This week in the football world has truly been mental.
We’ve had shocking upsets, an all-out brawl, two comebacks within one game, and displays of high-quality footy all around.
Perhaps it is fitting that the most shocking bit of news fans have heard in quite some time drops on a random Friday evening, with apparently no prior buildup.
The unthinkable has happened, Burnley manager Sean Dyche, who had been at the helm for almost 10 years, has officially been sacked.
A master at avoiding the drop, Dyche has kept Burnley in the top flight since the 2016/17 season, despite bare minimum investment from the owners.
He even led them to the Europa League after an incredible 7th place finish in the 18/19 season. As regressive as ‘Brexit Ball’ was at times, the 50-year-old made the most out of the very little he received.
Ultimately, Sean Dyche gave Burnley a new identity.
Naturally, fans on Twitter were baffled at the club’s decision, here are some of the reactions-
Pure shock –
Having kept the Clarets in the Premier League for 5 seasons straight, no one could’ve predicted what was coming. Dyche’s future at Burnley was viewed by many as a certainty, simply due to the incredible job he’s done at Turf Moor.
So when the announcement dropped, it sent shockwaves across Football Twitter, and nobody could believe it.
Premier League Legend –
Despite staying close to the bottom half most times, Dyche’s reign certainly won’t fade away in obscurity. Under the Englishman, the Clarets posed a tough test for any side, and unpredictable results against the top 6 were always on the cards. The man himself was iconic too, it seemed as if nothing rattled him, which eventually led to him being known as the ‘hardest man in football’.
No room for Loyalty –
While football can still be fueled by emotions at times, practicality has begun to take over the decision-making.
We saw it earlier this season when Leeds Hero Marcelo Bielsa was shockingly sacked by the club, and Dyche’s departure from Burnley follows it up.
In contrast to Leeds, Burnley’s actions have come off as rather strange.
With 8 games remaining, while being locked in an intense relegation battle, was this really the best time to sack a club legend?
Aside from that, Dyche certainly had enough credit in the bank to be entrusted with taking Burnley back up again, in case of relegation. Many fans and Pundits felt the same way.
As for his successor, considering the possibility of relegation, might we suggest Big Sam?