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STAYING POSITIVE: Steven Caldwell admits Burnley's play-off hopes are looking improbable - although the Clarets skipper has not given up hope yet
STEVEN Caldwell admits it would represent a "major disappointment" if Burnley fail to land a Championship play-off place.
The Clarets captain saw his side's top-six hopes take a significant pounding with Saturday's 2-1 derby defeat at Preston North End.
It was their second successive loss following a poor 3-1 home reverse to Wolves the previous week.
With just six matches left, the Clarets are now four points adrift of sixth-placed Plymouth and Ipswich, while the latter boast an extra game in hand.
Coupled with the fact Burnley have won only one of their last six Championship games - a 1-0 home success over Charlton - it emphasises the improbable task facing Owen Coyle's side in nicking a play-off place.
The Burnley manager has already suggested that his players need a minimum of five victories to give themselves an outside chance.
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But in a wide-open league campaign that has seen, in recent weeks, over a dozen clubs harbouring hopes of promotion, the Clarets' current run of form has left everyone wondering what could have been.
Only a victory against Barnsley at Turf Moor in four days' time will suffice but, despite not giving up hope, Caldwell admits the play-off challenge is now looking a bridge too far.
"We want to finish in the top six," said the Scotland defender.
"We've said it since July and we still feel it, and we feel it would be a major disappointment if we don't because we feel we've got the players and the quality to have done it.
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"It's looking difficult now, but it's still possible.
"We have to get on that run that we've been talking about all season, but we seem to win a game, lose a game, and now that's two losses in a row.
"Barnsley is a really crucial game for us to get on track, because if we aren't going to quite make the play-offs, then I think we have to finish as high as possible."
Caldwell added: "It would be a real travesty if we let things slip and finish way down.
"But I'm not being negative. We are going to win more games and we are going to push people close.
"At least we can make people earn the right to be in the play-offs by us and the rest of the teams behind really pushing them."
Caldwell admits, however, that Burnley will not move up the table if they continue to defend poorly.
Costly mistakes were made against Wolves, and further unforced errors gifted North End goals in the Lancashire derby at Deepdale.
"It has to be remedied and we have to do some work to make sure that happens, otherwise we aren't going to win games and this season's going to be a major disappointment," said the 27-year-old.
"By letting things fall away in the next six games, it's not going to be good enough to ever get in the play-offs, so it has to change.
"It happens to every team - even the best teams in the world. But to be happening regularly is disappointing."
Posted by: dingledes, claret land on 12:58pm Tue 25 Mar 08
lets b honest we are just simply not good enough!! we lost to a poor side on sat cos we are to slow at the back to many O A P S in the side!! we should have gone for it in jan by splashing the cash and the board chose not to. i bet they regret that now!! where was randall sat?? joey g another whos not up to it . wait to see what happens in the summer, but not expecting much.
lets b honest we are just simply not good enough!! we lost to a poor side on sat cos we are to slow at the back to many O A P S in the side!! we should have gone for it in jan by splashing the cash and the board chose not to. i bet they regret that now!! where was randall sat?? joey g another whos not up to it . wait to see what happens in the summer, but not expecting much.
Well this is our 8th season of false hopes and dreaming of a return to the division we helped form. Will my hopes ever reach the heights of a dead squib. I fear i will suffer more misery. Wel done to the club for trying to compete against the reaches of the greedy players who have devoloped the pyramid of unattainable dreams.
Well this is our 8th season of false hopes and dreaming of a return to the division we helped form. Will my hopes ever reach the heights of a dead squib. I fear i will suffer more misery. Wel done to the club for trying to compete against the reaches of the greedy players who have devoloped the pyramid of unattainable dreams.
just read telegraph,stephen cummings is bang on again..dodgy keepers,slow deffence,weak midfield..coles knackerd and randalls a kid....who signed these players???not just cole/randall rest of the bad bunch,how did they end up here!!!varga??what a donkey
just read telegraph,stephen cummings is bang on again..dodgy keepers,slow deffence,weak midfield..coles knackerd and randalls a kid....who signed these players???not just cole/randall rest of the bad bunch,how did they end up here!!!varga??what a donkey
[quote][bold]frank[/bold] wrote:
Well this is our 8th season of false hopes and dreaming of a return to the division we helped form. Will my hopes ever reach the heights of a dead squib. I fear i will suffer more misery. Wel done to the club for trying to compete against the reaches of the greedy players who have devoloped the pyramid of unattainable dreams.[/quote] er! talk about living in the past, I assume you mean the football league that you helped form, not the Premiership, dream on frank :)
frank wrote:
Well this is our 8th season of false hopes and dreaming of a return to the division we helped form. Will my hopes ever reach the heights of a dead squib. I fear i will suffer more misery. Wel done to the club for trying to compete against the reaches of the greedy players who have devoloped the pyramid of unattainable dreams.
