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Caldwell: Burnley boss will make us stronger
10:12am Tuesday 6th May 2008
Comments (21)
CAPTAIN Steven Caldwell has backed manager Owen Coyle to make Burnley a stronger force next season.
A 5-0 defeat at Crystal Palace consigned the Clarets to a 13th-placed finish - the lowest position available to them - on the final day of the season on Sunday.
But while it was a disappointing outcome to a campaign which had held the prospect of a play-off place until last month, when back-to-back defeats to Norwich City and Sheffield United ruled them out of the race for the top six, Caldwell believes they can come back better for the experience, and boss Coyle's summer additions.
"We haven't achieved our potential this season," said the 27-year-old defender.
"There have been missed opportunities, and we've had a few, like most teams have.
"It's been a really difficult season for everybody to achieve a level of consistency in their performances.
"We feel we should be in the play-offs at least. But it's gone now.
"It's about reflecting on the things we can improve on and doing that, and coming back next season stronger and recharged to push forward again.
"I think we have to come back stronger next season.
"Every team has to improve week in, week out and year in, year out.
"The biggest teams in world football strengthen, even though they win maybe three or four trophies, they still strengthen in the summer.
"Obviously we need to strengthen because we want to improve, and the whole point of strengthening the squad is to bring the best out of the people that are there and the people that come in.
"It isn't about changing a centre half for another centre half, or a centre forward for another centre forward, it's about causing competition for places, which makes people perform to their absolute maximum, and that's what we need."
And Caldwell blames a lack of consistency for their season petering out.
"Momentum is everything in this league. It's the biggest thing and it's a difficult thing to get.
"But once you get winning week in, week out it's then quite difficult to lose a game.
"You just have that confidence and that sureness about your play, and it's a fantastic thing," he said.
"I think it's one thing we're struggling to get.
"The pleasing thing over last season is that we never went through a spell where we lost consistently.
"We were winning a few, losing a few; we were always hanging in there but never getting a true consistency.
"It's what might have been for a lot of teams, and certainly for us. It's gone now, it's in the past.
"We have to look forward, and we'll be ready next season."
Your Say YourLancashire Telegraph
gullibles, says...
10:50am Tue 6 May 08
Expect to hear the same old excuses given an airing once again "we will not enter a bidding war for the player" and "we will not pay above our valuation".
Which basically means that the clarets will only be signing those players no other clubs are interested in buying!!
Owen Coyle commented recently that he inherited a squad in which the average age was far too high. It will be interesting to see how much of the old dead wood he gets rid of. My guess would be hardly any.
Bob, Burnley says...
11:06am Tue 6 May 08
bluenwhite, says...
11:11am Tue 6 May 08
Happy days are here again.
he he he he he he he he he he he he.
Weaken team and make ground smaller. Well done mr flood. A true blue.
J.P, burnley says...
11:15am Tue 6 May 08
Zesh, says...
11:16am Tue 6 May 08
Says it all really!
LOL at the sad dingle mouth-breathers!
Big Nige, Ending Season on a LOW says...
11:36am Tue 6 May 08
Can we ask for the manager's thoughts on his team selection last Staurday for I have never seen such a lightweight umcompetitive outfit - it should have the likes of Wolves & Ipswich questioning our integrity.
Paul Ward, College says...
11:37am Tue 6 May 08
Paul Ward, College says...
11:49am Tue 6 May 08
You would think our defence now is better, but the defending I have seen this season is suicide. Cotterill came in and sorted the defence out, the only thing he stuggled on was getting goals and having to rely on one person to score goals in his three and a half tenure in charge (i.e. Blake, Akinbiyi, Gray until they were sold in January transfer window).
I know there is a different mentality with Coyle in charge but I am worrying about the players he will struggle to sign in the summer. Can he persuade them to join?
Cotterill got rave reviews of players who he signed saying 'he sold the club to me etc, I just hope Coyle can get some better players in but the board need to give him funds.
I expect Coyle to have at least £1.5 million to spend in the summer to strengthen the squad. The money we made for Gray. If less then I will seriously be contemplating a bad season next year.
We just trying the cheap option to get promoted every year. We do well up until christmas and fizzle away. The Burnley fans have been let down season after season after season, (you get my drift).
I am not suprised the attendances have dwindled, you could write a book about what is going to happen next season; up there when we get to christmas, then fizzle away, sell one of our stikers (Lafferty) and finish mid-table or near relegation zone. :(
Memory boy, london says...
12:00pm Tue 6 May 08
bluenwhite, says...
12:33pm Tue 6 May 08
Memory boy wrote:I remember a time. April the 1st was the day.
Apart from saturday just gone - when was the last time that Burnley lost Five - Nil??
Ewood park was the place. Quietest away support ive ever seen.
he he he he he he he he he
bluenwhite, says...
12:37pm Tue 6 May 08
Memory boy wrote:I remember a time and place. April 1st, ewood park.
Apart from saturday just gone - when was the last time that Burnley lost Five - Nil??
Happy Days.
Quietest away support ever.
he he he he he he
ray keith, burnley says...
1:34pm Tue 6 May 08
J.P, burnley says...
1:56pm Tue 6 May 08
l??then you say we need younger squad!!what you smoking!!put that white lightning down pal
bluenwhite, bLACKBURN says...
2:27pm Tue 6 May 08
BOB, Burnley says...
2:32pm Tue 6 May 08
YOU ARE A MORON
A TOTAL TOTAL MORON.
bluenwhite, says...
6:02pm Tue 6 May 08
BOB wrote:pratt. cant you tell im a dingle trying to wind up the real bluenwhite?
Blue and white............ YOU ARE A MORON A TOTAL TOTAL MORON.
Dingle Dan, says...
6:14pm Tue 6 May 08
Memory boy wrote:It wasn't that long ago that conceding 7 was the norm, infact Seven Up were after being shirt sponsors down at the Dingle Dome
Apart from saturday just gone - when was the last time that Burnley lost Five - Nil??
Paul Ward, Season ticket holder says...
11:21am Wed 7 May 08
Derren Brown, In Your Mind says...
11:45am Wed 7 May 08
bluenwhite wrote:OOh...bet it's 'really working'...You're a right 'master of psychology' aren't you?
BOB wrote: Blue and white............ YOU ARE A MORON A TOTAL TOTAL MORON.pratt. cant you tell im a dingle trying to wind up the real bluenwhite?
What a doofus.
Floody Hell, Counting Floods millions not invested in Burnley says...
10:43pm Wed 7 May 08
Bob wrote:Nice one, send them both back
The best thing Owen Coyle can do is point Steven Caldwell in a northerly direction up the M6 with a brief never to return. While he is at it he can prove that he has balls by following him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As for whoever in College? Coyle have £1.5 million your having a laugh!!!!
And its not just Turf Moor Flood has earmarked for a development, this clown is building an Asda on Rhyl funfair site
FORCE: Steven Caldwell
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ray keith, burnley says...
10:29am Tue 6 May 08