Running through the team, most have "come on" this season, especially Nick Pope, Matt Lowton, Kevin Long, Ashley Westwood and Ashley Barnes, BUT who is MOST improved?

For me, it's Ashley Barnes. He has dropped his theatrical "falling over for nothing" and is concentrating on his job. His pass through for Wood's goal was sublime. Well done Ashley, well done the coaching staff !

Who has Bee? - Bertie

Barnes by a mile for exactly the reasons mentioned above. Well deserved his new contract too

It's Nick Pope, innit

Hard to say how much Pope has come on as we rarely saw him. Barnes has been quite important. He can still frustrate though.

RalphCoatesComb wrote:Ashley Barnes. He has dropped his theatrical "falling over for nothing"!

He still does it, otherwise I agree.

Barnes - a number of posters were being very disrespectful to him earlier in the season. Some said he was just a clogger and a cheat. I wonder if they’ve changed their tune?

James Tarkowski. close the thread now. no brainer

It says a lot about the season we've had, when after 8 posts, there's been 7 different players mentioned.

Probably Gudmundsson for me. Just feel he's settled at this level.

Defour a close second. Has become Dyche fit and is probably one of the first names on the team sheet when fit.

Petrol wrote:He still does it

But, he is more subtle with it these days

IndigoLake wrote:Probably Gudmundsson for me. Just feel he's settled at this level.

Defour a close second. Has become Dyche fit and is probably one of the first names on the team sheet when fit.

I didn't include JBG and Defour because, for me, they were good at this level before this season.

I’d throw JBG into the mix for consideration, but I’m going to go with Lowton. Last season I thought he was an adequate right back, this season I think he has been an absolute necessity

Easy - Barnes.

RalphCoatesComb wrote:I didn't include JBG and Defour because, for me, they were good at this level before this season.

No problem. I didn't include Barnes because he's my favourite player and I already rated him very highly. He's certainly improved, I agree. Just feel that Gudmundsson in particular has really come along well.

IndigoLake wrote:Just feel that Gudmundsson in particular has really come along well.

JBG's delivery for Long's header was spot on. I like him - he has a good temperament.

Why single a single player out? Many of our players raised their game and they all deserve credit.

Barnes for me too.

He's now a very good striker, as opposed to average, who looks like
scoring almost every time he's given the ball near goal.

I think we can safely say Popes better now than he was at Charlton.
Which was his last lengthy spell of first team footie before this season.
Although, of course, thats a few seasons ago.

I must admit when Tom was injured, I thought that is the season gone. He had been incredible but then in comes Pope and the guy is on fire! Two brilliant keepers....exactly what we need next season with the (hopefully) European games as well.

LoveCurryPies wrote:Why single a single player out? Many of our players raised their game and they all deserve credit.

Because it's just what happens. Like player of the season awards that happen at every club at all levels

Were do we start:
1 NicknPope - Outstanding season when Heaton got injured Infeared the worse but Pope hasn’t made an error top class
2 Lawton - he’s got better and better we missed him when he was out
3 WARD - See above
4 Cork - what a steal he has improved over the season and makes the team tick
5 Tarks - as Pope I was sceptical about him and he has prove me so wrong absolutely brilliant
6 Ben Mee - As always solid as a rock and has improved another we miss when he is out
7 Lennon - came in in Jan and has improved our team and fitted in seamlessly
8 Defour - fitter faster better his partnership with Cork was immense
9 Vokesy - been really good when called upon started the season off well and has scored crucial goals
10 Barnes - thought Vokes was unlucky to lose his place in the team but Barnes has sweated blood for us and has scored some brilliant goals, hold up play has improved and his touch is as good as Messi
11 Wood - wasn’t so sure when we signed him but he has linked up well with Barnes in recent games and is our top scorer great signing

Westwood - been brilliant in recent weeks since the loss of Defourbhe improves our possession and works his socks off
Airfield - Another good season but cut short through injury solid and reliable whenever called upon
Long - another dependable deputy who has never let us down when called upon
Bardsley - decent deputy for Lowron when he was out injured

Dyche - absolute class in everything he does we’ve improved year in year out since his appointment

Overall after much deliberation it’s close between Pope and Tarks but will plum for Pope he takes so much pressure off us with his command of his area

UTC

Rammy1968 wrote:Dyche - absolute class in everything he does we’ve improved year in year out since his appointment

Where would we be without him? Superstar !

My missus says JBG.
I haven't confronted her about it yet but I do think she has more than just a liking for our Icelandic star.

I'll go for Barnes.

Dazzler wrote:My missus says JBG. I haven't confronted her about it yet

No need to confront her. You should be chuffed that she obviously has "taste"

And, remember... It's better to have bad taste, than to taste bad

RalphCoatesComb wrote:No need to confront her. You should be chuffed that she obviously has "taste"

And, remember... It's better to have bad taste, than to taste bad

Couldn't agree more

(errrmmmm)

Nick Pope.

3rd choice end of last season to England call up, best stats in the league for an English keeper and amongst the best in Europe at one point this season, that's some improvement.

