The perfect Burnley manager

[cricketfieldclarets]

If you could combine the attributes of every manager we have had since our rise from division four, what elements would you choose from each and how succesful would that manager be versus a mourinho or ferguson etc.?

Hyperthetical I know. You can use as many or as few managers as you like but you can only select one thing from each manager so chances are the more you pick the better he would be.

I would go:

Character - Mullen. Although he had his own problems he was a brilliant character. A breath of fresh air very likeable. When he first came here his first three years he was fantastic. Without him who knows where we would have ended up? Shame how his time finished but I only have very good memories of Mullen. Still my favourite time as a claret.

Discipline - Dyche. He has many good traits but the one thing that stands out with Dyche is his ability to get the absolute maximum out of his players regardless of talent. It was obvious how disciplined he is as soon as the defence tightened up. Players are a reflection of their manager and the attitude and commitment of our current lot is an example of that. Bartons behaviour since arriving is a case in point. Bikey wouldnt last two minutes under him with his attitude. He would have been shipped out or he would flourish. No middle ground.

Motivation - Coyle. Maybe it was bullshit. Probably it was. But he motivated that team to things we never expected. How he left was inexcusable but as much as it pains us to say he gave us great times. And its been proven it wasnt through knowledge or ability. Just motivation.

Organisation - Cotterill. He wasnt quite as good as Dyche. He didnt have the same resources either. But he was the same mould. His eye for a player and ability to organise them into a difficult side to beat was the reason we survived comfortably when he came in and we had no squad. Signed some very good players for us in very difficult times.

Flair - Howe. Sometimes it worked. Sometimes it didnt. But we would never see a nil nil under Howe. A Howe attack with a Dyche defence would be a top 6 premier league side. Signed some very good attacking players for us. Austin, Ings, Vokes even Tripper.

Media - Stan. Had to get him in somewhere. I preferred Mullen as a character. They all had an interesting character aside from maybe Howe. And Dyche is very media savvy. But Stan just said it how it was. No pulling any punches. Not sure it would work as much these days but he was great at the time. Player not pulling his weight? Just tells us. Players not good enough? Just sack them! Dont like another manager? Make it plainly obvious. His interviews were always honest, passionate and so funny they were always worth listening to win lose or draw. None of that modern management speak you get now. Good times. He wasnt my favourite Burnley manager but i look back on him with fondness.

Thats all I would go with. I wouldnt pick anything from Waddle except his name, Heath except his assistant and Laws except his daughter!

That manager would win the world cup!

[Sidney1st]

ABC, close thread.

[Bin Ont Turf]

It's hard to see past Dyche for character, discipline, motivation, organisation and media.

But yes, we'll give Howe the flair one.

[COBBLE]

A good thread and everyone will have their own opinion. It's a long time since Jimmy Mullen but he is part of the story. Dyche is
according to Sean, about the ability to recruit players with the right personality traits to fit his model. Cotts and Eddie could certainly
pick em. Stan was so immersed in the game he could pick players he knew personally.

[cricketfieldclarets]

Mullen was the start of where we are today. The roots of todays success.

[ksrclaret]

I was behind Howe at the time but I'm not sure I'd give him the flair attribute. I remember sitting through some pretty drab and dreary games with Edgar and Duff the only ones seeing the ball, although we usually went on to concede so granted there weren't many nil-nils.

Susan's team were pretty exciting to watch though.

[cricketfieldclarets]

The crosses from Tripper to Austins head to the back of the net were a joy to watch under howe.

[tim_noone]

Its a good job manager recruitment as been left to our board as opposeď to the fans picking one.sean o driscoll was always being mentioned a few years back and the chap now at wolves... brian laws apart,weve had some very good managers and one great all round manager in sd. Jimmy mullen and the mexican wave around turf moor was truly fantastic, he came accross as a really nice chap..

[cricketfieldclarets]

Some of that attacking under howe on here.

Austin was some player.

https://youtu.be/KCDVsfVofSM" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[DCWat]

The crosses from Tripper to Austins head to the back of the net were a joy to watch under howe.

It seemed to be the same move and same outcome for weeks on end. I was amazed that teams didn't do something to try and nullify that threat.

It was brilliant to watch.

[cricketfieldclarets]

It seemed to be the same move and same outcome for weeks on end. I was amazed that teams didn't do something to try and nullify that threat.

It was brilliant to watch.

See the link i posted. They were telepathic.

In one game Austin got a hattrick. Tripper set all three up.

[DCWat]

I'd forgotten just how good some of his goals were.

I thought he was unfairly criticised at times for his workfare or lack of. He ran the right channel pretty well and put some great balls in himself.

Probably my favourite striker and there's a fine list to choose from.

[cricketfieldclarets]

Austin was the perfect striker. Quite how anyone could pick Jay ahead of him is beyond me. Sentiment aside.

Austin was quicker than he got credit for, had more ability than he got credit for. Could score from distance, very good with his head but best of all he had what you cant coach. Instinct. Some of them goals were pure reaction.

Austin was a modern payton. Proper striker.

[cricketfieldclarets]

And he was a grafter. You have to be to have the career trajectory he has had.

