Last Night's Q&A with the chairman and Mat Williams

[Andreshotboots]

The only worrying thing to me was with Beyer. It's highly unlikely we'll see him again this season, and possibly longer..Hope the lad can recover quicker than expected..

[Goliath]

The only worrying thing to me was with Beyer. It's highly unlikely we'll see him again this season, and possibly longer..Hope the lad can recover quicker than expected..

If that's the case then we probably have to accept its quite unlikely he will ever reach the same level he was at, never mind become a Premier League centre back.

[jrgbfc]

If Beyer is out that long theres a good chance his career is as good as over. More likely he comes back and just picks up constant smaller, niggly injuries.

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

The only worrying thing to me was with Beyer. It's highly unlikely we'll see him again this season, and possibly longer..Hope the lad can recover quicker than expected..
[/quote

Was the treatment of his injury discussed last night? Do we still have the same physios as last season?

[summitclaret]

We could have had Tella for £15m max and signed this lot for around that each. Ramsey, Tresor, Amdouni, Trafford. Unbelievable Jeff.

[NewClaret]

We could have had Tella for £15m max and signed this lot for around that each. Ramsey, Tresor, Amdouni, Trafford. Unbelievable Jeff.

Not sure how we could’ve done that when Leverkusen signed him for £20m.

[NewClaret]

The only worrying thing to me was with Beyer. It's highly unlikely we'll see him again this season, and possibly longer..Hope the lad can recover quicker than expected..

That sounds bad news. Although it’s mainly all fairly bad by the sounds of it - players wanting out, etc?

Was there any good news shared last night?

[helmclaret]

So, on one hand quite a few on here think Kompany lacked man management skills, but expected players to want to stay??

These players aren’t Burnley fans - why wouldn’t they want to leave if they could play in a top league?

[Andreshotboots]

No and I wouldn't expect that type of detail to be honest for a current player, that's very much private, but the situation certainly didn't sound promising for the lad at the moment. I'd had a few beers and my old memory isn't what it used to be but I'm sure he also said Foster could be 6-8 weeks.

[Andreshotboots]

That sounds bad news. Although it’s mainly all fairly bad by the sounds of it - players wanting out, etc?

Was there any good news shared last night?

I think it was a lot of negative stuff, as they were the questions asked and and were very much relevant to the last few months which was groundbreaking really for our club in terms of sheer player movement.

The positives where SP is very much settled, he's very well liked by both players and staff, he's an excellent coach and probably 99% of the remaining players absolutely want to be here and play for us.

I think that comes across on a match day in terms of the spirit so I've no reason to doubt that..

[Andreshotboots]

So, on one hand quite a few on here think Kompany lacked man management skills, but expected players to want to stay??

These players aren’t Burnley fans - why wouldn’t they want to leave if they could play in a top league?

Exactly. The days of a player living in the town after his career and owning a sports shop are gone.

Players use clubs to progress and get bigger deals and moves, but clubs also spit players out too when they're no longer needed so both parties not without blame.

[morninbob]

Not sure how we could’ve done that when Leverkusen signed him for £20m.

If you read the thread it says we could've signed him for 15m but his agent told us to delay and we could get him cheaper.

[ClaretTony]

What I do think is that previous managers have also signed bad characters, despite these more extensive checks, say Dyche with Gibson. We’ve also had players like Tarks give interviews to the press saying they plan to run their contract down. And our club captain ran his contract down and left after a relegation without a thought.

I think you will find that Gibson is not a bad character but also that Dyche didn’t sign him. Tarkowski did run his contract down but I have no issue with that. And as for our club captain running his contract down, who was that? Ben Mee was released.

[NewClaret]

If you read the thread it says we could've signed him for 15m but his agent told us to delay and we could get him cheaper.

Sorry, missed that, will read again.

[123EasyasBFC]

I think you will find that Gibson is not a bad character but also that Dyche didn’t sign him. Tarkowski did run his contract down but I have no issue with that. And as for our club captain running his contract down, who was that? Ben Mee was released.

Was it not the case that the club only offered Ben Mee a one year deal and he wanted a two year deal

[ClaretTony]

Was it not the case that the club only offered Ben Mee a one year deal and he wanted a two year deal

I don’t think they offered him anything until after the season ended so there was no running any contract down.

[IanMcL]

Just because Roberts was obviously on good terms with Amdouni doesn't mean he didn't kick off.

Given that Esteve also supported on the social media, I would say he didn't 'kick off'.

