Promoted team analysis – Burnley
Last season
Runners-up in the Championship
93 points (highest Runners-up score since current Championship formation)
Won 26 games
Drew 15
Lost 5
Scored 72
Conceded 37 (lowest in the championship)
Previous season in Premier League:
2009-10 season – 18th (relegated)
Burnley returned to the Premier League following their runners up spot in the Championship gaining an impressive 93 points. The Clarets last stay in the Premier League was in 2009/10 season when they famously beat Manchester United at Turf Moor, sadly soon after manager Owen Coyle moved to Bolton midway through the campaign and despite a gallant survival effort they were relegated. The Clarets outfit that returns to the Premiership may be the bookies favourites for the drop but in manager Sean Dyche you can be certain that they will not go down without a fight. Let’s take a look at their prospects from a fantasy point of view…
The Manager – Sean Dyche
Dyche, who is known as the “Ginger Mourinho” has previously managed Watford and spent some time on the England U21 backroom staff, will keep his players feet firmly on the ground in an effort to re-create what Crystal Palace did last season and remain in the Premiership. A straight talking and no nonsense type of manager, Dyche favours a 4-4-2 system, in last season’s Championship the Clarets used this formation in 40 of their 46 league games. In his 85 matches in charge of the Clarets he has a win ratio of 47%. Dyche has been actively involved in the transfer market this summer and has brought in some seasoned veterans to strengthen his squad. Fantasy Managers should note that Dyche is not one to tinker with his sides, in last season’s Promotion winning team ten players started 38 games or more, Goalkeeper Tom Heaton, along with Jason Shackell and David Jones started all 46 matches.
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The Players
Let’s take a look at some of the players from last season and then some new arrivals-
GOALKEEPER –
Tom Heaton-4.5mln. The former Man United youngster was Dyche’s first signing for the club after arriving from Bristol City last summer. He should be nailed-on to feature in a significant number of games barring injury. Heaton played every one of his side’s league matches and was instrumental in Burnley’s impressive defence. He will offer fantasy managers a good option as a back-up keeper.
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DEFENDERS-
Kieran Trippier-5mln. This highly-rated right-back is likely to be a popular option as a cheapish defender. His set-piece ability and delivery helped him return an impressive 12 assists last season. (top assisting defender in the FPL last season had 8) He could be a consideration in some managers squads.
Michael Duff-4mln. This veteran centre-half played the vast majority of Burnley’s season, though remains to be seen whether Dyche will allow him as much game time in the Premiership.
Jason Shackell-4.5mln. Ever-present at the heart of the Clarets defence, Shackell was snapped up from Derby back in 2012 and has established himself as a key figure in Dyche’s strong backline.
Ben Mee-4.5mln. Mee is the first-choice left-back under Dyche and his three assists last season were overshadowed by Trippier’s tally. He will most likely remain an integral part of the starting 11 but is unlikely to offer fantasy managers the best return in points.
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MIDFIELDERS-
Michael Kightly-5mln. He produced 5 goals and 6 assists during his loan spell before he completed his move from Stoke in the off season. Classed as a midfielder but operates as a winger which could boost his appeal to fantasy managers.
Dean Marney-4.5mln. Marney was snapped up from Hull back in May 2010 – the central midfielder impressed with his several assists last season but let himself down though as he has a habit for picking up silly bookings and was suspended twice last season.
David Jones-4.5mln. The former Wigan midfielder arrived on a free transfer summer and immediately nailed down a regular starting role. Jones also takes a fair share corners to boost his appeal though probably not enough to make fantasy managers select him.
Scott Arfield-5mln. He was brought in on a free transfer from Huddersfield and was used initially as a sub for the first three matches before cementing his place in the starting 11, starting 42 of the following 43 league games. Possible differential potential.
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ATTACKERS-
Sam Vokes – 5.5mln. The former Wolves frontman was a crucial part of the Clarets campaign last year until injury curtailed his season. Having already suffered from a long-term cruciate ligament injury in 2012/13 he had started last season in fine form, with penalty duties helping him find the net 20 times. Unfortunately Vokes sustained another serious knee ligament injury in March and is set to miss the start of the upcoming campaign, rumours suggest a December return. If and when he returns to action and depending on fitness he could make good differential.
Danny Ings – 6mln. The standout player for the Clarets last season he was duly voted Championship Player of the Year. Ings made his debut for England U21s in October last year and with Vokes sidelined through injury, looks set to be the Burnley forward of choice and at only 6m he could make a few managers sit up and notice. Rumours are abound that Ings is wanted by Southampton as a replacement for Rickie Lambert so watch the transfer news.
Ashley Barnes – 4.5mln. Barnes arrived from Brighton during the winter transfer window and his first 10 appearances for the Clarets came from of the bench. When Vokes was sidelined Barnes took his chance appearing in each of the final 11 Championship fixtures.
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New Arrivals-
Dyche has strengthened his squad with six new arrivals this summer Michael Kightly, Matt Gilks, Marvin Sordell, Matthew Taylor, Steven Reid and striker Lukas Jutkiewicz have all completed their moves to Turf Moor. Journeymen pro’s like Taylor and Reid are already known to fantasy managers whilst Jutkiewicz will offer competition up front.
Fixtures
Burnley face a baptism of fire on opening day with a home fixture against Chelsea, the real Mourinho will be in town with his stars hoping to get their Premiership challenge off to a good start. Next up is Swansea away before Man Utd and LVG visit Turf Moor. If the Clarets get a point from these three fixtures they will be doing well.
