We thank Alex Hendley from No Nay Never for taking on our questions this week ahead of the trip for Burnley to Selhurst this weekend.
Q. Welcome to the Premier League! Every fan has hopes and dreams as a new season kicks off so what are yours for Burnley?
Thank you very much, and congratulations on your fantastic achievements last year. As a Burnley fan, last season was something a little bit special. Nobody was expecting it and to actually achieve the unthinkable was a sheer miracle. Any form of survival, be it 17th or higher, is a blistering and unexpected result, and really all I can hope for.
Q. How highly do you rate your manager Sean Dyche who has done an incredible job for you?
Sean Dyche is without doubt the greatest and most talented manager Burnley have had in many, many years and that is no overstatement. Owen Coyle, who took us up in 2009, was blessed by Clarets fans as ‘God‘ throughout both the promotion campaign and the first half of the 2009/10 season but was not half as cherished as Dyche is today. Dyche has worked wonders at a club with no money and danger of relegation into League One. Holding on to him this summer has been the best piece of business the board has done.
Q. What do you make of the squad that Dyche has assembled for your assault on the Premier League?
If you had asked me this question before the deadline day signings of Michael Keane, Nathan Chalobah and George Boyd I would not have been happy. It is no secret Burnley have the smallest budget in the league, but signings such as Marvin Sordell, Matt Gilks and Steven Reid were decidedly uninspiring. The captures of Michael Kightly, Stephen Ward, Matty Taylor and Lukas Jutkiewicz were more exciting, especially after some good pre-season performances – but overall the team was still too weak. Danny Ings has not found the net yet but will make the step up with ease, while defensive characters such as captain Jason Shackell, ‘keeper Tom Heaton and right back Kieran Trippier are more then suited to Premier League football. The deadline day additions most definitely improve our squad, and should earn the Clarets quite a few extra points we would not have won without them.
Q. Just like Palace experienced last season, Burnley seem to be the pundits favourites to go down but is that an all too easy choice for them to make?
I have to be honest, it is an easy choice for pundits because it is likely. As I have already stated, Burnley have next to no budget, and for many people should not have had enough quality to even make it to the Premier League. However, we did have the quality and we have the fight, it will not be easy but I am confident that even if Burnley do drop, we will not make it easy for the other teams.
Q. If there is a former player (retired or not) that you could bring back who would help your current team, who would it be and why?
Graham Alexander. For me he was the star performer the last time Burnley made the big time, playing every game and winning points on his own with his 100% penalty record. A leader on and off the pitch, playing in the Premier League at the age of 38 but with the fitness of someone 10 years younger, his experience and mental strength was something any team would pay millions for.
Q. Going into the game with Palace, who do you consider the player that we should look out for?
Having scored just one goal so far this season, it is difficult for me to pinpoint a striking threat that will cause you major hassle. Danny Ings scored for fun last season, but so far has not looked himself. However, Lukas Jutkiewicz, his strike partner, has been a handful for every team we have played so far as he is big, strong and has a great touch of the ball both with his feet and with his head and chest. If I had to name you a player who you MUST mark all day long it’s Kieran Trippier, the right back is more of a right winger, and if the Palace defence focuses too much on George Boyd or Scott Arfield, depending on who plays on the right, Trippier will reek havoc and tear you to pieces. His crosses are so pinpoint and effortless even I could score from one.
Q. Which player from the Palace line up do you consider a threat to Burnley?
Obviously Burnley has to watch out for all of them, or they will be punished. However, Wilfried Zaha will always be a menace to any defence with his pace and trickery but he’s one of those players who must learn when to release the ball. Dwight Gale seems to just grow in ability and confidence, and by the end of the season will surely be a top class striker while James McArthur, one of Burnley’s top transfer targets, is well known to much of the Premier League as someone with a pass that can rip open many a team.
Q. You have previously provided your views on Palace in general but how do you think we will do this season?
Well, not rub any salt in any wounds but last time I spoke to you you had Tony Pulis! Football can be a cruel game, and the loss of Pulis will be sorely felt by Palace – and this has shown in the results so far, a Pulis side would not have conceded three against a below par Newcastle side, for example. However, Neil Warnock is an experienced Premier League manager, and despite his controversial nature, should keep Palace up, though it will be a struggle.
Q. Your prediction for this game?
I genuinely think that with the rocking that the Palace squad must have taken with Pulis leaving, Burnley can pick up their first win of the season. New additions Nathan Chalobah and George Boyd should fit straight into midfield to provide some fantastic new attacking threat, while Chalobah can also protect the back four. Conceding four goals in three games including Chelsea and United is not a bad record, and so Keane might not take a place in the defence straight away. Palace will be up for getting their first win, especially being at home, but the deadline day drama could just inspire the Clarets to a first three points.
Q. Tell us a little about No Nay Never and anything that you would like to promote.
I started writing for No Nay Never (affectionately known as NNN) in 2013, but the site’s history stretches many seasons prior to that. The site is run wholly by volunteers, and publishes any view, any opinion, by any writer, from amateurs to past Burnley legends. The best thing about NNN for me is the freedom to write what you like, while everyone who helps run the site also has the intention to deliver the most professional and high quality information and discussions to the Burnley masses. In my opinion, the magic of NNN happens in the comments. Every day top class articles are posted to the site, and the flurry of discussion, debate and contrasting views posted underneath provides endless different perspectives and gives a fair and level playing field for anything anyone wants to say.
This year, the NNN team have started a new feature named NNN Call, and everyone here wants to see it grow as quickly as possible. We would love any Palace fans to give it a go after the game, all you have to do is leave your message on 01282 570150 and it could be played on the weekly podcast, which is slick, professional and growing in popularity every week.
