https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/s ... rt-season/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

According to the LET.

Must have done a lot of digging to get that scoop.

And the middle...and the end ?

Can't see him being fit for any season!

On page 9 they have a story that a bear has been seen defacating in some woods

Nixon tweeted this days ago

Who saw this coming?

By start of the season, do they mean the 20/21 campaign?

They spelt 'whole' wrong

Wonder how many minutes we might eventually get out of him.

But in all honesty it's a crying shame because he's such a great player.

Rowls wrote:Wonder how many minutes we might eventually get out of him.

But in all honesty it's a crying shame because he's such a great player.

That's the biggest sadness of it.

Easily the best player I have ever seen play for us in terms of natural ability. That period in the 17/18 season from August till his injury he was good enough to be playing for arguably anybody outside of City and Liverpool in this league.

Good job we have signed adequate cover. Most saw this coming.

Bin Ont Turf wrote:Must have done a lot of digging to get that scoop.

Exactly what I thought when I saw the headline and then when you see the first line of the article it reads: "... is not expected to be fit."

Doesn't take a genius to know that he won't be fit for the start of the new season.

It has become a bit of a standing joke this but as people have said it's sad because he is our most technically gifted player by a *country mile. I'm sure he is pretty cheesed off with it all as well.

^What IS a country mile anyway, and how does it differ from an ordinary mile? We say these things and we don't have a clue what they mean.
And who the hell was 'Soft Mick'?

These question are almost as mysterious as 'what is actually wrong with Defour anyway'?

Shocking news.
Hope it's not thrown our pre season preps out too much.

Defour needs his contract burning

houseboy wrote:It has become a bit of a standing joke this but as people have said it's sad because he is our most technically gifted player by a *country mile. I'm sure he is pretty cheesed off with it all as well.

^What IS a country mile anyway, and how does it differ from an ordinary mile? We say these things and we don't have a clue what they mean.
And who the hell was 'Soft Mick'?

These question are almost as mysterious as 'what is actually wrong with Defour anyway'?

Soft Mick was the guy who measured the country mile.

A country mile is the same distance but roads are assumed to be narrower and twistier and therefore it takes longer to travel a country mile than an ordinary mile.

Soft Mick, allegedly, was an incredibly rich prize fighter, based in or around Nottingham in the 1800's. He built up a formidable career, but after several years of being unbeaten, he took side-bets on himself losing, deliberately taking a fall in a certain round, winning obscene amounts of money, on which he retired. Therefore to have more than soft Mick means you have more than ample of something.

That's terribly disappointing news,I love watching Defour play for us,I don't think I've seen a better player play for the Clarets lots disagree with me though,let's just say he's in the top ten of best ever Burnley players,like I said I'm disappointed he won't start the season,I'm sure the board were banking on him being fit so they didn't have to spend looks like they might have to bite the bullet and spend now or we are going to be in serious trouble if one of our midfielders is injured along with Defour....Camarasa would be nice please,pretty please!

bfcmik wrote:Soft Mick was the guy who measured the country mile.

A country mile is the same distance but roads are assumed to be narrower and twistier and therefore it takes longer to travel a country mile than an ordinary mile.

Soft Mick, allegedly, was an incredibly rich prize fighter, based in or around Nottingham in the 1800's. He built up a formidable career, but after several years of being unbeaten, he took side-bets on himself losing, deliberately taking a fall in a certain round, winning obscene amounts of money, on which he retired. Therefore to have more than soft Mick means you have more than ample of something.

Two excellent answers. The country mile one sounds like a logical answer. The Soft Mick answer is actually one of many different ones I have heard over the years but DOES sound plausible as I have heard him connected with the midlands before (but I think it was Birmingham). I have also heard an explanation that he was indeed some kind of clog maker from Oswaldtwistle but that doesn't ring true somehow. The main reason he has been associated locally is that it seems the saying is a very Lancashire thing (I've used the term in other places and they haven't a clue what I'm on about).

Anyway I'm gonna stick with the Nottingham prize fighter for now because it sounds authentic.

houseboy wrote:Two excellent answers. The country mile one sounds like a logical answer. The Soft Mick answer is actually one of many different ones I have heard over the years but DOES sound plausible as I have heard him connected with the midlands before (but I think it was Birmingham). I have also heard an explanation that he was indeed some kind of clog maker from Oswaldtwistle but that doesn't ring true somehow. The main reason he has been associated locally is that it seems the saying is a very Lancashire thing (I've used the term in other places and they haven't a clue what I'm on about).

Anyway I'm gonna stick with the Nottingham prize fighter for now because it sounds authentic.

Still doesn’t help us in midfield though.

RingoMcCartney wrote:https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/s ... rt-season/

According to the LET.

And in other news Armstrong walks on the moon.

Terrible about that Titanic isn’t it?

Apparently Soft Mick has been throwing fights to win his own bets.

