On the negative side…
A quick look at the pre-World Cup Championship League table sees the Clarets perched right at the very top of the summit. 41 points from 21 games in a very competitive division speaks volumes for Vincent Kompany and his legion of new recruits and how well they have adapted to life in the lower league.
Kompany was an elite high-level player during his time at Manchester City and the Belgian national team, his current stock his justifiably high in his new manager’s role following his time in the hotseat at Anderlecht and now at Turf Moor. How long he can be persuaded to stay at Burnley Football Club really is anyone’s guess.
The media attention and publicity Kompany brings has created a worrying consequence to Burnley Football Club and its supporters. Kompany’s Clarets are now playing a high press, point winning, possession-based type of football, totally at odds with former Burnley boss Sean Dyche’s more direct 4-4-2 footballing philosophy.
It is almost beyond argument the current Championship leaders from East Lancashire with the best goal difference and most goals scored are the best team in the division.
Burnley’s current stock of loan players are impressing so greatly it is becoming obvious that the possibility of the loaning club calling time on the loan spell is increasing by the day.
The stand-out performer for the Clarets is the current England under-21 captain and Manchester City player Taylor Bellis-Harwood. An ever-present for Burnley this season and the springboard of the possession-based Clarets’ attack, the youngster is an impressive defensive centre-back in addition to his other footballing skills.
Pep Guardiola has not hinted of a recall to the Etihad but media attention on Burnley’s pivotal centre-back means EPL scouts are circling like vultures over a dead wildebeest. Wolves and Everton have both been rumoured to be interested in capturing the youngster’s signature. Equally worryingly for Burnley fans other on loan players are also attracting not dissimilar attention.
Struggling EPL team Southampton are presently steeped in the top league’s relegation mire and are woefully short of goals. The new Saints manager Nathan Jones may well look at Burnley loanee Nathan Tella who has become a firm Clarets fans’ favourite with his happy demeanour and knack for scoring important goals to such an extent Tella well be the subject of a January loan recall to his home club.
Jordan Beyer joined Burnley from Borussia Monchengladbach on loan for the remainder of the season in August, so it looks unlikely the German under-21 international will be recalled by his parent club in January. Beyer and Harwood Bellis have developed into an outstanding pair of centre-backs, and it can be no coincidence their success is due to being coached under the tutelage of one of the EPL’s finest ever central defenders.
Kompany’s eye for talent, his links within the professional game, and his burgeoning reputation has made it relatively easy to attract players like Muric, Vitinho, Beyer, Taylor Bellis-Harwood, Benson, Zaroury, Tella, Churlinov, Twine and Bastien to Turf Moor. The big question for Clarets’ chairman Alan Pace is whether or not to attempt to capture Taylor Bellis-Harwood, Jordan Beyer, and Nathan Tella on permanent deals.
Can Burnley Football Club afford not to with the lure of another bite at the EPL cherry now in plain sight. I suggest not.
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