggest him.

Defour has always been divisive on this forum.

[THEWELLERNUT70]

Tommy Hutchinson
Steve Jordan

[CoolClaret]

Josh Brownhill is another of recent years.

[beeholeclaret]

Kurt Nogan, Peter Mellor,

[Burnleyareback2]

Vydra would be my captain.

[jedi_master]

I think everyone rated Kurt, just hated his departure and then his enjoyment at scoring against us (again, and again and again…). Still remember him cupping his ears and running directly in front of us laughing at Deepdale. We had the last laugh that day though (Neil Moore, 2-3!).

[Foshiznik]

Gifton Noel-Williams. As someone who started watching Burnley in 2001 onwards, he was the first player i remember people slaughtering when i personally (from a possibly new pair of claret tinted spectacles) thought he was half decent.

[DingleDangle]

Yep, really liked Kurt and rated him highly........until he left to join the nobbers and couldn't stop scoring against us.

Sadly Gifton didn't seem to get any leeway and seemed to constantly miss easy chances. Think it turned out he also had dodgy knees, if my memory serves me right, which made him slow and ungainly.

It then reminded me of Big, Bad Johnny Gayle. However, I seem to remember him being a cult figure, hence the song.......until he broke Bolton's Nicky Spooner's leg.

[bfcjg]

Ray Deakin, lots thought he was just a clear it at all costs defender hence the shout of whoosh when he got it, I thought he was quite decent.