Five years, gone backwards.

[blueheeler1]

I think there's a better horse racing analogy. SD isn't a horse, he a trainer. In horse racing it's no use buying your trainer a load of moderate handicappers and expecting him to win the Derby. The same small group of trainers win most of the big races every year because they have the wealthiest owners who buy them the best horses. There are plenty of trainers who are just as competent outside of this group, but they can't compete at the highest level because their owners can't compete financially, and the horses they train simply aren't good enough. No matter what the trainer does or how proficient he is, he can't win the Derby with a moderate handicapper.

Sean is one of those trainers, his horses are moderate handicappers, and until his owners buy him better horses, no matter what he does, he might train a winner or two at Catterick and Ripon, but he isn't going to train a Derby winner, in fact it will take all his ability to train one of his moderate horses to be even good enough to run in the Derby, let alone win it.

OK Like your analogy and have one observation to make.

Every high achieving Football Coach has bought a lemon or three along the way.

You always hear of the club that did well spending loads of money but how many other "horses" were in the stable at the same time that were bought and paid for but hardly ever made it to the first team?

If we apply the same logic to Burnley we find that SD has had a few bob to play with over the years and a number of players brought in but some haven't been good enough despite repeatedly being played.

One possibility--and its only one, mind, is that with money being at a premium in our club maybe the Board aren't that certain that SD and his advisory team can land the right players.

It is clear that we can't afford to keep purchasing players then put them on good wages and either not pay them or they are not as good as believed.

I have cited Wood, Hendrick, Lennon, Wells and Walters as not up for it but remember they were SD purchases.

So I and others have to be convinced that the entire problem rests with a tight-fisted Board and not to some extent with the uncertainty of the transfer selection process and the costs.

[sinkov]

"It is clear that we can't afford to keep purchasing players then put them on good wages and either not pay them or they are not as good as believed. I have cited Wood, Hendrick, Lennon, Wells and Walters as not up for it but remember they were SD purchases."

Some selling platers there Blue I agree, the only question I would ask is who were the better players he should have bought with the money available ? The Wells and Walters signings have me mystified, I assume Lennon was only ever meant to be a stop-gap until Brady is fit again, I can't make my mind up about Wood, I'd like to see him fully fit and given a run of games, but Hendrick was an error, we vastly overpaid for a player who isn't good enough. Surprisingly though there are plenty who would disagree with us about Hendrick, plenty who rate him, I do think most are seeing the light now though and realise we've been sold a pup.

Dyche isn't perfect, he makes mistakes, but he does suffer from having to work with a recruitment team not fit for purpose, and a board who are not prepared to take even the tiniest financial risk to back him in the transfer market. He has my sympathy.

[blueheeler1]

"It is clear that we can't afford to keep purchasing players then put them on good wages and either not pay them or they are not as good as believed. I have cited Wood, Hendrick, Lennon, Wells and Walters as not up for it but remember they were SD purchases."

Some selling platers there Blue I agree, the only question I would ask is who were the better players he should have bought with the money available ? The Wells and Walters signings have me mystified, I assume Lennon was only ever meant to be a stop-gap until Brady is fit again, I can't make my mind up about Wood, I'd like to see him fully fit and given a run of games, but Hendrick was an error, we vastly overpaid for a player who isn't good enough. Surprisingly though there are plenty who would disagree with us about Hendrick, plenty who rate him, I do think most are seeing the light now though and realise we've been sold a pup.

Dyche isn't perfect, he makes mistakes, but he does suffer from having to work with a recruitment team not fit for purpose, and a board who are not prepared to take even the tiniest financial risk to back him in the transfer market. He has my sympathy.

Ahh. The impossible question.

I do not know all the players in the world to comment on whom we should have bought in lieu of our lemons.

I do not have a scouting system in place or any contacts with any of the league teams.

Nor access to all the Players' managers.

But I am certain that there would have been quite a few out there among all the professional footballers who would have done a better job for us.

I note all the names that have been mentioned on this Board over the years but not one player mentioned has ended up with us.

My contribution was to suggest Burnley trawl Australia for young football talent.

We have many 17-20 year olds who play high level football but have very limited opportunities to display their talent outside of the Academy teams.

I suggested Burnley could do a lot worse than send a couple of knowledgeable scouts over here to check them out.

I'm specifically talking about coming to Perth WA.

So maybe SD and co should be looking at this Board for inspiration?

[sinkov]

No guarantees even with young Aussies though Blue, we have one at Clitheroe now, arrived here via the Australian Youth team, Blackburn's Academy and U18s, Bolton U23s, Bala Town and Bamber Bridge. He's travelled a very similar route to that almost all of Burnley's young English scholars have over the last ten years.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

If I was on the same money that she is raking in I am sure that I too would be very charming and come across as a really bright, enthusiastic person without having to make any effort to be so..

Bit daft coming from you is that Supersub6! Dianne does not set the bar for MP's salaries or Shadow Cabinet extras.

[Supersub6]

I am aware of who sets the bar for their salaries etc. I was just making a statement of fact that, with the money she has coming in, plus the extras, she has no reason not to be charming and enthusiastic in her dealings with people, particularly those of her own political persuasion, as indeed I always am and with just afraction of her income. It costs nothing to be pleasant.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

I know one or two well off folk who wouldn't give the likes of me and you the time of day Supersub6.

Sinkov readily springs to mind!

[sinkov]

I know one or two well off folk who wouldn't give the likes of me and you the time of day Supersub6.

Sinkov readily springs to mind!

I'd certainly give the time of day to Sub, if I could catch him between his world cruises. I'm just a poor boy BT, told you before, if it wasn't for the bookies I'd really be on my uppers.

[Supersub6]

I'd certainly give the time of day to Sub, if I could catch him between his world cruises. I'm just a poor boy BT, told you before, if it wasn't for the bookies I'd really be on my uppers.

I'm with you now sinky, without the help of the bookies. I did what I wanted as soon as I retired and that was with my sons' blessing! No inheritance for them ---I must be a really good socialist!