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Summary
Will Burnley stay up? Im not sure. Could they provide some scares to the opposition? Probably. Whatever happens and with Dyche in charge you can be sure that it will not be because of a lack of effort.
ive got pelle and tadic is there any suggestions instead of one or both of those players
dlynton,
I think you may recognise that there is a risk in taking both – maybe split the risk and swap Tadic for de Jong, Arnautovic or Snodgrass. With the longer-term fixtures as they are, maybe de Jong or Arnautovic shade it.
RMT please:
De Gea-Mannone
Mariappa-Cahill-Cameron-Chambers-Simpson
Hazard-Sanchez-Eriksen-Barkley-Albrighton
Rooney-Remy-Pelle
I could Fabergas/Ramsey to upgrade Barkley-Mata and afford Costa?
Thanks
Defence should work well if marriapa starts!
Good mids and attack if they all start..
Mariappa, Chambers, Cameron all doubts. Simpson I don’t even know. 😛
Also not certain Mannone will be first goalie. Dangerous gamble. I’m gonna go with players that play no matter what.
Why the doubt on Mariappa?
Ask alx-ndr?
I know Chambers and Cameron have competition (which is 2 out of your 5 defenders). Person above me was talking about Mariappa. Maybe he knows something I don’t?
He was pretty solid under Pulis and Palace have just the two recognised cbs right now.
Dont think Chambers and Mariappa are doubts. Have Palace/SOTON signed anyone else who could threaten their positions? They both were decent last season for their teams.
Chambers has to deal with Clyne still. Last season when I bought him it was a war between the 2. You never knew who would play. When Clyne did play he got assists and usually did very well. So it’s a hard one. Chambers obviously a very big talent. But we’ll see.
Clyne will probably move to the other flank to replace Shaw, and he is a versatile full back like Azpi, so he can do that, i think.
That leaves a spot open for Chambers.
Hey guys, this is my first RMT of the season!
Mannone (krul)
Rafael, fellipe luis/azpi, wisdom (chambers, duff)
Hazard, silva, eriksen, de jong (albrighton)
RVP, giroud, pelle
Any/all suggestions welcome!
Again dangerous defense. Rafael (90 percent sure he’s a starter if no now RB will come), Fellipe should start since they paid a crazy amount of money for him (Azpi however wasn’t even all that bad last season, don’t get why they bought Luis), Wisdom (unsure if he will start), Chambers (competition with Clyne). All those players have been on my radar but not touching them because I want 100 percent starters.
I don’t think Azpilicueta is the one being replaced by Felipe Luis, he is a RB by trade after all. Jose complimented him loads last season and said they would have won the double if they had a team of Azpilicuetas. Surely he can’t be dropped… Then again, it is “The Special One”….
Well, he was used as leftback last season right? And you know who is rightback? Ivanovic? You see Mourinho replace him? I don’t. Lol.
Same would have been said about Ashley Cole. No one saw him being replaced at the start of last season… And Mata…. And Lukaku.
If that’s true you actually agree with me. We can’t predict what Mourinho will do so getting Azpi is somewhat of a risk. Would be crazy if he bought a defender for 25m and not play him though. New type crazy.
Raz, picking up from last page. Siggy was a beast for Swans last time he was there and will hopefully play the hole behind the striker. Hernandez is on his way out apparently.
Hmmm, ok. I guess he can replace Barkley/Mirallas.
Yeah, especially until we know if Barkley plays more constitently and Everton have a handful of softer fixtures.
so who do you guys think will be this year’s ramsey or michu?
I could tell you but then I’d have to kill you.
if you tell me then you are very welcome to kill me
Very difficult to say that with lots of new talent incoming.
So you are basically referring to a midfielder in the mid price range? I think it has to be one of De Jong and Tadic. Both seem promising, and De Jong has already scored his first.
obviously its difficult,if it was very easy I wouldn’t have asked that question:P jokes aside ,yeah de jong and tadic are a contenders for it.can we add siggy to that list too?anyone else you can think of?
Yes, definitely both Siggy and Ince will be good shouts at this stage.
Mornin all from the other side of the pond, glad to be back!
Looking for a first RMT of the season. Not that thrilled with the first draft, but gotta start somewhere.
Green, Speroni
FelipeLuis, Distin, Wisdom, Vlaar (Bruce)
Sanchez, Silva, Lallana, DeJong (Hoilett)
DCosta, Rooney (Nugent)
Is that a double WBA defence? Bit dodgy I think; I’d wait to see how they look first. Not convinced Vlaar can maintain his WC form either, and Bruce may not be a starter if Hull play with 2CBs only. I like the midfield and forwards though.
Not sure how Green and Speroni rotate, but QPR is an unreliable side and cleanies will be hard to come by.
Defence is very poor and Distin, Wisdom and Vlaar make a good case for my opinion.
Like the rest of the team though, but with a compromised defence (where we cannot see any Chelsea, United or Arsenal cover), one must expect some solid attackers.
Try again.
QPR and Palace rotate 34 out of 38 weeks home and away. However West Ham rotates 38 and Spurs 34. These last two teams would avoid some difficult GW’s that a QPR/ Palace combo wouldn’t. Not sure Spurs has cheap enough defenders to male it worth rotation, but they definitely rotate very well with Palace and West Ham would be my second choice. QPR/ Palace would be third and mostly for price reasons.
Cheers Pippin and B – good to “see” everyone again! Agreed on a dodgy defense. How about Distin > Debuchy and Vlaar > Williamson? Same money.