How come no one warned me how truly s**t the EFL highlights program is?

The game at their place will be one for Barnes then 😬 Seriously though, something we will have to get used to dealing with. Under VAR there is so little of that now in the PL because some camera picks it up and let’s the ref know.

Said we are top of the league said we are … Only managed to see short highlights so far but from what I’ve heard and the stats it sounds like we absolutely dominated them. 70% possession, 16 shots and 5 on target to their 2 shots and none on target. I guess a fair complaint would be we only scored one and on another day could easily have dropped points having been in total control. Of course every game won’t be like that but it’s nice to start with a win. On to Luton next. I’ll be watching out for how you do against QPR.

McNeil has had a very poor 18 months. There is a player in there but I wonder if there is the mentality at times. I am not sure Everton and Lampard are the best move for him but you never know. I wish the lad well but fear he’ll end up a bit part player with his confidence further shot. on O’Hare, if the figures being talked about are true I don’t see it happening. We just won’t/can’t drop 10 million on one player when we still need maybe 4. Of course these fee’s often become ‘up to 10 million’ with add ons etc. Coventry to their credit have seemed determined to keep him so far so I suspect that deal is simply not going to happen. Shame as many do seem to think he will make a big difference.

This - they got 4 more points than we did. Sure marginally better - after spending 400 million you’d hope to be more than 4 points better than a team with an average net spend of 5 million a season. I enjoyed your relegations, especially the one to league one. Only fair you take some pleasure in ours 😬

Perfect storm. No real investment in the squad for 3 years, allowed contracts to run down and then relegated. The saving grace is the wage bill will have dropped significantly.

Seems so re wingers, at least for now. Width from the full backs, Cullen (or AN Other) to drop into a back 3 when we are on the attack seems to be the plan. Highest form of flattery mate 😂 No real need to be. First of you had a team from last season, one that did well and needs tweaks more than surgery. We have to buy 2/3 of a team/squad. The players we’ve signed are young and largely unproven at this level. I don’t expect a flying start, is going to take some time for the team to gel and get to grips with the system.

I haven’t seen O’Hare play but he seems highly regarded in the Championship and our pursuit suggests Kompany highly rates him. Not sure we are willing to pay 10 million though.

McNeil confirmed to Everton. We apparently going back in for O’Hare as well as a Scottish centre half called Hendry 😂

Manuel Benson from Antwerp - https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2022/07/25/3m-ace-compared-to-gareth-bale-could-be-burnleys-new-maxwel-cornet/?amp - not sure the Bale comparison is going to be that accurate but sounds like he’s a pacy winger.

You - and every Burnley fan along with most of football - were right. Two obvious transfers the minute we were relegated. Though the links to McNeill have been slow to solidify. Already in for Benson, still need a striker; apparently the Brazilian can play higher up the park. Pre season suggests our formation will more or less be 4 2 2 2, full backs to push on and provide width, Cullen to drop into a back 3 when we are on the attack. I’m sure they are working on targets. Will take sometime I think for things to gel - though Cullen really understands the system and to some degree so does Harwood-Bellis having done half a season with Kompany. I hope our fans are patient, I don’t imagine us having the most amazing start.

We had little choice with Tarkowski - he was going no matter what and once relegated so was Mee. Brownhill has an edge - and Barnes definitely does. Actually Roberts and Taylor don’t mind mixing it up either. Don’t know so much on the new lads of course but Cullen has played in this league so knows the score. I’d love Cornet to stay but that was never happening - and he’d need careful managing physically. But I’m with you - we could have a blinding season, a disaster and anything in between. Right now I can’t call it. We better be ready for the 12th November though 😬

That’s the story - I may have been conservative in my fee estimate. Suggestion is 15 million paid over 3 years.

I’m assuming on Roberts just based on us signing another right back - could be they’ll play right side in tandem as both are attacking full backs. The figure for McNeill is around 10 million plus add ons. After his last 2 seasons probably as good as we could do post relegation. I think there is a player in there but I’m not sure we will ever see it. Everton fans will be far less forgiving of him turning circles to avoid using his right. Cornet also sounds like will be done in next couple of weeks - he’ll be a miss but both were expected to go. If we bring in a new striker and replacements (after Manuel Benson from Antwerp apparently) we couldn’t really hope for much more.

