I think we liked him too

See link
https://www.uptheclarets.com/defour-was ... at-burnley

Quite surprised by that. Obviously really good to hear, especially since it was an answer given to a neutral media and he wasn’t playing to the crowd. Something quite sad about it though given it was a period plagued by injury.

Good to hear ...he showed what a fantastic player he was in that first half of season . Made the game look easy

Doesn’t seem long ago people were accusing him of faking injuries.

mill hill claret wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 28, 2021 4:05 pm

Good to hear ...he showed what a fantastic player he was in that first half of season . Made the game look easy

A real shame that it was only half a season but he made one hell of a difference to that team three seasons ago.

we loved him, and he was an immensely gifted player, but that song tended to be sung either tongue in cheek of by people who did not know any better - Zidane was the man

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJJrlSrktn4&t=1s

though I would argue Bergkamp had the best first touch I have ever seen

https://twitter.com/BallStreet/status/1 ... 3322766336

sorry to divert attention from Defour his all to brief contribution will live long in the memory, but the reasons for that are the reasons he joined us and not one of the giants and for that we should be greatful

Just as happened during that glorious half season - it only took one iinternational to lift a team of competent but organised top flight players into a genuine force.

We were very unlucky with a few results too I seem to recall; although I can't pin down a specific memory I have a vague recollection that several draws should have been victories and that we were often up against 12 men because the referees didn't truly see us as genuine players on the stage.

It was an honour to watch Steven Defour pull on the Burnley shirt.

Merci a vous Steven!

Chester Perry wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 28, 2021 4:20 pm

we loved him, and he was an immensely gifted player, but that song tended to be sung either tongue in cheek of by people who did not know any better - Zidane was the man

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJJrlSrktn4&t=1s

though I would argue Bergkamp had the best first touch I have ever seen

https://twitter.com/BallStreet/status/1 ... 3322766336

sorry to divert attention from Defour his all to brief contribution will live long in the memory, but the reasons for that are the reasons he joined us and not one of the giants and for that we should be greatful

I’d be amazed if there was one person signing that song thinking that he was better than Zidane.

Just as the Brighton fans didn’t think Zamora was better than Shearer or Cole.

Chester Perry wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 28, 2021 4:20 pm

we loved him, and he was an immensely gifted player, but that song tended to be sung either tongue in cheek of by people who did not know any better - Zidane was the man

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJJrlSrktn4&t=1s

though I would argue Bergkamp had the best first touch I have ever seen

https://twitter.com/BallStreet/status/1 ... 3322766336

sorry to divert attention from Defour his all to brief contribution will live long in the memory, but the reasons for that are the reasons he joined us and not one of the giants and for that we should be greatful

I think the line in the song must have flown over your head

I was happiest when Defour was at Burnley too.

Rowls wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 28, 2021 4:23 pm

Just as happened during that glorious half season - it only took one international to lift a team of competent but organised top flight players into a genuine force.

This.

I remember a West Ham fan saying after a 1-1 draw on the Turf 'how the bloidy hell have you got a player as good as him playing for you'?

The West Ham team was full of expensive flair players at the time.

What an asset he would be in this team now. We've come such a long way as a team since he was with us, and he'd be electric pulling the strings in our current 11

If he stayed fit that season we finished 7th we would have finished above Arsenal. Was top class that season.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 28, 2021 4:35 pm

I think the line in the song must have flown over your head

we have both seen how some on here talk about our players after a positive result, they appear to believe it

It's fun to get carried away from time to time.

You should try it.

We loved him.He loved us...Gotta get him back to the Turf as special guest next season !

Rumpelstiltskin wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 28, 2021 6:21 pm

We loved him.He loved us...Gotta get him back to the Turf as special guest next season !

What a player, just what a player.

Sadly, there are one or two who never really got just how good he was and that’s a shame. He really was a class above.

Most of the time he wasn’t just the best Burnley player n the pitch, he was THE best player on the pitch, and he played for us.

Consider myself lucky to have seen him play.

bobinho wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 28, 2021 6:33 pm

What a player, just what a player.

Sadly, there are one or two who never really got just how good he was and that’s a shame. He really was a class above.

Most of the time he wasn’t just the best Burnley player n the pitch, he was THE best player on the pitch, and he played for us.

Consider myself lucky to have seen him play.

It took me a while I have to admit but from the start of the 2017/18 until the injury he was simply outstanding.

That is the beauty of us being unfashionable... quality can come here and flourish without the intense spotlight of a big city. It would be nice to think we could get one in longer term, but they don’t come along like him very often.

Really pleasing to hear he felt the Burnley love.

I remember the 1st involvement I saw him as a claret - a challenge over by the Bob Lord Stand. I just turned to my mate and said, "That lad can play".

He impressed me greatly from the off. An absolute joy to watch.

