Most Burnley fans anticipated to see some attacking reinforcements through the door before the end of January, but that has not been the case thus far, with the Clarets still having a lot of work to do in the latter parts of the transfer window.
Although Oliver Sonne, Jonjo Shelvey, and Ashley Barnes have been brought in, they have not addressed Burnley’s main issue, which is in the last third.
Burnley’s defensive record after 29 games is the greatest in English Football League history, with only nine goals conceded. This is a key factor in the club’s success and promotion race.
If they want to be in the top two by the end of the season, they’ll need to address their goal-scoring issues at some point, and the January window appears to be the ideal moment to do so, making it all the more mystifying why nothing has been done.
Of course, there is still time to conduct business, but leaving it so late puts a lot of pressure on Chairman Alan Pace, who is attempting to make these agreements happen.Of course, there is still time, but leaving it so late to do business heaps huge pressure on Chairman Alan Pace, who is the man trying to make these deals happen.
Scott Parker needs a striker in the next few days
Burnley’s striking department requires immediate improvement, and Zian Flemming is currently doing his best to fill the gap.
Although he’s done an admirable job filling in, it’s clear that he’s been forced into that position, and he’s not a natural striker – he doesn’t make runs like a striker, he doesn’t hold the ball up like a striker, and he’s rarely in the right place at the right time like a striker.
Burnley’s striker alternatives include Jay Rodriguez, Ashley Barnes, and Lyle Foster. However, with the former two of the trio ageing and Foster being unreliable, Parker has limited options.
It’s evident that adding an out-and-out number nine capable of joining the club and becoming a regular would alleviate some of the strain, but Parker must also push for further attacking reinforcements.
getting a proper striker is fantastic, but if he isn’t getting any chances created for him, the problem will still be there to some level. Having a number nine alone will not instantly solve Burnley’s issue.
Burnley’s attacking stats this season are among the league’s worst
Despite their strong defensive record, Burnley’s attacking numbers have been terrible. However, they have won most games by a single goal.
Burnley has struggled to score goals and have drew nine league games 0-0 this season, with five of those against current bottom-half teams.
Fans are frustrated and believe Burnley requires more than just a number nine to break down low blocks against inferior opposition.
| Burnley 24/25 Championship attacking stats (Fotmob) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Stat | Number | League rank |
| Goals | 36 | 11th |
| xG | 30.5 | 20th |
| Big chances | 45 | 21st |
| Shots on target per match | 3.6 | 17th |
| Touches in opposition box | 618 | 11th |
The facts reveal that they don’t create enough to get many clear sights of goal, and a number nine won’t magically cure that issue.
Burnley’s lack of Luca Koleosho and Jeremy Sarmiento has compounded their predicament. Parker must prioritise bringing in attacking reinforcements over the next several days to address this issue.
Leave a Reply