Hello. The Totally Football Show with James Richardson included Belgian journalist Kristof Terreur on Monday. He has strong links with the Belgian players in the Premier League and was one of if not the first to break Steven Defour's transfer to Burnley.

So I sent a question into the show and James Richardson put it to him. I was slightly misquoted but Kristof's answer was interesting and kinda a good general example of the progression we're witnessing. So I thought I'd type it up on here.

My question was -

"Any comments on Steven Defour's time at Burnley? Quality was evident last season and now he seems at home with tactics/work ethic etc, he is flourishing. He and Jack Cork are one of the best midfield duos in the country."

Kristof's response was -

"... Defour really likes playing now at Burnley. Last year he was in and out the team. He needed time to adapt to Dyche's way of working.

I know he even sent me some text messages before he joined Burnley saying 'What kind of team is that? I don't know anything about Burnley'. I said, 'I think your neck is going to hurt a lot because of the long balls flying over', jokingly, of course.

He didn't feel comfortable in the playing style last season with Boyd and those kind of guys - the more English style. But Dyche promised him that they would change the style of play, that they would bring in other players, more 'football' players. And that is what they have done and he really likes to play in that team now. They still have that little bit old fashioned English thing in them but he likes to play there. He really loves it.

A few weeks ago he told me 'This is the best dressing room I have ever been in, the atmosphere is brilliant'. Mostly due to the Irish guys I think who have a really close connection. The Irish guys like to do lots of things with the lads. So he really likes it over there.

Last year, he wanted to move away from it. He didn't like it. He didn't like living in Manchester too but now he is very happy over there. And he's fit, he's staying fit, he's not getting injured anymore which was an issue with him before and he will have his place in the World Cup squad too I think - something no-one expected after he moved from Anderlecht to Burnley. Everyone thought, 'Oh it's over for Defour... He's been a talented guy but... Struggling with injuries... Not living for his job...' but he's taken it back to another level this season."

Very interesting comments. It is obvious to us all that he has really settled into life at the Turf this season and it shows on the field where his demeanour is totally different to last season.
I can understand how he felt it difficult to adapt last season, he is not the first overseas player to have difficulty with the PL.
He is a very important cog in our machine and I hope that he continues to give us the goods as he has done so far this season. It is interesting to note that, on occasions when there is a break in play, he is often at the touchline talking to SD and they seem to feed off each other.
Thanks for the post.

Interesting read. Thank you. I really hope he is fit tonight. Not heard anything to say he isn't but he was feeling his hamstring on Saturday late in the game and went down before he was substituted in the last minute. May have been running down the clock! Hope so.

I read nothing into Defour going off on Saturday.

He's a very experienced player who knows all the tricks of the trade. He knew to jump up at Zeegelaar's challenge, and he knew that the game was very close to the end when he simply sat down in the centre circle.

It's classic time-wasting.

His somewhat cameo appearances last season were still a joy to watch.
Now he's taken his game to another level.......
Wonderful player.

He's a great player. Interesting about the Irish. Maybe having so many of them is a strategy.

UpTheBeehole wrote:I read nothing into Defour going off on Saturday.

He's a very experienced player who knows all the tricks of the trade. He knew to jump up at Zeegelaar's challenge, and he knew that the game was very close to the end when he simply sat down in the centre circle.

It's classic time-wasting.

I am clearly more naive and less cynical than you UTB!

Mondsley wrote:Interesting read. Thank you. I really hope he is fit tonight. Not heard anything to say he isn't but he was feeling his hamstring on Saturday late in the game and went down before he was substituted in the last minute. May have been running down the clock! Hope so.

He was probably feigning injury.

Thanks and well done on Q, Pickles.

As mentioned on a previous thread - the best player I've seen in Claret and Blue. The great players of the 1960's and early 70's were before my time, but even so, he is a class act. Him and Cork simply brilliant together.

UTC NNN.

So the players were unhappy with the long ball last year but are now happy at the transformation. I guess I'm not the only one.....

The comments last season on here about him feigning injury were an absolute disgrace and those posters should hang their head in shame.

Useful information; thanks for transcribing all that Pickles.
I guess it it largely confirms, with a bit more meat, what most had deduced.
Hopefully he continues to be injury free and playing well - and gets himself to the World Cup as the bonus. I recall Martinez was at one of our home games (Newcastle?) so obviously he follows the Belgians in the Prem fairly closely and must have picked up how Defour has become so well rated here.

UpTheBeehole wrote:I read nothing into Defour going off on Saturday.

He's a very experienced player who knows all the tricks of the trade. He knew to jump up at Zeegelaar's challenge, and he knew that the game was very close to the end when he simply sat down in the centre circle.

It's classic time-wasting.

If he hadn't jumped off the floor before being hit by Zeegelaar, it would have been season over.

KRBFC wrote:So the players were unhappy with the long ball last year but are now happy at the transformation. I guess I'm not the only one.....

