Welcome back, it’s the beginning of season five in this moderately epic adventure with Burnley FC.  Somehow, last year, we managed to win not only the FA Cup but also the Champions League, not bad for a team who a) hadn’t made it past the fourth round of a cup competition before and b) could at best be described as consistently inconsistent.  Thanks to a solid final third of the season, and the fact that all the teams were so close on points we managed to move from thirteen up to third place in the final thirteen matches of the season.

Some big changes needed to be made over the summer, we have committed ourselves to the old faithful, 2-3-1-2-2.  M/FL Damien Duff was so good at wing back (avg 7.00!) I’ve re-signed Bjorn Daelemans for £2.2 million a year after selling him to Antwerp, he’s going to play right wing back.

Welcome back to the third part of season four.  Last episode we couldn’t buy a win in the league and had slumped to 13th in the table, however there was a small glimmer, well, that might be too generous, we were still in the FA Cup and Champions League, let’s leave it at that.

A new episode, but not new beginnings, we draw 0-0 at home to Sheffield United in the FA Cup 5th round, what the hell, cups are our specialism.  The players ratings highlighting how dismal of a game it was, at least we get a replay.

Welcome to the middle third of season four.  We ended the first part of the season in eighth place, with a -4 goal difference and as many wins as losses, suffice to say our second season in the Premier League is not going as well as the first.  To add to our misery Ali De Souza injures himself and will me missing for the next six weeks, he’s been one of the few positives this season so it’s a serious blow.

Welcome back to the beginning of season four of our merry little adventure with the Clarets.  After back to back promotions we made it to the Premier League and season three saw us challenging at the top of the table, ultimately falling short to Man Utd but finishing a very respectable second and qualifying for Europe’s premier club competition.

I spent the end of season three and the start of season four strengthening the squad.  Unfortunately, Brazilian and Bulgarian players fall under the FGN rule, so I can field only three in the match day squad. The Belgians don’t seem as interested as I expected them to be so the majority of the squad is made up of Irish players.  I am of course using the Bene & Hot rule to full effect and maxing out my three wild cards who are all French.  With all that said I pick up a few unfamiliar names with very familiar stats.

Ricardinho = Julio Cesar

We ended part two of this season still in the hunt for the Premier League title after an epic 4-4 draw at Old Trafford.  Donal was the hero on that occasion coming off the bench and scoring two vital goals.  

Donal gets the nod ahead of Earthworm when we face Newcastle at the Moor.  He puts in a MOM display scoring the goals needed to secure the win.

Welcome back to season three of this Burnley based adventure, in the previous episode we were sitting atop of the Premier League after 13 matches.  I don’t expect this to continue, however it seems a place in Europe may be a realistic target now.

I pick up a couple more free transfers, another Belgian keeper and an Irish U21 international striker.

At the end of Season 2 the Clarets achieved promotion to the Premier League.  The first order of business during the off season is to hunt a few regens, sign some squad strengthen-ers and, if possible, some players to improve the first eleven.  Goalkeepers, fullbacks and wingers are key areas of focus.

We have two squad retirees. Pat was great in season 1, despite some jokes at his expense.  Remi was bought as cover, but a change of formation meant he was not needed.

The Clarets began Season 2 – part 2 in 10th place after a shocking collapse during the first third of the season.  By the end of part 2 we had climbed back up into third place having put a solid run together.  We begin the final part of Season 2 in third and since we once again capitulated in both cup competitions, there is only promotion and a possible League title on our minds.

The first game is against QPR, at Loftus Road Nigel Martyn was in inspired form, rolling all over the show, making save after save. Despite a similar pattern unfolding at the Moor Keith and Freddy manage to get a goal each, despite Dave getting two yellows in 20 minutes and leaving us with 10 men. He’s dangerous in more ways that one the big DC.

Welcome back to Turf Moor and the potentially epic journey of Burnley FC conquering English football with a band of Irishmen, some B’s and the odd Frenchman.  Towards the end of the previous episode, we had fallen into a slump and began descending Division One faster than the Pepsi Max roller coaster, see handy graphic below. 

We begin with a home tie against Man City, the roars have been few and far between since the first six or seven games of the season and it looks like they won’t be coming back for a little while longer.  In a dull game, we can’t score but Uwe does.