ARTICLE: The Claret is finally un-Corked

[ClaretTony]

Finally, as promised, a few words on Jack Cork

See link
https://www.uptheclarets.com/the-claret ... -un-corked

[Quicknick]

Good article, Tony. Penultimate paragraph: you missed the number of league appearances he made. Obviously just a typo.

[ClaretTony]

Good article, Tony. Penultimate paragraph: you missed the number of league appearances he made. Obviously just a typo.

Added thanks

[Jel]

Good read Tony, although there's a few typos in there.

[ClaretTony]

Good read Tony, although there's a few typos in there.

Certainly found a couple with the numbers - for a mathematician, I'm not very good with numbers.

[Jel]

It was 1014 that made us easily the oldest football club that made me chuckle. Even predating the battle of Hastings

[ClaretTony]

It was 1014 that made us easily the oldest football club that made me chuckle. Even predating the battle of Hastings

First one I spotted

[beddie]

I still think JC would have been an asset to us next season.

[DAVETHEVICAR]

Jack Cork one of our best signings in the past 20 years
A brilliant player for us
A brilliant read Tony Thanks

[Murger]

I still remember Westwood being put straight back into the team, despite us looking better with Cork.

[Clive 1960]

Good read, and a top pro was Jack never spat his dummy out once ...

[bfcjg]

"He is very good on the ball, can deal with it in tight situations, doesn’t give it away cheaply and he’s a quality player. He has got good energy levels and he can pick a pass and we need that quality on the ball. I think his qualities will embrace the fact that we want to play good football.” Sums it up for me, totally underutilised this season, he'd have turned some of those defeats into draws and draws into wins. Not saying full 90 minutes but certainly second half and last 20 minutes when we looked so vulnerable.

[Quicknick]

Along with JBG, he should have been offered a one year extension.

[bfcmik]

Along with JBG, he should have been offered a one year extension.

JBG was, I'm sure I read, offered a new deal but turned it down.

[burnmark]

I very much had similar emotions to yourself when he scored the winner against Istanbul. I turned down the chance to go to Istanbul and was on holiday for Aberdeen so was desperate to get to Athens.

[jdrobbo]

A lovely tribute to him, Tony.

I stand very firm in my opinion of Jack Cork, and I’ve never wavered from it. Throughout a great deal of his time at Burnley, he has been criminally underrated at times by many fans… Too slow… Not able to get up the pitch… Negative in possession… Not physically strong enough…

The fact of the matter is, whenever this guy has been in the team, Burnley have been a better side for it: he has made us tick time and time and time again. His leadership and his ability to see patterns in play, as well as having that little bit of know-how (when to give it and when to hold onto it), have made him such a valuable asset to our team.

A massive attribute of his was that he did lots of things that people didn’t take notice of, and only when back at home, watching replays on shows such as Match of the Day, might his role in a goal, or a piece of defensive play, have been truly noted.

Example: https://x.com/claretcrumpet/status/1386 ... ulcfZOLTSA

It’s also fair to say that the last couple of managers have tried to see him off at times, but every time he has come back into the side, he has improved us. He’s just been absolutely brilliant.

Farewell, Jack!

[KefkaClaret]

We would have stayed up in that last year with Dyche if he would have played Cork more, still have no idea why he dropped him.

[jdrobbo]

We would have stayed up in that last year with Dyche if he would have played Cork more, still have no idea why he dropped him.

I was called out the other week for suggesting this. Our points per game was at its highest when he was in the centre of midfield, and when you look at the teams we played, there were some very difficult fixtures in there as well.

[Buxtonclaret]

Along with JBG, he should have been offered a one year extension.

Absolutely

[Claret86]

Brilliant, brilliant player for Burnley. I'll never forget the goal he scored at Preston, right in front of the Burnley fans.
A sign of what VK got wrong last season, Cork still had something to offer and the next Jack Cork should have been brought in, instead of expensive players we never needed.

[DCWat]

I just hope it doesn’t take John Deary amounts of time to find someone to fill his boots. It’ll be some task to find someone as good as Cork was for Burnley.

[Quicknick]

I just hope it doesn’t take John Deary amounts of time to find someone to fill his boots. It’ll be some task to find someone as good as Cork was for Burnley.

I've just watched highlights of an old Rochdale match from 1996 on YouTube. Appalling error by Deary, leading to a goal.

