Central midfield is the linchpin of the whole team performance, so who would your choice be? A few players spring immediately to mind:

Trevor Steven, Steven Defour, Joey Barton, Brian Miller, John Deary, Brian O'Neil

Mala591 wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 03, 2020 11:06 am

Central midfield is the linchpin of the whole team performance, so who would your choice be? A few players spring immediately to mind:

Trevor Steven, Steven Defour, Joey Barton, Brian Miller, John Deary, Brian O'Neil

Brian Miller was hardly what you would call a central midfielder - although the game was different then, and he mainly played at left-half, I'd consider him more of a central defender.

But if you want to go back to the Miller era then you will find surely the best central midfielder of them all - Jimmy McIlroy.

Centre midfield has been Burnley's weak area in all my time watching. From 88 onwards.

I'm struggling to think of a CM in that time actually getting sold on for money?

Was Gerry Harrison playing there when he went to Sunderland? Did Jones command a fee from Sheff Wed?

I am sure you are right Tony, Brian Miller was slightly before my time. I always considered McIlroy as a wide half back but again before my time. Did Jimmy Adamson play central midfield?

In recent times, have to mention Defour and Barton.
Both special talents

Quickenthetempo wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 03, 2020 11:12 am

Centre midfield has been Burnley's weak area in all my time watching. From 88 onwards.

Did Jones command a fee from Sheff Wed?

It wasn't weak in Dyche's first promotion season when Marney and Jones were simply outstanding. As for Jones and Sheff Wed, he did command a fee, and a substantial one.

Mala591 wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 03, 2020 11:13 am

I am sure you are right Tony, Brian Miller was slightly before my time. I always considered McIlroy as a wide half back but again before my time. Did Jimmy Adamson play central midfield?

Jimmy Mac was never a half back, always an inside forward which in today's language means an attacking midfielder. Adamson played as a half back, a more defensive midfielder, and also at centre half.

Obviously it has to be Jimmy Mc.

I can only assume it's the Trevor Steven who played for Everton

Martin Dobson and Doug Collins for a mention.

In my time watching it's between Defour and Barton. Difficult to separate as they were both different types of players, so I can't pick between.

Detour on occasion was world class.
For consistently good season after season
Martin Dobson.

My three favourite CM's over the years have been Defour, Barton and Deary

clearly Tarkowski

Ralph coates.....now close the thread, i've won

That would be Brian O'Neil.

It's certainly what we're short of at the moment and for me the prime position for consideration in this window. Our greatest ever player, Jimmy Mcllroy who played CM is the obvious choice. However I have to mention in passing Brian O'Neil, Martin Dobson and Joey Barton. The best up and coming being Trevor Steven.

Jimmy obviously the best, but no one has mentioned Gordon Harris yet. Wonderful range of passing and as hard as nails. Fantastic partnership in with O'Neil. Also on my list would be Dobbo , Steven and Dave Thomas. The latter 2 played most of the time out wide after leaving us
What a waste of rare top class midfield generals.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 03, 2020 11:27 am

It wasn't weak in Dyche's first promotion season when Marney and Jones were simply outstanding. As for Jones and Sheff Wed, he did command a fee, and a substantial one.

I meant over the full duration.

But even when you say Marney and Jones were outstanding, other areas of the team were far stronger far us. The front two far starters.

Different eras, different styles of football but Jimmy Mac has to be number1 with Dobo and Trevor Steven behind him.

Can't believe David Edgar hasn't had a mention

Ric_C wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 03, 2020 11:50 am

My three favourite CM's over the years have been Defour, Barton and Deary

This.

If it wasn't for his tragic injury I truly believe Jon Walters would have gone on to become our greatest ever central midfield player and maybe even our greatest ever player.

Brian Miller was a centre back. Our best central midfielder is without doubt Jimmy Mac, followed, in my opinion, by Brian O'Neil, who was a one man midfield on his day. Other very good players like Steven, Dobson, Collins, Defour have been deservedly mentioned, though none of them will ever compare fully to Mr. McIlroy.

Nurse can you please attend to devils advocate utc

Longsidelenny1882 wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 03, 2020 1:50 pm

Nurse can you please attend to devils advocate utc

Just a troll seeking attention, don't give it him

Trevor Steven for me even on the **** pitches at the time.

Been watching since 1985 and to me it has to be Defour, to get a player of his quality at the Turf in this modern era was great. He seemed to always choose the correct option and like great players do, he made it look easy.

In the modern era it's Defour by a very long way. He had the lot; tackling, shooting, positioning, vision and a weight of pass rivalled only by djemba-djemba.

Some of the football we played with him in the team during that first half of the season we finished 7th was the best I've ever seen a Burnley team play.

Best over a single season would have to be Barton in the championship year.

Best "ever" would have to be Defour even if it was really only for half a season or so.

