I like being top of the league

miele-man · Post by **miele-man** » Sun Dec 11, 2022 8:44 pm

The football is just so good

Hibsclaret · Post by **Hibsclaret** » Sun Dec 11, 2022 9:07 pm

So do I.

When you watch your team have large percentage of possession, totally control games and pretty much never really look like losing that's Kompany’s Burnley.

Vegas Claret · Post by **Vegas Claret** » Sun Dec 11, 2022 9:10 pm

I like being competitive in a division, knowing there is a good chance of us scoring a few and winning games. I also enjoy the lack of VAR

bobinho · Post by **bobinho** » Sun Dec 11, 2022 9:18 pm

Yep. Don’t miss the VAR at all. I was all for it in the beginning, I was convinced it would be a leveller. It should be, but it isnt. Poorly administered, poorly managed. Gets involved when it shouldn’t, doesn’t get involved when it should. Games are reffed from a studio now. Games better without it.

And our football is great to watch. There’s still some not enjoying it, maybe due to the fact they can’t separate the quality of the football from the administration running the club, but that’s their loss really.

Very exciting times.

Bosscat · Post by **Bosscat** » Sun Dec 11, 2022 9:21 pm

VAR
Its coming to the Championship in the next couple of seasons if not next season

dougcollins · Post by **dougcollins** » Sun Dec 11, 2022 9:21 pm

VAR was only ever going to be to the detriment of the lesser clubs.

The Barnes penalty against Tottenham was the icing on the cake of that proof for me.

IanMcL · Post by **IanMcL** » Sun Dec 11, 2022 9:28 pm

Winning is addictive!

gawthorpe_view · Post by **gawthorpe_view** » Sun Dec 11, 2022 9:35 pm

Early season possession v points earned concerns have evaporated.

Spiral · Post by **Spiral** » Sun Dec 11, 2022 9:41 pm

I'm probably not the only one who feels like this, but England being knocked out last night didn't feel anywhere near as bad as it might otherwise, because I knew I only had to wait the night and I get to watch this most incredible of Burnley teams that I've ever seen in my life. Even at the height of Dyche's success around the time of European qualification I don't think this club was near as faultless in its work, focussed in its vision, or so possessed of momentum. I can see a serious long-term vision with this team that I don't think we had during the last title-winning season or the European period, and it's at the point where I feel there's an inevitability to everything, and it's bloody glorious, and it's a bit concerning that this team brings me so much joy to my life because it suggests I'm going to have a hole in my soul when this ends, and I'm going to have to do something about that when it comes around and I'm not looking forward to it so much. It feels to me as though we're building something really special here, and that says a lot coming off the back of the best years we've had in generations.

lakedistrictclaret · Post by **lakedistrictclaret** » Sun Dec 11, 2022 9:50 pm

Well said, Spiral.

I agree entirely.

Bosscat · Post by **Bosscat** » Sun Dec 11, 2022 9:57 pm

What Spiral said

Vegas Claret · Post by **Vegas Claret** » Sun Dec 11, 2022 10:11 pm

We'd be miles ahead had we not thrown all those silly points away at the beginning of the season

Hibsclaret · Post by **Hibsclaret** » Sun Dec 11, 2022 10:35 pm

Those dropped points were all part of the growth and in a new team it is pretty much inevitable to drop points. Having only lost two games is incredible.

Some of the fans still need to give their head a wobble at times. There was one behind me today lambasting Muric to launch it every time he was passing it about. Surely people can see the playing style starts with drawing the opposition further up the pitch so that we can play through the press with more gaps. It’s a risk v reward strategy that has lead to one balls up against Blackpool but has started moves for a good number of goals.

Can’t wait to see the team with Zaroury back and it gets out of third gear which is where we currently are.

Bosscat · Post by **Bosscat** » Sun Dec 11, 2022 10:45 pm

Hibsclaret wrote: ↑
Sun Dec 11, 2022 10:35 pm
Those dropped points were all part of the growth and in a new team it is pretty much inevitable to drop points. Having only lost two games is incredible.

