bluebruce

93 onwards is hardly missing the glory years?

Now that we know he's leaving for free, I think it's an interesting question, maybe worth a poll: with hindsight, did signing Ben Brereton prove to be a waste of money? 6-7 million on his fee. Unknown amount for signing on fee, unknown amount of wages but reputed to be low (I once read on here it was believed to be about 8k p/w I think it was). Some slight debate over exact numbers, but the below shouldn't be questionable... First two seasons a complete bust, waste of a shirt. One goal each season. Third season contributed effectively, 7 goals from out wide, played nearly every game. Fourth season phenomenal..up to January, then essentially vanished as a force (partly circumstances beyond his control like injuries, Chile callups etc a big factor, but ultimately we're talking about what we got out of him). Fifth season very good until January, again. Then a bit of a liability most of the rest of the season until the last day send-off. The club achieved zero playoff placements and zero financial return on investment. We were never in relegation fights during his effective years, so I think it's hard to argue he saved us from relegation either (guess you never know where we'd have been without his goals, but I don't see it). So, that's what we got out of him and during his time here - was it worth it? Personally, I'm going with no. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't judge the worthiness of most transfers by whether we reached the playoffs, or we'd say every transfer we didn't make a profit on was a waste. But this was a very, very substantial outlay for a club of our financial strength, and none of the money came back to us. I don't think his wage particularly comes into the equation as we'd still have had to pay someone else a similar wage to be a solid contributor, and let's say 1 or 2 million of that fee too. I'm not talking about someone as good as Ben was at his best, just that we'd have bought someone else for the role who for the sake of argument let's say was an average contributor. I know someone is going to say it, and yes the club is to blame for not managing his contract and sale better, but that's not the question I'm asking here. No coulda woulda shouldas, just, in the end, did this transfer work out to be a good one for the club, worth what we spent?

Why though? If JRC can play as a defender, he can play as a physical midfielder.

Can't believe one poster above is pleased they made it into the playoffs because of him. Personally, I hope they get dry-bummed in the playoffs and contract a venereal disease. Metaphorically speaking.

The recruitment team headed by the man who used to head our recruitment team, until Mowbray - whilst still our manager - encouraged him to go to Sunderland. He then went on to poach at least one more of our recruitment team. Fuck Tony Mowbray. Charlatan who even now has some of our fans hoodwinked.

Lol where has Nixon said you might get Adam Wharton for 3 mill? Even he can't be that stupid.

That's not the smoking gun you think it is. He doesn't even describe himself as a Burnley fan, he says they (his friends) are. Most players aren't really fans of anyone, their experience with football is very different to a normal fan's, it's a career. He would come if it was the best move for his career. Not that I'm advocating we sign him, excellent player in this league over the years but getting on now. I'd rather look to the future.

Including yellow cards. Somehow they only got one.

Someone said he should be sacked at half time. That's all, nothing to read into.

Thanks for the heads up, I'll make sure to avoid ever watching it.

Fair enough, we don't disagree, it was the way you phrased your post, something like today is the final nail in the coffin for the villain, then immediately named him. Sounded like you thought today had some significance in regards to him. His cuntish credentials were firmly in place a long time ago.

Take that point from that handball away, and they suffer our fate, missing out on goal difference. Infuriating.

I think Brittain's mostly poor performances since coming back made that difficult.

The first part of that second season is why there was pressure on.

Some cunt.

Feel free, but today doesn't make any difference to how much of an inept cunt Waggott is, and it won't cost him his job either if that's what you're implying.

You can't put a bottled season to bed by not bottling one half of football.

Does it? Why does it?

Could be a very important question for next season. If Brittain gets back to his early season form after a full preseason, could be the way forward.

Is this the first game we've come from behind to win all season?

What's that song? Can't make out the words.

It's just unreal that we can't come from behind all season, then come from 3-1 down to be 4-3 up as soon as it ends up meaning nothing because of results elsewhere. Had tons of opportunities to come from just 1 down and blown them, taking just one of those would have us in the playoffs. Again, cocktease of a season.

As far as he will know though, there's pressure today. They won't know the other scores.

House shopping in Spain.

I felt like there was one, just couldn't think which it was. If we sneak a winner we'll have bettered that one. Fuck me Brereton, decision making has been shit but suddenly he's a goal threat again, now it won't matter. It really is a cursed season. The cock tease of all cock teases.