Wheels are now in motion

Here we go, the summer transfer merry go round has started at Turf Moor. One out, three in.

First to happen was Kyle Lafferty heading north of the border. He left the club, inevitably, in a deal which smashes Burnley's record outgoing transfer. The Clarets accepted a bid from Rangers of £3.25m plus midfield/forward Alan Gow. Gow could not agree personal terms, and the transfer fee was subsequently raised. By how much, I am unsure.

The sale of Lafferty has opened the door for signings at Turf Moor.

First through the door was striker Martin Paterson from Scunthorpe United. The 21-year-old Northern Ireland international has signed for a fee which could potentially rise to £1.3m.

Next to sign on the dotted line at Turf Moor was 19-year-old Kevin McDonald. The midfielder signs from Dundee for a fee rising to 500,000. The teenager is tipped to have a very bright future in the game.

Finally, Peruvian goalkeeper Diego Penny is set to sign on Friday pending a work permit.

Loving Andre Arshavin

What a tournament Euro 2008 has been. What a joy the Russian side have been. What a fantastic player Arshavin is for the Russian's!

I'm not going to claim to have been a long term fan of the Russian forward. But while watching Zenit's progress in the UEFA Cup, I couldn't help but think how good this guy was.

Hopefully for Russia and for Euro 2008, Arshavin will continue to win our hearts.

Arshavin is tipped for a move to either La Liga or the Premiership this summer, so we will be seeing plenty more of this...

Spain for me, but don't rule out the Germans

The flag of St.George will not be flying high this summer, and the sound of the Great Escape will definitely not be heard. The nation is looking forward (are they?) to an England-less European Championships.

Like it or loathe it, Euro 2008 is here. On a positive note, one thing we don’t have around the corner is the inevitable penalty shoot-out loss in the knockout stages!


So, for those who can be bothered, what can we anticipate in Austria and Switzerland this summer?

Obviously there is going to be a phenomenal amount of talent on show. From the Premier League’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Fernando Torres to La Liga’s Thierry Henry and Ruud Van Nistelrooy. Two other players to watch out for could be France’s Karim Benzema and Holland’s Robin Van Persie.

We can certainly anticipate some twists and turns, particularly in the group of death; group C. Only two teams can progress from Holland, France and Italy in what can only be described as a nightmare group for the Romanians.

You can definitely expect the usual steel, grit and solidarity from the Germans. They may lack so called ‘stars’ in comparison to recent German sides, but come the latter stages they will still be there.

I find myself backing Spain, maybe that is because I am English? Like us, Spain so often flatter to deceive when it comes to the major tournaments. In Casillas, Ramos, Puyol, Fabregas, Xavi, Torres and Villa they have a core of great players, and 2008 could be their golden generation.

The action gets underway on Saturday, when hosts Switzerland do battle with the Czech Republic. England or no England, it is sure to be a fantastic tournament.

What odds on Greece winning again!?

Still waiting for the first summer signing...

...actually make that Owen Coyle's first permanent signing since he arrived at Turf Moor.

So far we have seen Andrew Cole, Jon Harley and most recently James O'Connor turn down deals to remain Burnley players, whilst David Unsworth is yet to put pen to paper. I wonder if Coyle still believes five signings will be enough.

It is early for alarm bells to be ringing, but one thing I worry about is Coyle's and the clubs reluctance to negotiate fees and wages for players we obviously want. Naturally, it is sensible. In the long run, our shrewd money management will perhaps benefit us. However, it is worrying because all the other clubs around us are not afraid to go out and pay the prices in an inflated market. Let's just see what the next month brings.

The club this morning confirmed that we have bid for Scunthorpe United striker Martin Paterson, the bid was subsequently turned down. Here are some other players who we have been linked with, believe what you want.

Derek Riordan (Celtic) This one refuses to go away...

David Weir (Rangers) Yes, he has had a great season...but no thanks!

Darel Russell (Norwich City) Could be useful.

Kaspars Gorkšs (Blackpool) Who knows? I don't.