er! talk about living in the past, I assume you mean the football league that you helped form, not the Premiership, dream on frank :)
[quote][bold]SAB[/bold] wrote:
just read telegraph,stephen cummings is bang on again..dodgy keepers,slow deffence,weak midfield..coles knackerd and randalls a kid....who signed these players???not just cole/randall rest of the bad bunch,how did they end up here!!!varga??what a donkey[/quote] Stephen Cummings is only repeating what fans have been posting on this website since well before Christmas.
SAB wrote:
just read telegraph,stephen cummings is bang on again..dodgy keepers,slow deffence,weak midfield..coles knackerd and randalls a kid....who signed these players???not just cole/randall rest of the bad bunch,how did they end up here!!!varga??what a donkey
Stephen Cummings is only repeating what fans have been posting on this website since well before Christmas.
[quote][bold]yoda[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]frank[/bold] wrote: Well this is our 8th season of false hopes and dreaming of a return to the division we helped form. Will my hopes ever reach the heights of a dead squib. I fear i will suffer more misery. Wel done to the club for trying to compete against the reaches of the greedy players who have devoloped the pyramid of unattainable dreams.[/quote] er! talk about living in the past, I assume you mean the football league that you helped form, not the Premiership, dream on frank :)[/quote] Croak, Croak.
yoda wrote:
frank wrote: Well this is our 8th season of false hopes and dreaming of a return to the division we helped form. Will my hopes ever reach the heights of a dead squib. I fear i will suffer more misery. Wel done to the club for trying to compete against the reaches of the greedy players who have devoloped the pyramid of unattainable dreams.
er! talk about living in the past, I assume you mean the football league that you helped form, not the Premiership, dream on frank :)
i can't understand folk who seem happy to carry on making up the numbers in this division.
the boards lack of investment and ambition will cost us dearly in the summer.this squad will be depleted badly,and where are we going to replace them?if the board had shown some ambition an brought at least 2 players in january this would have shown players of our intentions.now everyone knows we have none and therefore we can expect to lose our best players,some sold some out of contract.with a bit of investment we still would have been in a promising position,that chance has gone so will our best players.this squad requires a total clear out with the exception of about 5 players.coyle wants some new blood,we know that we hsave saying it for months.those who say we are punching above our weight and should be happy,i say this, with some investment we could have been promoted into the premier league,this is where flood said one year in the premier would make burnley financially for life.those who are happy in this division,ok,those who are not speak up,let the board know our feelings.if a lot of money is not spent in the summer,my bet is that we are relegated and end of next season.would should change the clubs motto to BOLDLY GOING NOWHERE.
i can't understand folk who seem happy to carry on making up the numbers in this division.
the boards lack of investment and ambition will cost us dearly in the summer.this squad will be depleted badly,and where are we going to replace them?if the board had shown some ambition an brought at least 2 players in january this would have shown players of our intentions.now everyone knows we have none and therefore we can expect to lose our best players,some sold some out of contract.with a bit of investment we still would have been in a promising position,that chance has gone so will our best players.this squad requires a total clear out with the exception of about 5 players.coyle wants some new blood,we know that we hsave saying it for months.those who say we are punching above our weight and should be happy,i say this, with some investment we could have been promoted into the premier league,this is where flood said one year in the premier would make burnley financially for life.those who are happy in this division,ok,those who are not speak up,let the board know our feelings.if a lot of money is not spent in the summer,my bet is that we are relegated and end of next season.would should change the clubs motto to BOLDLY GOING NOWHERE.
Posted by: Phil in Bury, Bury on 8:09pm Tue 25 Mar 08
8 years in this division is a damned site better than the 7 years we festered in the old 4th division - sure I'd love us to compete for a place in the premiership but let's not forget where we've been!
8 years in this division is a damned site better than the 7 years we festered in the old 4th division - sure I'd love us to compete for a place in the premiership but let's not forget where we've been!
