Football Moving to Burnley just felt right, says ex-City skipper
JOSH Brownhill said moving to Burnley in January felt like the right move. The former Bristol City captain moved from the Robins to Turf Moor in January, but was also the subject of interest from the likes of West Ham United and Sheffield United.
Yet, speaking to the Athletic, Brownhill said he felt more comfortable in the move to Turf Moor.
“You know when something just feels right,” he said. “Burnley gave me that feeling. Premier League football, a great manager, quality players and fans. I feel comfortable.”
The midfielder also revealed Sean Dyche’s enthusiasm at the prospect of working with him was a deciding factor in the move.
Brownhill said: “He was saying how excited he was for me to get into the building and make my mark on the squad.
“He had known about me for a bit and he goes into real detail when he signs somebody. He congratulated me and said he couldn’t wait for me to start.
“It’s nice to hear from the manager that he has watched me a lot and got references to find out as much as he could. Burnley don’t spend loads of money, so they have to make sure the deals are right. Dyche had the feeling that this deal was right, which filled me with a lot of confidence.
“It has always been about moving at the right time and having the right home. When I go somewhere, I don’t want to move on quickly, I want that club to be my home and to give everything.”
Brownhill spent four years with the Robins and admits he has found training at a Premier League club to be a step up.
He said: “We played a lot of 4-4-2 at Bristol City, so I am used to that, but it is a bit different and they point out things such as pressing triggers and when to leave your position.
“They have been encouraging and filling me with information during and after training. They will talk to me about what passes they play, everything.”
Brownhill added: “A couple of times the gaffer has pulled me in and gone through some video clips, whether it is a previous game or the one they have just played. He focuses on positioning and pointing key things out.
“He is helping me and keeping me on my toes, so that I am as ready as I can be for when my chance comes.”
That one-on-one detail is reminiscent of City boss Lee Johnson, who Brownhill says he owes a lot to, stretching back to their time together at Barnsley.
“Johnson played a massive part in my journey,” the 24-year-old said. “He didn’t have to spend the time that he did with me to help me get better. The amount of detail we
❝ Dyche had the feeling that this deal was right, which filled me with a lot of confidence
went into in the couple of months he was there... that’s what I wanted, someone who wanted to help develop me.
“As soon as I got to Bristol City it was exactly the same - attention to detail to improve. His aim was to get me to the Premier League. He would take 30 minutes after training to go through clips or work on one-on-one sessions. He would also call me up after the game to ask my opinion on what went right and wrong.”