How will we look back at this window in two years time?

[ablueclaret]

As the making of a Premier League outfit.
As a failure to address significant gaps in our armoury
As the moment when we lost control of our costs
As the moment when the squad grew too big for unity
As the apotheosis of SD's endeavour
As the most significant January window we have had ?

[Steve1956]

We will all be two years older and wiser,I suppose we will be expecting to spend 30 million on a player....wow.

[Sidney1st]

Could you elaborate on points 2-4.
I'd be interested to see your reasonings for them.

[Corky]

Perhaps with less myopia than your goodself abc.

[IWOODLOVETT]

The lack of question marks (apart from the last line and the thread title) make me think that you are stating your own opinion. Back to your old negativity ablue (question mark).

[ablueclaret]

I thought we would have been looking to bring in a centre-half and striker to ensure a smooth transition come the summer and to ensure no problems later on in the season.
We are beginning to see a number of injuries which is always likely given the way we play although SD'smethods have as yet not resulted in many players being side-lined.
This side relies on its solid defence and will struggle if a couple of injuries emerge, although of course the purchase of Brady is designed to alleviate issues on the left.
Of course nobody knows the true cost of these players to the club but we are paying over the odds and beginning to bank up a much larger wage bill over several years, with our almost total dependence on Sky money and maintenance of Premier a League status we are heading into unknown territory.
Finally we have no idea how much these lads are being paid but whatever it is those who are here deserve more, just how these issues will play out within the squad we will wait to see but Premier League squads with high earners tend to become less stable.
Decent signings who should do a fine SD type of job and hopefully Brady will start providing the final ball but for me at this stage not quite so magical as some would have it. As they say it's easy to spend money it's keeping it within bounds which is harder.

[Steve1956]

I thought we would have been looking to bring in a centre-half and striker to ensure a smooth transition come the summer and to ensure no problems later on in the season.
We are beginning to see a number of injuries which is always likely given the way we play although SD'smethods have as yet not resulted in many players being side-lined.
This side relies on its solid defence and will struggle if a couple of injuries emerge, although of course the purchase of Brady is designed to alleviate issues on the left.
Of course nobody knows the true cost of these players to the club but we are paying over the odds and beginning to bank up a much larger wage bill over several years, with our almost total dependence on Sky money and maintenance of Premier a League status we are heading into unknown territory.
Finally we have no idea how much these lads are being paid but whatever it is those who are here deserve more, just how these issues will play out within the squad we will wait to see but Premier League squads with high earners tend to become less stable.
Decent signings who should do a fine SD type of job and hopefully Brady will start providing the final ball but for me at this stage not quite so magical as some would have it. As they say it's easy to spend money it's keeping it within bounds which is harder.

How about living for the moment and enjoying where we are I'm sure we are not living beyond our means, Negativity Negativity

[ablueclaret]

I guess that's what Gordon Brown said too.

[Lord Beamish]

In fairness, Ablue's alter ego, Wile E Coyote, is all sunshine this morning.

[Falcon]

I would be amazed any Burnley player doesn't have a relegation pay cut clause in their contract nowadays.

[Sidney1st]

I thought we would have been looking to bring in a centre-half and striker to ensure a smooth transition come the summer and to ensure no problems later on in the season.
We are beginning to see a number of injuries which is always likely given the way we play although SD'smethods have as yet not resulted in many players being side-lined.
This side relies on its solid defence and will struggle if a couple of injuries emerge, although of course the purchase of Brady is designed to alleviate issues on the left.
Of course nobody knows the true cost of these players to the club but we are paying over the odds and beginning to bank up a much larger wage bill over several years, with our almost total dependence on Sky money and maintenance of Premier a League status we are heading into unknown territory.
Finally we have no idea how much these lads are being paid but whatever it is those who are here deserve more, just how these issues will play out within the squad we will wait to see but Premier League squads with high earners tend to become less stable.
Decent signings who should do a fine SD type of job and hopefully Brady will start providing the final ball but for me at this stage not quite so magical as some would have it. As they say it's easy to spend money it's keeping it within bounds which is harder.

