http://sportwitness.co.uk/player-lookin ... xt-season/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Think this one would be another deal like the Vokes one where it works out for both parties. He gets a nice fat contract in a far flung country and we get a sicknote off the wage bill for (hopefully) a younger version and you'd have thought there would be some sort of fee involved with him having a year left.

A fit Defour is brilliant but we just haven't seen it very often.

Think this same link came up on here a few days ago. Not sure there is anything in it.

A fit Defour is brilliant but we just haven't seen it very often.

Sad but true.

ClaretTony wrote:Think this same link came up on here a few days ago. Not sure there is anything in it.

Yeah just seen is discussed on the transfer rumour thread. Feel free to delete it duplicate

Keeping fit/injury-free for a full season would be a new challenge for him

Didn’t we go through this last summer?

bfcjg wrote:A fit Defour is brilliant but we just haven't seen it very often.

Sad but true.

At different Levels I know....But he puts me in Mind of Aidie Randall both very Talented footballers......But they don't/ didn't realise it.a great shame Really.

http://www.uptheclarets.com/messageboar ... r#p1017678" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

wilks_bfc wrote:Keeping fit/injury-free for a full season would be a new challenge for him

One that he has failed to rise to in any of his previous 14 seasons as a professional footballer. Averages 24 games per season, which since he joined Burnley has reduced to an average of 17 games per season. Given that he rarely lasts more than 60 minutes per game, that averages at just over 11 complete matches per season.

As he is approaching the twilight years of his career, where injuries typically are more frequent and have a longer recovery period, anyone pinning their hopes on a "fully fit Defour" for the forthcoming season are going to be disappointed. Be lucky to see the equivalent of 10 games from him - 900 minutes or 15 hours of football in a season. For the princely sum of £2m per season. That works out at £133k for each hour that he is on the pitch. A hugely expensive liability that we will never see a return from and one that we should be looking to offload at the earliest opportunity.

I get that he is a very good player on his day - Bryan Robson was as good a midfielder as I can remember when I was growing up, however I wouldn't want to pin my hopes on him doing a job for Burnley next season....

Massive shame this, can’t believe there are still “football” fans out there who can’t/won’t see D4’s ability.

Easily the most gifted player I’ve seen, despite injuries.

He will never fit into this team under Dyche. He needs to be in a team that dominates possession not one that hoofs it from defence to attack and forgets the midfield.

Theres a reason Sir Alex wanted to sign him for Man United and it certainly wasn't tracking back with your man all game.

He's a luxury player and simply one we can't afford to accommodate in a team that needs 100% work rate from every player.

It's little wonder people can't see his ability when he's never out on the pitch. You can't see something that's not there.

Seriously though, offloading him to China should be one of our main priorities this summer. I've loved watching him play for us when he's got himself on the pitch, and the purple patch of autumn 2017 was largely down to his influence, but we need to make room for someone who's going to properly contribute. That will be someone with less raw ability than Defour, but someone who can actually play some games for us.

Maybe it’s just me but I would like him to commit to us for the season he has been well treated by the club and well paid for not really doing a lot imo

the fact is that Defour has had more individual injuries than outstanding games for Burnley.

I think his challenge should be to get fit and play for Burnley. Not look for an easy way out, which is what this article suggests.

Herts Clarets wrote:Given that he rarely lasts more than 60 minutes per game, that averages at just over 11 complete matches per season.

I know last season was a wash out but that statement doesn’t fit with the 2017/18. He started 24 games, was substituted in only half of them and mostly late in games because he averaged over 84 minutes per game.

I'm not on board with the 'we should look to get rid' opinion. We desperately need his quality on the ball and with the noises coming from the club recently I can't see this quality coming from the transfer market. There's no way we'd be able to get somebody with his level of ability so we should be looking to assess where he's at fitness wise. Of course it's a gamble with his recent history, but he's good enough that it's one worth taking imo. I have a feeling Dyche will think the same, though who knows.