[IanMcL]

At first I liked Matt Williams, but I struggle to believe a word he says anymore.
He is very loose with words and often strays from truth.

He says 4 players agents told him after the spurs game, his clients won't play for the club again.
There wasn't 4 changes for the team against Forest.

He does seem to shoot his mouth off, as though he is the saviour, whilst dropping others in it.

[IanMcL]

Couple of points

1. Just when you couldn't love Steve any more, we hear this about him. What a guy!

2. As for the players demanding to be sold after the Spurs game good riddance to all of them I say.

3. Really hope Tresor shows us what he can do.

4. The DNA of the club is built around guys like Brownhill, Cullen, Barnes, Cork etc, I feel we lost too many of our core all at once. It is good to hear we seem to have a few good characters that have joined recently.

Kompany made a big play, when he articles, about the culture left by Mr Dyche and how it was essential to retain. Then he destroyed the entire squad!

[jdrobbo]

It was held at the Turf yes, from what I can gather the night was aimed at potential new investors in terms of corporate stuff etc..i was just a guest of one of them, and a fan,.so I was like a kid in a sweet shop

Asking for a friend…were you required to sign a NDA? I hear that they’ve printed off an awful lot of them over the last few years 🫣

[IanMcL]

I expected better from Chris Pearce.

Can't dance with tools in his hands! Safety issue!

[Andreshotboots]

Asking for a friend…were you required to sign a NDA? I hear that they’ve printed off an awful lot of them over the last few years 🫣

Well I'll be expecting a letter from a lawyer very shortly if I did

[Andreshotboots]

If you read the thread it says we could've signed him for 15m but his agent told us to delay and we could get him cheaper.

I understood it as we'd offered £13 million and didn't want to go any higher. His agent was "encouraging" Tella to kick off to basically force the deal through but then along came the Germans. There was also talk of Tellas agent asking for " financial incentives" from Burnley, a cut of the deal basically to try and push it through, again this is according to MW so it's only his side of the story..

[scouseclaret]

To be honest he didn't get emotional when asked about selling the club, he got emotional talking about why he bought the club. He was talking about his dad.
Regarding Tella, Matt was very open and said we wanted him and could have got him for 15 million, we were prepared to pay that but were persuaded to wait by his agent as he thought we'd get him for less. This seemed to be the case until Bayer Leverkusen came from nowhere to scupper the deal.

“…but were persuaded to wait by his agent as he thought we'd get him for less.” Yeah right - agents are notorious for having the interests of clubs close to heart. The only reason the agent wanted to wait was in the hope of a better offer. If this story is true, it is astonishingly, unprofessionally, almost criminally, naive!

If we had Tella this season we’d win the league even easier than we did last time.

[Devils_Advocate]

With regards players wanting out consider two scenarios

• Kompany spends £100m, we go down and nobody wants our players cos they're rubbish

• Kompany spends 100m, we go down but we get get that £100m back by selling half the players cos they're so good and now we've got players like Ramsey, Koleosho, Beyer etc and the £100m to invest

I know which option looks like good transfer business to me and if you're gonna try and make out Dyche had all these brilliant characters well when last we want down under him half the team wanted out and two of our biggest assets had ran their contract down so we go f*ck all money

Kompany worked wonders that first season but it was just to bigger step to take a relegated team, lose virtually every decent player and turn it round not only to get promoted but to also stay up the first season (something Dyche didnt manage)

The fact that we got raided so heavily for players in the summer and that we got such good fees shows Kompany was on the right track but staying up that first season after promotion is so critical yet so difficult

Had we somehow stayed up I think Kompany had the foundations and eye for a player to really grow the club and repeat the longevity in the Premier League that Dyche achieved (after he finally stayed up on his second attempt) but disappointingly for all his talk Kompany looked after #1 and was happy to bail out once our club had served its purpose for him

[scouseclaret]

Some truth in all of that but let’s not forgot we made £80m+ selling Dyche’s team when it was finally relegated. (I often wonder what Dyche might’ve done if he’d ever been given the backing Kompany had been…)

The problem with the model is that if you don’t stay up first time, you’re going to be carrying out a major team rebuild every summer, as you have to sell all your best players on relegation, and replace all those deemed not PL ready on promotion.

[Devils_Advocate]

Some truth in all of that but let’s not forgot we made £80m+ selling Dyche’s team when it was finally relegated. (I often wonder what Dyche might’ve done if he’d ever been given the backing Kompany had been…)

The problem with the model is that if you don’t stay up first time, you’re going to be carrying out a major team rebuild every summer, as you have to sell all your best players on relegation, and replace all those deemed not PL ready on promotion.

