How Far Can Burnley Go this Year? A Realistic Look
In just under two weeks, Burnley will kick off their English Premier League campaign when they host current champions and treble winners Manchester City at Turf Moor. The Clarets are led by former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany, who took charge of the club last year and oversaw a remarkable transformation on and off the pitch.
Kompany’s appointment signaled the club’s intent to shake things up, and the response was an incredible season in the Championship that saw them claim the title with an impressive 101 points, only three losses, and over 85 goals scored. However, as recent history has shown, the Premier League is the ultimate test, and the Clarets would need to be more than ready if they want to avoid another relegation or plan to fight for a European spot.
As the new season approaches, we want to take a realistic look at how far the Clarets can go, catering to both dedicated fans of the club and those eagerly awaiting the upcoming season's surprises. For those interested in betting on the EPL, there are exciting opportunities to win big with football prediction tomorrow on Mightytips with Eugene Ravdin. Fans and football enthusiasts alike are eager to assess the potential of the Clarets.
Factors in Burnley’s Favor
After an excellent Championship campaign that saw the team claim 101 points, all eyes will be on Burnley in the upcoming season. But before we go into the potential finishes, let’s look at some of the factors in the Clarets’ favor.
1. Vincent Kompany
In April 2022, Burnley parted ways with Sean Dyche after almost a decade at the helm. It was time for a new era, and Vincent Kompany was the man chosen to spearhead this revival. In just a year, the former Man City man has brought a newfound joy to the club, guided them back to the Premiership, and is currently the biggest factor in their favor for the upcoming season.
Vincent Kompany has been tagged as one of the world’s most exciting young managers, and rightfully so. His team’s ability to maintain free-flowing possession, dynamism in the backline, and aggressive attacking plays, as well as other attributes common with Pep Guardiola’s protégés, were critical to his success last season and will play a crucial role in his first EPL stint.
2. A Young and Exciting Squad
Burnley’s recruitment under Kompany has been nothing short of brilliant. The club has pivoted towards signing young and exciting talents while maintaining a core of experienced players in the squad.
The ability to maintain a balance between the energy and enthusiasm of youth and the stability, guidance, and leadership of experienced players has been vital to the success of newly promoted teams in recent years. The signing of talented young goalkeeper James Trafford from Manchester City and experienced forward Nathan Redmond are proof of this mission.
3. Potential Finishes
Like most newly promoted sides, Burnley’s number one priority would be survival, and with the league now filled with multiple strong sides outside the traditional Big Six, it’s going to be one tough ride for them. But the good news is, it’s possible.
For one, the odds and stats are in their favor. Seven of the last ten Championship winners have managed to avoid relegation in their first season in the EPL. Also, 66% of promoted teams have escaped relegation in their first season, and if the exciting football Burnley played in the Championship and FA Cup last season is anything to go by, they should be avoiding the drop.
Furthermore, the two other promoted teams would most likely be going down. Sheffield United has been touted by the media to put up a good fight. However, while the Blades might be looking to recreate their amazing 2019/2020 season that saw them finish 9th in their first season back, their lack of proper signings and mediocre pre-season performances are telling a different story.
Luton Town, on the other hand, created one of football’s most beautiful stories when they won the Championship Playoffs in May, but the chances they survive this season are really low. Burnley could realistically finish between 15-17th and could even go higher if things go in their favor.
The Bottom Line
With the 23/24 English Premier League season fast approaching, fans are eagerly awaiting the return of the Clarets. Led by Vincent Kompany, the Burnley team ran riot in the Championship last season and even came closer to breaking the record points haul set by Reading in the 2005-06 season.
Now, they face an even bigger challenge in the Premier League, where there are no more small teams. Realistically, Burnley could survive the season and, at the most, end with a 17th-place finish, but if there’s one thing Kompany and his team have shown us, it is that they are full of surprises, and they might end up clinching a mid-table spot.