Striker - We've got 3 who've all shown they can score goals, but the issue was service.
CB - We've got 3 very good ones, but I suspect a replacement is being sought for the summer when prices are more reasonable.
Injuries - they happen, but we've got cover and done well despite the ones we've had so far.
Paying over the odds - £2.5 - 5 million for a CM from Villa who's played 120 PL games is a bargain and he's only 26.
Brady - 25 yrs old and a versitile player who was much sought after, so we've paid the going rate.
Defour - haven't overpaid for him.
Hendricks - improving as we go along by all accounts and has looked very good.

Your point about Sky money is valid, BUT we've money in the bank, we've almost certainly got clauses in contracts re relegation, zero debts and infrastructure has been improved (this was crucial).

Players and their agents will sort their wages out, but Garlick has a growing reputation for not giving in to silly wage demands.

Dyche places great importance on the squad being unified so I wouldn't worry about it too much.

[dibraidio]

This window:
Players in - Barton, Brady and Westwood
players out - Lafferty, Jukes permanent and O'Neill and Kightly on loan.
How is that increasing our squad? How would adding a striker and a defender help prevent our squad becoming "too big for unity".

All the time you complain that the youngsters don't get a chance and when Agyei is retained as our fourth striker you complain that it's a "significant gap" in our squad!

We all knew that we needed strengthening in the middle of the park and Barton replaced David Jones whilst Westwood replaces the injured Marney. Swapping Kightly for Brady means we've not changed our squad size but what we have done is increase the number of players who can cut it at this level by 3.

If we had met Snodgrass' wage demands then I could understand you being concerned about our finances but we didn't, I have every faith in our board to safegaurd the future of this club.

[Inchy]

Bringing in players to help with a smooth transition in the summer is not worth it.

You end up spending more money for less quality in the Jan window.

IMO we strengthened areas we needed to strengthen. The other areas can wait til summer

[get stuck in tracy]

With reflection.

[Steve1956]

I guess that's what Gordon Brown said too.

I can't recall what did he do?

[RocketLawnChair]

Come back and ask me in two years time. And if you could stay off this message board until then that would be just perfect.

[quoonbeatz]

Of course nobody knows the true cost of these players to the club but we are paying over the odds...
Finally we have no idea how much these lads are being paid but whatever it is those who are here deserve more

top reasoning as ever, abc.

[minnieclaret]

A stepping stone to where we will be then.

[boatshed bill]

Exciting, that's all.

[NottsClaret]

I can never remember who we signed in whatever window so I doubt I'll give it much thought.

I'm sure I'll be able to recall all the great matches at the Turf thus far though, just enjoy it for what it is, nothing lasts forever.

[evensteadiereddie]

A pointless post. I don't care where we are in two years but I know if Dychio is still with us it will take something pretty catastrophic to keep us out of the top half half of the table. And that will do me.

[TheFamilyCat]

I'll be gently rocking in my armchair and dribbling while I wonder where we might be had Renny Smith not been sold.

It will definitely be abluemonday

[Man of Kent]

...with smug, self-satisfied pride at a job well done by a brilliant manager and a highly competent board and a realisation that it was another fine step on the road to building our club and team into top six Premier League contenders, I expect (and hope).

[brigante]

Given the players we've managed to retain and our strengthening of the squad, potentially the best transfer window in a generation.

[DCWat]

Aside from Barton, our signings in the previous two windows have bee ones that improve the squad right now and offer a good chance of more than recouping the outlay. That's a positive.

The wage bill will of course have gone up but so has the income and we have to have faith in a board that has been both astute and careful with finances - posting significant profits whilst improving the squad and facilities. That's a positive.

Would I have liked another winger, another striker and a pair of full backs. Yes but do I think we have spent wisely and given ourselves an even better chance of staying up. Yes! Another positive.

It was a very good window with some good additions to boost an ever improving squad.

Nothing to see here other than an exciting run into the season and hopefully more progress in the summer and next season.

[Cirrus_Minor]

Hopefully as a timely reminder to increase the contracts due to their successful careers as Burnley players.

[ablueclaret]

Some of you may be thinking a little differently come September, the world of football doesn't stop spinning.

