Needing to find time to reflect on a fast deteriorating season this post-match refelection is a little late, but just when you think things could not get any worse, Burnley managed to find yet another depth to sink to at Selhurst Park on Saturday.
The accumulated total of the new depths Sean Dyche's Clarets have plumbed, puts the Clarets in only slightly shallower water than the Mariana Trench. The defeat against Crystal Palace was one thing, but the nature of Burnley’s listless surrender was quite another.
Palace are certainly no world beaters, they too dwell under the sword of relegation Damocles, but they were sharper, crisper and more fluent than Burnley, whose only discernible tactic seemed to be to hang on for grim life and hope the score did not get too embarrassing.
At 0-0 or 1-0, there was never a passage of play when one felt that Burnley had a foothold in the game and Andros Townsend’s “worldie” to make the score 2-0, simply put any lingering doubts among the home supporters to rest.
This can, of course, happen to any team once in a while; but it is happening to Burnley with grim frequency; and it is happening against teams who find other opponents difficult to overcome.
The stock statement from clubs at times like these is that however upsetting the situation may be for the supporters, they can be assured that the players and the manager are feeling it worse.
But that statement is just plain wrong for the simple reason that unlike the supporters, the players and the manager are in a position to do something about the situation. The supporters can only watch and suffer.
Before too long, and it is happening at Burnley now, a toxic atmosphere develops at the club and the owners respond by sacking the manager. It is my most fervent hope that this does not happen and that Sean Dyche finds a way to turn the situation around. He has built up a considerable stock of goodwill at Turf Moor, but his credit is dwindling fast.
So what has gone wrong, how have a squad of players good enough to finish seventh last season gone into so rapid a tailspin?
With the benefit of hindsight, the signs were there towards the end of last season when Burnley limped and staggered over the finishing line after five consecutive wins had secured seventh place. There followed a close season disrupted by the Europa League, the World Cup, lingering injuries to key players and a poor transfer window.
Burnley started the season on the wrong foot and have failed to keep in step ever since. In his post-match interview following the latest calamity, Dyche channelled his “inner Rocky”, stating that his team need to re-discover their “Eye of the Tiger” and that that work on the training ground will be the key to doing so.
Cue the training montage of Burnley’s players pounding the streets, lifting weights and vigorously punching carcasses of meat, all to the accompaniment of an 80’s rock track.
Sadly, real life is not like the movies and Burnley have an appointment on Wednesday night with an opponent (Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool) every bit as fearsome as Clubber Lang. It could get messy!
Written by uber Burnley fan Dave Thornley, who contributes regularly on behalf of Clarets Mad.