Im not knocking Dyche in any way but this messageboard extreme of good and bad and no nuance is just nonsense.

The season Dyche kept us up we spent about £45m when the average spend per club was £83m. Last summer the average spend per club was about £150m so in real terms Kompand didnt have that much more money than Dyche.

When you then consider that Dyche had a net spend of £5m the season before compared to Kompany having a net spend of -£30m Id say Kompany was on a pretty level playing field to Dyche

What Dyche did far outstrips what Kompany did but this idea that Kompany blew 100's of millions and Dyche didnt spend a penny is a long way from the truth

[dsr]

Im not knocking Dyche in any way but this messageboard extreme of good and bad and no nuance is just nonsense.

The season Dyche kept us up we spent about £45m when the average spend per club was £83m. Last summer the average spend per club was about £150m so in real terms Kompand didnt have that much more money than Dyche.

When you then consider that Dyche had a net spend of £5m the season before compared to Kompany having a net spend of -£30m Id say Kompany was on a pretty level playing field to Dyche

What Dyche did far outstrips what Kompany did but this idea that Kompany blew 100's of millions and Dyche didnt spend a penny is a long way from the truth

Perhaps the difference is that Dyche knew that his players were not as good as Manchester City's so they couldn't play like Manchester City, while Kompany never learned that.

[jojomk1]

If you read the thread it says we could've signed him for 15m but his agent told us to delay and we could get him cheaper.

An agent trying to get less commission for himself by suggesting hanging on for a cheaper price

Now that is a first

[morninbob]

An agent trying to get less commission for himself by suggesting hanging on for a cheaper price

Now that is a first

He was trying to get a bigger slice for himself in fact.

[Stockbrokerbelt]

If you read Beyers post around his injury it was a tricky one & the issue had took some finding & the op was to clear it up, no hint of career ending, suggested around 4 month lay off.

[willsclarets]

The only worrying thing to me was with Beyer. It's highly unlikely we'll see him again this season, and possibly longer..Hope the lad can recover quicker than expected..

Was it said specifically that he likely won't be playing this season/longer? Or is that something you're assuming? Not a criticism just trying to establish what's what. I really hope its not that long, he's such a talent

[boatshed bill]

If you read Beyers post around his injury it was a tricky one & the issue had took some finding & the op was to clear it up, no hint of career ending, suggested around 4 month lay off.

Was it Sepsis?

[wilks_bfc]

Was it Sepsis?

If you see the photo he posted recently on instagram of his leg it looks like it could have been

[lakesider]

At first I liked Matt Williams, but I struggle to believe a word he says anymore.
He is very loose with words and often strays from truth.

He says 4 players agents told him after the spurs game, his clients won't play for the club again.
There wasn't 4 changes for the team against Forest.

I don't recall he used those words exactly. By the end of the Spurs game he had been informed by their agents that four of them wished to stay in the premier league. So the club started to prepare for that. They didn't see the avalanche that was coming where 16 players made various moves to leave the club. I think it's unfair to judge Matt Williams on that basis. He is damned if he does or doesn't for speaking out. Something that the club has been criticized for recently by a section of the fans. Personally it's a breath of fresh air listening to him. He's a massive credit to the club and has done his best under very challenging circumstances. And yes, he has nothing to do with team/match selection. On my count there were three squad members only, who threw their toys out of the pram. Don't think this is the platform to say who they were but take a retrospective look at the squad that was available to Scott for the Sunderland game.

[Quickenthetempo]

I don't recall he used those words exactly. By the end of the Spurs game he had been informed by their agents that four of them wished to stay in the premier league. So the club started to prepare for that. They didn't see the avalanche that was coming where 16 players made various moves to leave the club. I think it's unfair to judge Matt Williams on that basis. He is damned if he does or doesn't for speaking out. Something that the club has been criticized for recently by a section of the fans. Personally it's a breath of fresh air listening to him. He's a massive credit to the club and has done his best under very challenging circumstances. And yes, he has nothing to do with team/match selection. On my count there were three squad members only, who threw their toys out of the pram. Don't think this is the platform to say who they were but take a retrospective look at the squad that was available to Scott for the Sunderland game.

I wasn't at the event so can only make an opinion on what comes out 2nd hand.
It's 3 or 4 times with him I don't think his details have backed up what he says.

A bit like the FA guy who says they interviewed/ spoke to 10 managers with some being English after being grilled by the press.
Then the press ask the top English managers who were rumoured to be on the possible list if they were spoken to and they have all said no.

