Can we stay up with what we have

[Newcastleclaret93]

I think we can scrape 17th based on one of Southampton or Newcastle imploding.

If the starting eleven stays fit we have a decentish team. If any of them are injured or have to isolate due to Covid I suspect we struggle to get many points.

Currently I’m predicting 16-18th.

[Elizabeth]

I honestly don’t think we need more signings to stay up.
We have a much fitter squad than at the start of last season and I think it’s reasonable to believe this should help us make a much better start. That for me will be first piece of the jigsaw this coming season.
I cannot imagine Dyche being anything other than his usual motivated self and I expect him to continue doing what he does so well . He really challenges the concept that no one person is bigger than a club.
Nearly all of our current playing squad have many years of PL experience and this should essentially give us the advantage over the teams that will be having to cope with the pressure of trying to stay up .
I think it is likely to be a rocky road again due to the chronic nature of hamstring and groin injuries among a few of the players and for that reason I hope and believe some more squad strengthening will be made before the end of the transfer window .

[taio]

As dire as the football often is, you’d back Dyche to keep us up every year.

The biggest issue for us is injuries. Two or three key players out and we’re going to struggle to pick up anything. The state of our squad is pathetic.

This nails it. All about the extent of injuries. Minimal injuries and we stay up.

But either way I'm concerned that the new owners simply aren't up to it. Hopefully I'm wrong.

[kentonclaret]

I honestly don’t think we need more signings to stay up.
We have a much fitter squad than at the start of last season and I think it’s reasonable to believe this should help us make a much better start. That for me will be first piece of the jigsaw this coming season.
I cannot imagine Dyche being anything other than his usual motivated self and I expect him to continue doing what he does so well . He really challenges the concept that no one person is bigger than a club.
Nearly all of our current playing squad have many years of PL experience and this should essentially give us the advantage over the teams that will be having to cope with the pressure of trying to stay up .
I think it is likely to be a rocky road again due to the chronic nature of hamstring and groin injuries among a few of the players and for that reason I hope and believe some more squad strengthening will be made before the end of the transfer window .

The first line of your post is contradicted by the last 2 lines.

With the oldest squad of first team players in the PL, now that Crystal Palace have been proactive in the market, means that injuries and extended layoffs are almost inevitable and will hit us much harder than many other teams.

[Elizabeth]

No it’s not

[Papabendi]

Who has failed to support the manager this time? I think any suggestion could be well wide of the mark. We have been perilously close to three signings that have fallen through at the 11th hour.

Things must be getting bad if we are using words like perilously to describe potential signings.

[Spijed]

I think we can scrape 17th based on one of Southampton or Newcastle imploding.

If the starting eleven stays fit we have a decentish team. If any of them are injured or have to isolate due to Covid I suspect we struggle to get many points.

Currently I’m predicting 16-18th.

I think ALL isolation restrictions are lifted on the 16th of August, so that shouldn't be a factor this time around.

[Newcastleclaret93]

I think ALL isolation restrictions are lifted on the 16th of August, so that shouldn't be a factor this time around.

I still suspect if players catch Covid they have to isolate though?

[Jamesy]

As always I'd expect our side to fight tooth and nail to reach safety, that's what Dyche has instilled in them and I think we'd just about do it.

Meanwhile I'll wait until the window shuts to see what wingers we get in...

We have got a winger coming in. He is known to Dyche and has recently been playing in Turkey. He is quite old though and he used to be a tricky winger. To call him a winger now though is probably stretching it a bit. More like a holding wide midfielder who occasionally forays into the opponents half during his 15 minutes cameos at the end of games.

[taio]

Who has failed to support the manager this time? I think any suggestion could be well wide of the mark. We have been perilously close to three signings that have fallen through at the 11th hour.

I'm sorry but you can't possibly know that we were so close to these signings. Who were they?

[ClaretTony]

Yes, comfortably.



I haven't seen a single prediction from a neutral that has us down for relegation. It's almost as if this board is full of hysterical worrywarts.

I think that's spot on

[cricketfieldclarets]

I'm sorry but you can't possibly know that we were so close to these signings. Who were they?

We weren’t. Certainly not anyone of any calibre.