Barnes has improved but those who don't have an agenda against him could see what he offered to the team generally.

Tarks just shades it over Barnes. England call up clinched it.

I think Matt Lowton has improved season on season since he came here, and has been superb again this campaign.

Unsung hero, a really solid defender.

Tarkowski for me - I had real concerns at the start of the season but he'd proved me wrong in no time and has just got better and better. I put him ahead of Barnes, who now looks an accomplished striker in this league, and Pope. I can't say Pope has improved because I didn't know what level he was at when he first came in. He's been outstanding though, absolutely outstanding.

Pope just

Sidney1st wrote:Those who don't have an agenda against him could see what he offered to the team generally.

For a few seasons he has offered far less than he has given this term.

No "agenda" from me and, I am the first to eat humble pie re Ashley Barnes.

WELL DONE ASH !

Could easily be Barnes, but i'm going for Matt Lowton. I was ready to have a look at Bardsley, but when he got in, we missed Matt loads.

I spoke to a Chelsea supporting mate of mine a few months back when they were apparently thinking of making a bid for Barnes. At the time he was shaking his head about the whole idea?
I spoke to him again yesterday and all he wanted to talk about was what a good player he was and how we’ll struggle keeping hold of him this summer. He actually wants Chelsea to go after him.

I think we all thought Tarks would be a good player, and could realistically make the step up. But his levels have exceed all expectations.
With Pope, I don’t think we honestly had a clue, even SD, bringing in additional backup.
Long has come from being someone that had just been at the club for years. To being an excellent defender. His improvement has been incredible. On the last couple of performances, if he’d been playing for someone else, Id have said we should be in for him.
So in answer to the question – most improved for me is Long.
I don’t think he’s at the level of other players in our squad, but I think he’s come from nowhere to being a Premier League defender.

Never been a fan of his, so have to say Kevin Long.
Going into the season with just Mee and Tarks (+Long) appeared to me and others to be a ridiculous risk, but Kevin has proved himself to be a more than capable deputy for either of the two others.
I hold my hand up , admit I was wrong and salute him for his progress.

Chris Wood. To score so many goals as he has after starting his Burnley career as a goalkeeper 20 years ago just shows that the man is full of talent.

Imploding Turtle wrote:Chris Wood. To score so many goals as he has after starting his Burnley career as a goalkeeper 20 years ago just shows that the man is full of talent.

Jon Walters for me. Looked awful in his handful of appearances early doors but being out injured all season has turned him to a superstar who probably would have propelled us into the top 4 had he been injury free

Long had his contract renewed and he's earned it.it must be hard biting your lip while others earn the plaudits that was a cracking header yesterday! Barnes though bided his time also as sub....and has stepped up to the plate.

Rammy1968 wrote:Were do we start:
1 Nick Pope - Outstanding season when Heaton got injured Infeared the worse but Pope hasn’t made an error top class
2 Lowton - he’s got better and better we missed him when he was out
3 WARD - See above
4 Cork - what a steal he has improved over the season and makes the team tick
5 Tarks - as Pope I was sceptical about him and he has prove me so wrong absolutely brilliant
6 Ben Mee - As always solid as a rock and has improved another we miss when he is out
7 Lennon - came in in Jan and has improved our team and fitted in seamlessly
8 Defour - fitter faster better his partnership with Cork was immense
9 Vokesy - been really good when called upon started the season off well and has scored crucial goals
10 Barnes - thought Vokes was unlucky to lose his place in the team but Barnes has sweated blood for us and has scored some brilliant goals, hold up play has improved and his touch is as good as Messi
11 Wood - wasn’t so sure when we signed him but he has linked up well with Barnes in recent games and is our top scorer great signing

Westwood - been brilliant in recent weeks since the loss of Defour, he improves our possession and works his socks off
Arfield - Another good season but cut short through injury solid and reliable whenever called upon
Long - another dependable deputy who has never let us down when called upon
Bardsley - decent deputy for Lowton when he was out injured

Dyche - absolute class in everything he does we’ve improved year in year out since his appointment

Overall after much deliberation it’s close between Pope and Tarks but will plum for Pope he takes so much pressure off us with his command of his area

UTC

Great analysis of almost all the team. We can add:

12 Charles Taylor - a little tentative when he started, but proved he is a Premier League player before Steven Ward was ready to return.
13 Robbie Brady - he was our star player before he got injured, and a star among so many stars.

For me the "most improved" has to be Nick Pope. May 2016 we were watching him at The Valley, in goal for a relegated Charlton (though I thought he showed promise). Sept-2017 Nick made his Premier League debut when he came on for the injured Tom Heaton and made his first start against L'pool the following week. In March-2018 he was called up for the first time to the England squad. Of course, Nick has still to get his first England cap. Objectively, Nick Pope is the most improved of all of Burnley's great team.

Hard to identify a player who hasn't improved, if there is one it is Tom Heaton, but only because he was so great last season - and has been out injured most of this. Our other England international goalkeeper.

UTC

Sep 2017 - Ashley Barnes - Why no call up?

