Burnley was relegated from the Premier League last season following the sacking of long-term manager Sean Dyche and has had to completely reinvent itself in the championship under new manager Vincent Kompany.
The Lancashire-based team had built a strong reputation of being a defensive side under Dyche, which would set up to frustrate teams as they focused on clean sheets ahead of scoring goals.
Kompany’s changes have produced a strong start
But under Kompany, they are a totally different outfit; defensive duo James Tarkowski and Ben Mee secured swift returns to the Premier League and the club had to adapt their style for the championship but they have managed a strong first half of the season nevertheless and the Belgian coaches changes have led to them being odds-on favorites to achieve promotion in the Championship odds at -400.
Kompany has now set up Burnley in a much more progressive 4-2-3-1 structure as opposed to their classic 4-4-2 shape and they find themselves top of the league and in the Championship tips they are the favorites to win the league at +100.
Irishman Josh Cullen came in from Anderlecht in Belgium to bolster the midfield and Benson Manuel Hedilazio came in from Royal Antwerp to play in the attacking positions as Kompany utilized his knowledge of the Belgium footballing system.
Burnley’s relegation and change of managerial duties have taken them from a team that enjoys a small percentage of possession to being one of the strongest possession-based sides in the second tier. They have altered from being a route one side to being imaginative and full of flair.
Vincent Kompany’s Burnley are 3 points clear at the top of the Championship, heading into the World Cup. pic.twitter.com/DfXDzhuLEA
— mcfc lads (@mcfc_lads) November 13, 2022
The build-up of play the current crop of players is capable of being unpredictable. They can be fast in transition as they possess an abundance of pace, but equally, they can slow the tempo and carve out the perfect opening.
Rivals for promotion
Burnley, of course, leads the pack but there is over half the season left to play and the competition at the peak of the table is incredibly tight.
Sheffield United trail Burnley in second place and still have a large part of the squad that played Premier League football for them. Oli McBurnie still leads the attack and much of the defensive structure such as Chris Basham and George Baldock remains from the previous side and has achieved the feat of promotion before.
Your @abroofingsol Sheffield United Player of the Month for September. ?
Congrats, @oli_mcburnie! ? pic.twitter.com/Ldk4D60iR6
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) September 30, 2022
Ciaran Clark is also a vital part of the defensive three-back and he has had promotion experience with Newcastle before.
Lancashire rivals Blackburn are also flying high this season, but Burnley certainly stamped their authority on their rivals in the three-nil victory at Turf Moor prior to the FIFA World Cup break.
The Championship promotion is certainly going to be incredibly competitive and is tough to call as always but Burnley appears to have a level of quality that exceeds the rest in terms of their starting eleven and their impressive depth.
Kompany is also making solid progress in demonstrating his capabilities as a top footballing mind and an effective coach for the side seeking a Premier League return.
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