A lad i work with played non league with him and said he was not only an outstanding player but very committed.

[Bin Ont Turf]

And he was a grafter. You have to be to have the career trajectory he has had.

A lad i work with played non league with him and said he was not only an outstanding player but very committed.

Shushing the Jimmy Mc after scoring a penalty though.

I can't forgive that.

[califclaret]

The perfect Burnley manager Is now managing Burnley.

[evensteadiereddie]

Different eras but Potts and Adamson knew their stuff.

[Quicknick]

John Haworth must have been some manager.

[Roosterbooster]

I agree with CFC for the most part of it.

Organisation, Discipline, Media - Dyche
Talent spotting - Cotterill
Flair - Howe
Overall excitement at the club/Character - Mullen
Playing experience - Waddle
Employing the best assistant - Heath

Nothing - Stan. Couldn't stand the bloke

[ablueclaret]

A very good, I would say largely unbiased, summary of our recent managers, funnily none of them I'd describe as tactically astute, in fact each in their own way was formulaic.
The one who was perhaps most disappointing was Howe because you could see that he was building a very exciting side and as is commented it could be wonderfully incisive at times, but his obssession with building from the back often frustrated that very incisiveness that his sides potentially had.
Coyle still has it for me despite not being anywhere near as good as Dyche in real terms. He encapsulated Roy of the Rovers football and I've never known our supporters take to any manager so totally. That he fell from God to Judas can never hide the fact that he bewitched us with football we will long remember. He was the catalyst that lead to the transformation of this club.

[ablueclaret]

Football managers generally speak gobbledygook SD is no exception, in fact even more convoluted than most. Stan did give it as it was with an added bit of colour.

[Quicknick]

I agree with CFC for the most part of it.

Organisation, Discipline, Media - Dyche
Talent spotting - Cotterill
Flair - Howe
Overall excitement at the club/Character - Mullen
Playing experience - Waddle
Employing the best assistant - Heath

Nothing - Stan. Couldn't stand the bloke

What didn't you like about Stan?

He transformed Waddle's mess.

[cricketfieldclarets]

Shushing the Jimmy Mc after scoring a penalty though.

I can't forgive that.

Really? He had been given grief, scored and celebrated. Dont understand people who get tetchy about players celebrating against their former clubs. It shows disrespect to their current one if they dont. I couldnt care if he cartwheeled past the bob lord as long as we won.

[cricketfieldclarets]

What didn't you like about Stan?

He transformed Waddle's mess.

Stan was a strange one. I too was always unsure about stan and im not sure why. I think some of it was his stubborness and some of it was a too old school approach. See gnohere.

I look back on him with more fondness than i probably did at the time. Had to get him in somewhere as he did a great job for us and we had some good times. But I never took to him like I did Mullen, Dyche or Coyle

[cricketfieldclarets]

A very good, I would say largely unbiased, summary of our recent managers, funnily none of them I'd describe as tactically astute, in fact each in their own way was formulaic.
The one who was perhaps most disappointing was Howe because you could see that he was building a very exciting side and as is commented it could be wonderfully incisive at times, but his obssession with building from the back often frustrated that very incisiveness that his sides potentially had.
Coyle still has it for me despite not being anywhere near as good as Dyche in real terms. He encapsulated Roy of the Rovers football and I've never known our supporters take to any manager so totally. That he fell from God to Judas can never hide the fact that he bewitched us with football we will long remember. He was the catalyst that lead to the transformation of this club.

As much as I dislike Coyle now through hindsight its hard not to agree. The euophoria we experienced under him was something else. I think that the way he left has meant that Burnley fans have never fully shown Dyche the same affection. Wary of a succesful manager and how he might leave. I guess in the modern game you just enjoy it while it lasts.

[ablueclaret]

Dyche has not created the same football philosophy, his teams are not typical of Burnleys history, they are superbly organised, efficient and massively effective, but life enhancing, no.
He has never quite believed his framework allows him to release the inner wolf, I think I have more belief in his possibilities than he does, for me he is the most frustrating of managers, I believe he could be so much better if he released the shackles, in fact possibly the best English manager of his generation, but I fear he'll never do that here, and might find it more difficult when he moves on.
If he stays next season then I'd hope he grows in self belief and really blossoms.

[Fretters]

Just found this on Youtube. Near half hour interview with Stan, published last week:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wB3W_su3ZA" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Bin Ont Turf]

Really? He had been given grief, scored and celebrated. Dont understand people who get tetchy about players celebrating against their former clubs. It shows disrespect to their current one if they dont. I couldnt care if he cartwheeled past the bob lord as long as we won.

I don't remember him getting grief, other than an opposition player going to take a penalty obviously.

There's a difference between celebrating a goal and shushing. I'm not tetchy about it, I just thought that he was a bit of a knobhead.

I know there were two young Clarets in the Jimmy Mc who absolutely adored Charlie Austin, but they didn't after that.

[Quickenthetempo]

I don't listen to any managers these days as they're far too media trained and polite. Stan you could listen to all day as you never knew what was coming, even if you didn't like what he was going to say.

