Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
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Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
Here’s my best four:
Trevor Steven
Martin Dobson
Steven Defour
Geoff Nulty
Trevor Steven
Martin Dobson
Steven Defour
Geoff Nulty
Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
Potentially a great thread.
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Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
Taking into account where the club was at the time, Trevor Steven, Martin Dobson, john Deary, Dean Marney.
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Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
O'Neil.
Dobson.
Steven
Defour.
From '64 to present day.
Dobson.
Steven
Defour.
From '64 to present day.
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Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
Bob Kelly
Jimmy McIlroy
Brian O'Neil
Steven Defour
Jimmy McIlroy
Brian O'Neil
Steven Defour
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Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
Connor Roberts
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Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
I agree with the original post but would include Leighton James instead of Geoff Nulty if we can have wide players
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Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
From 88
Deary
Defour
Barton
Marney
Deary
Defour
Barton
Marney
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Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
Martin Dobson
Steven Defour
Brian O'Neil
Ralph Coates (If we are including wide players)
Steven Defour
Brian O'Neil
Ralph Coates (If we are including wide players)
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Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
In my life
I've only gone with centre mids here and I've specified when as some had peaks and troughs in their time with us.
Steven Defour (2017)
Joey Barton (2016)
Dean Marney (2014)
Jack Cork (2017)
I've only gone with centre mids here and I've specified when as some had peaks and troughs in their time with us.
Steven Defour (2017)
Joey Barton (2016)
Dean Marney (2014)
Jack Cork (2017)
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Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
Defour
Hendrick
Cork
Westwood
Hendrick
Cork
Westwood
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Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
Defour
Barton
Cork
McNeil
Barton
Cork
McNeil
Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
In my time... Undoubtedly better in the earlier days but didn't see them live so cant comment on them...
Glen Little
Steve Defour
Paul Gascoigne
Dean Marney
Glen Little
Steve Defour
Paul Gascoigne
Dean Marney
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Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
In my time watching
Brian O'Neil
Martin Dobson
Brian Flynn
Steven Defour
Brian O'Neil
Martin Dobson
Brian Flynn
Steven Defour
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Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
Jimmy Adamson - have we had anyone else win Footballer Of The Year?
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Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
Going on since 1992, and I’m sticking to central midfielders rather than wingers:
Joey Barton
Steven Defour
Eric Djemba-Djemba
David Jones
Joey Barton
Steven Defour
Eric Djemba-Djemba
David Jones
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Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
Jimmy Mac
Dobo
Trevor Steven
Steven Defour
With apologies to so many great options.
Dobo
Trevor Steven
Steven Defour
With apologies to so many great options.
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Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
My dad would tell me to include Reg Attwell and he'd also give me a push towards Harry Potts, but I can only list the ones I saw play - and the first two take no thinking about at all, the third because along with his ability he made a huge contribution to the club, the fourth who, despite not being able to play anything like enough for us, was hugely talented.
Jimmy McIlroy
Brian O'Neil
Martin Dobson
Steven Defour
Jimmy McIlroy
Brian O'Neil
Martin Dobson
Steven Defour
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Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
jedi_master wrote: ↑Thu Nov 25, 2021 5:21 pmGoing on since 1992, and I’m sticking to central midfielders rather than wingers:
Yep... I'd always read it as the players playing in the middle of the field and controlling the game. Otherwise you're trying to choose from an impossible amount of contenders.
James for example was an out and out attacking left winger in his pomp... I'd never think of him as a midfielder
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Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
Central midfielders from me from a given era
Jimmy Mc
Brian O'Neil
Martin Dobson
Paul Cook
Jimmy Mc
Brian O'Neil
Martin Dobson
Paul Cook
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Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
I'm ignoring wide players and counting them as wingers and not strictly midfielders, otherwise Super Glen would be 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th choice!! 
All relative of course due to the level we were at at the time, but.... Dobson
Deary
Defour
Steven
With a highly commended for Noble and Flynn
All relative of course due to the level we were at at the time, but.... Dobson
Deary
Defour
Steven
With a highly commended for Noble and Flynn
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Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
O'Neill
Dobson
Coates
McIlroy
Dobson
Coates
McIlroy
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Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
Jimmy Mac
Brian O’Neil
Trevor Steven
Martin Dobson just beats Dufour
Brian O’Neil
Trevor Steven
Martin Dobson just beats Dufour
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Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
Trevor Steven
Kevin Young
Joey Barton
Kevin Ball.
Kevin Young
Joey Barton
Kevin Ball.
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Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
Why as nobody picked dale Stephens utc
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Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
Gareth O’ Connor
John Spicer
Alan Mahon
Graham Branch
John Spicer
Alan Mahon
Graham Branch
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Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
For me the first three are easy, McIlroy , O’Neill and Dobson, then it gets difficult. There have been some great wide players: James for one, were Steven’s best days not as a wide player and after he left Burnley? I hardly saw him play for Burnley so difficult for me to judge, others will know far better.