[claretandy]

I'm sorry but you can't possibly know that we were so close to these signings. Who were they?

Ashley Young for one.

[taio]

Ashley Young for one.

And the other two?

[Colburn_Claret]

If we had won 2-0 yesterday, the bed wetters would have had the day off. Despite the fact yesterdays result would have had zero bearing on how our season will go.
I'm glad we got beat, it lessens the chances of us going into the season blasé over the wins. We need the edge of competition that the Prem brings, to get the best out of us.
It's going to be tough without reinforcements, but we still have the know how.

[Woodleyclaret]

Trust in Sean and he needs to trust and use the recently promoted U23 players
Use subs better not in the last 5 mins and I believe we will stay up.
We will start well beating Brighton next week

[fatboy47]

Of course we can stay up.

Put a decent right winger out there along with the new centre mid from Celtic and we're looking at potential top 8.
Nothing to fear...every team is beatable.

[Hibsclaret]

I said on another thread and believe that Sean Dyche will not be at the helm of a premier league relegation team again. Therefore, if he remains with us we will not be relegated.

For what it’s worth I think we can finish comfortably mid table and possibly even top half. We probably only need to perform as we did last season for the final 31 games and we have strengthened the defence and goalkeeping departments with 3 weeks to go until deadline day.

[kentonclaret]

I think that's spot on

Even if completely untrue

[SouthLondonexile]

I think losing our last three games of 20/21 season gives me cause for some doubt as to whether we stay up.
Poor form at the end of one season is often carried through into the next season. As with last season it may be the worse form ( than ours) of three other teams who may ensure we avoid relegation.

[kentonclaret]

I think losing our last three games of 20/21 season gives me cause for some doubt as to whether we stay up.
Poor form at the end of one season is often carried through into the next season. As with last season it may be the worse form ( than ours) of three other teams who may ensure we avoid relegation.

Taking just 13 points from the last 15 games isn't that encouraging is it?

Who knows, still 23 days to go before we can make a proper assessment.

[Lancasterclaret]

The actual starting eleven is good enough to stay up, but (as always) its who comes in when the injuries strike

And those that were pushing for places are a year older, and some are clearly declining at this level

Two extra wide men gives us a much more balanced squad that should be good enough though

[Spijed]

I think losing our last three games of 20/21 season gives me cause for some doubt as to whether we stay up.
Poor form at the end of one season is often carried through into the next season. As with last season it may be the worse form ( than ours) of three other teams who may ensure we avoid relegation.

So why have we been rubbish at the end of every season for the last five years?

We've taken just six points from 15 matches since we got promoted.

[Tall Paul]

Even if completely untrue

It wasn't untrue

[turbo5]

I personally think it would be easier to invest now and survive in the PL, as opposed to relegation and fighting for promotion in the championship next season.
Last time we were relegated we managed to keep hold of the bulk of our first team players. This time we have a lot of people coming to the end of their contracts and a very ageing squad, The young up and coming valuable players will want off to ensure they are still playing in the PL . We can't afford to get relegated this season. I struggle to see us returning to the PL if it happened due to the new ownership being untested on their loyalty and commitment to the club.

[brexit]

Trust in Sean and he needs to trust and use the recently promoted U23 players
Use subs better not in the last 5 mins and I believe we will stay up.
We will start well beating Brighton next week

Ok I ask this question every so often. I don't watch the U23 but are there players in that squad who could step up if DinoDyche gave them chance?

oh and yet again we haven;t made any loan signings - another major issue with DD

[kentonclaret]

It wasn't untrue

It is untrue to agree with a statement that no football pundits have tipped Burnley to be relegated.

The fact that you have not read those articles is a different matter entirely.

[IWOODLOVETT]

Yes, but the key part of the question is .... “with what we have “.

We could yet be the subject of last minute raids for our prized assets. Tarks (Leicester), McNeil (Villa), Wood (Wolves ??) or Pope (West Ham ??).

Money definitely talks and if one or more of these were to be targeted we wouldn’t have time to replace (and bed in) equivalent quality. Collins will replace Tarks in time and in Hennessy we have a stop gap but to replace the other two is definitely more of a problem.

[Tall Paul]

It is untrue to agree with a statement that no football pundits have tipped Burnley to be relegated.

