Dave reflects on the South Wales win.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

Dave Thornley kicks off the New Year for Clarets Mad with a reflection of the Clarets recent trip to South Wales.

Show of hands please; can anyone remember any other season in which the Clarets have established such complete dominance of their division as they are currently displaying?

The fourth division championship season of 1991-1992 perhaps? The season which the current shirt design pays a nod towards. There are some interesting similarities between that season and this: Then, as now, Burnley were under new management; then, as now, they began the season slowly; then, as now, they went on a long run of victories punctuated by a five-goal reverse at the home of their closest rivals and then, as now, Burnley played a brand of football which was exhilarating in its attacking intent.

The division championship back then was secured with two games remaining but if Vincent Kompany’s Clarets continue their current trajectory; the Championship title this season will be done and dusted much sooner.

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves though, there is still a lot of football to be played, still things which can, and most probably will, present challenges. But the simple mathematical fact is that Burnley will have to lose five of their remaining twenty games, and third placed Blackburn win all twenty of theirs, for the Clarets to be caught.

The new years’ trip to Swansea City brought forth the latest set of three points. It is a measure of a good team that goals come from multiple sources. Last week, against Birmingham, Conor Roberts chipped in from his right back position; on Monday his full back partner in crime Ian Maatsen scored twice to set up the 2-1 away win.

Maatsen’s goals, both in the first half, came from a free kick – displaying a dead ball ability previously hidden – and a more speculative effort from the edge of the Swansea penalty area.

The previous fixture between the two teams, at Turf Moor in October, saw Burnley at their most fluent and relentless, sweeping Swansea aside by four goals to nil. On their own patch however, Swansea are usually a tad more resilient and shortly after Maatsen’s second goal they pulled one back.

Burnley though were able to hold on to their lead through the second half and complete the first of what is likely to be many league doubles.

The Championship season takes a pause now to accommodate the third round of the FA Cup, which for Burnley means a trip to Premier League Bournemouth and a chance to measure themselves against the sort of team they will need to beat next season if all goes to plan.

Bournemouth themselves are rumoured to be casting covetous glances in the direction of Josh Brownhill, hopefully this will come to naught, and the midfielder will continue his impressive form for the Clarets.

In the Turf Moor departure lounge, packed and ready to leave are Ashley Westwood, bound for the US, and Matt Lowton set to travel to Huddersfield Town. Both have been fine servants of the club and they depart Burnley Football Club with our best wishes and heartfelt thanks.

Finally, a word on the passing of the finest footballer I have ever seen or expected to see. As a young lad watching the 1970 World Cup Final on our very first colour telly, I realized the magnitude and the splendour of what I was watching. For 45 minutes football became poetry and Pele was at the heart of it, both muse and orator. Rest in peace great man, we will almost certainly never see your like again.

From the Editor's Chair at Clarets Mad.

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[sinkov]

I would think 15/16 when we won the Championship under Dyche runs it close, we only lost 5 games all season, and while Brighton and Boro hung onto our coat tails until the end, we were 24 points clear of the 7th placed team. We lost at Hull on Boxing Day, there were 23 League games left, half the season to come, we didn't lose any of them, 16 wins, 7 draws, that was some domination.

[Claret_Matelot]

Top of the Championship Comparisons

04th Jan 2023 Burnley played 26 with 56 points
17th Jan 2022 Fulham played 25 with 51 points (Promoted after 46 games on 90 points)
20th Jan 2021 Norwich played 25 with 53 points (Promoted after 46 games on 97 points)
01st Jan 2020 Leeds played 26 with 52 points (Promoted after 46 games on 93 points)
01st Jan 2019 Leeds played 26 with 51 points (Not Promoted)(Wolves promoted as Champs after 46 games on 99 points)

[kritichris]

Top of the Championship Comparisons

04th Jan 2023 Burnley played 26 with 56 points
17th Jan 2022 Fulham played 25 with 51 points (Promoted after 46 games on 90 points)
20th Jan 2021 Norwich played 25 with 53 points (Promoted after 46 games on 97 points)
01st Jan 2020 Leeds played 26 with 52 points (Promoted after 46 games on 93 points)
01st Jan 2019 Leeds played 26 with 51 points (Not Promoted)(Wolves promoted as Champs after 46 games on 99 points)

That does look promising CM given our slow start to the season.

[Swissclaret]

I would think 15/16 when we won the Championship under Dyche runs it close, we only lost 5 games all season, and while Brighton and Boro hung onto our coat tails until the end, we were 24 points clear of the 7th placed team. We lost at Hull on Boxing Day, there were 23 League games left, half the season to come, we didn't lose any of them, 16 wins, 7 draws, that was some domination.

Duffo maintained that, after Dyche dropped him following the Hull match, the team never looked back!

Rather self-deprecating and said in jest (I hope). Our current squad has the same feel about them.

[sinkov]

Duffo maintained that, after Dyche dropped him following the Hull match, the team never looked back!

Rather self-deprecating and said in jest (I hope). Our current squad has the same feel about them.

I must admit I'd forgotten just how dominant we were in the last half of that season, 55 points from 23 games. Just for comparison, VK's Burnley have picked up 47 points in the first 23 games of this season. So we have seen this sort of dominance before, and from a manager who some seem to think hasn't got much idea of how to run a football team.

[kritichris]

Dyche cut his cloth accordingly, his Championship style was a world apart from the EPL.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

Dyche cut his cloth accordingly, his Championship style was a world apart from the EPL.

Just going off memory and without access to Supersub's stats I can well remember Dyche's Burnley beating Arsenal, Liverpool, United, Southampton, Palace, Everton, Watford and other EPL outfits away from home.

He certainly knew how to "cut his cloth" did SD.

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