[Quickenthetempo]

I don't remember him getting grief, other than an opposition player going to take a penalty obviously.

There's a difference between celebrating a goal and shushing. I'm not tetchy about it, I just thought that he was a bit of a knobhead.

I know there were two young Clarets in the Jimmy Mc who absolutely adored Charlie Austin, but they didn't after that.

The longside have given Charlie dogs abuse every time he has been back.

[cricketfieldclarets]

Just found this on Youtube. Near half hour interview with Stan, published last week:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wB3W_su3ZA" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Brilliant will watch this tonight thanks for that.

[cricketfieldclarets]

I don't listen to any managers these days as they're far too media trained and polite. Stan you could listen to all day as you never knew what was coming, even if you didn't like what he was going to say.

100% this was the best thing about stan

[Man of Kent]

Austin was some player.

"Was" and "for us" are the three words that are applicable here.

[Roosterbooster]

What didn't you like about Stan?

He transformed Waddle's mess.

As CFC said, he was a bit too old school.

In too much of a bad way for my liking.

I heard too many stories of the way he behaved and treated players. Some second hand, some from people actually in the dressing room. He was more interested in quick fixes when it came to players fitness, rather than following physio's advice. He didn't pull any punches when it came to giving players a dressing down, both behind closed doors and in public. I was never proud to be a Burnley fan when I heard his interviews.

I also heard first hand about him being in the pub drinking less than an hour after we lost against Rovers 5-0. The 2 games against Rovers in that season still stick in my throat. The first game summed up what I think about Ternant. Sloppy mistakes. Careless goals to give away. And that Kevin Ball tackle. Some Burnley fans might look back on that with a sense of admiration for the man. But I look back on it as a moment when we admitted that we had been beaten by our biggest rivals. If we can't beat them, hurt them. It was a disgusting tackle, well deserving of a red, and Kevin Ball as a player epitomises Ternant's mindset as a manager in my opinion. Harsh, dirty, and sometimes downright nasty. The second game was an embarrassment all round. Another hammering with Ternant in charge.

Some of the worst ever displays by a Burnley team in my viewing life were when Stan was in charge (notably the consecutive home hammerings to Gillingham and Man City). I honestly cannot remember ever leaving a Burnley game before the final whistle, but I was begging my dad to leave early for both those games. I don't ever remember watching as many games with any other manager in charge, when I honestly thought "I'm better than you lot".

He also went on and on and on about the collapse of OnDigital, and how it was affecting us so much. One excuse, reiterated time after time, despite so many other clubs suffering a similar loss of earnings.

And the thing that still really bugs me to this day about him, is when he smoked on the touchline. I was embarrassed at the time, and I'm still embarrassed now. And to make matters worse, in his autobiography, when he mentions receiving a letter from a 14 year old fan's parent about it, his reply was simple - "Bo!!**ks". He didn't care.

Looking back now, I'm still surprised we got promoted behind Preston in his second season, and then came 7th in Division 1 twice, missing out on the playoffs by such tiny margins. I am genuinely baffled as to how a team that looked so bad so often, did so well. The statistics show he took a club that had lost its way, to Championship stability. But when I look back at his 6 years in charge, only 1 day stands out. Scunthorpe Away. A lot of my hatred is probably illogical, and probably came from the stories I heard about him early on, causing me to be somewhat judgemental. But if I was to pick an amalgamation of Burnley manager traits since Jimmy Mullen, I still wouldn't choose any of Stan's.

[charlyt]

1. Sean Dyche
2. Harry Potts
3. Jimmy Adamson.
4. Cliff Britton.
5. Jimmy Mullen.
6. Stan Ternent.
7. Brian Miller.
8. Frank Hill.
9. Eddie Howe.
10. Owen Coyle ( Sorry! but he did get us into the Premier)

[Wile E Coyote]

Cotterill was a nutcase, coyle was fantastic for where he got us, Stan was also unhinged and not at all media savvy, Mullen was a likeable bloke,
its a tough one to assess really, they had us in differnt divisions and with varied finances at their disposal.
Dyche has the lot in my view. No contest. Wouldnt wish to be disrespectful to Adamson or Brian Miller, but where we are now, and what has been achieved under Sean Dyche says a lot about his calibre.
I think the media tarts admire his honesty, his football abilities are proven time and time again.
Howe seems to be everyones golden boy, not for me I'm afraid. As our gaffer he was wishy washy . And that bloke he has as his lieutenent makes me squirm. Not Burnley standard in any shape or form.
Laws was vilified, and that was unfair and tacky, Martin Buchan was here, his football pedigree was flawless as a player, something went drastically wrong behind the scenes. I have heard why this failed.
But certainly in the moderen era. Sean Dyche.

[Cirrus_Minor]

Always liked Harry Potts and Jimmy Adamson not far behind. But it is hard to see beyond the current incumbent.

Never seriously thought I would ever say that, what a time to be a claret.

[cricketfieldclarets]

Yeo we are lucky. We should make the most of it while it lasts. Too many seem too quick to want to slate him or replace him. Be careful what you wish for. Look at most clubs post allerdyce.