The fact that you have not read those articles is a different matter entirely.

I said I hadn't seen any, not that there weren't any

[JohnDearyMe]

I think losing our last three games of 20/21 season gives me cause for some doubt as to whether we stay up.
Poor form at the end of one season is often carried through into the next season. As with last season it may be the worse form ( than ours) of three other teams who may ensure we avoid relegation.

Conversely we finished the COVID interrupted season strongly but started the next one very poorly. We've also had some strong starts after poor-average finishes.

Will definitely be interesting to see if our home form will benefit from having crowds back

[Wile E Coyote]

this idea that we have an ageing squad and therefore will struggle is nonsense.
They are maybe older than some other teams but they are professional footballers and extremely fit.
we aren't sending a team of oap's onto the pitch every week for god's sake.

[Mattster]

As has been said by many. Yes, if we're lucky with injuries - lose any one of McNeil, Westwood, Pope or Wood to a long term injury and it will all come crashing down. Arguably could add Tarks/Mee to that list too but I'm hopeful Collins can step on for one of them but the others there just isn't another player that can replace whay they do in the squad.

[Mattster]

this idea that we have an ageing squad and therefore will struggle is nonsense.
They are maybe older than some other teams but they are professional footballers and extremely fit.
we aren't sending a team of oap's onto the pitch every week for god's sake.

That would be "older than all other teams" now that Palace have overhauled their squad. We will have the oldest starting XI out of the entire league.

[Wile E Coyote]

That would be "older than all other teams" now that Palace have overhauled their squad. We will have the oldest starting XI out of the entire league.

and ?

[kentonclaret]

this idea that we have an ageing squad and therefore will struggle is nonsense.
They are maybe older than some other teams but they are professional footballers and extremely fit.
we aren't sending a team of oap's onto the pitch every week for god's sake.

Whether it is an injury or an illness, conventional wisdom tells us that the older we are, the longer it takes to heal and for a person to fully recover.

That is widely accepted as a scientific FACT but if you have evidence that is not the case kindly share it with us.

[Mattster]

and ?

Well you must have some reason for playing down that fact by trying to suggest we will only have a squad "maybe older than some other teams" when we actually have the oldest in the entire league. Why did you do it?

Are 30+ year old players more likely to improve year on year or decline? More or less likely to pick up injuries?

Answer those questions honestly and maybe you'll see why it's a concern to have the oldest squad in the EPL. Especially given it's one of (if not the) thinnest in the league too in terms of depth.

[taio]

That would be "older than all other teams" now that Palace have overhauled their squad. We will have the oldest starting XI out of the entire league.

The age and experience of our team is one of the reasons why we have done so well under Dyche.

[taio]

Well you must have some reason for playing down that fact by trying to suggest we will only have a squad "maybe older than some other teams" when we actually have the oldest in the entire league. Why did you do it?

Are 30+ year old players more likely to improve year on year or decline? More or less likely to pick up injuries?

Answer those questions honestly and maybe you'll see why it's a concern to have the oldest squad in the EPL. Especially given it's one of (if not the) thinnest in the league too in terms of depth.

I keep seeing the arbitrary 30+ reference. Whatever happens this transfer window - and I'm not hopeful - I would have players like Mee and Westwood starting who happen to be 30+.

[tiger76]

Yes, but the key part of the question is .... “with what we have “.

We could yet be the subject of last minute raids for our prized assets. Tarks (Leicester), McNeil (Villa), Wood (Wolves ??) or Pope (West Ham ??).

Money definitely talks and if one or more of these were to be targeted we wouldn’t have time to replace (and bed in) equivalent quality. Collins will replace Tarks in time and in Hennessy we have a stop gap but to replace the other two is definitely more of a problem.

Yes that's my biggest fear, that we get raided late in the window, and take any of those 4 out, and we look significantly weaker.

Wood in particular would be incredibly difficult to replace, and without his goals last season, we'd have almost certainly gone down.

Ideally I'd like Collins to get a full season to ease himself into his new surroundings, as Tarks did before him when Keane left, before he's thrust into the PL spotlight.

Dwight is our one real quality player who looks like he really belongs at this level, and worryingly our one true source of creativity.

