Burnley will be one of the new boys of the Premier League next season and they will face the top flight again, this time as the Champions of the Championship. The Clarets didn’t do too well the last time they got promoted to the top flight in 2014/15, they went straight back down with the same manager in charge. This time around the experiences of the 2014/15 season might be the most significant factor for Sean Dyche to secure Premier League survival for his club.
The biggest cause for concern, however, for Burnley has been their inability to bring in quality players in the transfer window. Right winger Johann Gudmundsson and keeper Nick Pope have been the two players brought in while right-back Jon Flanagan was secured on loan. The manager has been left frustrated in the market so far, with almost everybody else strengthening their teams paying some hefty amounts, Burnley have already been left trailing behind.
Joey Barton and Michael Duff were two key components of the team that won the championship last season, this time around the Clarets would have to cope with their absence as well. The fans would be hoping that the club will still do some business in the market. Sean Dyche certainly is keen to add to his squad. He has recently remarked, “It’s a tough market. We have moved forward and other clubs have moved forward. But we know we have to add to the quality level. I have told the board the type of quality and the players we need. The chairman is working actively to try and get them over the line. It’s down to him to find finance for the deals. But there are still those certain guidelines the club wants to work under.”
From his own words, it is clear that the team and the manager are well aware of what needs to be done, as well as the situation of Burnley with respect to the others around them.
The team has some great team spirit and chemistry, though. There is a good camaraderie within the members of the squad. The experiences of the 2014/15 season would come in handy with Dyche being much better equipped to deal with certain situations based on his previous experiences. Nevertheless, there’s no doubt that one way or the other, The Clarets would be facing another tough season in the Premier League where they would be fighting for their lives to secure survival. Unless there’s some movement in the market in the coming days, or to be frank even with movement, Burnley would be the bookmakers favourite of being relegated next season just as they went down on the two previous occasions they were promoted. It is up to the boys and Sean Dyche now to prove them wrong and defy the odds.
