Join the debate as Clarets return to the top flight

[Footymad]

One more week until the new Premier League season kicks off. - more here..

[The Bedlington Terrier]

We are staying up. Fact.

[Vintage Claret]

We are staying up. Fact.

You are more optimistic than me BT. Having watched all our preseason games I'm not filled with any optimism, but I do hope that I am wrong.

[outwoodclaret]

You are more optimistic than me BT. Having watched all our preseason games I'm not filled with any optimism, but I do hope that I am wrong.

Lazio was my first preseason watch. We were a little curate’s egg I thought with some good passages of play. I am sure our recent three signings will go straight into the starting line up with Ugochukwu replacing Laurent and Broja coming in for Foster.

[ballcock]

None of the recent signings got a game.
I suspect they have had little pre-season and are 3 -4 weeks away from being in the starting 11.

Foster looked his usual slow sluggish self.
In the warm down when he was doing sprints alongside Walker and Hartman he looked so slow compared to those 2.

Hartman looks a decent player with a real engine. Walker looked class still quick compared to our other full backs, and picks out some quality passes

The new season is starting a month early for us. Lets hope the same applies to our opponents, who will also be blooding in new signings

Played with 3 centre backs Ekdal, Esteve and Walker. I prey that Ekdal doesn't make a start next Saturday, he looks way to slow for this level as proved under Kompany. I fully expect that we either sell him, or send him out on another loan abroad

[The Bedlington Terrier]

None of the recent signings got a game.
I suspect they have had little pre-season and are 3 -4 weeks away from being in the starting 11.

Foster looked his usual slow sluggish self.
In the warm down when he was doing sprints alongside Walker and Hartman he looked so slow compared to those 2.

Hartman looks a decent player with a real engine. Walker looked class still quick compared to our other full backs, and picks out some quality passes

The new season is starting a month early for us. Lets hope the same applies to our opponents, who will also be blooding in new signings

Played with 3 centre backs Ekdal, Esteve and Walker. I prey that Ekdal doesn't make a start next Saturday, he looks way to slow for this level as proved under Kompany. I fully expect that we either sell him, or send him out on another loan abroad

I wrote exactly the same comment about Ekdal in a social media post and got crucified for it.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

Problem with the EPL is that a slow start kills you and I agree with you on this ballcock, we will need a month to bed the new guys in.

[sinkov]

Problem with the EPL is that a slow start kills you and I agree with you on this ballcock, we will need a month to bed the new guys in.

At least this time they should be bedded in early September then, usually after our late August Trolley Dash it's the end of September before they're bedded in. We've signed players for the positions we're short, we've signed players with PL pedigrees and we've got them in relatively early. I'm happy with this window, and it may not be over yet.

Two years ago we went down without a fight, this time I reckon we're going down WITH a fight.

[ballcock]

Problem with the EPL is that a slow start kills you and I agree with you on this ballcock, we will need a month to bed the new guys in.

Parker will be pissing in the wind for the 1st month. I hope he has a thick skin, because the bed wetters won't give him any slack

[Swissclaret]

I watched the Lazio games. The team showed some promise.

I don?t know why SP went with a back five to include Ekdal. Both Hartman and Walker are effective wing-backs but Cullen?s instincts seem to be to drop back into defence.

Hannibal covered every blade of grass as usual and got stuck in.

Unfortunately Edward?s and Koleosho showed their lack of physicality. Both were simply brushed off the ball by the Lazio players.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

Parker will be pissing in the wind for the 1st month. I hope he has a thick skin, because the bed wetters won't give him any slack

He's earned our respect and surely we will give him a bit of time to sort out his best starting eleven ballcock? Trouble is not every Burnley fan is as forgiving as thee and me.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

I watched the Lazio games. The team showed some promise.

I don?t know why SP went with a back five to include Ekdal. Both Hartman and Walker are effective wing-backs but Cullen?s instincts seem to be to drop back into defence.

Hannibal covered every blade of grass as usual and got stuck in.

Unfortunately Edward?s and Koleosho showed their lack of physicality. Both were simply brushed off the ball by the Lazio players.

My youngest son who is totally Clarets Mad is very astute when he sums up our players, he says Edwards and Koleosho are just two Manny Bensons in disguise. Hard to disagree with him and you are spot on with the same assertion S_c. Might have to bring the pair on after 70 minutes when defenders are tired and legs are stretched.

[wmdave_b]

Compared to 2 seasons ago:

Trafford was exposed by his youth last time, now we have a very experienced keeper here who Newcastle fans think is alongside Pope in terms of ability.
The current full backs are better defenders, we made a lot of silly mistakes last time with the passing out from the back, costly mistakes and we kept on doing it. They are also capable going forward. Improved it here I'm sure.
Esteve is now a quality CB with pace, if we can get Tuanzebe/Humphries fit and playing alongside him it will be good. We have improved it.
Midfield, Brownhill gone, Berge gone, Cullen and 2 from Hanibal, Ugo, Flemming perhaps, hopefully improved.
Forward wise, better. Foster still here but able to play because fit. Bashley and Larsen here still. Broja must be an improvement over Jrod, Loum still unknown, Edwards and Anthony are improvements, and we have good backup to bring on as subs.
I'm in the fighting chance group.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

Compared to 2 seasons ago:

Trafford was exposed by his youth last time, now we have a very experienced keeper here who Newcastle fans think is alongside Pope in terms of ability.
The current full backs are better defenders, we made a lot of silly mistakes last time with the passing out from the back, costly mistakes and we kept on doing it. They are also capable going forward. Improved it here I'm sure.
Esteve is now a quality CB with pace, if we can get Tuanzebe/Humphries fit and playing alongside him it will be good. We have improved it.
Midfield, Brownhill gone, Berge gone, Cullen and 2 from Hanibal, Ugo, Flemming perhaps, hopefully improved.
Forward wise, better. Foster still here but able to play because fit. Bashley and Larsen here still. Broja must be an improvement over Jrod, Loum still unknown, Edwards and Anthony are improvements, and we have good backup to bring on as subs.
I'm in the fighting chance group.

We have zillions of selection options now wmd, I'm with you in the fighting chance group.