Devils_Advocate wrote:Cos he's crap and his dirty cheating wrestling style of football would offer nothing at international level

Could be any of 7 . My list, in order includes

Pope
Tarks
Barnes
De Four
Lawton
JBG
Long

Still stand by that as thats what he was. He's was great sub to have at the start of the season no doubt but last few months he has come on leaps and bounds and looked a good player from the start.It is definitely no coincidence he looks a lot better play when he stops trying to win free kicks and channels his efforts on winning the ball instead.

He's had a real purple patch of late but id be disappointed if he's in our best starting 11 next season and if he plays international football for Austria I still think he will look like a fish out of water and look out of his depth at that level

Devils_Advocate wrote:Still stand by that as thats what he was. He's was great sub to have at the start of the season no doubt but last few months he has come on leaps and bounds and looked a good player from the start.It is definitely no coincidence he looks a lot better play when he stops trying to win free kicks and channels his efforts on winning the ball instead.

He's had a real purple patch of late but id be disappointed if he's in our best starting 11 next season and if he plays international football for Austria I still think he will look like a fish out of water and look out of his depth at that level

So you’re standing by your comment that he’s crap?

And how is playing for Austria a different level than where he’s now playing?

RalphCoatesComb wrote: For me, it's Ashley Barnes. He has dropped his theatrical "falling over for nothing" and is concentrating on his job.

He's never fallen over for nothing.

It's always been to try and get a free kick, usually when we are barely getting a kick in the final third.

And it has worked far more than some people on here would care to admit.

Rileybobs wrote:So you’re standing by your comment that he’s crap?

And how is playing for Austria a different level than where he’s now playing?

Calling him crap was an exageration probably to prod at the precious sorts on here but I standby my thoughts that back in Sept whenever we used him for more than the last 15-20 mins to bully teams and get stuck in to hold on to a result or chase a goal then he looked well short and spent most of the game wrestling the opposition and throwing himself to the ground to try and con the ref.

When he's started as the lone striker he's always looked weak to me and even on this good run he has only looked good when either Wood has started with him or been brought on like against West Ham and Everton.

Playing international football is completely different to playing in the English Premier League. The game here is much quicker, more physical and goes back to front quicker with possession swapping constantly

At international level its far slower and relies on players who can hold on to the ball and keep position patiently as when you give it away you dont get it given back so cheaply. Also his rough style would get him nowhere in most international games.

Anyhow thats my opinion but I have been pleasantly impressed with his play over the last two months but hope we are back to 4-5-1 playing the quality football we played early on on the season or we have more quality alongside Wood in a 4-4-2 next season which means Barnes back to being a super sub for me

Definitely can't say Pope as we'd never seen him.

Tarkowski for me.

We're Burnley FC and they're all ******* mega

Pope unknown now 9 An amazing find. If people aren't head hunting Billy Mercer there is something wrong with the world
Heaton was 9 now 9 shame about the shoulder, especially re England, but without it we wouldn't have known about Pope
Lowton was 7 now 8 improved a lot this season, particularly going forward
Bardsley unknown now 6 has played his part this season, apart from the pen at Newcastle he hasn't let us down
Tarks was 7 now 8 not really improved as he didn't get the game time, but proving that he is all we hoped he would be
Mee was 9 now 9 not improved, but then he didn't need to. His long ball could improve but exceptional defender
Long was 6 now 7 the more game time he gets, the better he looks, so the 6 might seem harsh, but I doubt he has any doubters left now
Ward was 9 now 9 ever reliable
Taylor unknown now 7 had some very good games for us, but not challenging Ward yet. Would have liked to see more of his attacking game
Cork unknown now 8 fantastic player, but has a tendency to have games where he gets caught in possession too often, or turns into trouble
Defour was 8 now 9 once fit he was immense, such a shame about the surgery, but if it gets him back fit for next season it's worth it
Westwood was 6 now 7 didn't get a lot of game time, but hasn't let us down this season at all.
Hendrick was 7 now 7 feel sorry for Jeff, he hasn't been bad, just asked to play a different game that's left him exposed to criticism
Brady was 7 now 9 isn't it bloody typical that he plays his best football just before he gets knobbled, can't wait to see him back and fit
JBG was 7 now 8 showing the promise that we had glimpses of last season, a wicked shot on him, I wish he tried it more often
Lennon unknown now 7 he's doing fine, and I think he'll get better as the team grows
GKN unknown now 6 still learning the game, lots of talent, just needs to channel it into a team game plan. He could be great one day
Vokes was 8 now 8 never lets us down but game time has been hampered
Barnes was 7 now 9 I always loved Ash as he always gives everything, has grown into a real weapon this season and added the goals too
Wood unknown now 8 shown that we have a real bargain and a premiership striker, expect him to be even stronger next season

SD was 10 now pick a number

Bin Ont Turf wrote:And it has worked far more than some people on here would care to admit.

It's not what I want to pay my money to see... If I did then I'd go and watch Dele Alli at Wembley !

All of them, simply because Sean Dyche and his team are training and coaching them.