Some of the fans still need to give their head a wobble at times. There was one behind me today lambasting Muric to launch it every time he was passing it about. Surely people can see the playing style starts with drawing the opposition further up the pitch so that we can play through the press with more gaps. It’s a risk v reward strategy that has lead to one balls up against Blackpool but has started moves for a good number of goals.

Can’t wait to see the team with Zaroury back and it gets out of third gear which is where we currently are.

I mentioned on the Match thread about how my late Bro would've loved this season ... but he would be one of those going mental about Muric and the one or two errors he has made ...

I am slowly starting to love it though, as the errors are getting fewer

and watching these passes up (and cross field) into feet, and the way the lads take the ball and off they go. Not just from Muric but everyone seems to have found a pin point passing ability.

Long may this continue

arise_sir_charge · Post by **arise_sir_charge** » Sun Dec 11, 2022 10:49 pm

If there are genuinely people that do not enjoy how we play then I’m afraid football isn’t for them. It’s glorious!

Hibsclaret · Post by **Hibsclaret** » Sun Dec 11, 2022 10:51 pm

Yep. It really is great to watch. I also enjoy watching Cork who is like a poor man’s Modric in terms of his position to collect second balls. The number of times he’s there before anyone else. A clear premier league player in the championship and it shows.

TheFamilyCat · Post by **TheFamilyCat** » Sun Dec 11, 2022 11:00 pm

I can't wait to get back to the Turf next week. I really didn't want the season to stop, especially after the high of the Blackburn game.

I let my lad stay up for the USA game - he asked to go to bed at half time because it was boring and not as good as watching Burnley.

Stan Tastic · Post by **Stan Tastic** » Sun Dec 11, 2022 11:02 pm

Vegas Claret wrote: ↑
Sun Dec 11, 2022 10:11 pm
We'd be miles ahead had we not thrown all those silly points away at the beginning of the season

Eight points clear of third and you've still managed to find a negative. Unbelievable.

claptrappers_union · Post by **claptrappers_union** » Sun Dec 11, 2022 11:10 pm

Stan Tastic wrote: ↑
Sun Dec 11, 2022 11:02 pm
Eight points clear of third and you've still managed to find a negative. Unbelievable.

Though he has a point. I feared that it was going to be the story of our season - as draw specialist and ropey goalkeeping. Seems a long time ago does that.

If things were different we’d be running away with it by now

Vegas Claret · Post by **Vegas Claret** » Sun Dec 11, 2022 11:21 pm

Stan Tastic wrote: ↑
Sun Dec 11, 2022 11:02 pm
Eight points clear of third and you've still managed to find a negative. Unbelievable.

Stan, I'm just speaking facts. There's not an ounce of negativity at all. Did you lose your 50p or something ? ffs

lakedistrictclaret · Post by **lakedistrictclaret** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 9:38 am

Hibsclaret wrote: ↑
Sun Dec 11, 2022 10:35 pm
Those dropped points were all part of the growth and in a new team it is pretty much inevitable to drop points. Having only lost two games is incredible.

Some of the fans still need to give their head a wobble at times. There was one behind me today lambasting Muric to launch it every time he was passing it about. Surely people can see the playing style starts with drawing the opposition further up the pitch so that we can play through the press with more gaps. It’s a risk v reward strategy that has lead to one balls up against Blackpool but has started moves for a good number of goals.

Can’t wait to see the team with Zaroury back and it gets out of third gear which is where we currently are.

There is a bloke who sits near me in the Long Side Upper who continually shouts "Get It Forward" when we are patiently playing our passing game, looking for a decisive through ball or a winger with a bit of space.

Some of our fans don't understand whst they're watching.

Chobulous · Post by **Chobulous** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 9:49 am

The team didn’t throw away any points, they were a group of players that had only just been brought together and were finding ways to get used to a new manager’s style of play and each other’s capabilities and limitations in match play. It was a miracle that they were in so many winning situations against experienced championship teams. They are now gelling together and the exciting thing is that there is probably more improvement to come.

