English Premier League: Burnley season review – The highs, the lows, and Europa

All good seasons must come to an end! The Premier League concludes with dramatic effect and some unpreventable events leading to triumph. Speaking triumph, a team certainly up there in the top ten, Burnley FC.

Burnley Season Review

Burnley’s incredible season has seen their manager Sean Dyche as a strong favourite to secure the Manager of the Year award. They sent a real signal of intent in Gameweek 1, beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge 3-2.

It then took a while for the Clarets to lose their early momentum which had their noses bleeding at such heady heights, which left their fans with similarly, lofty ambitions.

Midway through the season they had a lull, not in performances so much as results, where they didn’t get a win in ten games. Most people, including fans, expected that at some stage. But then something happened which they did not expect.

After their first win in over ten games, Dyche’s Burnley then won 5 in a row, including 3 in a row away from home. This run finished with a victory over Europa League rivals Leicester to all but confirm their place in Europe next season – something that Burnley haven’t achieved in over 50 years.

Biggest Win

Their biggest win, 3-0 away at West Ham triggered a long-simmering unrest at West Ham to boil over, the result was overshadowed by West Ham fans protesting against their own board of directors. However, it showed how far Burnley have come from last season, where they struggled to get any points at all away from home.

Heaviest Defeat

The biggest loss was 5-0 late on in the season, with nothing really to play for, against an Arsenal side keen to give Arsene Wenger a good send off at the Emirates. It would be hard to argue that it’s the worst they’ve played this season, but harder to argue that this group of players aren’t allowed one off-day.

https://twitter.com/TheSportsman/status/993173761917706241

Player of the Season

Their best player has been stand-in goalkeeper Nick Pope, who has gone from backup goalkeeper to earning a place in the England national squad. He now presents a selection dilemma not only for England, but for Burnley when the former number one keeper Tom Heaton, also an England international, returns to full fitness.

https://twitter.com/TheFootballRep/status/995333781140754432

Season Strugglers

Next: A beast of a team joins the EPL

There has been a number of questions from fans over the suitability of signing Aaron Lennon and loan signing Nkoudou, who are probably the only question marks over an otherwise remarkably solid season from the entire first team. Scott Arfield’s departure to Glasgow Rangers probably suggests that Dyche wasn’t entirely satisfied with the Canadian winger’s contribution to the team.