2009/10 Season Preview - Burnley
2008/09 - Having taken the manager’s job at Burnley the previous campaign, Owen Coyle’s first full season in English football was a resounding success. Not only did he take the Clarets through two impressive cup runs including reaching the semi-finals of the League Cup, but he also steered the Lancashire club in to the Premier League via the backdoor route of the play-offs. An early Wade Elliott goal in the play-off final proved enough for a 1-0 triumph over Sheffield United and also earned Coyle a contract extension that will keep him at Turf Moor until 2013.
2009/10 - The odds are always stacked against newly-promoted club’s, especially those with such limited resources as Burnley. Burnley is now the smallest town represented by a top-flight side, and the entire population could almost fit into Old Trafford. Despite the disparities, the Clarets should be relishing the chance to mix it with the big boys, having spent much of last season doing so more than effectively. The side impressively dispelled Arsenal and Chelsea amongst others from the League Cup and were unfortunate not to add Manchester United to that list. Big changes are not expected, yet with four premier league scalps to their name last season, the side will not be without ambition.
Transfer campaign - Over the summer the Clarets have spent less then most of their rivals - the emphasis on acquiring promising youngsters. However, the purchase of Hibernian striker Steven Fletcher did represent a club record fee of £3m. Brian Easton has been brought in from Hamilton and Coyle had reportedly been in communication with Hearts about the availability of Andrew Driver, suggesting he is making the most of his Scottish football contacts. The side will gain a bit of Premier League experience with the incoming Tyrone Mears and David Edgar but Coyle’s stated intent is to focus on developing youth. Big changes are unlikely at the club, but they may well unearth some exciting talent along the way.
Transfers in (Player, club from, fee)
Steven Fletcher - Hibernian - £3m
Tyrone Mears - Derby County - £500 000
Brian Easton - Hamilton Academicals - £350 000
Richard Eckersley - Manchester United - undisclosed
David Edgar - Newcastle United - undisclosed
Fernando Guerrero - Independiente del Valle - loan
Transfers out (Player, club to, fee)
Steve Jones - Walsall - free
Gabor Kiraly - 1860 Munich - free
Alan Mahon - Tranmere Rovers - free
Alex MacDonald - Falkirk - loan
Adam Kay - Notts County - loan
First XI - The team that contests the season opener against Stoke will have a similar look to the one that finished last season with most changes likely to occur in defence. New full-backs Mears and Easton are likely to join captain Steve Caldwell and Clarke Carlisle to make up the back four, but new centre-back David Edgar will challenge for a first team place. Graham Alexander and Chris McCann will make for a solid centre-midfield pairing and Elliot may well move inside to join them. This will allow Martin Paterson or Robbie Blake to drop back on to the right wing, should Coyle choose to employ the 4-5-1 formation he has often used. Up front, Fletcher will need to score goals to keep out fellow Scottish striker Steven Thompson.
12 Jensen
14 Mears - 6 Caldwell - 5 Carlisle - 24 Easton
11 Elliott - 2 Alexander - 16 McCann - 33 Eagles
9 Fletcher - 10 Paterson
The manager - In Owen Coyle, Burnley have an up and coming manager, looking to impress in his first season in the Premier League. Having joined from Scottish first division outfit, St Johnstone, he is quickly making a name for himself as a progressive manager of young sides playing fast pressing football. After his success last season, it was not a surprise when he was linked with the managerial vacancy at Celtic, but Coyle seems set on staying in Lancashire, and if he manages to keep Burnley in the Premier League it will be his greatest managerial achievement. Even if his side is relegated, it is more than likely Coyle will keep his job, with the stable regime in place at Burnley. Should the Clarets prove competitive in the league next season, there could well be numerous suitors for this talented Coach, and the club may face a battle to keep him.
Creative force - Chris Eagles will be relishing the opportunity to play in the Premier League again, having joined from Manchester United a year ago. He was an ever-present for the Lancashire club last season, scoring seven goals. Normally a right-winger, one of Eagle’s main attributes is his versatility, able to play on both wings as well as supporting a striker. Often appearing languid, he is at times charged with laziness, but is certainly blessed with a great amount of natural ability and is rarely phased in possession. Burnley will look to Eagles to provide that much needed spark of creativity.
Mr. Reliable - Having plied his trade in the lower echelons of English football for some 20 years, Graham Alexander will finally make his Premier League debut next season. The former right-back and Scottish international signed for Burnley at the beginning of the 2007/08 season and quickly established himself as an effective defensive midfielder. Alexander started every league game last season, including the play-offs and was very much the lynchpin of the success the Claret’s enjoyed, his form earning him a one year contract extension. At the age of 37, next season could well be his swansong, but Burnley could find the experience gained from his long career - as well as his 38 Scotland caps - vital in their bid for survival.
Youth prospect - The Claret’s young English striker, with a distinctively Hispanic name, Jay Enrique Rodriguez, has already made his mark on the League Cup with an impressive late winner against Fulham last season. Despite being a striker, Rodriguez’s strengths lie in his build-up play. Possessing vision beyond his 20 years of age, he has the ability to hold the ball up, bring in others, and play the key pass. Having so far made 26 appearances for the Clarets, netting two goals, the youngster will be aiming to play more than just a bit-part role in 2009/10.
The fixtures - When the fixtures came out, the first name Burnley supporters looked for would undoubtedly have been Blackburn Rovers. The two Lancashire clubs have maintained a fierce rivalry, despite next season’s meeting being their first in the league for eight years. Trips to Old Trafford, Anfield and the Emirates will no doubt set the pulse racing, as well as the appearance some of the world’s greatest players at Turf Moor. However, Burnley’s crucial matches will be against the teams also likely to be battling for survival. Games against fellow promoted sides Wolves and Birmingham City as well as the likes of Stoke, Hull and Bolton will be vital.
Home grown talent - 16 players out of Burnley’s 31-strong squad can be described as home grown with a further seven born within the United Kingdom meaning just short of three quarters of the Claret’s players are British. FIFA’s proposed 6+5 scheme will be the least of their concerns next season.
Season prediction - If Burnley are to have any chance of avoiding relegation, several elements will have to work together from day one. The squad will have to remain free from injuries and suspensions. Having one of the smallest squads in the league to choose from, Coyle will know losing key players will present a massive problem. The side will need to continue the winning habit over from last season and get points on the board immediately. Home games against struggling teams will be crucial, and the Clarets will hope the compact but noisy Turf Moor will be an intimidating prospect for away sides. Steven Fletcher will have to hit the ground running and turn his considerable potential into goals. It may be difficult to disagree with the bookies verdict, which makes them favourites for the drop, yet if all the above factors come together then there will be other relegation candidates out there for Burnley to catch.
2009/10 Season previews
Arsenal
Aston Villa
Birmingham City
Blackburn Rovers
Burnley
Chelsea
Everton
Fulham
Hull City
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