For me the Hull goal was the best he scored for us

This is from 2019;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ9YrIJbwHU

He likes us, and we like him too.

duncandisorderly wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 28, 2021 8:05 pm

This is from 2019;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ9YrIJbwHU

He likes us, and we like him too.

Always worth a view

Most naturally talented player I’ve ever seen for us.

Was a privilege to watch him. I remember the goal against Hull and thinking just how far we had come when a player of that caliber was in our team. Such a shame it was only a short period that he graced the Turf.

He was good alright but 2 goals over 3? Seasons and either injured unfit or hooked most of the time . Was good for 1st half of euro season though and nice free kick

A joy to watch, he seemed to pass the ball with ease and always to the right player. He turned us into a very good team and I remember the Watford home game when he , Cork and Hendrick played them off the pitch. It was also a pleasure to be on the Turf to see that goal against Bristol City

I do think it’s a bit unfair to criticise his early away performances, he was just into the side and he played and was used to passing possession football and I think he was the player Dyche was aiming at after our beating at West Brom when he said “we got drunk on possession”. He got hooked that day and was sub for our next away match at Stoke as Dyche returned to more defensive style.

We go from signing this absolute class act to signing Dale stephens and people wonder why some get frustrated on here. The signing of Defour was a real gem and showed the club in a positive light, now we sign cast offs from brighton.....
Would love to see Defour as part of the coaching team, he must have lots to add (that's if he wants to continue in football)

Superb footballer.

I'd love to see another footballing maestro of his caliber play for us during our current purple patch.

I remember his name on earlier football manager games. He always went on to play for top teams in the game and I wouldn't have ever dreamed we'd sign a player of his calibre.

The guy oozes class and is clearly a fantastic character too. I hope he continues to be involved in the game, and it would be great to see him at the club again.

AlargeClaret wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 28, 2021 10:37 pm

He was good alright but 2 goals over 3? Seasons and either injured unfit or hooked most of the time . Was good for 1st half of euro season though and nice free kick

If you are judging him on stats then you have no appreciation for what he did. He actually ran the games and like somebody said above, not only was he our best player, he was the best player on the pitch most of the time in that season we finished 7th.

Steven Defour, in a short time, has given me some of my most special memories, great pleasure and admiration, watching Burnley.

An exceptional talent and you could see why he had 50 Belgian caps and was still there, when with us.

As for singing the song....he loved it.

So pleased I was able to watch and witness it all.

buzzclarets79 wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 29, 2021 6:55 am

Would love to see Defour as part of the coaching team, he must have lots to add (that's if he wants to continue in football)

Any reason why? Who would he replace? Has he got his badges?

AlargeClaret wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 28, 2021 10:37 pm

He was good alright but 2 goals over 3? Seasons and either injured unfit or hooked most of the time . Was good for 1st half of euro season though and nice free kick

2 more than nick pope and he’s done ok.

I don’t remember which game it was exactly, but it was early in his career with us, and one particular game he and Hendrick hit it off and the tippy tappy football was brilliant to watch. It was so unlike us at the time so it stood out.

Defour and Brady were brilliant for the first few months of the 2017/18 season, and I just felt like we could pick points up anywhere. The other teams were shocked as they hadn’t prepared to face a Burnley side playing tika taka football at times.

Short lived, but blimey, what a player!

He’s just announced that he’s joining the Mechelen technical staff

Earning his stripes before coming back to us

Claretforever wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 29, 2021 10:36 pm

I don’t remember which game it was exactly, but it was early in his career with us, and one particular game he and Hendrick hit it off and the tippy tappy football was brilliant to watch. It was so unlike us at the time so it stood out.

Defour and Brady were brilliant for the first few months of the 2017/18 season, and I just felt like we could pick points up anywhere. The other teams were shocked as they hadn’t prepared to face a Burnley side playing tika taka football at times.

Short lived, but blimey, what a player!

Then Brady got injured in December and Defour in January

Dy1geo wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 29, 2021 6:52 am

I do think it’s a bit unfair to criticise his early away performances, he was just into the side and he played and was used to passing possession football and I think he was the player Dyche was aiming at after our beating at West Brom when he said “we got drunk on possession”. He got hooked that day and was sub for our next away match at Stoke as Dyche returned to more defensive style.

That West brom game was pretty dreadful, but I don't remember him being much to blame for that.
My main memory of him in that game was when the albion pa announcer asked the Burnley kid that had been taking part in some pre-match competition who his favourite player was and he said defour.
Even asking him a second time, the announcer still thought he had picked jermaine defoe.....

wilks_bfc wrote: ↑

Fri May 07, 2021 4:49 pm

He’s just announced that he’s joining the Mechelen technical staff

Earning his stripes before coming back to us

If there's one coach we'd need the most it would be a technical one.