Anybody still optimistic about this season?

[ClaretinBudapest]

I never was optimistic about this season, the Europa League is not an excuse, it's a reason why we are going to struggle, Everton have a far bigger squad than us, but by the time they were out of the Europa League last season they were in a relegation battle. Sam got them out of it and into the top ten, but not while they were jetting all over Europe every Thursday
At this level as well you have to run just to keep up, but if you stand still like we have done, you get left behind. We haven't strengthened the team, and we're playing in a Mickey Mouse competition every Thursday instead of working on the training pitch.

Anyone who didn't think this would adversely affect us was living in dreamland. Imo.

We were not playing in the Europa league the last five games of the 2017/2018 season Sinkov and the cracks had well and truly appeared even then.This form did not start this season.

[WillPark]

We were punching above our weight last year... so this year will be more difficult. Dyche said it for most of last season that «we are not the real deal», but to me it looked like we all more or less thought so as time went. The dicipline and sharpnes was less visible to me as the season progressed last year but we still got the points some how. It’s prob unfair to name names, but some players seem to have switched off a bit, not fearing the opponents. We have a soft start to this season. Hopefully a couple of bad defeats will give us back that fighting spirit. We clearly have a small team and playing in Europe will make us suffer. I completly agree that the work done to get new players in was below par and that January is a long way away, and by then playing for Burnley will not be as atractive as it was in May. We really did not use the opportunity we had this summer to build on last year in my opinion.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

We were not playing in the Europa league the last five games of the 2017/2018 season Sinkov and the cracks had well and truly appeared even then.This form did not start this season.

Dyche needs to concede the Wood/Hendrick experiment does not work.

Barnes and Wood for me in a plain old 4-4-2.

[army88]

Neither work Bt , he needs to find a way of wood playing as he’s the only mobile one, alongside some pace, we don’t stretch teams as it’s fed into the big man all the time , when it’s wood he’s not as strong as Vokesand doesn’t win enough , when it’s vokes he has no pace ( wood is a finisher though).
Not panicking yet but the Europa thing is a mistake for us you could physically see the energy drain out of our midfield and we simply don’t have the power to compete.
They basically just ran all over us and we couldn’t stop it.

[sinkov]

We were not playing in the Europa league the last five games of the 2017/2018 season Sinkov and the cracks had well and truly appeared even then.This form did not start this season.

Fair enough Cib, you're right. But whatever cracks were appearing at the back end of last season might have been resolved with a couple of decent signings and no Europa League. Playing every Thursday is just going to make it worse. It's not just us, it fecks up the league form of most teams that play in it.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

OK I know we got stuffed today, but if you are feeling it's time to slash your wrists, please ring the Samaritans on Freephone 116123 and put it all into perspective.

[bfcjon]

We were not playing in the Europa league the last five games of the 2017/2018 season Sinkov and the cracks had well and truly appeared even then.This form did not start this season.

No!! Not a cat in hells chance,...The way we play,......Its bloody awful ....

A Claret through and through, But We are Bloody Rubbish,,,

And the the only way is a YO YO,....We should be be above that now,.Surely

Sorry but again our PATHETIC BOARD Have Let us Down Again,,...How many more times , can you take our Board for real ??

[ClaretinBudapest]

No!! Not a cat in hells chance,...The way we play,......Its bloody awful ....

A Claret through and through, But We are Bloody Rubbish,,,

And the the only way is a YO YO,....We should be be above that now,.Surely

Sorry but again our PATHETIC BOARD Have Let us Down Again,,...How many more times , can you take our Board for real ??

Do not worry though Jon,the Board will not have let themselves down.Trust me they will have vast dividends whatever happens-especially if they do not spend a lot.....

[ClaretinBudapest]

I am sorry chaps and I did not want to have to but after todays game may I ask the question again.Anybody still optimistic about this season?

[1959_60]

I'm a lot happier than when we were still in the Europa Cup.

I had more or less given up on todays match. Two days to recover from Thursday night and to prepare to play Man Utd, who had six clear days to prepare for us? We were always on a loser.

I am confident that our league form will begin to pick up now that we are back to the day job.

And, hopefully, we will soon see Brady, Defour and JBG soon.

I am confident of staying up comfortably.