Burnley’s August-September Progress Report

Life is often hard for a promoted team, and Turf Moor has seen some hard times so far. The Scott Arfield stunner against Chelsea feels as if it was eons ago as the Clarets find life under the lights to be just as difficult as advertised. They have three points, but only one goal to show for it. So, where do they go from here in order to stay up?

Burnley’s biggest strength is their team belief and manager Sean Dyche’s implementation of that belief (the term “Ginger Mourinho” doesn’t come from thin air), and their successes last year in the Championship has everything to do with that. Many predicted that they were relegation fodder in the second tier, and instead they’re plying their trade against Chelsea and Manchester United. Their wage bill is miniscule, and yet they can still compete on a level where they frustrate United and Chelsea to a point. The feel good story though can only take a promoted side so far, especially when Leicester City are the darling of everyone’s eye.

The concerns go just about everywhere else. A team belief and a belief in a tactical system can only take you so far, especially when the class just isn’t there in comparison to the other 19 sides in the Premier League, especially up front. The health of Sam Vokes and Danny Ings has definitely played a role in that (especially considering they scored nearly 75% of their goals last season), but the lack of anything from Ashley Barnes, Marvin Sordell and new signing George Boyd is very concerning. And when Burnley go behind, there’s very little to inspire confidence in them coming back. The team is very consistent, so they know how to play with each other, but the lack of variety going forward and in attack especially with the defense first mentality will keep the clarets back. Their best XI only changes when the two major strikers finally get healthy and on form.

Sean Dyche has done as well as reasonably expected considering his lack of goals and lack of class compared to almost everyone else, especially considering how well this worked a year ago in the Championship. But the lack of plan B is concerning, and the West Brom game is proof positive of the failings of Dyche in certain situations. He has to do well in those games, and win some of them if the Clarets are going to stay up. Maybe if he sets up with a few more attacking ideals in mind then Burnley can succeed, but that tactical mindset is very hard to get out of, especially after you have been drilled in it.

Overall, it’s a 2 out of 5 start for the new boys, and it could be lower if it wasn’t for the days when Burnley’s tactics did work very well. On the days they don’t, it could be a whole lot worse