And needless to state Pope is one of the first names on the team sheet.

Hence why I said with what we have, keep our established stars, and we should just be ok.

But we will have to dig deep once more, however this squad have shown repeatedly that they have the stomach for a fight, and that allied to having SD at the helm is what will ensure we keep our heads above water just.

It's amazing we haven't yet kicked a ball in anger, and yet many posters are already condemning us to the drop, have some faith in the boys and Sean, they've certainly earned our trust over the past few years.

[Mattster]

I keep seeing the arbitrary 30+ reference. Whatever happens this transfer window - and I'm not hopeful - I would have players like Mee and Westwood starting who happen to be 30+.

As would I (I was quite widely ridiculed for how highly I rate Westwood, for example).

Simply having players over the age of 30 isn't the issue, having a squad that is predominantly aged over 30 is both in terms of chances for the upcoming season and also for how much more difficult it makes to gradually refresh the squad in future windows.

[bumba]

Doubtful unless we can sign 3/4 players of quality in the next 3 weeks

[Wile E Coyote]

Whether it is an injury or an illness, conventional wisdom tells us that the older we are, the longer it takes to heal and for a person to fully recover.

That is widely accepted as a scientific FACT but if you have evidence that is not the case kindly share it with us.

your comment is like something overheard in a post office queue. Couple of elderly folk lamenting their combined aches and pains after a hard life.

Its nothing remotely similar to footballers. an injury is and injury whether you're 27 or 32, not much in it really .

[Jakubclaret]

your comment is like something overheard in a post office queue. Couple of elderly folk lamenting their combined aches and pains after a hard life.

Its nothing remotely similar to footballers. an injury is and injury whether you're 27 or 32, not much in it really .

You try to recover within that same time frame & also ensure recurring injuries remain the same despite the age differences.

[Wokingclaret]

Pushing our luck I'd say

[Boss Hogg]

No chance without strengthening. We will get injuries. Signing the likes of Lennon is going backwards and desperately poor after numerous pitiful transfer windows.

[kentonclaret]

your comment is like something overheard in a post office queue. Couple of elderly folk lamenting their combined aches and pains after a hard life.

Its nothing remotely similar to footballers. an injury is and injury whether you're 27 or 32, not much in it really .

You obviously have more experience of Post Office queues than I do.

Makes me wonder though why almost every football pundit will view an ageing squad as a negative rather than as a positive.

[Wile E Coyote]

Well you must have some reason for playing down that fact by trying to suggest we will only have a squad "maybe older than some other teams" when we actually have the oldest in the entire league. Why did you do it?

Are 30+ year old players more likely to improve year on year or decline? More or less likely to pick up injuries?

Answer those questions honestly and maybe you'll see why it's a concern to have the oldest squad in the EPL. Especially given it's one of (if not the) thinnest in the league too in terms of depth.

how is acknowledging the age of our players playing anything down ?
They don't suddenly become injury prone either just because they pass 30.
All players are prone to injury, its the nature of football.

[Mattster]

how is acknowledging the age of our players playing anything down ?
They don't suddenly become injury prone either just because they pass 30.
All players are prone to injury, its the nature of football.

And as players get older they become more injury prone and take longer to recover. And decline physically.

You also didn't acknowledge the age of our players, you were playing down the issue by saying they were "maybe older than some other teams" when our squad is actually older than all other teams in the EPL. If you don't think it's an issue then why deny it?

[Spijed]

And as players get older they become more injury prone and take longer to recover. And decline physically.

You also didn't acknowledge the age of our players, you were playing down the issue by saying they were "maybe older than some other teams" when our squad is actually older than all other teams in the EPL. If you don't think it's an issue then why deny it?

Is that true with technology and sports science?

Look at Mark Cavendish, 36 years old, riding as good as ever in the TDF.

Likewise Giorgio Chiellini (36) and Leonardo Bonucci (34), both played brilliantly for Italy in the Euro's.

This idea that modern sportsmen & women are done when they reach 30 is a thing of the past with modern technology that allows people to compete at the highest level for a few more years.

[Shaggy]

The question you have to ask is why are we so poor at recruiting? We’ve been in much worse positions before under the likes of Cotterill and Coyle and still managed some pretty good recruitment.