[Sidney1st]

Will we?
Potentially the start of another season in the PL....
Probably another good transfer period...

Nah.

[DCWat]

And why is that? It's alright throwin in a comment but at least provide some reasoning for it.

[Juan Tanamera]

.....I may have purchased a drone, which will much more satisfying than the one that dronezzzzzz on and on, on this message board.

[LoveCurryPies]

ABlueClaret, you criticise the Club no matter what they do!

Seriously, give it a rest.

[cricketfieldclarets]

We have signed players that we need both now and next season in Brady and Westwood. With Barton he is what we need short term but evidence thus far suggests he will be with us next year too.

We have made significant profit in the last few years. Our dealings this year have probably just about eaten into our 'balance'. 77

We have guaranteed money to come from Sky. Unless they do an ITV Digital. In which case we would still be the best prepared of most clubs should that go tits up.

We have offloaded the wages and recouped fees in some cases for Juke, Kightly, Lafferty, Long and Bamford. Collectively their wages and fees will pay for our three signings wages.

We realistically need three wins to stay up. If we do that we have guaranteed another £200m! 25% of that would suffice to strengthen and push on next year.

It is likely that our team next season will start at worse:

Heaton
Lowton Tarkowski Mee Ward
JBG Hendrick Westwood Brady
Barnes Vokes

And potentially lose:

Barton, Gray, Keane, Defour, Boyd.

Our signings have meant we are already well prepared for this and would probably only need to heavily invest in a striker and centre midfielder. Cheaper backup required across the back line and on the wings. Fees we are fairly likely to receive for Keane and if they left Defour and Gray would mean we would be able to bank the bulk of our sky money again. If we dont lose them even better!

A striker aside (which gives Agyei a chance anyway) it has been our best January window I can remember since it was introduced.

[KRBFC]

This season as a whole has been the most ambitious Burnley I have seen, we mean business at this level finally, no more appointing Brian Laws and waving the white flag midway through a season and no more signing a bunch of crap like Sordell Reid Juke and Taylor on the cheap.

[Vegas Claret]

the month someone lost the key to the dry powder room and left the door open

[dsr]

I thought we would have been looking to bring in a centre-half and striker to ensure a smooth transition come the summer and to ensure no problems later on in the season.

Approximately 5 times a week you post complaints that Tarkowski is not in the side and we desperately need him. And now you say we need another centre half to ensure a smmoth transition in summer. Does that mean you think Tarkowski's no good?

[Enola Gay]

Depends where we are in two year's time.

I'll refer you to Zhou Enlai's (admittedly probably misinterpreted) 1970s commentary on the impact of the French Revolution...

[Suratclaret]

If the Daily Express is to be believed, I'm not sure we will be able to look back on anything....the moon is on a collision course with Earth , world war three is just around the corner, the worst storm ever is about to hit the UK and so on and so on.

[JohnMac]

Regarding Sky money, if it goes pop everyone is in the same boat.
Assuming we were still sat at the top table I'm sure our financial prudence will ensure the Club does not implode.

[ablueclaret]

Cricketfieldclarets response is a fine one taking in to account the many variables involved, not sure about our present financial position because we always appear to have spent more than people imagine, after all our first promotion was meant to set us up for 10 years but barely lasted one.
CC has put up what I would regard as a rounded view taking into account some negatives which will come along and also positives which have not emerged, however the importance of being awkward, something which annoys my Labour Party friends more than even you on here means that there are significant problems which await us.
Yes Tarka and Mee could form an excellent partnership but what if Mee or he wants to leave,and where is the backup. Yes we probably will have a full complement across midfield but as Marney is unlikely to return at this level we will be short on numbers there, and up front without Gray we'd be a much more meagre force.
But finally as many have said on here it's likely to be Dyche's last year, so unless we can find a manager who fits the squad we'll be in for a very big transition, mind you I've thought he would leave before and he hasn't, but from his perspective it would be better to leave on a high as he continues on his evolution into a great manager.

[BleedingClaret]

As the moment we realised we could give "Long term Premier League survival" a real go, financially, without really risking our long term future as a football club.
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