JimMcDonald wrote:He will never fit into this team under Dyche. He needs to be in a team that dominates possession not one that hoofs it from defence to attack and forgets the midfield.

Theres a reason Sir Alex wanted to sign him for Man United and it certainly wasn't tracking back with your man all game.

He's a luxury player and simply one we can't afford to accommodate in a team that needs 100% work rate from every player.

Did you miss the first half of last season?

He'll want to get into Belgium's squad for the Euros next summer. I wouldn't be surprised to see him committing to getting as fit as he did in the 2017 pre-season.

I think he retired from international duty last year.

TheFamilyCat wrote:Did you miss the first half of last season?

Defour missed the vast majority of it......

Based on this, I'm dreading the comments when someone like Brady is about to move on...

Herts Clarets wrote:Defour missed the vast majority of it......

I was referring to 2017/18.

TheFamilyCat wrote:I was referring to 2017/18.

It just reinforces the point I make about Defour, that we have to go back almost 2 years to recall when he last made a telling contribution to the club.

Herts Clarets wrote:It just reinforces the point I make about Defour, that we have to go back almost 2 years to recall when he last made a telling contribution to the club.

I don’t disagree with that. I was replying to the claim that he will never fit into a Dyche team. That half season was the best we’d had for around half a century and Defour was very much a part of that.

Robbie Brady averages 18 games per season for us. 45 appearances and 2 goals in 2.5 seasons. Another one who is a hugely expensive luxury with very little in return. This guy returns from a long term lay off and in his first game back comes on as sub, gets himself sent off and a 3 game ban for a ridiculous challenge at Huddersfield and then fails to complete 90 minutes to the end of the season.

He was our best player when fit in the 17/18 season. By far our most technically gifted player and it was no surprise that our results and performances suffered once he got injured.

Herts Clarets wrote:Robbie Brady averages 18 games per season for us. 45 appearances and 2 goals in 2.5 seasons. Another one who is a hugely expensive luxury with very little in return. This guy returns from a long term lay off and in his first game back comes on as sub, gets himself sent off and a 3 game ban for a ridiculous challenge at Huddersfield and then fails to complete 90 minutes to the end of the season.

1 Wasn’t his first game back
2 With most refs would have been a yellow

I know you don’t like Dyche but what on earth can players do when they get long term injuries? As for Brady, haven’t you worked it out that McNeil’s form is the reason for his lack of game time?

ClaretTony wrote:1 Wasn’t his first game back
2 With most refs would have been a yellow

I know you don’t like Dyche but what on earth can players do when they get long term injuries? As for Brady, haven’t you worked it out that McNeil’s form is the reason for his lack of game time?

Completely wrong. Dyche is the best manager we have ever had in my time as a Burnley fan. I know there hasn't been that much competition but my point still stands. What I object to is the constant griping every transfer window that we can't compete with club X,Y or Z due to financial limitations yet we haemorrhage millions of pounds out of the club in wages every year for players that Stan's blind man on his galloping horse could tell you wouldn't have done a job.

Defour's record speaks for itself.
Brady has averaged 24 games per season throughout his career.
You have recently commented on the lack of fitness of Andy Carroll throughout his career, using the limited number of appearances to back up that point. You would seriously question any club that signed him with a view to him making much of a contribution. I am making the same point with Defour and Brady. Both their career stats, though not as bad as AC, point to players prone to not playing too many games per season due to injuries. We should not be surprised when this pattern continues when they join our club.

He's a luxury we don't need on the bench or treatment table
He and his agent have been putting out sound bites about moving to China or the Middle East for a couple of years now
Why we took up the option of another year is beyond me

When there are no loses to moan about seems a natural move to change it to moaning about players

Defour is class, even if he only plays 10 games & we win half of them say, that's 15 points that his wage is worth imo. He's an incredible talent.

