THE ONE FOR MEE
Burnley skipper on milestone man Dyche’s immediate impact at club
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SEAN DYCHE clocks up 400 games as Burnley manager today – and Ben Mee says he knew not to mess with him from his very first match.
Mee is the only current player who was around when Dyche arrived in 2012, and he remembers
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Dyche had managed for only one season with Watford in the Championship and was perhaps conscious not to be seen as a rookie.
He cleverly used an old Alex Ferguson trick to establish his authority by calling out a player who liked to socialise too much. “I remember his first meeting with
us, he was very
RALPH HASENHUTTL has found Stamford Bridge a fairly happy hunting ground in his time as Saints boss – winning one and drawing two.
Adding their home to away clashes he has lost just once in five against the west London outfit.
It is a record that gives hope for their match-up today, particularly against a Chelsea side who looked jaded and a little short of ideas when turned over by Juventus midweek in the Champions League.
This is Chelsea, though, and, while it might be a stretch to believe Southampton can leave with all three points, a draw – they have held both Manchester clubs and West Ham already up front and told it how it was,” said the Clarets skipper. “He had done his research on the players and it was refreshing to hear him speak.
“There was one player, who enjoyed a night out and he knew about that, just little things like that, what players did socially.”
That was the start of a highlyproductive partnership for Burnley, and Mee has become Dyche’s trusted lieutenant on the pitch.
“Luckily I was somebody he wanted to play,” said the centrehalf. “I managed to start the games as soon as he came in and that was encouraging for me.
“He made me his captain a few years ago, so we’ve always had a good relationship. He’s always
put me in the team, this season – is feasible. At 4-1, it is worth a punt.
Phil Foden has found his chances limited through injury and the form of others so far this season.
But high-octane, big-stage games against Liverpool seem to suit his eye and another good showing could be in the offing tomorrow afternoon.
Foden has goals and assists in each of his last two against Liverpool and is often best when the games become stretched late on. Take the 8-1 about him for last goalscorer, plus the 9-2 about him teeing one up for a team-mate. which has given me a lot of experience.” Dyche, 50, the Premier League’s longest-serving boss, has presided over a golden era.
He has won promotion twice, led them into Europe and they are enjoying their seventh season out of the past eight in the top flight.
“He’s done fantastic,” said former Manchester City trainee Mee.
“It’s a long period to be at a club, especially for a manager, these days. Continuity is key and he brings a lot of stability, which helps us. We just need to get going this season and pick up points.”
That continuity will be key to Burnley’s latest relegation fight and Mee, pictured left with Dyche, claims no one is panicking because they have been through this situation many times before. They were even worse off last season when they had just two points from seven games.
Burnley also rallied to stay up comfortably three seasons ago when they had 12 points after 19 matches.
Mee says the players are calm going into today’s huge ‘six-pointer’ against Norwich at Turf Moor, as they look for their first home league win since January 27.
“We are an experienced bunch and we have a lot of experience of being in this situation as underdogs,” he said. “We don’t want to be in this situation but that’s the way it’s panned out.
“A couple of wins gets you up that table. If we get them, everything will look completely different.
“There’s no panic, the performances are there and we just need to get the points.
“Hopefully on Saturday we can finally get that first league win.”
To celebrate nine years under Dyche, Burnley are offering groups or families 10 tickets for £90 against Norwich today. Go to: burnleyfootballclub.com/content/ gaffer-group-sales-discount