Bringing it back to Burnley - the bridge between two Premier League seasons

[jdrobbo]

Little more than a week has past since the final day of the 2016/17 Premier League season and already, the top of the messageboard is awash with threads of mainly a non-footballing flavour. Indeed, lighthearted threads about the favourite crisps and whether or not poster like the taste of garlic, appear to be getting as much traffic as the ongoing election campaign. Yes folks, it's the summer, the close season.

My starting point for this thread is Bournemouth. We played there a few weeks ago and I was fortunate to make my trip to this particular ground, so it was a ground tick for me. It was a typical end of season game, yet like on so many other occasions this season, the Cherries didn't impress me, despite being comfortably the better side in the second half. Before the game, we were discussing areas of weakness in our side and in those sides around us. With Bournemouth we all agreed that their midfield has lots of potentital and should they sign Defoe, the should have more than enough to kick on further. After discussing their weak defence, i mentioned that for me, the biggest weakness was their goalkeeper, Boruc. He has never impressed me and I wouldn't be happy if we were ever to sign him. Then this week, news broke of Bournemouth signing Asmir Begovic from Chelsea for a fee of around £10 million. I can't help but think that this signing alone, will be the biggest one they'll make. Clean sheets keep you in the Premier League and I'm confident that Bournemouth now will not leak as many goals in the next campaign. They've done a major piece of business early and in many respects I'd like us to follow suit.

It's a strange time at present - as Burnley fans, we've got used to this end of season anticlimax in recent years, in anticipation of our biggest stars leaving the club. In recent years, we've seen the departures of Danny Ings, Kieran Trippier, Charlie and Jay Rod, to name but a few...we've been sad to see them leave, but there has been an air of innevitability about it. This season is Michael Keane's turn. No one wants him to leave, but 90% of Burnley fans seem to accept that now is the right time for his departure. He's been brilliant for Burnley, but he's destined for bigger things and we now need to cash-in. It's rock and hard place stuff though, as we obviously want as much cash as possible...this means a bidding war and thus, we might not see the Keane saga resolve itself until August!

As with the aforementioned comments above about Bournemouth, I really hope we've got our ship in order, well before the contract for Keane is sorted.It's vital that we start next season with the main spine of our new-look squad and that we're not waiting four or five games to fix key positions.

At our WYClarets meeting the other night, we had a big chat about the loss of Dean Marney and just how much we've missed him since he picked up his latest long lay-off at the Emirates Stadium back in January. Marney is Burnley; he epitomizes the Dyche ethos better than any other player. Sadly though, most in the group didn't think he'd play for Burnley again, that this injury was another serious one and that he just wouldn't recover to the same extent as he had previously. I'd like to think that they were wrong, but following the departure of Joey Barton, it does leave us light in the middle. We discussed how good Hendrick and Westwood have been for us, yet we agreed that we need someone to fill the Marney role - someone that gets us pressing high up the pitch and making things happen. Westwood has really impressed me: he does the simple things brilliantly and despite Villa fans thinking that he only passes sideways, his eye for a pass and ability to keep the ball is exemplary. Regarding the Marney replacement, Aaron Mooy at Huddersfield was the one name that kept coming up. He looks a perfect fit, but following Huddersfield promotion, it wouldn't surprise to see him returning to to the John Smith's Stadium for a second year on loan. This though, remains a position of priority.

Then there's George Boyd and Scott Arfield. This pair have been truly terrific for Burnley and generally we all agreed that upgrades are important here. There's no place for sentimentality, although it was striking as to just how much we missed Boyd's energy in midfield in the recent game against West Ham. Or is this perhaps something we can put down to end-of-seasonitis? For me, if we are to move forward, then we need to free up spaces in the squad where better players are going to come in and improve us regularly, whilst, and this is the important bit, maintaining the core nucleus of what Dyche's Burnley are about. In Tom Heaton, Ben Mee, Dean Marney and Ashley Barnes we still have that original core and keeping these players, especially our captain and Ben Mee is absolutely pivotal!

I don't believe in going all-out to address a single position, despite what I said up top about Bournemouth - if you're after improving three or four positions and a player comes available that might improve you (even if it is the smallest priority), then you should put your efforts into securing that player. However, I do think that Bournemouth have got a cracking piece of business done early and for us, ahead of our next season in the Premier League, I think it'd put our minds at rest, should we secure a key signing in a needed position, sooner rather than later.

Let the close season continue and in the meantime, here's to many more favourite crisps, favourite actor and favourite PA System threads!

Up The Clarets and wherever you're heading this summer, have a good break!

J

[BurnleyPaul]

I think that the lack of international tournaments this summer will help ensure that transfers start happening sooner rather than later....

That Man City are already into the swig of tings will only help start the "trickle down" effect that we need in order to free up our targets....whoever the hell they are!

#InDycheWeTrust

[Sidney1st]

Good post that jd.

We've been fortunate this season that losing Marney wasn't as catastrophic as last time, because we've had better covering options.

