The recurring theme throughout Vincent Kompany’s pre and post-match press conferences this season has been his belief in what his team can become and the potential his players have.
It is a situation Burnley supporters have not experienced before. For most of their Premier League life it was the opposite; a team of experienced professionals who knew how to get the job done.
Advertisement
The Belgian is doing it differently; the way owners ALK Capital envisaged it when they took over the club in December 2020. They inherited an ageing squad, but their aim was to convert it into one packed with young talent and potential. It would aid their buy low, sell high business model and transition them into playing more attractive football.
Entering the weekend, the average age of Burnley’s starting XI was the lowest in the league: 24 years and 147 days.
It should be no surprise as Burnley (24.6) have the joint second youngest squad in the top flight alongside Arsenal. Only Chelsea boast a lower average age (23.7). Burnley’s average age for the starting XI in their 2-0 defeat to Newcastle was 23.8.
In Burnley’s previous eight campaigns in the top flight it had not been below 27 (2014-15). During their six-year spell following the second promotion under Dyche in 2016, it rose each season.
Lack of funds, wanting signings to be as close to a sure bet as possible and their former manager trusting what he had, contributed. Following the start of the 2021-22 season when Burnley were relegated, the average age was 30, before the late arrivals of Maxwel Cornet (24) and Connor Roberts (25) lowered it to 28.4. Stagnation had set in.
The contrast from the age profile of that squad…
… to the 2023-24 side is obvious with a large portion of the relegated side past their peak.
Now it is the opposite and highlights how early in the development so many of Kompany’s players are. Based on when footballers in each position are estimated to peak, 20 of their 34 players are yet to hit it. Back in the relegation campaign, only two players (Dwight McNeil and Nathan Collins) were.
During the summer, Burnley signed 15 players. Only Nathan Redmond and Lawrence Vigouroux, both 29, were older than 26. Across the 34 signings (if we count Jordan Beyer and Michael Obafemi only once as their loans were made permanent) that Kompany has made since his arrival, five have been teenagers, 18 aged between 20 and 23 and nine aged between 24 and 26.
Advertisement
Since Burnley’s first promotion in 2009, this version is the youngest average age of any promoted side. Of the 42 teams who earned promotion from the Championship only 13 of them had an average age under 26.
Promisingly eight of them survived relegation. Nobody has done it this young but it does not mean it is impossible. It is a gamble, but there remains a belief internally that the early bumps will be ironed out as the season progresses.
Ultimately though, inexperience can lead to results like against Newcastle. It was a 2-0 defeat where the better team won, but while Kompany was keen to take positives from some aspects of the performance, the two goals came from naivety.
For the first goal, Aaron Ramsey (20) dallied on the ball, took too long to get it under control and, as he turned to progress it forward, he was dispossessed by an aggressive Kieran Trippier. It went straight to Miguel Almiron who used a body feint to create space for a shot on the edge of the box and fired it into the far corner.
The second goal came via a penalty conceded by Ameen Al-Dakhil (21). The Belgian defender’s miscued header went straight to Anthony Gordon. As the Newcastle forward drove into the box, Al-Dakhil brought him down, trying to rectify his mistake.
They came at bad times too; the first after 14 minutes. Burnley had started the game well but they were beginning to be careless in possession and then they lost all momentum. The second came on 76 minutes, just as it felt like the atmosphere was threatening to become nervy.
It is not only about defensive errors. In successive league matches a big chance has fallen to Zeki Amdouni (22) at 0-0 — he has not taken them. The chance against Newcastle was tricky as Luca Koleosho’s square ball was slightly behind him and Nick Pope made an excellent save.
Advertisement
Kompany has long acknowledged year one back in the Premier League was going to be a struggle. If they get through it then the club has the opportunity to thrive. These young players are learning on the job and, while there are encouraging signs, more 90 minute performances are needed.
The 37-year-old is still in the early stages of his managerial career, too. He is learning and has realised it cannot just be about the youngest players. A blend has been found with more senior, experienced players such as Charlie Taylor, Roberts and Josh Brownhill providing that Premier League know-how in his starting XI.
The Burnley manager can rightly point to the tough start his side have faced, playing five of last season’s top eight in their opening seven matches. This development process though, means the pressure will continue to ramp up. Their next game against Luton Town has the feeling of a must-win.
If things do not change there will come a point when the question starts to shift from when are they going to make the required steps to if they will?
(Photo: Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