[Fretters]

I'm absolutely convinced that, if Graham Alexander can play such a key role for us in the Championship at 37 years old (I think), then Jack Cork certainly can at 34. Have him playing just in front of the defense, mopping up, either on his own with two in front, or part of a double pivot with Cullen.

He'll be a huge loss.

[ClaretPete001]

Agree with everything written. Cork and Cullen in a double pivot with Berge playing ahead of them would have been very interesting.

Nice article - says it all!

[summitclaret]

Nice tribute. Only thing missing is his England selection. I also think he was grossly underused. We really missed his organisation sitting in front of the back 4 last season.

[ElectroClaret]

Jack Cork one of our best signings in the past 20 years
A brilliant player for us
A brilliant read Tony Thanks

I think this short post sums JC and his time with us perfectly.

Wonderful player, will be extremely difficult to replace,
if not impossible.

[beeholeclaret]

We would have stayed up in that last year with Dyche if he would have played Cork more, still have no idea why he dropped him.

Totally agree with this comment. As much as Westwood was a popular player Dyche was almost obsessive in the way he used AW with the longer ball curled in behind the centre backs. Sadly these tactics didn’t allow Jack Cork to play his role alongside him. A variation in tactics would’ve led to more attractive football and less predictability from our team.

[ClaretTony]

We would have stayed up in that last year with Dyche if he would have played Cork more, still have no idea why he dropped him.

Although he did start over half the games and did miss some of the season with injury.

In fairness, he did only start 12 of the 30 games Dyche was in charge from which we picked up 12 points. He then played the final eight under Jackson.

[matttheclaret]

Although he did start over half the games and did miss some of the season with injury.

In fairness, he did only start 12 of the 30 games Dyche was in charge from which we picked up 12 points. He then played the final eight under Jackson.

Was strange though that he brought Cork in for Brighton, Spurs and Palace where we got 7 points, easily our best run of the season at that point and then put Westwood and Brownhill back together who were both very disappointing all season.

[ClaretTony]

Was strange though that he brought Cork in for Brighton, Spurs and Palace where we got 7 points, easily our best run of the season at that point and then put Westwood and Brownhill back together who were both very disappointing all season.

Baffled me at the time but not quite as baffling as just two starts in the last season and a half - games were crying out for him last season but he was eventually even left off the bench.

[Herts Clarets]

Baffled me at the time but not quite as baffling as just two starts in the last season and a half - games were crying out for him last season but he was eventually even left off the bench.

Didn't fit into the investor's model of buy low, sell high.

[jlup1980]

Was strange though that he brought Cork in for Brighton, Spurs and Palace where we got 7 points, easily our best run of the season at that point and then put Westwood and Brownhill back together who were both very disappointing all season.

I lost count of the number of times I wrote on here and on Twitter that a Westwood / Brownhill midfield would never work. Individually they had their merits but they simply didn't look like a pairing. One of Dyche's biggest failings was his stubbornness at times and none more so than during that season. We were desperate for Cork's composure, calmness and reading of the game.

On the other hand, the Cork / Defour pairing will likely never be beaten for pure quality. They just worked, hand in glove. It was a privilege to watch them in Claret and Blue.

I'm in my mid 40's now so players leaving don't tend to really bother me that much. We've seen it all before after all after all, but this summer has seen two real gems move on. JBG and Cork will both be missed. They've played a huge part in a successful part of our history. I hope we see Cork back as part of the management team at some point.

[ŽižkovClaret]

I'm absolutely convinced that, if Graham Alexander can play such a key role for us in the Championship at 37 years old (I think), then Jack Cork certainly can at 34. Have him playing just in front of the defense, mopping up, either on his own with two in front, or part of a double pivot with Cullen.

He'll be a huge loss.

With respect, its not the same Championship. I guess Cork and JBG's next steps will prove their true current level for the next 1 or 2 years.

We aren't short of options in either centre midfield, or on the wings. It was time.

[The Shire Claret]

Cork Should have had double the appearances for us and I bet we would have won more game with him in the team

Criminally under rated for me

[Ashbourne claret]

Is there an article about JBG yet ?

[ClaretTony]

Is there an article about JBG yet ?

Almost - started them both at the same time but then the manager left and I had to put them on hold. Should go live on Monday.

[Ashbourne claret]

Thanks Tony, The Corky one was excellent.