Just Defour according to the OP.

I like that Dyche said to Defour that he wanted to bring in more 'football players' and has done. I hope we can expect more of this is we continue to progress.

Perhaps Dyche's reputation will spread to Europe and attract this talent.

KRBFC wrote:So the players were unhappy with the long ball last year but are now happy at the transformation. I guess I'm not the only one.....

Well Defour has said he didn’t enjoy it, we’ve heard nothing from the rest of the team.

You are correct KRBFC just as you should hang your own head in shame for your oft-expressed lunatic desire to see SD leave.

Many on here said that Dyche would evolve the style as his success increased his transfer pot and players developed on the training pitch - there were a number of very vocal dissenters to that idea swearing blind that he only could do it one way and got lucky with what he had inherited (Always a tosh argument if you had watched him through his reign here)

I so Defour holding his thigh towards the end of the game and i thought it was a case of cramp as he seemed to lock up and go down
Hope so anyhow can't afford to lose him just now UTC

Tall Paul wrote:He was probably feigning injury.

Brilliant post TP, the Defour doubters are conspicuous by their absence this season

ten bellies wrote:If he hadn't jumped off the floor before being hit by Zeegelaar, it would have been season over.

So he dived then?
It absolutely wouldn't have ended his season either, there was no force at all behind the challenge when he got near Defour. Zeegelaar jumped to the ground with two feet forward on the floor then almost kicked his feet towards Defour.

Thats even worse than what Marco Silva said, and everyone thinks he's completely wrong.

KRBFC wrote:So he dived then?
It absolutely wouldn't have ended his season either, there was no force at all behind the challenge when he got near Defour. Zeegelaar jumped to the ground with two feet forward on the floor then almost kicked his feet towards Defour.

You really are a clueless baffoon.

What a f'in idiot this guy is
Always an undercurrent of negativity and after everything he has said criticising Dyche he now has the arrogance to post a "told you so" comment !!
We could all dig out 1000 posts you have made which would make you look the idiot you are - but we do not need to as you are just the pric-k who keeps giving

I think he struggled after that big block tackle he did near the end, part of me thought don't go in for it.

Probably the best all round footballer I've ever seen in a Burnley shirt. He's a Rolls Royce of a midfielder and we're very lucky to have him currently. He'd walk into any other team outside the top 6 in my opinion. He'd be far more use to Chelsea than Drinkwater as well!!

KRBFC wrote:So he dived then?

So trying to get out of the way of an obviously reckless challenge is a dive in your strange world?

JFW.

Chester Perry wrote:Many on here said that Dyche would evolve the style as his success increased his transfer pot and players developed on the training pitch - there were a number of very vocal dissenters to that idea swearing blind that he only could do it one way and got lucky with what he had inherited (Always a tosh argument if you had watched him through his reign here)

At one point it was one of the most common themes about Dyche and his style of football.

It was clear to most people that an evolution of style would require time and money, but some people wanted it immediately and weren't willing to wait.
All this despite similar happening at other clubs over the years

We've got Defour

I love him

Great player. Well done to both him and Dyche for having faith in each other and working through their differences in a very adult way.

Excellent post, well done.

I think it's what most of us thought/hoped for.

Shows the players love the Burnley / Dyche way and what the dressing room camaraderie is all about.

KRBFC , I post some sh1t at times but mainly mine are to provoke reactions. You just post sh1t all the time and believer . Incredible

Best post of the year for me. Great to hear Defour is happy both on and off the pitch. Absolute class player. I also never tire of hearing what a great atmosphere has been created at Burnley. You can really tell this set of lads are prepared to scrap for each other, the manager and the fans.

Thanks for sharing Pickles

ElectroClaret wrote:So trying to get out of the way of an obviously reckless challenge is a dive in your strange world?

JFW.

No it was a tongue in cheek comment with all the talk of diving in the game atm.

Great performance again tonight I thought

He was Sublime again.

I'm not buying it. Time to move him in the transfer window.

Steven Defour is simply world class and the best footballer ever to wear our proud colours.

Now KBRFC - quite simply a clown - or which ever user name she is using tonight.

Absolutely fabulous free kick!

This man is amazing.

Today is Defour day.

He is really flourishing now from the confidence given to him by the gaffer and the support of the fans.

Tremendous to see him doing it in a claret shirt

You've got to be bloody good to beat de Gea from a free-kick when he knows where the ball's heading. Sublime free-kick.

First goal De Gea has conceded from outside the area

Was he perhaps taken off a little prematurely today?

I got his autograph on Saturday and told him he is the Belgium Wizard . For me he is the best midfielder we have ever had since I've been watching ( 1976 ) the only one who come's any where near is Trevor Steven .

Kindon,Steven, little and Defour all class but two stand out at world class
In Steven and Defour since I have been watching.
Now if I had to pick one from the two it would certainly Defour.