Adios La Liga

La Liga, like the English Leagues, has come to an end. Real Madrid coasted to the title and a disappointing Valencia lifted the Copa Del Rey. However, it was a little story about a valet and an expensive car which caught my attention:

'This award goes to the unnamed valet at Madrid restaurant Soko. When Getafe midfielder Javier Casquero turned up with a Porsche Carrera 911 and handed over the keys, the valet called his mate, went for a spin and ploughed head first into six cars.'

Read the rest of Sid Lowe's review on the Spanish season here...

Farewell Jon Harley

People support their football clubs in good times and bad times. Throughout those times people inevitably adopt their ‘favourite’ players. Jon Harley was certainly a Burnley player I was fond of.

It emerged yesterday afternoon that chants of “Jon ‘arley, JON ‘ARLEY, Jon ‘arley” would no longer be heard from the Longside. Owen Coyle and the Burnley left back were unable to agree terms on a new deal.

The thing that endeared me most to Jon Harley was his cheeky cockney attitude and the way he always seemed to be smiling and enjoying his football. Add this to what I would describe as an impressive season for the Clarets, and you are bound to have a player who most fans appreciate.

Naturally, due to those reasons, I was sad to see Jon leaving the club. Truth be told however, I was not all that surprised. Members of the Clarets Mad message board have pointed out that Harley’s form this season was not his form last season, when many people pinpointed left back as a problem area. Neither in the last month has Jon Harley been at his best.

Jon Harley will certainly be missed by many fans, but he is very much replaceable. I think that Owen Coyle knows this.

In addition to Harley not agreeing a new deal, John Spicer and Garreth O'Connor have been released from the club. Gabor Kiraly has also been made available for a transfer.

Picture taken from burnleyfootballclub.com

Looking back, looking forward...

One great thing about being a football fan is the air of optimism that every true supporter has ahead of a new season. This past season was no different, even for a Burnley fan!

I remember watching the summer signings arrive and thinking: ‘you just never know, stranger things have happened!’

Come August, not even last season’s nightmare nineteen game winless run was dampening my spirits. Especially as we got off to flying start at home to promotion candidates West Brom. A 2-1 win may even have had the most pessimistic fans dreaming…maybe?

However, this great home win was not to act as a catalyst for a continued good run at home. Throughout the season we continued to struggle at home, particularly in 2007. One particular home defeat proved enough for then manager Steve Coterill.

A grim Tuesday night in November saw Hull steal the points in front of less than 10,000 inside Turf Moor. The goal not only sealed the win for Hull but also the end of Coterills’ tenure as Burnley manager.

Owen Coyle came in and the ‘honey moon period’ was, for me, the most exciting time of the season. Away wins at Watford, Charlton and Wolves were achieved playing fluent, attacking football; something which the regular Burnley faithful had come unaccustomed to under Coterill. Disappointingly we still struggled at home.

The win at Wolves lifted us to seventh in the table, with a game in hand to climb into that all too talked about top six. The top six never came; we always seemed to fail at the pinnacle moments. It’s hard not to look back at home defeats to the then bottom two; QPR and Preston and think, what if?


Coyle’s first home win as Burnley manager came on January 12th 2008 against Plymouth Argyle, a Blake volley was enough for the Turf Moor crowd to witness their first Burnley win since Norwich in October.

It was the start of a six game unbeaten home run, yet all of a sudden our away form faltered. The main theme was inconsistency, and it was the very theme that every team around the top suffered with. It is the exact reason why we have seen West Brom go up as champions with only 81 points, and Watford reach the play-offs with just 69.

A disappointing last third to the season saw any faint play hopes vanish, but it is important to look at the season with, at least, a bit of perspective.

Not since THAT season with Stan at the helm do I remember entering the month of April with something still to play for. Not in my time supporting Burnley do I remember the side trying to play as attractive football as has been seen since Coyle’s arrival. Not since 2001/02 have we achieved as many points as we have this season.

It is disappointing to slip out of the top half, but once more as pre-season looms there is reason for optimism.

Brendan Flood has joined the board and Paul Fletcher is behind an exciting re-development of the ground. Owen Coyle has a summer to get together a squad of footballers who suit him, and get them playing his way.

We may fall short again next season, but once more the ‘pre-season optimism’ has returned going into the summer. As depressing as it is to look back and think ‘what if?’ It is also refreshing to look forward and think ‘what will be?’

