Burnley Season Preview: Europa League adventures

With the 2018-19 Premier League season coming up, The Football Lab spoke to Burnley fan Robbie Coppack (@Robbiecoppack).

Last season, Burnley finished in the top seven of English football for the first time since 1973-74. You must be one proud Claret?

It was a pretty surreal season, in a weird way it has similarities to England’s recent World Cup campaign – fans chanting “It’s Coming Home” without it really being genuine until we reached the semi-final. As Burnley fans, it was much the same. We were dreaming about a European Tour from around October time after we won at Goodison Park without really believing it would become a reality. But I’m pretty certain no Burnley fan would’ve predicted a top ten finish let alone a European place finish.

Lots of fans are excited about the Europa League campaign and understandably so. However, given that Sean Dyche so often likes to name an unchanged line-up, is this squad suited to balancing domestic and continental duties?

We have never really taken any domestic competition seriously since Dyche took charge. I’ve witnessed us lose in the last minute of extra-time at Accrington in the League Cup, then six month later, lose in the 90th minute at home in the fifth round of the FA Cup to Lincoln. It still haunts me and I’m seriously concerned we’re going to prioritise our Premier League campaign, which is fine, but just get knocked out to Aberdeen and most of our hard work last season will be made to be pointless.

Goalkeeper Nick Pope did really well after Tom Heaton picked up an injury early on last season but he, too, has picked up an long-term injury. How big a blow is this?

Devasted for him, bit of deja vu with it looking like another shoulder injury which ruled Heaton out last season. Dyche suggests it’s a bad one. But with Heaton on his way back to full fitness we’re still in good hands.

Right-back Matt Lowton and midfielder Ashley Westwood looked like Championship players at Aston Villa, but appear to have developed significantly at Turf Moor. Is that a testament to the work Dyche has done?

We are in a positon now where no Burnley fan can question Dyche’s signings. Lowton was the obvious replacement when Trippier left for Spurs and him having first team football on a regular basis really helped his development. But credit to the winger on the right hand side, whoever that maybe, Lennon, Gudmundsson etc. They help out their full back’s defensively so neither get seriously exposed so he’s always had protection around him.

Westwood was always going to be a backup player to Defour, Cork, Hendrick but since Defour’s injury he really stepped up. He never gives the ball away, so composed and just keeps it simple. Never over complicates things just keeps the ball moving and he suits our system perfectly.

Ben Mee and James Tarkowski was your most common centre-back pairing last season, but you might have to rotate more in the Europa League. Can you see Jimmy Dunne – who was brilliant at Accrington – getting a chance?

I’ll be honest, I don’t know a great deal about Jimmy Dunne until he scored in a recent pre-season friendly for us. But from what understand he had a really good season at Accrington but to be rotated in and out of a side probably won’t do his development any good just yet. I think another loan move will be on the cards as we are seeking a fourth centre back this summer.

Stephen Ward looked like a steady performer last term. Do you feel the more attacking option of Charlie Taylor could have it’s uses?

Charlie Taylor played a handful of games last season and did really well, some of his deliveries would cause any teams problems at this level. But Ward gives us that defensive solidarity and is so consistent you can’t have him out the side long term especially when we have to grind out a result.

Jack Cork started all 38 games in 2017-18. How do you assess his partnership with Steven Defour?

Again another consistent performer, his form did drop slightly when Defour was ruled out for the season and Westwood come in, but once he got back in the groove, he always a man of the match contender. He’s always there to intercept passes between the lines, last ditch blocks etc. What a steal he was for £8m. Swansea must rue that sale.

There cannot be too many footballers who barely play due to injury who are loved by fans more than Dean Marney is at Turf Moor. Are you sad in some ways to see him leave?

Of course, he was vital to our first promotion under Dyche in 2013/14 and had a brilliant partnership with David Jones and became a real fan favourite. But most fans understand when it’s time for players to be moved on, I don’t think a fully fit Dean Marney would get into this Burnley side now and I fully believe he’ll be an asset for any club fighting for promotion in Championship.

You seemed to look better last season when you went to 4-4-2 with Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes up top. Do you expect the duo to be regulars this term, or will Jeff Hendrick keep his place just ahead of the midfield four?

A fully fit Steven Defour and we suit that 4-4-1-1 system more, but we persevered with that system when Defour was ruled for the season just after Christmas and we struggle to find a win after that. So we went back to basics, 4-4-2, two big men up top and got the ball forward quickly and some Premier League defenders can’t cope with it. I think long term, 4-4-1-1 with Hendrick in that slightly advanced role, even if he doesn’t suit it. But wouldn’t be surprised to see us go back to basics again once results drop and key players get injured.

Johann Berg Gudmundsson looked impressive last season with his boundless energy, scoring the equalizer against Man City as well. Do you prefer him on the right, or on the left with Aaron Lennon taking his usual place?

He suits playing on the right more than the left in my opinion, he had a really good understanding with Matt Lowton last season and when he comes inside onto his left foot, you know he will cause problems. It’s a weird one with Lennon, he is also better suited to the right rather than the left, but once Brady is back to full fitness I expect Lennon take a place on the bench as he struggled for form after a promising start with us.

Robbie Brady only started 15 league games last year before his injury. Do you value his set piece contributions?

He was probably playing the best football of his career before his knee injury away at Leicester and he was really becoming a favourite amongst supporters after a frustrating start when he joined from Norwich in January 2017. While he is a threat from set-pieces, you show him a couple of yards on his left foot and you’ll get punished. Just look at his assist for Chris Wood’s equaliser at Spurs and his goal at Ewood Park.

You had one of the oldest first elevens in the division last season with an average age of 28.5. Would you have liked to freshen up the squad more this summer?

Dyche likes his experienced players, which is fine by me. You know they will flourish under his philosophy.

Clarets aside, what are your thoughts ahead of the Premier League season as a whole? How do you assess your competitors?

It’s a fascinating campaign really, with the transfer window shutting before the season starting no side other than West Ham and Wolves who have really thrown money around, until the Richarlison deal goes through at least anyway at Everton. I’m not sure City will retain their title, they have struggled to recruit especially in centre of midfield, I think Chelsea will be a stronger outfit this season. I think it’s really difficult to predict the bottom three, I think Brighton will be in around it, along with Watford, Cardiff, Huddersfield but I can’t say who will go down.

Where will you finish?

I don’t expect another season like the last, there has to be a reality check and I hope fans don’t turn if we are struggling in the bottom half of the league. So I’m going to predict a 15th place finish and nice journey into the group stages of the Europa League.

The Football Lab’s Verdict

Burnley’s recruitment has been slow: nothing has yet been done to freshen up an aging squad suited to having full weeks to prepare for games, which they now might not be able to due to the Europa League. Ashley Barnes is an honest striker, but Nick Pope is out with a long-term injury and if fatigue sets in, they will have to lean on players only good enough for the Championship, where they may reside next season. 19th