Fan Talk with Joe Redmond: Burnley can stay up and surprise a few

Lifelong Burnley fan and TurfCast creator Joe Redmond is optimistic about his beloved Clarets after they achieved promotion to the Premier League last term.

Surprise package

I think this is the most excited I have been for a Premier League season because I honestly think we can stay up and surprise a few people.

We are going to play attacking, expansive football and it is going to be exciting to watch.

I am a little worried about the start we have, especially as Manchester City had their traditional drubbing of Burnley last season in the FA Cup.

But in terms of what we can do on the pitch, I am excited for the season!

I think it will be the first time people watch us and go, 'Burnley are actually a decent side.'

Risky Kompany

I think Vincent Kompany's style of play will get exposed against the bigger teams, though.

If one of the big boys takes us a little bit too lightly, we might be able to spring a surprise.

Last season there was never a chance to play more defensively because Burnley were always the favourites.

Even at Sheffield United — the only time we lost convincingly — we still attacked.

Burnley might go to three at the back because we have signed a lot of centre-backs, although we did not do that at City last season.

Wing wizards

The wingers are the main threats for Burnley.

You have Manuel Benson, who has been injured in pre-season so we will see if he hits the ground running in the Premier League.

But Benson is fantastic and scored the goal that won us the Championship at Blackburn.

Then there is Anass Zaroury, who played for Morocco at the Qatar World Cup after switching allegiances from Belgium, and has become a star.

When he joined Burnley he had about 11,000 Instagram followers — now he has around a million.

So they are the main two in terms of going forward.

Terrific Trafford

I am really excited by the signing of goalkeeper James Trafford from City, it works for everybody.

There was some criticism over the money we spent but he is in the England set-up and always has been.

If you go through the England ranks, you are more likely to play for the senior side when you get older.

And the buy-back clause City inserted in the deal is said to be worth £60million as well, so we could triple our money in three or four years.

Trafford is going to play for a Premier League club and improve under a manager like Kompany, it just makes sense.

But will he be No1 instead of Arijanet Muric on August 11? Burnley fans are still not sure.

Unsung hero

Josh Cullen is a bit of an unsung hero for Burnley, he is fantastic.

There has been some debate about whether he gets bullied off the ball in the Premier League and some think we need a new central midfielder.

I half agree with that, but we need a new central midfielder to play alongside Cullen, not replace him.

So I am going to predict Cullen as our Player of the Season for 2023-24, with honourable mention for Jordan Beyer.

He is class — and will play for Germany at some point.

                                                                              Joe Redmond was speaking to Danny Ryan

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