Thanks to everyone at Burnley Football Club for an enjoyable season and roll on August 2008.

Up the Clarets!

Turf Moor season comes to an entertaining finish

Many may have been forgiven for expecting a boring, nothing to play for game between the Clarets and Cardiff City on Saturday. However, the 10,700 that filled Turf Moor certainly got entertainment for their money.

The game itself produced six goals, and Burnley twice squandered leads. Alexander and Cole had put the Clarets 2-0 up. The Bluebirds bounced back to 2-2, before Clarke Carlisle looked to have won it. It wasn't to be though and Burnley were forced to end their home campaign with, probably a fair, 3-3 draw.

The entertainment levels soared when Darren Purse took a chunk out of Andrew Cole's leg with a high challenge. Purse left the field to amusing chants of 'you're not going to Wembley', and he was swiftly followed by Cole who in turn was pursued by two Cardiff players, two Burnley players and the Lancashire police! Owen Coyle summed it up perfectly as a scene from a Benny Hill show!

It was certainly surreal to watch, and unlike anything I have ever seen in thirteen years as a Claret! To have been a fly on the wall in that tunnel...

Andrew Cole was not happy with the challenge or Dave Jones' comments about his role in the red card:

“Nothing happened in the tunnel unfortunately, but I did go after him (Purse). I am not going to fib about it,” said Cole.

“He is a muppet. He cannot even play anyway. I am furious about it. It is one of the worst tackles I have had in my career on me. I am disgusted he said I went over the ball. Just look at my leg.”

Cole also blasted Jones after the City boss said he thought Purse’s red card was harsh and that Cole needed to ‘take a look at himself’ following the way he reacted to the incident.

“I cannot believe Dave Jones said that about it,” fumed Cole.

“I have been a professional player with a career over 18 years. I don’t need to have a look at myself, Dave Jones needs to go and have a look at himself. I cannot believe it really.”

Cole revealed he was planning to consider his future in the game at the end of the season, but believed he had been left with a score to settle.

Cole ranted: “I adore playing football so I don’t know about retirement, but if I play only two games next season I hope it is home and away to Cardiff.”

Watch the Darren Purse challenge on Andrew Cole below...

The usual crowd flowed onto the pitch at the final whistle, and it was hard not to laugh at the stewards trying to stop them getting on to the pitch, largely unsuccessfully.

So that is that, the curtain has closed on another season at Turf Moor. Looking back it has to be said that the season has not been as bad as one might think. Yes, we did fall out of contention for a play-off place, but try not to forget that we will have our best league finish in six years.

Now is time to look forward to a summer of strengthening and hopefully another promotion push next season. Let's get Palace out the way and look forward to August.

Up the Clarets!

(Picture taken from http://www.burnleyfc.com/ of Andrew Cole's injury)

Maybe we should change the away goal rule...

Following the fantastic Champions League night on Tuesday, and the not so great night on Wednesday it was time for the UEFA Cup to take centre stage on Thursday.

With no English side to follow, I was looking forward optimistically to Spanish side Getafe’s chances against strong favourites Bayern Munich.

A 1-1 draw in Germany no doubt meant Michael Laudrup’s team had every reason to be confident on home soil.

An unexpected turn of events saw Getafe reduced to ten men before ten minutes were on the clock, and from then on a great game unfolded.

Getafe led before a late equalizer took the game into extra-time. The hosts once again took the lead, and then added another, leaving the fans in dream land. They were 3-1 up against the overwhelming favourites and with just ten men.

What happens next is what leads to my main issue with how this game ended.

Bayern hit Getafe with two late goals, and extra-time ended at 3-3. What happened next, in my opinion, should have been penalties. What actually happened was Bayern advanced to the Semi-final on the away goals rule.

So here is my problem…

How is it fair on the team playing the second leg at home, to go out on away goals after extra-time?

Getafe drew 1-1 at home and 1-1 away; the issue is they did not get a chance to play an extra half hour in Germany, like Bayern did in Spain. The only suggestion I can think of is away goals count in 90 minutes but not 120. In last night’s scenario, the game should have gone to penalties.

Here is an interesting Spanish Football blog I found this week, take a look at the match highlights...

Can Truro City move football forward in Cornwall?