I presume the question means whilst they were playing for Burnley, otherwise Gascoigne would have to be considered.
I think I would have to include Defour as the fourth choice.
I presume the question means whilst they were playing for Burnley, otherwise Gascoigne would have to be considered.
I think I would have to include Defour as the fourth choice.
Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
Absolutely, totally out of shape, obviously under the influence, and hardly ever moved out of the centre circle, but he bossed the park by his vision and passing and the only player I have ever seen play for Burnley who could play a ball inch perfect with back spin to land exactly right for the player intended, and that includes to the dipped corner, and also hold the ball at his feet in 6 square feet and no matter the tackle by how many players they couldn't get off him
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Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
Dobson
O'Neil
Stevens
Mclroy
O'Neil
Stevens
Mclroy
Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
As I never saw Jimmy McIlriy play live for Burnley, I just take him as read.
However, my witnessed 4
Ralph Coates
Trevor Steven
Martin Dobson
Steven Defour
However, my witnessed 4
Ralph Coates
Trevor Steven
Martin Dobson
Steven Defour
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Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
From the early 90's to the present.
Barton (a real leader of men, and if we hadn't signed him when we did we probably wouldn't have gone up automatically, let alone lift the title)
Cook (brought real class and poise to our play, and despite his advancing years oozed quality whenever he got the ball)
Defour (shame about his injuries, but similar to Cornet now, he looked at home in the PL, and his FK at OT will live long in my memory)
Little (for what we paid Glenn was a cracking signing, and if he hadn't got injured in the 01/02 season who knows what might have been under Stan.
Barton (a real leader of men, and if we hadn't signed him when we did we probably wouldn't have gone up automatically, let alone lift the title)
Cook (brought real class and poise to our play, and despite his advancing years oozed quality whenever he got the ball)
Defour (shame about his injuries, but similar to Cornet now, he looked at home in the PL, and his FK at OT will live long in my memory)
Little (for what we paid Glenn was a cracking signing, and if he hadn't got injured in the 01/02 season who knows what might have been under Stan.
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Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
I suppose he was one of the best four midfielders to have played for us, but that would be based on how he played for other clubs and very definitely not for us.
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Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
Tony Grant + 3 others
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Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
Considering for many, the period is up to 60 years, there is an amazing amount of consistency with the names that are being posted
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Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
I talked to a fella who had been a season ticket holder in the Star Stand. He said Bob Kelly was the best burnley player ever.
Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
I've always believed that we started going downhill after Geoff Nulty left so he would be one of my 4. Deary was another one that once gone we seemed to go backwards. Trevor Steven was too good for the division, even at a young age. Premier has to be Defour.
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Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
Trevor Steven, when he played for us, wasn’t in the top 4 ever.
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Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
In my era:
Although he wasn’t the out and out most talented, my absolute favourite central midfielder for us has to be Dean Marney.
Dean Marney
Steven Defour
Joey Barton
Eric Djemba-Djemba
Although he wasn’t the out and out most talented, my absolute favourite central midfielder for us has to be Dean Marney.
Dean Marney
Steven Defour
Joey Barton
Eric Djemba-Djemba
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Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
Not at Bramhall Lane he didn't. An embarrassment, both to himself and the club. From my vantage point he did well to stay on his feet.ClaretAL wrote: ↑Thu Nov 25, 2021 7:29 pmAbsolutely, totally out of shape, obviously under the influence, and hardly ever moved out of the centre circle, but he bossed the park by his vision and passing and the only player I have ever seen play for Burnley who could play a ball inch perfect with back spin to land exactly right for the player intended, and that includes to the dipped corner, and also hold the ball at his feet in 6 square feet and no matter the tackle by how many players they couldn't get off him
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Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
I was at that game as well I still cringe and feel so sad when I think about him, such a special player lowered himself to that. levelSilkyskills1 wrote: ↑Thu Nov 25, 2021 10:43 pmNot at Bramhall Lane he didn't. An embarrassment, both to himself and the club. From my vantage point he did well to stay on his feet.
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Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
It is amazing how many choose Defour even ones that go back to watching in the 60s. I won’t do the full list so hard to choose and I would have to leave 1 of my favorite clarets John Deary. If I was choosing though Defour would be number 1 in my list simply the best player I have seen play for us, such a shame about the injuries.
Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
You've only chosen three there

Also, it really bugs me the praise Gazza gets for his time with us. For the most part he was totally off it. I love Gazza, but his time playing for us was best left forgotten.
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Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
Good shout with Djemba Djemba - always looked like he had ages on the ball and sprayed it around everywhere. Loved watching him back in the day.
Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
Brian Flynn was a tenacious midfielder,
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Re: Best four midfielders to have played for Burnley
Very difficult because I have seen lots of excellent central midfield players since I started watching Burnley
So here goes
Jimmy Mcilroy
Brian O’Neil
Jimmy Adamson
Martin Dobson
So here goes
Jimmy Mcilroy
Brian O’Neil
Jimmy Adamson
Martin Dobson
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