Hearing it’s all but done. Also hearing we’ve signed a Brazilian right back which must suggest Roberts is on his way - or Lowton.

So you have a manager with zero experience in the league, have lost players, will lose your main striker and have no top level experience but will be top 6 but we will be 15th even though we have already made signings, currently have a lot of top level experience. You may well be right but I think your view is based on little more than what you hope will happen - knowing it’s a no lose scenario. Guess right you can claim brilliant insight, wrong and it’s passed off with a shrug. I have not a clue where we - or you - will be. In fact beyond expecting Norwich and Watford to be there or there abouts I have no idea who will do well and who not so well.

More or less my thoughts - just slightly worried about definitely picking up!

So what is it about your team that makes you better equipped?

Shhhh we are still trying to talk up his fee.

Taylor, Roberts, Brownhill, Cork, McNeill, Westwood? Not sure who I would swap them for from Championship squads.

We shouldn’t be carrying the standard attitudinal baggage. Our squad will be 70% plus new players, new managerial team etc. We may well struggle but not because we are big time ex premier league Charlie’s. I’m intrigued. Our manager is at least as equipped as yours for the league. We’ve got a decent mix of experience and youth. Why would we be so close to the bottom - or is your own prediction for Rovers to be down that end soon.

As big as they are they were skint, in big financial trouble is how I’ve read it. He’s gone in, brought through young players and turned them around by all accounts. One thing that intrigues me with the ones negative about Kompany, having looked at the level JDT has managed at what makes anyone think he’s better equipped to navigate the league than Kompany? Nothing on a striker since that one deal fell through - but links persist to a possible loan of Delap. I think Cornet would need to be managed carefully re number of games/minutes if he stays - but again I doubt this very much. I can’t comment on Twine sorry beyond Kompany’s public statement basically suggesting the training was a bit more than he is used to. I doubt that - for a while you were contenders for automatic promotion. Appreciate you faded but you must still have some very god players.

Untested at this level? The Belgian league isn’t exactly a Sunday kick about. As for BFS - not even in your wildest dreams. I’ve had a cheeky bet on us winning it as the odds were so good. He would but it is highly unlikely we keep him beyond this window.

I’m always amazed at how much you know about our finances - though in fairness all your pronouncements so far have been proved wrong. Can we afford 10 million? Of course we can. At that price does he fit the model? Not really is my guess as the sell on potential becomes diminished. I agree on the centre back area, it is a worry - but we have 2 excellent full backs. We also have Cullen, Cork, Brownhill and Bastien as centre mid options. Will Cornet and McNeill go? I’d be amazed if Cornet doesn’t but so far no one has been willing to pay the price - and a strong rumour that the relegation clause in his contract is a media myth. On McNeill, I just don’t know, not a single solid link to him so far. I imagine the biggest danger is the deals are last minute and we can’t bring in replacements quickly enough. As for Barnes and Rodriguez, Jay in particular has recent experience at this level as well as the one above. I think he in particular should do OK - we need another, different striker though IMO. That said Kompany may well start with one Striker and Twine at number 10. I don’t expect to pull up trees, especially early in the season but I do how that the team will grow during the early part. Not all fans are as pragmatic as I am so I’m sure some will be disgruntled but for me I’ll wait and see. It’s unrealistic IMO to expect this team to hit the ground running. Anyway I’m watching Peter Hook and The Light on Friday so I’ll be saved the horror show I’m anticipating until late in the evening.

Amen to that - except of course we come out on top in’t crapico. To be clear, only rumours, I have no facts. Suggestion is big fight involving Gibson and a leading member of the management team which led to Dyche being told to either back his back room member or lose him. Lots of stories of bullying and also heard one where a player, possibly Cornet, was gripped by the throat. General suggestion is things had become quite toxic and Dyche very much believed his own hype. Not certain I believe everything that’s been said but he was sure quite arrogant.