Herts Clarets wrote:Completely wrong. Dyche is the best manager we have ever had in my time as a Burnley fan. I know there hasn't been that much competition but my point still stands. What I object to is the constant griping every transfer window that we can't compete with club X,Y or Z due to financial limitations yet we haemorrhage millions of pounds out of the club in wages every year for players that Stan's blind man on his galloping horse could tell you wouldn't have done a job.

Defour's record speaks for itself.
Brady has averaged 24 games per season throughout his career.
You have recently commented on the lack of fitness of Andy Carroll throughout his career, using the limited number of appearances to back up that point. You would seriously question any club that signed him with a view to him making much of a contribution. I am making the same point with Defour and Brady. Both their career stats, though not as bad as AC, point to players prone to not playing too many games per season due to injuries. We should not be surprised when this pattern continues when they join our club.

In the 2 seasons before joining us he made 29 & 32 league appearances for Anderlecht in a 16 team division.

What’s the challenge. Getting out of bed without breaking his nose?

CoolClaret wrote:Defour is class, even if he only plays 10 games & we win half of them say, that's 15 points that his wage is worth imo. He's an incredible talent.

His 6 Premier League appearances last season garnered 1 point......

Herts Clarets wrote:His 6 Premier League appearances last season garnered 1 point......

It is starting to look like he turned you down for a photo or autograph

You can’t play 32 league games in a 16 team division.

Darnhill Claret wrote:You can’t play 32 league games in a 16 team division.

You can when they have play offs after the last round of games

What's the latest on his injury? Is there any hope of him getting a pre season under his belt?

Best technical player I've seen at Burnley but what is the point of keeping him on an expensive deal when he cant stay fit?

CoolClaret wrote:Defour is class, even if he only plays 10 games & we win half of them say, that's 15 points that his wage is worth imo. He's an incredible talent.

So that's 15 points X 11 players who play = 165 points in 10 games. We'll walk the league that season.

Just get rid I’m sick and tired of hearing about him now.

From his POV the time has probably come to go and make some real money in the game. He came to Burnley to play in the Premier League, he has done that, and has contributed to us landing a spot in the European qualifiers. I don't begrudge him wanting to leave, the sport probably feels more like a job now with the constant injury frustrations.

From our POV, we should only be looking to shift him this summer if we are prepared to bring in some real quality to replace him. Ie not some nothing workhorse like Jonathon Hogg or something.

Perhaps he should meet up with Bear Grylls?

ClaretTony wrote:I know last season was a wash out but that statement doesn’t fit with the 2017/18. He started 24 games, was substituted in only half of them and mostly late in games because he averaged over 84 minutes per game.

Not bad at all that. Seems some won’t let the truth get in the way of making a point. Some rate him massively, (me) some don’t, (herts to name but one).

Technically superior to anyone I’ve ever seen play for us.

He was always a“ high quality” big gamble and bearing in mind he was mediocre in first season , decent for 3 months? maybe in 2017/2018 injured then nothing but a poor start to last season and more injury .Only remember him scoring against Accy ( I think) and the great Man Utd free kick ,sure he scored others though . I’d say we’ve just about “ broken even” on him . I’ve reasonably enjoyed watching what was essentially a cameo , albeit a bloody long strained one .

Any such future high end players will also be relatively expensive gambles as that’s the store we shop in and it is what it is .

Hi wilks

"Keeping fit/injury-free for a full season would be a new challenge for him"

That reads to me like he doesn't want to be injury-free. Or am i misintrepreting your comment? If I am, I apologise.

thatdberight wrote:So that's 15 points X 11 players who play = 165 points in 10 games. We'll walk the league that season.

Good one

In three years at the club, he's had half a good season. So his next challenge will be to have a full good season - whether here or somewhere else. I don't see him and never have seen him as a good fit in a 4-4-2, and I think changing the system to 4-5-1 to fit in someone as injury prone as him would be a bad idea. (We seem to score more goals in 4-4-2 as well, albeit we let more in too.)

So if anyone wants to pay for him and he wants to go, then it's good night and thank you.

We played the best football in decades with a 451 with Defour making it tick.