How did Burnley do this season? 2021/22 FPL review
With the Premier League season over, it’s time to assess each of the 20 teams one-by-one. So here is Burnley’s FPL review of 2021/22.
Situations changed so quickly down at the bottom. As Everton were freefalling, Burnley’s decision to part ways with manager Sean Dyche seemed justified with three successive wins between Gameweeks 33 and 35. And yet Everton eventually found form, Leeds ground out enough points and the Clarets were relegated after six Premier League campaigns.
They entered the final day ahead of Leeds on goal difference but were poor at home to Newcastle. Only one of the opening 21 matches ended in victory but two wins and clean sheets in Double Gameweek 26 gave hope of an escape. Unfortunately for them, it was false hope.
FPL review
It’s surely a red flag when goalkeeper Nick Pope has the squad’s most FPL points. And that Chris Wood – who departed in January – still ended up as the second top scorer with three goals.
Burnley’s underlying stats contrast the reality of their ‘goals for’ and ‘goals against’ columns. Only Norwich scored on fewer occasions, yet their expected goals (xG) tally is better than four others.
Furthermore, ten sides – including Man United and Leicester – conceded more often than Burnley but they allowed the second-most goal attempts.
Best FPL asset
Pickings are slim but summer signing Maxwel Cornet can hold his head up high. Various obstacles restricted him to 21 league starts but nine goals arrived, including four between Gameweeks 9 and 12.
He was sometimes an out-of-position FPL option due to a few starts up front.
Biggest FPL disappointment
The final two matches saw Cornet start in place of Wout Weghorst, who will go down as an infamous player amongst the FPL community. Signed in January to replace Wood, it just made so much sense for a very tall striker to succeed at Burnley.
Three returns arrived in his first four matches – good start. Therefore, Double Gameweek 27 brought 971,000 transfers and 676,000 captaincies. A pitiful three points then came in. Yet the Clarets had so many upcoming doubles that it was hard for managers to prioritise selling the Dutchman – they subsequently played twice in Gameweeks 31, 33 and 37.
Ultimately, his final 16 games brought just one goal and an eventual place on Mike Jackson’s bench. An FPL dud.
Looking ahead to next season
There’ll certainly be concern amongst Burnley fans at their financial situation. What won’t help is the expiring contracts of James Tarkowski, Ben Mee, Ashley Barnes and Matej Vydra.
From an FPL perspective, it depends on which players can get transferred back to the top flight. Cornet could excel in a more attacking side, whilst Pope is a very good stopper. Tarkowski has been linked with moves to the likes of Newcastle and West Ham but will need a starting price tag of no more than £4.5m, if he is to have any appeal.
Check out our other season reviews, as well as regular summer round-ups of FPL news and gossip.