A constant stream of concern for City fans is something which Truro’s critics are all too eager to point out; the location is not ideal.

The City is located in the deepest south of England, cut off from the bustling Cities of London, Manchester and the like.

In the modern day game, where lifestyle and WAGs seem just as important to a footballer as a successful career, it would be a fair assumption to make that Truro may not be a player’s ideal destination.

Cornwall and Devon possess just one Football League side between them; Plymouth Argyle. The former Pilgrims' boss Ian Holloway once even remarked how hard it was to attract players due south, and that, is in the Coca Cola Championship. Aside from Argyle, there is Exeter City and Torquay United in the Conference and from there you look at Truro City, who are set to become Cornwall’s first side to venture into the Southern League.

It is therefore apparent that Cornwall and Devon is not a particular hotbed for football, especially when contrasted with places like Lancashire and London, who have top, top sides, like Cornwall has beaches.




Fans of the expensively assembled White Tigers are more than aware of the possible problems attracting players, however they also seem optimistic that, long term, it will not prevent Truro continuing their charge up the footballing pyramid.

Supporters club chairman Robin Netherton believes that City can go where other sides have failed:

“It is indeed a big point with our geographical position in the country, even Plymouth Argyle have problems attracting players to the South West. We are under no illusion that it will be easy, it won’t be, but we will endeavor to bring in top quality players to strengthen the team over the coming seasons.

“With the support and backing we are finding I believe we can break through the barrier and show other local clubs that it is possible to survive and be successful in sleepy old Cornwall. We will certainly give our all, the faith and belief is there.”

Former committee member Andrew [unknown] is more positive than most, and believes that the location could work in Truro’s favour:

“The geographic position should not hinder our progress too much, in fact it is probably opposition teams who will be more concerned of where we are. It obviously has a major bearing on the playing staff and that is the main reason for the team turning full time next season. If players are good enough they will want to come and play for us.”

With a bright future on the horizon, City also have a new generation of supporters. One of them, Tom Perry, believes that City can break the hoodoo that may be hanging over Cornish sides:

“I think that the southern placement may have an effect on some players that City may look at in a few years time, but on the other hand, players will love the club once they have been to Treyew Road. I'm sure that players and their families would love to live near the beach and beautiful countryside.”

The vibes in England’s most southerly City are good, and the future looks bright for the time being, and who knows, perhaps Truro could break the jinx on Cornish football and live their Football League dream.

Play-offs still a possibility with a clown in goal?

The News of the World led with the headline on Sunday: “Coco Kiraly”. It is hard to disagree with a headline which is particularly apt in describing the Hungarian’s performance on Saturday. It is also hard to disagree that goalkeeping errors are becoming the story of the Claret's season, in a season which sees the most competitive Championship ever.

So, after a great win at home to Charlton on Andy Gray’s Turf Moor return, Burnley were once again within touching distance of the play-offs. Wolves were the visitors to the North West, and it was a Burnley crowd with high expectations. Those expectations were soon quashed, as within fifteen minutes the team from the Black Country were 2-0 up. The first came from comical defending and the second came in even more comical circumstances. Now, to move on to the third and the less said the better.

Ade Akinbiyi did pull a goal back for the Clarets but it wasn’t to be, and Wolves ran out deserved winners. I was particularly impressed with the ability of the Wolves players to shut down and hassle the Clarets at every opportunity.

Naturally, this defeat bought out the usual outcry from some of the Burnley faithful, but without, god forbid, sounding to optimistic, the play-offs are still a definite possibility for our inconsistent side.

In a season where every team has struggled to string together a run of results, it is going to be the team that lifts it for the last few games that sneaks it, and there is no reason that the Clarets cannot be that team. The next to games are vital, a trip to Deepdale to play Lancashire rivals Preston, then a home game with FA Cup giant killers Barnsley. Six from six there and the dream will live on, hopefully the players will realise what a genuine possibility they have of achieving something great.

One thing is for sure, the fans are going to play a pivotal part now. Owen Coyle has spoken about how great they have been already, but now they really need to get behind the team, and breathe confidence into the likes of Kiraly or Jensen.