Jellybean · Post by **Jellybean** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 9:50 am

Must admit lake district that I've only recently clocked the first half tactic of pass pass pass to grind the opposition down and wear them out chasing the game, then we up our tempo second half, bring on quick wingers and it often ends very well!

Dyched · Post by **Dyched** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 9:55 am

Those dropped points were won back with our late goals. The team learned from early season mistakes and now battle all the way until the final whistle.

1882Clarets1882 · Post by **1882Clarets1882** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 10:13 am

I like being 8 points clear of 3rd place.

OffTheBar · Post by **OffTheBar** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 10:21 am

What’s incredible is the sheer depth of the squad. Yesterday was a joy seeing Benson, Twine, Churlinov, Taylor and Barnes all coming off the bench - it didn’t weaken us at all. Those 5 would undoubtedly be in most teams in the division’s first XI. The football is sublime.

NewClaret · Post by **NewClaret** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 10:45 am

OffTheBar wrote: ↑
Mon Dec 12, 2022 10:21 am
What’s incredible is the sheer depth of the squad. Yesterday was a joy seeing Benson, Twine, Churlinov, Taylor and Barnes all coming off the bench - it didn’t weaken us at all. Those 5 would undoubtedly be in most teams in the division’s first XI. The football is sublime.

Although they didn’t actually change the game this time (3 coming on very late), to have that bench is incredible. And to say Westy and Roberts weren’t present. Crazy.

You would hope that as the season plays out, that becomes a big advantage in terms of being able to deal with injuries and rotate without weakening the team.

Pickles · Post by **Pickles** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 10:49 am

Imagine how much better it would be now if we'd won those kickabouts against Newcastle in July.

PremierLeagueClass · Post by **PremierLeagueClass** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 10:54 am

It really is so much better without VAR.

There will only be a few sets of fans that have witnessed the contrast of VAR (Premier League) vs no VAR (championship). I’d wager every other fanbase from a club that’s come down recently would agree it’s an infinitely better experience. So nice to be able to celebrate a goal again.

Bosscat · Post by **Bosscat** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 11:00 am

PremierLeagueClass wrote: ↑
Mon Dec 12, 2022 10:54 am
It really is so much better without VAR.

There will only be a few sets of fans that have witnessed the contrast of VAR (Premier League) vs no VAR (championship). I’d wager every other fanbase from a club that’s come down recently would agree it’s an infinitely better experience. So nice to be able to celebrate a goal again.

VAR was brought in to stop clear and obvious errors, to iron out mistakes ... Trouble is ... its also brought in the 2mm toe offside ... different Referees interpretations of an incedent ... so no hard and fast rules ... in otherwords its a total clusterf*** ...

Yes you are spot on its fantastic to celebrate a goal instead of waiting for that bloody signal from the ref after an inderminate period of time .......

Swizzlestick · Post by **Swizzlestick** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 11:03 am

Dropped points are often the making of a team. And when you’re lead by a winner and leader like Kompany, it’ll be made clear that you learn from it and it doesn’t happen again.

Stproc · Post by **Stproc** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 11:05 am

Vegas Claret wrote: ↑
Sun Dec 11, 2022 10:11 pm
We'd be miles ahead had we not thrown all those silly points away at the beginning of the season

You learn from mistakes and I’m sure that our subsequent development is built on how we didn’t finish teams off, or reap the goals that our play deserved.

NewClaret · Post by **NewClaret** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 11:15 am

1882Clarets1882 wrote: ↑
Mon Dec 12, 2022 10:13 am
I like being 8 points clear of 3rd place.

And if you assume Rovers will drop off, it’s 9 clear and far superior GD.

houseboy · Post by **houseboy** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 11:19 am

Nice see twine come on for a cameo. The question with him though is, as good as he might be, how do you introduce an untried player (Championship that is) into a team that is so wonderfully good at the moment? I can see him having to put up with being a sub and maybe playing in cup games. In time he might be magic but where would you play him just now?

