English Premier League Preview – Burnley F.C.

We at 32 Flags are previewing every team in the English Premier League, two teams a day until the beginning of the season. Get ready as we preview your favorite team or maybe we can help you pick a team to root for if you are undecided so far. Today, we’re covering Burnley.

Burnley F.C.

Founded – 1882

Last Year Position – 2nd place in Championship, promoted

Transfers In (As of 8/7) – Matt Gilks, Marvin Sordell, Matthew Taylor, Michael Knightly, Steven Reid and Lukas Jutkiewicz

Transfers Out (As of 8/7) – Joseph Mills, David Edgar, Kyle Brownhill, Junior Stanislas, Keith Tracey and Chris Baird among others

Projected Finish (Voted among 32 Flags staff) – 20th place

Rivalries – Blackburn and Preston North End (None currently in EPL)

Famous Supporters – Prince Charles was the only one I could find who Americans have heard of

 

Burnley is the first team we covered who promoted from the Championship. The last time Burnley was in the Premier League was in 2010 where they were relegated after a season. Before then, they weren’t in the top division since 1975. Burnley spent the vast majority of their time over the last 20 years in the Championship and developed a very solid squad that easily promoted to the EPL. Burnley fell into that 2nd spot so it meant they were stuck as the only promoted team to not win a trophy. They didn’t win the Championship like Leicester City and they didn’t win the Promotion Playoff and get all that sweet money like QPR so that 2nd place is kind of an empty feeling.

Regardless, Burnley is in the Premier League and now have the outrageously tough task on staying up there. At least one Championship team has stayed in the EPL every year since 1997-98 and at least one Championship team has been relegated every year since 2001-02. Unfortunately, Burnley will fall back to the Championship next season. 2nd place Championship teams face a hardship because they didn’t get the money for winning the Championship and they didn’t get the over $100 million payday for winning the Playoff so they’re a step behind the other promoted teams and a mile behind all the other EPL teams in terms of getting EPL quality players. That doesn’t mean Burnley fans shouldn’t be proud of their team. Enjoy the year in the top league and you have nothing to lose, so go for it Burnley and hope for the best.

If you want to compete against us and other fans, feel free to sign up for our fantasy EPL league at http://fantasy.premierleague.com/my-leagues/259028/join/?autojoin-code=1087976-259028. We will give prizes for the best team name and the winner of the league. The more people who sign up mean the better the prizes so sign up and tell your friends.

About Phillip Bupp

Producer/editor of the Awful Announcing Podcast and Short and to the Point. News editor for The Comeback and Awful Announcing. Highlight consultant for Major League Soccer as well as a freelance writer for hire. Opinions are my own but feel free to agree with them. Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @phillipbupp

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