Kiraly and Jensen… Coyle is now in a very difficult situation, he has constantly switched his keepers, giving one a run of games and the changing when mistakes occur. I believe one thing is needed now, and that is pick a keeper and stick with him. It is no good for the defence having a different keeper behind them each week, and it is no good for the keeper knowing one mistake and he faces the chop.

Finally, something to emerge from the Wolves game is something which has been haunting us all season. Each time we get within striking distance of the play-offs, we lose. I wouldn’t mind seeing the odds for getting within touching distance on the last day and eventually sneaking in! Anyone else fancy that?!

Oh Robbie, Robbie!

I did not think I would be posting again so soon, but after an exciting day at Turf Moor I felt inclined to.

Title chasing Watford were in town, and left with a point, a point which over the course of the game they perhaps didn’t deserve. Owen Coyle certainly felt Burnley did enough to merit maximum points on a miserable day a t’turf.

Kyle Lafferty missed a chance before Akinbiyi missed an open goal, and one suspected it was going to be another disappointing home defeat, where we failed to take our chances. In the end, we twice came back from behind to secure a point, which in all honesty should have been three. We’ve Robbie Blake to thank for saving us today though, and a full match report can be seen here.

Something else emerged from the match today, and it certainly wasn’t something for Burnley Football Club to be proud of. Trouble in the stands saw friction rise between some home fans and stewards, which resulted in a conflict between a fan and a steward.

I can see the point of view of certain Burnley fans at the back who want to stand, sing and create an atmosphere that the Longside was a kin to in years gone by, but the fact is rules are in place now, and stewards, at the end of the day, have to do their job. I like no other would love to stand and sing, but the rules are to sit down, and yes, that is sad, but yes, they are also the rules. It’s just a case of accepting it. I sympathise with the stewards and the fans, but at then end of the day it’s all about respect.

Perhaps if the fans were to be more respectful to the rules and the stewards, then maybe there would be a bit of leeway, but they aren’t. Let’s just try and get atmosphere back at the Turf without aggression.

So, a point it was in a game where it was important not to lose. The point did move us one place up the table to eighth, just one point of the much coveted top six. Now we move on to the KC Stadium and Hull City, in what I will go as far as saying is a MUST win game.

Anyway to go back to the match, here are a couple of open goal misses for Ade to realise he is not on his own! Ronny Rosenthal’s famous miss for Liverpool, and a certain Delroy Facey’s slice when he was on loan with the Clarets…

Play Offs, a real possiblity?

The last time I posted, I think that I and most Burnley fans were looking forward to three points at home to struggling Colchester United, but that was not to be. A deflected free kick sent Colchester back south with a point, and we were left hoping for something from the game at Loftus Road the following Tuesday.

What happened away at QPR is no secret, and was possibly the highlight of an exciting season so far, Andrew Cole’s hat-trick will go down in history, and people who were lucky enough to be there will have fond memories of the night for many a year to come.

A friendly in Ireland, an unfortunate defeat in Plymouth and three more home points against Chris Coleman’s Coventry City and we sit two points of the play-offs with just twelve games remaining.

Owen Coyle has talked about consistency, and although it is obvious, that is the key to finishing in the targeted top six position. Many teams will believe they are capable of a coveted play-off spot, but this season I’m genuinely beginning to believe that we could be that team that sneaks in there, under the radar.

The next five games are key; Watford, Hull, Stoke, Charlton and Wolves. These are teams in and around us, who believe that this could also be their year, so points in these games will be key. I believe if we can come out of these games with three wins, then the top six is well within our reach.

Alan Mahon and Michael Duff return for the reserves tonight, and all the press reports suggest that the players spirit and confidence is high, and that is going to be vital in the run in.

Whether we finish in the top six or not it is great to be going into the last quarter of the season, and still having something to play for. That, coupled with the free flowing football that Coyle has bought to the club, ensure that this will be a season to remember. Lets hope that three points are achieved against Watford at the weekend, and lets hope that this time next week we cant still all be dreaming about a play-off final at Wembley!

Burnley v Colchester United

Colchester United are the visitors to Turf Moor tomorrow, for what I hope will be another home win for the Clarets.