Bosscat · Post by **Bosscat** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 11:31 am

houseboy wrote: ↑
Mon Dec 12, 2022 11:19 am
Nice see twine come on for a cameo. The question with him though is, as good as he might be, how do you introduce an untried player (Championship that is) into a team that is so wonderfully good at the moment? I can see him having to put up with being a sub and maybe playing in cup games. In time he might be magic but where would you play him just now?

This is the acid test for VK ... keeping players like Twine and Darko Churlinov keen ... his and Twines time for now will be coming off the bench ... if they are half the players we think they are, they will use these short appearances to show VK and us exactly why we bought them.

But you can see already the team spirit, and how the whole squad is united behind VK and each other. Seen by the reaction and how they celebrated by running to VK after the goals yesterday

Exciting times ahead

gawthorpe_view · Post by **gawthorpe_view** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 11:32 am

We're on, top of the league,
Looking, down on the Basta*ds,
And the only explanation I can find,
Is the style that we've found,
Since Vincent Kompany's been around,
His team's put us all, on top of the world.

With sincere apologies to The Carpenters.

ClaretLoup · Post by **ClaretLoup** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 11:34 am

Vegas Claret wrote: ↑
Sun Dec 11, 2022 10:11 pm
We'd be miles ahead had we not thrown all those silly points away at the beginning of the season

Fair point VC. Some of those silly points they lost were when we had a forward line of Barnes, Costelloe and Bastien.

Burnley have a great opportunity to go miles ahead in the next six games. Four of them are at home vs mid table teams.

Swansea in tenth position is the highest placed side that they will play in that sequence, a team they totally destroyed at Turf Moor.

tiger76 · Post by **tiger76** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 11:35 am

Good lording it at the top isn't it, and given the enormous squad turnover I for one am thrilled about how well we are doing.

Squad depth is incredible and that combined with Vinny now coming to terms with this league bodes well for the rest of the campaign.

2 defeats all season, and those at tough away venues, and now we're finally starting to show our class in terms of results.

Promotion isn't inevitable, but it'll take a massive downturn in form for us not to in the top 2, Sheff Utd look the only ones capable of staying with us.

IWOODLOVETT · Post by **IWOODLOVETT** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 11:48 am

NewClaret wrote: ↑
Mon Dec 12, 2022 10:45 am
And to say Westy and Roberts weren’t present. Crazy.

You would hope that as the season plays out, that becomes a big advantage in terms of being able to deal with injuries and rotate without weakening the team.

You could add a couple of other names into the mix : BP-F, Lowton, Egan-Riley, MCNally, Bastien, Long, Dervisoglu, Costello.

Phew !!!!!! Oh and somebody called Anass Zaroury (we don’t need Weghorst at this stage).

Bosscat · Post by **Bosscat** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 11:51 am

gawthorpe_view wrote: ↑
Mon Dec 12, 2022 11:32 am
We're on, top of the league,
Looking, down on the Basta*ds,
And the only explanation I can find,
Is the style that we've found,
Since Vincent Kompany's been around,
His team's put us all, on top of the world.

With sincere apologies to The Carpenters.

Little bit of a tweak here and there and it would work

NewClaret · Post by **NewClaret** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 11:52 am

IWOODLOVETT wrote: ↑
Mon Dec 12, 2022 11:48 am
You could add a couple of other names into the mix : BP-F, Lowton, Egan-Riley, MCNally, Bastien, Long, Dervisoglu, Costello.

Phew !!!!!! Oh and somebody called Anass Zaroury (we don’t need Weghorst at this stage).

Have to say, I’d forgotten those guys. What a squad we’ve developed!!

4:20 · Post by **4:20** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 12:00 pm

I've tried, in vain, to try and get my wife into football for 6 or 7 years at this point. She watched the 2nd half of England v France and was into it and yesterday she watched the first half with me and was well into it, her own words were "wow, Burnley play really good football, I prefer watching them than France, they pass it around so well and they seem to move quicker". This morning, during our breakfast natter, she said "Ashley Barnes is only 33?" and then "You can see the players love Vincent Kompany when they celebrated with him after the goal", then it was "Will he go to Manchester City?......Oh my god I think I'm getting into football.....that doesn't mean I want to talk about every day..." to which I replied "ha ha! you've got a sliver of the bug.....you don't have to watch us Vs Middlesbrough this Saturday but it would be nice if we could watch us play Man U on the 19th".......

