Burnley 2014/15 Season Preview: The Clarets Face a Battle Against The Odds

Burnley has worked the transfer market in a typically low budget manner, spending only £1.5million pounds while acquiring other signings on a free. That comes as no surprise as manager Sean Dyche had spent only £450,000 on transfers in less than two years.

Dyche proved that his side had the perfect chemistry and unity to make it into the Premier League. Now he must focus in stabilizing the club in the top flight. In order to accomplish this, his focal points will be on organization, defending well and hitting sides on the counter-attack or from set-pieces. While they may be confident in front of their home crowd at Turf Moor, it is their travels that are cause for concern – Burnley bagged four points on its travels the last time they visited the league.

Dyche adopted the  4‑4‑2 throughout last season, but to succeed in the Premier League, he may need to add more steel to his midfield or risk being outclassed, outrun and outdone in the middle of the park.

Players in:

Lukas Jutkiewicz (from Middlesbrough, £ 1.5million), Michael Kightly (from Stoke, undisclosed), Matt Gilks (from Blackpool, free), Matthew Taylor (from West Ham, free), Marvin Sordell (from Bolton, free) and Steven Reid (from West Bromwich, free).

Players out:

Chris Baird (to West Bromwich, free), David Edgar (to Birmingham, free) and Junior Stanislas (to Bournemouth, free).

The arrivals of Matt Taylor, Michael Kightly and Steven Reid are likely to add invaluable experience to the just-promoted side, as they seek to cause upsets and escape relegation. Of mammoth relief and boost to their survival hopes is the retention of clinical men, Danny Ings and Sam Vokes. The pair notched up a total of 41 goals last season. Although the latter is out with an injury, the team doctor pencilled his return within the first month of the league. Hopefully, the adrenalin rush and Ings can add a few points to the league table by then.

Predicted finish: 17th