With two wins in our last two home games, it would appear that we have finally broken our home form hoodoo. And with Colchester struggling in the Championship, one would be forgiven for expecting three points tomorrow. Last week at West Brom was encouraging, yet the gulf in quality was clear for all to see. I’m certainly hoping that tomorrow, we will be able to show that gap in quality between us and Colchester.

Kyle Lafferty returns from his four game ban, following his appearance for Northern Ireland in midweek. The international is once again today subject to transfer talk from north of the border, with Rangers apparently lining up a £4 million summer bid.

Despite all this talk about Lafferty playing down the middle, I am in favour of him going straight in on the left. In both of our last two games it has been clear that we have lacked width on the left hand side, width that we had with Kyle in the side. Whether he was performing or not, the width was there.

Robbie Blake is not the answer for me. He doesn’t have the pace, and is far more effective for us in the middle; this was evident in the last 15 minutes against the Baggies.

Whatever Coyle goes for though, I’m sure will be productive. It is refreshing to be going in to tomorrow’s game not knowing what the line up will be. There are many questions to be answered come 3pm tomorrow, such as will Caldwell come back in? Who will start in the middle of the park, up front and on the left?

One thing is for sure though; it is nice to be left wondering for once! Roll on Colchester, roll on three points.

Gripped on the African Nations

I have never seen anything like it! What on earth went through Andre Bikey’s mind when he decided to sprint over and push over a member of the medical team attending to his team mate? It beggars belief.

To set the scene, Cameroon were 1-0 up against hosts Ghana in the dying moments of the African Cup of Nations semi-final. Bikey’s team-mate, former Liverpool player Rigobert Song, laid injured receiving attention. Out of nowhere, Bikey just sprang to life and pushed over one of the people attending to Song. The only possible comparison I can think of is Di Canio pushing over the referee in his Sheffield Wednesday days.

Bikey will now miss the final, and for what? Efan Ekoku who was commentating on the game, at first felt the red card was unjustified; he must have been judging that on Bikey’s reaction to his dismissal. Upon seeing red, Bikey slammed down his shirt in utter surprise and contempt at the referee’s decision. It’s certainly one of the strangest moments I’ve seen in football, and one that only Bikey will be able to explain.

Cameroon saw out the closing minutes of the match, and they will meet Egypt in the final on Sunday. Egypt beat favourites Ivory Coast 4-1, but it was something else which stood out for me in this match.

The gamesmanship from the Egyptian players was really frustrating. Not just because I had adopted the Ivorians and wanted to see them qualify, but because it made for a stop start game which was none too pleasing on the eye. The referee did little to help matters, every time a player hit the floor, the ref blew up. Some of the free kicks given were even given without any physical contact what so ever. The Egyptians continued to go down, roll around, and do whatever they could to delay time. It was worse than stuff you see in the Premier League, and did not help the flow of the game for the neutral.

To be fair though, Egypt did perform very well and thoroughly deserved their win against Ivory Coast who were not at the races. The Egyptians surprised me at times, and it is clear that they are a very good team. How often do you see the best TEAM win these national tournaments, and not the countries with their Drogbas, Essiens and Eto’os? Only time will tell, but I fancy the Egyptians on Sunday, here is to a good final.

Once a Claret, always a Claret

A friend of mine recently decided to stop supporting Derby in their fight against Premier League relegation. Over night he took up supporting West Ham.

This got me thinking, and what I thought was this was something I could never do. I don't know if this is me talking through claret tinted spectacles, but I believe that Burnley is a special club.

Every Burnley supporter I have met is as passionate as the last. Whether they rarely attend or never miss a game. Yet you meet Man Utd or Arsenal fans, and some of them seem as if they couldn't really care from one game to the next, yet they are happy to bask in the glory of their clubs.

There is something special about supporting Burnley, and I can't quite put my finger on it. Whether it's the constant anticipation and belief that we will once again enjoy the glory days we enjoyed in the 60's, or the fantastic away support we have for a town the size of Burnley.

Whatever it is, it is something special, and something I wouldn't swap for the world. I have my Dad to thank for something that will be with me forever. I am proud to say that once a claret, always a claret!

Over the coming weeks I will be adding more posts, so please keep checking by. Be it for match reports, opinion pieces or something completely different. Feel free to comment on my posts and vote on the polls.