Having lost just 12 games all season, Sean Dyche’s Burnley have managed to achieve a feat that they had not done in over 50 years. With 54 points on board at the end of the season, The Clarets finished in the 7th place in the points table and will play the Europa League qualifiers next season. This is the first European campaign at Turf Moor in 51 years and Dyche will believe that his side are moving in the right direction.
But how has Burnley’s season been, as a whole? Here is a mini-season review of an exciting season for The Clarets:
3 Players Who Impressed:
James Tarkowski:
With 43 blocks, 219 clearances and 143 headed clearances, the 25-year old English defender was the most effective Burnley CB this season and is one of the major reasons why The Clarets were hard to beat for even the best of the teams in England.
Nick Pope:
After the injury to Tom Heaton early in the season, Pope stepped up to the plate and turned into a first team star pretty quickly. He was one of the most consistent shot-stoppers in the league and managed 114 saves, helping Burnley concede just 39 goals all season.
Chris Wood:
Though not the most attractive striker in the league, Wood managed 10 goals in 20 league starts and also picked up an assist, standing as Burnley’s most productive player. He not only troubled the best defenders in the league but has also shown that he is up there with the best strikers in England.
3 Players Who Disappointed:
Jeff Hendrick:
With just two goals and two assists in 34 league games, Hendrick found no consistency in the campaign and remains one of the most disappointing players for The Clarets this season.
Sam Vokes:
Though he managed four goals and an assist, Vokes was expected to be the spearhead for Burnley but failed to have enough of an impact in his 30 league appearances.
Charlie Taylor:
In a season where he lost his first-team spot, Taylor, who yet made 10 league starts, had little to no impact on Burnley’s run to a finish in the top-7 of the points table.
Season Rating:
For a side that finished just six points off the drop zone last season, Burnley have done extremely well, with their limited budget, to break ensure European football next season. Sean Dyche has been nominated for ‘The Manager Of The Season Award’ and will give Pep Guardiola a tough fight for what he has achieved at Turf Moor.
Rating – 8/10
Stats Courtesy: Whoscored