Vincent Kompany's Burnley has captured the imagination of my wife. Incredible.

1882Clarets1882 · Post by **1882Clarets1882** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 12:04 pm

NewClaret wrote: ↑
Mon Dec 12, 2022 11:15 am
And if you assume Rovers will drop off, it’s 9 clear and far superior GD.

Shipping 7 goals in consecutive games to your 2 nearest rivals, its fair to say the drop off has already started ! Lol.

RVclaret · Post by **RVclaret** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 12:05 pm

To make it look / sound even nicer…

Our main ‘rivals’ for automatic are, for me, Norwich and Watford (given their squads and money to spend in Jan).

Currently a 9 and 10 point gap respectively, with an additional ‘point’ then added for having a far superior goal difference.

NewClaret · Post by **NewClaret** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 12:07 pm

1882Clarets1882 wrote: ↑
Mon Dec 12, 2022 12:04 pm
Shipping 7 goals in consecutive games to your 2 nearest rivals, its fair to say the drop off has already started ! Lol.

I think it’s fair to say that having “you’re ******* ****” sung at you two games on the bounce might have a negative impact on morale.

There’s a chance they turn it around I suppose but their loss rate being so high suggests to me that they’ll drop off!!

redcloud203 · Post by **redcloud203** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 12:13 pm

totally agree - nice 2 be top

https://youtu.be/f9-erfd5hxI

Hibsclaret · Post by **Hibsclaret** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 12:32 pm

Odds on at the bookies now to win the title. It’s like printing money tbh. Still have 3 places on the each way so to be odds on before Christmas tells you all you need to know about the teams chance of being champions let alone promoted.

As for Twine it will be interesting to see how he is integrated because if he doesn’t get much playing time will he be good enough for the premier league.

RVclaret · Post by **RVclaret** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 12:40 pm

Hibsclaret wrote: ↑
Mon Dec 12, 2022 12:32 pm
As for Twine it will be interesting to see how he is integrated because if he doesn’t get much playing time will he be good enough for the premier league.

Twine will be playing more often than not, just needs to get match fitness now. Kompany ball often needs some guile in between the lines to unpick defences and there’s no one, aside from him, who’s a natural in that role. Doesn’t mean he starts every game, but I’d bet he’ll feature in near enough every game.

Colburn_Claret · Post by **Colburn_Claret** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 4:28 pm

Pickles wrote: ↑
Mon Dec 12, 2022 10:49 am
Imagine how much better it would be now if we'd won those kickabouts against Newcastle in July.

Gut wrenching, but a day later I thought it would be a blessing in disguise.

Mind, I had no idea we would turn out to be as good as we have. It isn't just the winning, or winning by big margins, but the way we have started to dominate games, and make good teams, look distinctly average, or down right rank. Nobody could have imagined that.

houseboy · Post by **houseboy** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 4:30 pm

Bosscat wrote: ↑
Mon Dec 12, 2022 11:31 am
This is the acid test for VK ... keeping players like Twine and Darko Churlinov keen ... his and Twines time for now will be coming off the bench ... if they are half the players we think they are, they will use these short appearances to show VK and us exactly why we bought them.

But you can see already the team spirit, and how the whole squad is united behind VK and each other. Seen by the reaction and how they celebrated by running to VK after the goals yesterday

Exciting times ahead

You know Boss I’ve been a Claret all my life and first saw them play in ‘68 (Derby County FA Cup third round) and I remember the ‘team of the seventies’ as Adamson called them, but I cannot remember anything like this in that time. Thomas,James, Flynn, Dobson etc were brilliant, or could have been if we hadn’t sold them, but I have seen nothing as exciting as what we have going just now. I keep having to pinch myself to make sure it’s happening.