Manager
The Clarets, who had not enjoyed consecutive seasons in the top flight until the Sean Dyche era, are about to embark on their fourth straight year of Premier League action. Dyche has been the key to this Burnley renaissance, taking what little he has to work with in terms of finances compared to most PL sides, and getting the most out of it. In the second year of their return to the top flight, he guided the Clarets to a 7th place finish and a ticket to European competition, though they were unable to make it to the group stage at the end of last summer. Dyche had earned due respect around the league for that accomplishment, but last season was a much tougher battle to even stay alive, as a dip in defensive effectiveness and many points dropped at Turf Moor had Burnley in a relegation battle until they picked things up in the final couple months of the season. Defense has always been the focus for Dyche, as he has to work around the fact that his attacking options do not have much in terms of pace or a steady playmaker to create chances regularly. What chances do come are usually balls delivered from the flanks, usually targeting one of two starting strikers.
Summer Movement
As previously stated, Burnley’s pockets are not very deep, so they can only afford to make one or two additions that can hopefully add a positive influence to their already-established side. Most of the projected starters come Matchday 1 were not only the main players last season, but the previous one as well. That said, the addition of Jay Rodríguez looks good business and a proper fit at Turf Moor, the club he began his career with. He has had productive spells in the top flight previously with Southampton and West Brom, so, along with familiarity with the organization, it is the right-sized team for him to thrive in. More on him below. The only other acquisition at this stage is left back Erik Pieters coming over from Stoke City, who directly replaces fellow left back Stephen Ward, who was released this summer along with fellow veterans Jon Walters and Anders Lindergaard.
Goalkeeper
The goalkeeper situation at Burnley was a real head-scratcher for this writer until literally moments ago. Most clubs of Burnley’s side are fortunate to have one PL-caliber keeper at their disposal, and yet the Clarets have three. Two seasons back, an injury to club captain Tom Heaton opened the door for Nick Pope to emerge and he was very impressive in that campaign. Pope then was the one who missed most of last season due to a shoulder injury he picked up in a Europa League qualifier on the eve of Matchday One. Joe Hart was brought in and took the job straight away and it took half the season for Heaton to grab the gig back. Well, now all three are fit, it is time for one to be sold. As this column was being written, the rumor of Heaton going to Aston Villa became a reality. So the situation has become much more clear. Hart may be between the sticks on Matchday One if Pope is still not 100% recovered, but once the younger Pope is fit, any slip up by Hart should open the door permanently for the 27-year-old.
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Defense
Last season saw a very stable back four in terms of playing time, with the exception of right back. Matt Lowton entered last season as the top choice, but a combination of injury and poor showings from the Clarets defense that was so much tighter the previous year saw Sean Dyche turn to veteran and yellow-card magnet Phil Bardsley. Bardsley certainly offers the physicality that Dyche wants, but at 34 years of age entering this season, he is getting up there in years. The duo virtually split pitch time down the middle in 2018/2019, and their FPL total reflected it with the pair within a point of each other at season’s end. Bardsley started the Clarets most recent preseason game, though Lowton did come on in the final stages and chipped in an assist. On the opposite side, Charlie Taylor looks to be the preferred option at left back but injury this summer has allowed Erik Pieters time on the pitch. If Dyche feels Taylor is not sharp enough to start Week 1, Pieters will get a look, but Taylor figures to be ahead on the depth chart once he is deemed ready. The center back pairing of James Tarkowski and Ben Mee are set to do it again for another season, and are expected to start every match barring injury, with Ben Gibson and Kevin Long backing them up. If the Clarets can return to their defensive form from two seasons ago, all of their starters should garner fantasy appeal.
Midfield
The biggest addition to any area of the pitch last season did not come from the transfer market, but from a blossoming academy player. Dwight McNeil was hands down the brightest spot on the club last season and, at just 19 years of age, has plenty of room to grow. It took a while for him to break into the XI, having played just under 1600 minutes by season’s end. He should be a locked in starter every week, and Burnley better get the most out of him because he is on a projected path to join a much bigger club at this rate. He can no longer be had a the cut-rate price he was last season, you will have to cough up 6m for his services, but there is reason to monitor him and plenty of upside that could see him make his way into fantasy XI’s before the season is over. Another option for attacking returns is Johann Berg Gudmundsson. Gudmundsson was a great addition two seasons ago but last year saw a bit of a regression, to the point where he was a healthy substitute in stretches. When he is on his game, he offers an attacking model much like that of fellow countryman Gylfi Sigurdsson. He certainly deserves consideration in draft leagues. Perhaps one of the most under-the-radar seasons of any PL player last year was Ashley Westwood. When looking at assist leaders among midfielders in 2018/2019, you see your expected names at the top - Sterling, Fraser, Sane, Eriksen, Zaha and Pogba, all hitting double-digits in that department. The next name that shows up is Westwood. Not thought to be much of a creator in midfield, he notched an impressive eight assists. His higher price tag is an indication of this attacking side, but it is hard to imagine him repeating that feat. Jack Cork will also play a central midfield role on a regular basis, he led all Claret midfielders in minutes played last season, but offers next to nothing in terms of fantasy production. Steven Defour and Robbie Brady are still around, but both need to work to get back into first team contention after being injury-plagued for long stretches in the past two years.
Forward
As of this writing, no other player in the PL has scored as many goals in preseason as Chris Wood (9). That is not to suggest we have a Golden Boot candidate on our hands, but he has the makeup to certainly threaten 15 goals or more. No one scored from inside the six-yard box more than him, and his tall frame makes him a perfect target to head balls home. He should be the first to fill one of two forward slots and draw investment for at least one run of form this coming year. Ashley Barnes was his usual partner up top and would see plenty of action if an injury or poor form hits, but it is new signing Jay Rodríguez that looks to be bouncing Barnes back into a bench role. J-Rod has also been goal-happy this summer and, as stated in the opening, is a nice fit on this club. His 6m price is fair enough and will also likely have at least one run form to get managers looking his way.
Summary
Will we see the Burnley side from two years ago, who were excellent defensively and pulled off some big wins like that opening day win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, or will we see a side like last season, where Turf Moor had lost its “fortress” status and attacking players had little consistency? The opening month should tell us plenty, After a nice fixture Week 1, home to Southampton, they have three tough assignments - Arsenal and Wolves back-to-back on the road, followed by a home date with Liverpool. If the Clarets can find a positive result or two in those three games, then there is plenty of reason for optimism. But, given that tough opening run of matchups, the only players this writer can recommend is Charlie Taylor as a DEF4, perhaps rotating with another 4.5m option for a spot in your starting lineup, or Chris Wood, who has to be beaming with confidence given his productive summer.
Prediction - I see the Clarets doing better than last year but perhaps it is a bit too much to picture a 7th place finish like two season ago. I think they settle firmly in mid-table, in the 10th to 12th range.
