Transfer 'strategy' leaves Sean Dyche and Burnley with an uphill task

When it comes to Burnley's shopping in the transfer market, it has usually been more Aldi than Waitrose.
Mike Garlick and Sean DycheMike Garlick and Sean Dyche
Mike Garlick and Sean Dyche

But throughout the international window which closed on Monday night, the strategy was more like the people who admit to going to the shops for a specific item, but come home without it.

Or, even worse, forget to go shopping altogether.

The Clarets still have until 5 p.m. on October 16th to buy or loan from EFL clubs - and the Championship is usually their favourite marketplace - so we will reassess the club's business a week on Friday.

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However, as things stand, amid all the clubs being graded all the various media streams on how they performed over the window, you'd struggle to give Burnley one star out of five.

Back in June, when Project Restart got underway, Sean Dyche had to plan for the last nine games of the season - across five weeks - without Jeff Hendrick, Aaron Lennon and Joe Hart, and, to a lesser extent, fourth choice keeper Adam Legzdins.

Injury added to insult, but Dyche and his players somehow managed to end the season with only two defeats in their last 16 outings, while they were the only team to take a point from champions Liverpool at Anfield all campaign.

Dyche cut a frustrated figure throughout, marvelling at his players, but disappointed at how this situation had been allowed to develop, leaving a small squad absolutely threadbare.

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Things improved before the new season kicked off, with skipper Ben Mee signing a new contract, while Bailey Peacock-Farrell also extended his deal, while Ashley Westwood has subsequently followed suit.

But there remains a long list of players whose future is up in the air, out of contract in the summer - Jack Cork, Matt Lowton, Johann Berg Gudmundsson, Robbie Brady, Phil Bardsley, Kevin Long and Jimmy Dunne, while Jay Rodriguez, Erik Pieters and Matej Vydra are all out, although there is an option for an extra year in the club’s favour with that trio.

In terms of recruitment, backup keeper Will Norris was first through the door in mid-August, bringing the senior goalkeeping unit up to three.

That was that though, until Dale Stephens became the first outfield signing a fortnight ago.

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Stephens effectively replaces Hendrick, certainly as regards numbers, but what of the right-sided player to fill the void left by Lennon?

Burnley bid for Liverpool and Wales wide midfielder Harry Wilson, but then pulled out of any deal.

And while there was interest in Theo Walcott, that avenue wasn't ultimately pursued.

Dyche is left to rely on Gudmundsson and Brady, whose injury problems are well documented, or to shuffle Josh Brownhill out of the central area where he has been most effective.

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Chairman Mike Garlick's oft-stated aim in transfer windows is to come out of each one stronger.

Indeed, over the summer he said, after the fixtures were announced: "I can assure all supporters that we are working very hard to ensure the club and the team – preparation and personnel-wise – is ready for the new season."

The team certainly wasn't ready, in terms of numbers, exacerbated by injuries certainly, but the lack of business in the transfer market was baffling.

Yes, we have been living in strange times, with the coronavirus pandemic, and a potential takeover adds its own complications.

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But to leave Dyche's playing options weaker is bordering on negligence.

Communication has been an issue at the club, with the chairman, technical director Mike Rigg and Dyche all seemingly at odds in terms of transfer strategy.

As I understand it, bids have been made for players which the manager did not want, and while the manager can often be stubborn in terms of the profile of player he covets, you can't argue with what he has then got out of them.

He has made mistakes in the transfer market, money has been wasted, but show me a manager where that isn't the case.

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And the value of the players he has developed, sold, and continues to develop at the club, far outweighs any of the flops.

There has been much noise surrounding Dyche, his relationship - or lack of - with the chairman, and his future at the club.

Whatever happens this season - and at this moment it looks an uphill battle for survival - his reputation will likely remain intact.

If Burnley are relegated, the narrative is he hasn't been backed.

Stay up, and he's turned water into wine again.

You do wonder where all this is heading though.

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Dyche is contracted until 2022, and it is hard to see him staying beyond that.

When he signed a new four and a half year deal in early 2018, Garlick hailed it as one of the most important signings the club could make, adding: "Sean's got to go down as one of our best managers in history I think. He's been here five years in October, personally I hope he's here for another five years until 2022, and if we can achieve that I'm sure we'll have more success together."

The club have since finished seventh and 10th in the Premier League, and enjoyed an, albeit too brief, European tour, while they are now in a position where they can knock back offers up to £30m for centre back James Tarkowski.

The culture and DNA installed by Dyche is arguably the glue that holds everything together at Burnley.

If Dyche's relationship with Garlick is broken beyond repair, and Burnley's transfer strategy catches up with them, where will all this lead?

It doesn't bear thinking about.