Burnley have been struggling at the bottom of the league all season yet Sean Dyche has never once been doubted as a manager. Other managers like Leicester’s Nigel Pearson, have had fans calling for their heads since December, but at Burnley the fans are only full of praise for the man in charge.
So what makes him so special?
Dyche has even been compared to Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho, with fans affectionately calling him the ‘Ginger Mourinho’. Burnley have been floundering near the bottom all season, never getting above 15th, but the fan’s behaviour is admirable and refreshing in the Premier League.
They are all just there to enjoy the experience. There is no expectation to win every game. Of course they hope to stay up but it is not the ‘be all and end all’ for the fans and the club.
As long as the club carry on playing with passion and try their best the fans will stay behind them. It’s almost like the fans are Burnley’s school teachers just reminding them to do keep trying their hardest.
This is largely due to the fact that Dyche’s record at Burnley is so staggering. He took a side which was fighting for relegation in the Championship into the Premier League where they have more than held their own.
He was not the most loved manager when he first joined the club but now he will be in Burnley fan’s hearts for a long time. It cannot be easy seeing only four wins so far this season but the fans are still enjoying the ride.
[ad_pod id=’football-friends’ align=’center’]
Dyche’s mentality is just to go out and perform – if they keep doing that then the fans are going to stay onside whether or not the survive relegation. When you compare the situation to that at fellow promotion side, Leicester, it is clear which club has got it right.
The Foxes have also struggled to compete in the highest tier of English football and thier fans are getting pretty frustrated. They are another team that has only won for games in the Premier League this season but the atmosphere and general feel of the club is a completely different scenario.
Nigel Pearson has been in the papers after every loss since Christmas about whether or not he will keep his job. This level of uncertainty must be making for an uncomfortable time for all involved at Leicester.
Maybe their fans need to look at enjoying the experience more. It is not everyday clubs make it to the Premier League, and if you don’t enjoy it while you are there, it will be over quicker than you can imagine.
More clubs should think about whether they want to be the school child who is just there to win or the child which believes the taking part is just as important.
Win a pair of Puma football boots as worn by Cesc Fabregas and Super Mario by filling in this quick survey!
Create your own user feedback survey
[ad_pod id=’ffc-video’ align=’center’]