Honourable mention to:

Dean Marney for Dyche's first promotion season
John Deary
Ashley Westwood's form since January
Cork's form first half of 2016/17 season
Paul Cook
Kevin Ball

Mala591 wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 03, 2020 11:06 am

Central midfield is the linchpin of the whole team performance, so who would your choice be? A few players spring immediately to mind:

Trevor Steven, Steven Defour, Joey Barton, Brian Miller, John Deary, Brian O'Neil

John Deary?!

Brian O'Neil.

Defour. He could play football against the very best sides, not just make us 'hard to beat', and looked at ease at that level. A real eye opener having a Champions League type player in our side even if it was sadly all too rarely. Also showed how Dyche would maybe have us playing if we could afford more of that quality.

Also a mention for Barton, a very good player but more than that an incredible leader for us, absolutely dragged us to that title.

Defour’s lob against Bristol City in the cup was unreal , never seen a goal like it before or since.

It's between Trevor Steven and Steven Defour and the latter probably gets it because Steven only played for us when still a youngster. However I remember watching him and thinking he had that rare ability to "glide" that only true class players possess. The good thing is that I also see Dwight McNeill evidencing this when he is at his best.

Quickenthetempo wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 03, 2020 12:08 pm

I meant over the full duration.

But even when you say Marney and Jones were outstanding, other areas of the team were far stronger far us. The front two far starters.

The front two were fantastic in 2013/14 but the key to that promotion was Marney & Jones

I thought Djemba Djemba was excellent with us on loan, quite rightly he’s nowhere near consideration for this title though.

Giftonsnoidea wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 03, 2020 2:53 pm

Defour’s lob against Bristol City in the cup was unreal , never seen a goal like it before or since.

Just edging out his solo winner v Hull where more obscene skill was on show, then in 3rd place his masterclass free kick at Old Trafford.

Just look at those 3 different goals and the difference in skill and technique to see why he was the greatest and most skillful CM to wear the Burnley shirt for at least the 30 years I've been watching Burnley..

Simply incredible. I doubt another player has scored 3 goals as good as that in their time with us.

Edit - all 3 goals on the link, well worth 2 minutes of anyones time

https://youtu.be/hQ9YrIJbwHU

Both Adamson and McIlroy - outstanding players, but whilst I saw them, I was a bit young to appreciate if honest.
O'Neil - Fantastic all round player, could dribble, pass, shoot and boy could he tackle.
Dobson - Graceful box to box talented midfielder who had it all.
Coates - Converted winger, who was simply outstanding and at times unplayable. My choice as best.

MACCA wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 03, 2020 3:19 pm

Just edging out his solo winner v Hull where more obscene skill was on show...https://youtu.be/hQ9YrIJbwHU

Thanks for the link, I'd never seen the Hull goal; that first touch was definitely a touch above average.

MACCA wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 03, 2020 3:19 pm

Just edging out his solo winner v Hull where more obscene skill was on show, then in 3rd place his masterclass free kick at Old Trafford.

Just look at those 3 different goals and the difference in skill and technique to see why he was the greatest and most skillful CM to wear the Burnley shirt for at least the 30 years I've been watching Burnley..

Simply incredible. I doubt another player has scored 3 goals as good as that in their time with us.

Edit - all 3 goals on the link, well worth 2 minutes of anyones time

https://youtu.be/hQ9YrIJbwHU

I’ve watched that lob quite a few times and I still don’t know how he’s got that dip and elevation on it from what looks like a toe poke, it would make a great YouTube video if he explained it himself

David Jones.

At one point he was the only fit CM that we had but he held us together.

Master of the legendary sideways pass.

Martin Dobson and Brian O'Neil from my early days
watching the Clarets.

Can't think of anyone from more recent times apart from
Defour. We could do with someone like him now.

Joey Barton for me. Immense.

Barton was superb in winning the title,defour undoubtedly most gifted.But my votes for Westwood don’t think many would vote for him but so consistent and done it at the top level consistently aswell rarely as a bad game.early 90s for me onwards

Cirrus_Minor wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 03, 2020 3:41 pm

Both Adamson and McIlroy - outstanding players, but whilst I saw them, I was a bit young to appreciate if honest.
O'Neil - Fantastic all round player, could dribble, pass, shoot and boy could he tackle.
Dobson - Graceful box to box talented midfielder who had it all.
Coates - Converted winger, who was simply outstanding and at times unplayable. My choice as best.

Some talent in that list and you wonder just how good Dobbo would have been had he had some pace

When Jack Cork was playing alongside Defour he played (imo)by far the best football of his career. So although not the best central midfielder he deserves to be mentioned amongst all the other 'greats'.

Quickenthetempo wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 03, 2020 11:12 am

Centre midfield has been Burnley's weak area in all my time watching. From 88 onwards.

I'm struggling to think of a CM in that time actually getting sold on for money?

Was Gerry Harrison playing there when he went to Sunderland? Did Jones command a fee from Sheff Wed?

Adrian Randall is still York City’s record buy 25 years ago. £140k

Can’t believe we’ve got this far and nobody has mentioned Neil Wood.

Peter Noble.

John Deary

Whoops, forgot to mention another of my favourites - Brian Flynn.