It seems so long ago when Burnley defeated Sunderland back in August – how would you summarise your season since?
Yeah feels like a while ago doesn’t it – the season has not gone well, is an understatement. 10 points adrift by January and looking down the barrel of another relegation.
Scott Parker has developed a reputation for taking teams up but then struggling to keep them up. Does he still have the support of the Burnley fanbase?
I can’t speak for the majority of the fan base but I do feel the majority would
like a change now.
We’re 14 games without a win, and within that lost seven games in a row – it’s not good enough really.
However we have improved slightly since then so it would be bizarre to do it now, but I wouldn’t be against it.
Given both Sunderland and Leeds at present are set to avoid relegation, has there been any frustration amongst Burnley fans that the club have weren’t more aggressive in the summer transfer window?
Yeah, massive. It’s not like we didn’t give it a go we just didn’t sign enough quality.
I don’t think Leeds’ squad is that much better than ours though and they’ve managed to give it a proper go as they have signed that extra bit of quality and they have a manager that has now started playing on the front foot.
Although you’re not winning games, Burnley have avoided defeat in five of your last seven matches. What is making you so tough to beat of late?
I think it’s the introduction of Marcus Edwards, personally.
Why he hasn’t played more games this season is beyond me, but for whatever reason Scott Parker made him spend the majority of the season on the bench.
But since he’s come in he’s manage to relieve a bit of pressure on the defence by dragging the ball up the pitch and trying to play on the front foot – putting teams on the back foot for a few mins.
Whereas before it was just constant defending with no outlet, no pressure being taken off the defence and eventually it would crack.
Burnley are set to sign James Ward-Prowse on loan from Nottingham Forest – what do you think he will bring to the table?
Set-pieces is the obvious answer – he hasn’t actually scored a free kick for a while in the Premier League admittedly but he’s good with corners too which is something we have struggled with.
He will probably replace the injured Josh Cullen in the midfield alongside Florentino Luis. He does improve us I have no doubt about that, but our main issues have been upfront and the back.
Now we’re over halfway into the season, which players have impressed you most and who would you say has been underwhelming?
Martin Dubravka has been class since coming in during the summer. He’s kept us in so many games, I genuinely feel we would be below Wolves if we had a different keeper in the net.
Underwhelming has got to be Maxime Esteve, although he has got better in the last few games he came into this season with a brilliant reputation after a great season in the Championship, but he’s made quite a few mistakes this season and been caught out a lot.
If you were Regis Le Bris, how would you exploit Burnley’s weaknesses?
Play on the front foot, get us under pressure, make the defence work and eventually someone will make a stupid mistake and give you a chance – the amount of chances we have given away from our own stupid play is ridiculous.
How do you think Parker will set up tactically at the Stadium of Light?
It will be five at the back, annoyingly. I think we have looked better with four at the back personally but Parker is far too cautious.
I wouldn’t mind if we could play five at the back well but our wing-backs don’t have the pace and the centre backs are often caught out leaving us exposed.
Are any players missing and what do you think the starting XI will be?
I’m writing this before the press conference but as fare as I’m aware there’s about 7 players missing, including captain Josh Cullen, Zian Flemming and Joe Worrall.
I imagine the starting line up would be Dubravka, Walker, Tuanzebe, Esteve, Humphreys, Pires, Big Les, Luis, Edwards, Anthony, and Foster.
Romaine Mundle scored the winner when the two sides last met at the Stadium of Light – what is your prediction for the score this time around?
I think it will be a tight game as it always seems to be when it comes to us two – but based on how well you have done this season I think. you come out on top – Xhaka missing does give me some hope but I still feel you have enough to beat us. 2-1 Sunlun.
