The tough times in life are probably the best

Last updated : 03 April 2007 By Tony Scholes
Ian Holloway has steered his side to a mid-table place this season, his first at Home Park, and has revealed it is all about planning for next season. "What I will be doing is plotting my future, and plotting Plymouth's future. These people have got to show me they want to do what I am looking for," he said ahead of tonight's game.

"We have not been as good as we should have been in the last few weeks. We have not had the right zest and I think it is do with the team I picked against Watford. Certain people were looking at it and trying to see whether they will be here next year. They will soon find out because I am the one that should be looking at it and they have to please me.

"Next year is more important to me than this year because 52 points should be enough. I have told the board we are better than that but there are some massive decisions to be made involving the whole squad.

"Football is not about enjoying yourself. It is about winning and moving forward, and I am totally determined to do that. I am sick and fed up of being in the middle of the table as a manager."

For Steve Cotterill, life is not quite the same. With just 42 points Burnley are very much fighting to ensure there is no drop into the bottom three. A run of eighteen league games without a win needs arresting and quickly.

"It's tough down at the bottom and we've got to make sure we fight our way out of this," he said. "It is a fine balance between trying to whip them up too much and getting them to go out and pass a ball. There's a happy medium but when the players are a bit short on confidence, or there are a few moans and groans, my view is for them to get angry.

"The tough times in life are probably the best, because you don't learn anything in the good times. You take them for granted, but in the tough times you have to come out fighting tooth and nail and that is how Steve Cotterill is, but I cannot give every player the same determination and mindset."