The Longside Reference

Steve Cotterill's second season in charge, started with a dash to Florida to secure the services of defender Wayne Thomas(Left), who left stoke in the summer to sign for a very persistent Cotterill. along with Wade Elliott and Gareth O'Connor who impressed during Burnleys FA Cup game at home to Bournemouth the season previous when the teams met at Turf Moor. James O'Connor would also be a new arrival, when he initially signed on loan from the Baggies.

One thing about Steve Cotterill, is that his teams never get hammered, he somehow gets the players to dig deep, while having the forward thinking to play the youth players, McCann and Lafferty going on the pre-season tour to Austria. And his strategy in the loan market would be International youth players, Cahil,Bardsley, Dyer, Grant, Birmingham as well as a former England full International in Micheal Ricketts, he used this resource to the max.

But this season would be another struggle, 52 points and 17th place, with no cup runs to talk of beating Carlisle and Barnsley before coming unstuck to Premiership Aston Villa, away at Villa Park.

One player who not only did we see the bast off, we saw nothing of, Karbassion, who came straight from Arsenals youth team, made only 5 substitute appearances, and a cameo at Villa. Gifton Noel Williams on the other hand showed us all, his size and bulk, he looked the part but with arthritis in the knees and a distinct look of any interest in chasing any cause, never won over the Burnley faithful. Cotterill made a slight boob with Gifton, IMO.

The third season running, Burnley lost their top marksman, first we lost Blake, and now Ade Akinbiyi. Burnley have always been a selling club, so with the lack of substantial funds we will remain to be. And with Steve Cotterill working the market, we are no longer losing players for peanuts.