The story of Coca Cola Championship is over, at least for this season. When I wrote about the biggest achievements this season, mentioning Wolves, Sheffield United and Swansea, probably many of you wondered where is FC Burnley and their heroic campaign in the league and both Cups. Well, I don’t mean to brag now, but I left them out on purpose, waiting for the play-offs finals to be decided, because a I had a feeling that they will make it…
Even if you are not a fan of Burnley or Sheffield United, but only a fan of real football, watching Coca Cola Championship play-offs, you could have felt something in bright blue squad. Call it a unity, fellowship, all-for-one-and-one-for-all syndrome, whatever you wish. Masks with the face of manager Owen Coyle could be seen in the crowd. By the way, have you ever seen a Chelsea fan with a mask of Mourinho or a Manchester United fan with the face of Sir Alex? Hardly… I don’t think I have ever seen Wenger’s face among Arsenal fans. Perhaps only Benitez, when the Reds from Liverpool won Champions League. There was also the player with number 2 on his jersey, captain Graham Alexander as a holding midfielder running tirelessly, boosting his team mates, yelling and pointing the instructions for his team. This mean is almost 38 years old now and his fervor and eagerness on the pitch make him seem as if he were on the very start of his career.
Above all, we have seen an offensive, attractive and most importantly, team play from Burnley. All things popular Clarets achieved this season seem completely deserved. It seems as if they were paid back for what they lost by elimination from Carling Cup finals, after shocking semifinals matches against Tottenham. Carling Cup campaign was exemplary, as we saw them eliminate Fulham, Chelsea Arsenal in that order. Everyone waited for them to suffer a dip in form but that simply didn’t happen. The amazing consistency in their form saw them constantly in the play-offs zone or near it. With only 23 players to choose from, Owen Coyle made a miracle of the team that were predicted to make it to the mid
table and nothing more.
Club policy in the last few seasons clearly affected their position on the standings: While Steve Cotterill was in charge, they would usually get off to a good start and spend the whole autumn in the top part of the standings or even in the play-offs zone. In January, they would sell one or two of their best players, so the spring would pass by in a negative spell that usually lead them down on the standings to struggle for a place in the league. Cotterill couldn’t hold on in this pace, so in November 2007, the Scott, Owen Coyle arrived, after doing an excellent job with average Scottish team, St. Johnston that are always on a see-saw between Scottish Premier league and First Division. Coyle spent the rest of the season to stabilize the team and think about how to create the best team with spending the least money possible.
Owen shuffled the cards in just the right way and created a combination of experience and youth. He made great moves by bringing several excellent players in the summer transfer window without spending much money. First of all, Martin Paterson, swift and lethal winger, who arrived for 1.4 million pounds from Scunthorpe United where he was the biggest star but couldn’t reach his full potential as Scunthorpe have just been relegated to League One. Manchester United’s child, Chris Eagles arrived too, an excellent winger who didn’t have a chance with Ferguson and paid only a million pounds for him. Stephen Thompson was brought from Cardiff to reinforce the team.
The manager created a dangerous blend of youth and experience with the players hardly anyone has heard of. The pillars of defense were Duff, Clarke Carlisle and Steven Caldwell, each one of them nearing their thirties; holding midfielder was mentioned “grandpa” Alexander and few excellent youngsters were trusted with the midfield. Chris McCann (20), Alex McDonald (19), with experienced Wade Eliotta and Joey Gudjonsena. Young Paterson is irreplaceable in the attack with experienced colleague Robbie Blake who is reliving his youth days this season. Steven Thompson and another kid, Jay Rodriguez were there to support them….
(to be continued)
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