Posted by: Straight Talker, Rossendale on 9:15pm Tue 25 Mar 08
Well Mr Caldwell, welcome to Burnley, and know how it is to be a Burnley fan - we regularly feel "major disappointment" at this stage of the season, or sometimes earlier!
If you honestly believe that we can still achieve a play-off place, you must be as those who believe that several members of our squad can cut-it as fotballers in this division!
Face facts and reality - we are not getting a play-off place!
Time to start playing to cement your place in the team for next season!
Well Mr Caldwell, welcome to Burnley, and know how it is to be a Burnley fan - we regularly feel "major disappointment" at this stage of the season, or sometimes earlier!
If you honestly believe that we can still achieve a play-off place, you must be as those who believe that several members of our squad can cut-it as fotballers in this division!
Face facts and reality - we are not getting a play-off place!
Time to start playing to cement your place in the team for next season!
Posted by: blueheeler1, australia on 9:32am Wed 26 Mar 08
Its a long time since we were in the old First Division. About the same time when players played for pride. Some players were at one club forever.
Its all about money now and that's ok. But look at the Prem; apart from the top 6 or 7 clubs they're all also-rans.
How wealthy are Man U? a long way from Ars and Chelsea.Where are the midland teams; Reading?
I doubt we will ever be a power-house again and might make it back one day- for a small time. Is that the hope? we make it back for a short spell? Don't we need (demand) much much more? Maybe we have to sacrifice the short term for the future whislt we try and build a stadium and an academy?
Its a long time since we were in the old First Division. About the same time when players played for pride. Some players were at one club forever.
Its all about money now and that's ok. But look at the Prem; apart from the top 6 or 7 clubs they're all also-rans.
How wealthy are Man U? a long way from Ars and Chelsea.Where are the midland teams; Reading?
I doubt we will ever be a power-house again and might make it back one day- for a small time. Is that the hope? we make it back for a short spell? Don't we need (demand) much much more? Maybe we have to sacrifice the short term for the future whislt we try and build a stadium and an academy?
Posted by: Deepdale Dave, Deepdale on 10:00am Wed 26 Mar 08
You've already blown it. Like that nice blimp you had. That was lovely.
Thanks for the warning Mr Harley! LOL!
And the 6 easy points - same again next season eh? LOL!
You've already blown it. Like that nice blimp you had. That was lovely.
Thanks for the warning Mr Harley! LOL!
And the 6 easy points - same again next season eh? LOL!
Posted by: brook claret, derbyshire on 10:17am Wed 26 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Phil in Bury[/bold] wrote:
8 years in this division is a damned site better than the 7 years we festered in the old 4th division - sure I'd love us to compete for a place in the premiership but let's not forget where we've been![/quote] phil you have a good point,but how did we get in the lowers divisions?lack of investment,it started in the mid seventies when we sold nearly half of the best team we had had for years,dobbo,james etc.to build a new stand.i strongly believe that without some serious investment this present squad minus those leaving will struggle to stay in this division next season.i hope im wrong but i fear the worst.
Phil in Bury wrote:
8 years in this division is a damned site better than the 7 years we festered in the old 4th division - sure I'd love us to compete for a place in the premiership but let's not forget where we've been!
phil you have a good point,but how did we get in the lowers divisions?lack of investment,it started in the mid seventies when we sold nearly half of the best team we had had for years,dobbo,james etc.to build a new stand.i strongly believe that without some serious investment this present squad minus those leaving will struggle to stay in this division next season.i hope im wrong but i fear the worst.
Posted by: top cat, burnley on 5:36pm Thu 27 Mar 08
phil bury,wolves were doing same as us at same time,down in dumps skint,look at them!!!and they didnt get haywood and cash till theyd hit the old first,look at doncaster,how can doncaster be playing us next year???cash buddy thats the answer,they were in conference 5 year ago,they aint spent millions,swansea are same,stop dwelling on past!!!the future,we could of done it this year..EASY
phil bury,wolves were doing same as us at same time,down in dumps skint,look at them!!!and they didnt get haywood and cash till theyd hit the old first,look at doncaster,how can doncaster be playing us next year???cash buddy thats the answer,they were in conference 5 year ago,they aint spent millions,swansea are same,stop dwelling on past!!!the future,we could of done it this year..EASY
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