Bertiebeehead wrote:Still doesn’t help us in midfield though.

I'm not so sure. Dyche has been spotted in Nottingham scouting for a bloke called Soft Mick who, by all accounts, is pretty good but tends to back himself to be on the losing side. I have heard his surname is Barton but that is unconfirmed.

elwaclaret wrote:Terrible about that Titanic isn’t it?

According to the Telegraph it's been reported missing and they are waiting for updates.

houseboy wrote:According to the Telegraph it's been reported missing and they are waiting for updates.

I was talking about the expected delay in it setting off they were waiting for lettuces being delivered... crimes, you breaking news sounds serious!

randomclaret2 wrote:On page 9 they have a story that a bear has been seen defacating in some woods

Funnily enough I was reading in the same edition that the Pope is actually a Catholic... who'da thowt it

Bosscat wrote:Funnily enough I was reading in the same edition that the Pope is actually a Catholic... who'da thowt it

Does it affect his goalkeeping ability?

ClaretTony wrote:Does it affect his goalkeeping ability?

He won't be allowed as much protection during the game

houseboy wrote:Apparently Soft Mick has been throwing fights to win his own bets.

Well, as long as he hasn't been advertising betting companies, he'll be fine with the F.A.

[quote="houseboy"]It has become a bit of a standing joke this but as people have said it's sad because he is our most technically gifted player by a *country mile. I'm sure he is pretty cheesed off with it all as well.

^What IS a country mile anyway, and how does it differ from an ordinary mile? We say these things and we don't have a clue what they mean.
And who the hell was 'Soft Mick'?

These question are almost as mysterious as 'what is actually

The colloquialism Country Mile is regarded as long as a piece of string elasticized. Or as long as a Steven Defour injury takes to heal!!!

There used to be a kind of mini supermarket at Duke Bar called Barmy Mick's.
i wonder if they were related?!

Steven Defour, footballer. A man barely alive. Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology. We have the capability to build the world's first bionic footballer. Steven Defour will be that man. Better than he was before. Better, stronger, faster.

ClaretTony wrote:Does it affect his goalkeeping ability?

Yes that's why he is so good at dealing with crosses

Bertiebeehead wrote:Still doesn’t help us in midfield though.

Unless Soft Mick can run a country mile or several.

Mike Rigg couldn't have sanctioned his contract extension because there aren't any Steven Defour stats on his system to monitor.

As his injuries cause further delays to his eagerly awaited comeback, no doubt his legendary status will continue to grow. By the time he makes a sub appearance if February he will no doubt be the Premiership's most talented player in some folks eyes.

Well knock me down with a feather.

(clever Trevor!)

Will be lucky to get 10 games out of him this season.

JaLL193 wrote:Will be lucky to get 10 games out of him this season.

Crumbs, if we got that I'd be bloody ecstatic!!

summitclaret wrote:And in other news Armstrong walks on the moon.

But did they

Defour is as likely to take the field in a Burnley shirt again as there is to be a No Deal Brexit.

It was the only scenario that I could find that was one in a million

According to Boris.

I wish him a full and speedy recovery and look forward to him playing again, in our midfield.

If not possible, perhaps we have an insurance claim to make.

Unfortunate typo, corrected in edit!

IanMcL wrote:I wish him a dull and speedy recovery and look forward to him playing again, in our midfield.

If not possible, perhaps we have an insurance claim to make.

It will be dull training on his own !

Funkydrummer wrote:It will be dull training on his own !

Oops!

IanMcL wrote:I wish him a full and speedy recovery and look forward to him playing again, in our midfield.

If not possible, perhaps we have an insurance claim to make.

Unfortunate typo, corrected in edit!

That could be the logic behind giving him another year, maybe get something back instead of letting him go for nowt?

I declare an interest...I love the guy and look on him being a Burnley player as evidence of our continued progression.

but I've never understood why the management have been content to allow him to receive treatment and recover 'back home' under his 'own team' rather than under the direct supervision and direction of our medical team, specialists and physiotherapists!

get fit and playing soon Steven!

Nonayforever wrote:Mike Rigg couldn't have sanctioned his contract extension because there aren't any Steven Defour stats on his system to monitor.

As his injuries cause further delays to his eagerly awaited comeback, no doubt his legendary status will continue to grow. By the time he makes a sub appearance if February he will no doubt be the Premiership's most talented player in some folks eyes.

Would think it could have only been sanctioned by SD

claretblue wrote:I declare an interest...I love the guy and look on him being a Burnley player as evidence of our continued progression.

but I've never understood why the management have been content to allow him to receive treatment and recover 'back home' under his 'own team' rather than under the direct supervision and direction of our medical team, specialists and physiotherapists!

get fit and playing soon Steven!

That's my thought too. We supposedly have the expertise and this quick healing machine etc. Ok, the odd break would do him good but permanent absence....licence to get disconnected from purpose and club.