I think next season Dyche will need to evolve the teams style and replacing the likes of Boyd and Arfield may be key to this.
It wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if they stayed, but you'd be able to predict how we will be playing next season.

I think we need to try and lure away young players from the big clubs where possible, not on loan though because I think we may have shot ourselves in the foot now with that avenue for this summer.
We are fortunate that we can use the steps up by Trippier, Ings and soon to be Keane as examples of what we can provide as a stepping stone club.

[ElectroClaret]

"Yes folks, it's the summer, the close season."

And I'm bored already. And not even an international tournament to lighten the gloom)
Still, could be worse.
Could be a Rovers fan

[jdrobbo]

There's always cricket!

[superdimitri]

Nice thread, I do disagree re Bournemouth though, I saw us against them twice this season and they impressed me both times, we were lucky to get a result at home. For me they are a mini Arsenal; you need to have the ability to attack them to get a result.

The aspect I am most concerned about is as you say, we have a history of leaving business late, maybe its to maximise our profits from selling players, but I am fearful that this will be much the same this season. I don't doubt the club will try to get business done early, but usually that is set aside in favor of trying too hard on a single target or getting shafted by transfer teams of other clubs...hey we have even been shafted by a chairmen before...what a joke that is and look at Lansbury now.

We need to sell Keane if he is going to go and sign replacements soon. We are no longer having to worry so much about penny pinching as we have another season engrossed in sky money, it doesn't matter if our deals cost us 20% more of what we might gain doing business late, its still worth getting it done early.

[Spijed]

we were lucky to get a result at home.

I disagree. Palace aside, they were arguably the worse team defensively we've played at home this season and we could have been out of sight by half time. I think it was more to do with our poor defending that day that let them back into the match. But defensively they were no better than the majority of Championship sides.

[jdrobbo]

Strangely, I see merit in both Dino and Spijed's replies. I wasn't that impressed with them at Burnley but they do play excellent football through midfield.

[jdrobbo]

Shane Long in early doors would help here!

[bodge]

Interesting to read on another thread the Guardian's breakdown of finances from the season before last. Bournemouth had the highest wage bill of £60 million, ours would have been less than that last season !

I was pleased in one respect to hear Mike Garlick alluding to the fact that our wage bill will have to rise, in essence that should mean we can beat off competition from Championship clubs for the better players in that division as that will be one of the main sources of our recruitment.

Shane Long would improve us as would Britt Assombalonga. Hopefully there won't be massive turnover as we need to maintain the mentality of the team that has been the bedrock of our recent success.

[Dark Cloud]

I think that the test for SD (and it will be his biggest test to date imo) is to upgrade the team in some key areas WITHOUT breaking the bank, without paying stupid money and without agreeing to jaw dropping wage demands. He's shown before what an eye he has for a bargain and that that's where his strengths lie. Shelling out £13 million? for Brady for example MAY turn out to be decent business in the long run, but from what we've seen so far most agree that the jury is still out and that £13 million doesn't buy you even a guaranteed starter in the current market. Spotting the likes of Keane, Arfield, JBG, Ward, Barnes, et al has been his forte and we may have just raked in another £100 million, but there will be plenty of vultures circling waiting to pick our pocket in transfer fees and wages. Continue to be shrewd and look for those diamonds which need a bit of polish or who are prepared to work their bits and bobs off just to be part of our team. Not always easy to find, but it's what's got him and the club where we are today.

[Sarum]

Once we'd signed Brady I was probably expecting that SA would drop out of the starting 11 for the remainder of the season, but then how often do new players play to their strengths right from the start? At Palace it seemed as if Scott had been rejuvenated, perhaps the competition is what he needs. Brady will need to up his game next season; if he doesn't, or if he picks up an injury that keeps him out for a while then we'll need Scott Arfield (or a new signing) to step in/step up. I'd be happy to see him stay, but his brother's FB post after the final game of the season suggests that his stay may be at an end.

[Dark Cloud]

Stuart Arfield did seem to signal Scotty's time was up after the last game. And I agree also that at palace Arfield was excellent and I turned to the guy next to me and commented on his rejuvenation.

[jdrobbo]

Indeed Bodge: Assombalonga is the one player I've been championing on here. Would love us to take a punt on him.

[jdrobbo]

Good posts DarkCloud

[DAVETHEVICAR]

Great Post John.
Would love to tie up Boyd especially if Arfield is going to leave
We can't afford to lose too many of the squad in one window.

[jdrobbo]

Right you are Dave,

The inevitable departure of Defour will free up another position too...

[IanMcL]

I still hate Garlic (and those in my proximity who obviously love it!), will miss Defour and possibly Keane (if he goes). However, I think the worst decision is not retaining George Boyd. he knits it all together. Yes let's get some real competition, however, I think Mr Dyche's own job may come unstuck, if our George is allowed to leave. I have not seen another player do what he does.

[jdrobbo]

Interesting point and it's hard to disagree. It's players like Boyd we need, but at the next level and as you say, finding similar players will prove difficult.