He thought he could get away with making stuff up as he said he won't mention names.
Instead of just saying we got the man we wanted.

[lakesider]

As you say you can only base an opinion on what you hear first hand. He's an extrovert for sure but he does try and tell it like it is. He had a similar rep at Blackpool and a lot of their fans ( I live amongst them!) reckon they would not have got to the premier league without his input despite what the Oyston Mafia had to say.

[BurnleyFC]

Another loss for Premier League Dara today.

[boatshed bill]

Another loss for Premier League Dara today.

I think he's absolutely useless. Why VK put absolute faith in this player is beyond me.

[boatshed bill]

If you see the photo he posted recently on instagram of his leg it looks like it could have been

Life threatening beyond any doubt.

[Andreshotboots]

Life threatening beyond any doubt.

Yes. MW eluded to not a chance this season and possibly much further into the future..

[Cooclaret]

Couple of points

1. Just when you couldn't love Steve any more, we hear this about him. What a guy!

2. As for the players demanding to be sold after the Spurs game good riddance to all of them I say.

3. Really hope Tresor shows us what he can do.

4. The DNA of the club is built around guys like Brownhill, Cullen, Barnes, Cork etc, I feel we lost too many of our core all at once. It is good to hear we seem to have a few good characters that have joined recently.

Professionals work to perform at the highest level they can. This is the cumulation of YEARS of hard work, dedication and sacrifice.

They will always want to play at in the best league, and at the highest level possible.

Kompany first lost the dressing room, and then his own head. Bellamy alongside other seniors told him as much.

If they’ve endured Kompany, dressing room fractures, and a management fall out. They will rightly want out.

Professionals who work so closely for prolonged periods are well tuned to the nuances of change and will want to control what they can control to protect themselves and their careers.

Kompany was a s*^te manager, s*^te tactician, and stubborn to the point of arrogance. It’s normally the rubbish players who make the best managers.

Cork, another player and JRod all took on Kompany on a number of occasions on behalf of the players.

Kompany leaving this club was the best thing to happen in a number of years. Some saw it early, some later and some have yet to admit to themselves he was awful. Doesn’t hide or change the conversation, he’s a legend in his own mind.

[BurnleyFC]

I think he's absolutely useless. Why VK put absolute faith in this player is beyond me.

To be fair to him, he was one of our better performers towards the end of last season. He was prone to the odd gaffe, though.

Top end Championship to lower end Premier League is probably his peak level, though. A top six Premier League player, as Vincent alluded to, he is not.

[Row x]

Kompany was a s*^te manager, s*^te tactician, and stubborn to the point of arrogance. It’s normally the rubbish players who make the best managers.

If you could point me to where you were saying this around the time of the win at ewood I would be grateful

[Cooclaret]

If you could point me to where you were saying this around the time of the win at ewood I would be grateful

Just have a search bud, I was one of the first to call out Kompany, and I was loud.

I was banned for starting ‘Kompany out’ threads. This was very early into last season.

Stories don’t come out, information isn’t available, players are happier when they’re winning and getting their bonuses.

Don’t be upset because you had to join the band wagon late on!

[Row x]

Just have a search bud, I was one of the first to call out Kompany, and I was loud.

I was banned for starting ‘Kompany out’ threads. This was very early into last season.

Stories don’t come out, information isn’t available, players are happier when they’re winning and getting their bonuses.

Don’t be upset because you had to join the band wagon late on!

So you weren't saying it when we were winning...thought not

[Cooclaret]

So you weren't saying it when we were winning...thought not

So, in your world, once you make a decision, you’re bound by it forever?

Thought not…

[Cooclaret]

I was also too busy complaining about Roberts being bobbins to be worried about Kompany.

[Hipper]

Yes. MW eluded to not a chance this season and possibly much further into the future..

Is this Beyer you are talking about? A shame if so. Him, along with Koleosho, Tresor, and maybe Ramsey, are the players I was hoping would recover their 'mojo' in The Championship.

Of course it's quite possible they will still get that opportunity next season!

[Hipper]

Perhaps the difference is that Dyche knew that his players were not as good as Manchester City's so they couldn't play like Manchester City, while Kompany never learned that.

Perhaps also it was Kompany's wish to be seen as 'playing football in the right way' for his own personal ambition. He's clearly a capable manager but perhaps he misjudged his own abilities (pig headed might be another phrase) to get a team to develop quickly in the Prem.

It worked for him anyway.