Burnley in fine shape for a final push - Interview Thursday, 28th Apr 2016 23:58 by Clive Whittingham Burnley are unbeaten in 21 league games, since Boxing Day, but still in a three-way fight for promotion. LFW’s regular Turf Moor correspondent Ian Brookes remains confident. Three into two doesn't go, are Burnley going to do it? IB: Yes, we are and if the permutations of possibilities work out, we could clinch it versus QPR. Prepare yourself for a hullaballoo like you’ve never seen if it happens. You can stay and join our party though. It would make for another truly, memorable season, but also be poignant and one we’d dedicate to Ian Britton. Ian scored the winning goal in our 2-1 last game of the season victory versus Orient back in 1987 that kept us in the Football League and the old Division Four. Ian died aged 61 in March. I’d like to see Boro go up with us, a Northern team and proper fans. If you are left in third, would the psychological blow make the play-offs a struggle or do you fancy yourselves either way? IB: I’d be flabbergasted if we do end up third, and I think the disappointment would be palpably real, it would remind me of dancing with the best looking girl at the disco all night but then she leaves with another bloke. Not that it ever happened to me, you understand. If it did, then we’ve got a strong jaw and mentality, and I’d be confident we would just get on with it. Whether the fans have the same bottle to recover from such trauma and go again, I’m less sure. We’ve shown in the recent games at home to Boro and away at Brighton that we just keep going in the face of adversity and have a discipline to get a result when losing in the final minutes. There is a visible team spirit and camaraderie, we just never give in — a run of 21 games unbeaten tells you something about our resolve and tenacity. If you are promoted, what would need to be done to avoid an immediate relegation like last time? IB: We had Heaton, Keane, Barton and Gray in the PFA Championship team of the year — the spine of the team - and we are a stronger, more experienced team, seven of the regular starting XI this season played in the Premier League last time out. Having said that, you’d like to think the board and management team have learned the lessons of being too cautious — or too loyal to the players that won promotion — and would invest more this time. So we would need to look at the midfield, I think the starting back five are strong and going forward have strength, but there is no depth in the middle and we have five in the squad who play here who are all 30+. I’d also love us to bring back Jay Rodriguez from Southampton, Burnley born and bred, he’s had some real bad luck with injuries there since he left us, and with Charlie Austin, Pelle and Long as other forwards in the squad, he’d be better bringing his boots back home. So, I do think we’d be more prepared, have more resolve, and have a stronger squad, but definitely have to look at Burnley’s first ever £10m+ player coming in. It was a gamble to do what we did last time out, and I think it’s paid off in terms of a taking a step backward in order to move forward with more purpose based on a long-term vision, but if we do go up, we have to build a first XI and squad to stay up at first time of asking. Not a fan of snakes and ladders. And if you stay down, any suggestion players would have to be sold? IB: None would have to be sold, but I think mid-table Premier League teams would come after some of the team - Michael Keane and Andre Gray for example. Anything obstructing another run at promotion next season if it comes to that? IB: Other than mindset, no, and depending who came down — I think Villa are in freefall, but if Newcastle and Sunderland came down then it would be a tough season to battle them. Depends who misses out on the play offs too — Hull and Derby would be strong to go again, but I’d focus on us and not fret about others. I think it’s all about managing expectations. Promotion via the playoffs in 2009 was unexpected, straight promotion in 2014 was also a surprise if I’m honest. Before this, we hadn’t been in the top division since 1976. We’ve got to appreciate that this is one of those ‘moments in time’ when we have a great manager who has built a great team and given us three great seasons. This won’t last forever, we all know that, so it’s about capitalising on the momentum we have and seizing the opportunity before us.
IB: A number of fans have said that, but I’m a bit flummoxed by the comment to be honest. Too many draws in last six games? It’s just one of those things, it's only because Boro, and Brighton in particular, have also hit such exceptional form latterly that are we even considering it. WDWWWDWDWWWWWWDDDWWDW Looks good to me - 14 wins and sven draws - 49 points from 21 games, I'd take that all day long. So many green W's next to Burnley in the BBC Sport form table, it looks like a sat nav picking out all the Waitrose stores in Surrey….I’ll get my coat. In the last six, two draws are from games with Boro and Brighton, home to Wolves where they equalised in the 93rd minute is the only ‘blip’ really, and let’s be honest, you’re not going to win every game as Barcelona have shown. IB: Surprised you say ‘suffered’. Like most folk, when he arrived at Burnley I was a little unsure, but he’s simply been a standout performer for us this season, his relentless effort, focus and commitment on the pitch has been there for all to see. When he first came into the team he was all about audacious long-balls from the centre of the pitch — about 50% of which ended up in the stands — but he quickly changed, and played a much more composed and compact game, short passing, moving things on, tackles well and often. The best accolade I’d give him is that he’s played like Bryan Robson in terms of endeavour and energy. He wins headers he shouldn’t, wins tackles when they are 30-70, and is going in the eighty ninth minute like the ninth. He is always our most competitive, energized player going into the final ten minutes of each game. Why has he been so effective? He was very complimentary about Sean Dyche’s omelette skills when he met at Dyche’s house back in August to discuss a potential deal. He also described Sean Dyche as "the most impressive guy I've sat in front of for a long, long time" so I think it’s simply about man management and mutual respect between them. He always wants the ball, takes responsibility and puts himself about. He plays on the edge for sure, but is consistently fouled much more than he fouls. I have to say he gets a lot of soft, undeserved yellow cards.
Short, medium and long term aims for the club. IB: Short-term aim is to get £10m+ from Liverpool for Ings, the tribunal is this week. Thereafter our immediate short-term aim is obviously to win our next two games. I’ll work out what next after that. Beyond that, whether we get promoted or not, continue to move the club forward on and off the pitch with the focus and growth mindset that the board and Dyche have fostered over the last three years. There is clearly a long-term strategy for the organisation as a sustainable business and as a football club, and its refreshing to see the long-term goals clearly articulated and becoming a reality. We have a strong balance sheet as well as a strong squad of players. The fact that the club is lead by directors who own the club, who are all from Burnley and were originally fans before stepping into the boardroom, creates a sense of purpose and connection. We know who we are, the connection between the town, the club and the people is really strong — everyone in Burnley supports Burnley, whether they go to the games or not, many can’t due to the simple economic realities of C21st football. Alongside this, if not this season then next, to get back into the Premier League and stay there. I’d like to think we can replicate the success of Stoke, Swansea and Southampton and become a recognised and respected top tier club, but we don’t have multi-millionaire benefactors. So long-term, simply, to have a football club and a team that gives us pleasure, enjoyment and some success every season, where our heritage of is there, but the forward view is exciting, relative to where we are within the financial setting of football and the geographic/economic realities of where we are as a small northern town. We are an ambitious club, a proud and major part of the town’s identity and culture. We are Burnley, super Burnley, we are Burnley from the North, as you’ll hear next Monday. Pictures — Action Images Photo: Action Images Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.
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