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Joey Gudjonsson made a few comments pre the Leicester game in the Leicester Mercury. First of all he denied making all the reported comments about manager Brian Laws losing the dressing room as he struggled to hang on to the Prem spot. "The interview didn't go down too well and I didn't say a lot of the things." Funny how footballer after footballer after an interview comes out in the foreign Press and denies some of the things said. "It did make life difficult and I was suspended so I knew it was coming to an end."
He then commented on the forthcoming game: "Sousa at Swansea played some brilliant football and it should be a good game, although the styles will certainly contrast. Burnley are not playing the same flowing football as they did in the past couple of seasons. They don't really play with the same attacking style. It's more about set pieces, being hard to beat and winning games 1 - 0."
Truth is: comparisons will be made with the team of 2008/09 for quite a while, just like some of us look back to the Adamson team of '72 to '74 and talk about it wistfully. A bunch of players sometimes comes together briefly and someone makes them tick collectively for just a short period before the football fades or players begin to depart. But whilst they are together the bits of jigsaw fit, and there is a magic chemistry that produces a brand of football that is hard for anyone else to replicate. Funnily enough though, I said to someone the other day, I wondered if this will be a season of grinding out results rather than brilliant football. We need to accept that the football is not going to be the same as it was two years ago.
Joey, by the way, I sometimes think would be good in one of those classic Specsaver adverts… you know the sort of thing… the hapless footballer who continually balloons the ball over the bar and then the voiceover says… "Perhaps he should have gone to Specsavers."
Another ex-player's name turned up on the same day. Steve Davis talked about his time at Burnley, how "his love for the place will never die," and how it still gives him goosebumps whenever he drives past. "I love the place," he said. His thoughts about the club "still tug at his heartstrings." On leaving to follow Coyle: "It really was a wrench… it was purely a career decision… I hope everyone knows the feelings I have for this club… it's the first result I always look for… it's always going to be a special club…"
Sorry Steve it doesn't quite convince more than a few of us. We saw how you punch the air in glee and joy when Bolton scored that sickening goal at Horwich to win the game all of us here wanted to win so desperately.
Davis reminds me a bit of that Phil Neal bloke who sat on Graham Taylor's shoulder when he was England manager. You could read his lips; "Yes boss… no boss… yassum master… ". I have this crazy little theory - that all that glistens is not gold at shoestring Bolton. Relegation for them would be financially disastrous. Jobs at stake n' all that, and Davis is now trying to butter his bread on both sides - perhaps.
"Er hello Mr Kilby, er Steve Davis here… things didn't work out at Horwich… very sorry I left… just wondering if…"
But it was good to see Steven Caldwell at last get a contract somewhere even if it is only for a year. It's a strange one this. A damned good player, tough, strong, a real leader and had a great season in the promotion year. Is he a dressing room problem? Cotterill and Coyle never thought so. Strong-minded and outspoken though he is, I can't see him being given the cold-shoulder for that reason alone. Every dressing room has its barrack room lawyers. Or is it because he is seen in the trade now as injury prone after his long lay-off last season? It's a puzzle why he wasn't snapped up quickly by a lower Prem team or any Championship team. It's a personal opinion I know and another 'if', but a back four including the out of favour Bikey and the injured Caldwell might have seen a different end to the Prem season.
Next up a tricky Carling game at minnows Morecambe; a once thriving pre-war holiday resort but now just a faded shadow of its former bustling prosperity. Sure the promenade area has been spruced up and the famous Midland Hotel and the Eric Morecambe statue are real landmarks, but I've been there a few times and behind that façade it's a sad little place with not much on offer and so many former attractions that have now closed down.
Manager Laws rang the changes and drew from the squad members who have not featured much so far, including Cort, McDonald, Rodriguez, Easton and Eckersley. Grant took over in goal. For the first thirty minutes it was a sluggish Burnley with a very competitive Morecambe in the ascendancy. Jevons deservedly gave them the lead. They could easily have got a second. But Burnley came more into the game and Eagles equalised converting Thompson's knock-down. From that point Burnley more or less took over and looked the better side in what by now was a cracking Cup-tie with both sides giving everything. A trip in the box brought Eagles down and it was Thompson who decided it was his kick, scoring calmly and efficiently. More chances came Burnley's way. Eagles could have settled the tie, should have scored but didn't. Seven minutes left and Kev McDonald with a great finish made it 3 - 1. Right footed, 25 yards, a deflection but in it went. Deflections are going our way this season so far, not against us. Big Kev can certainly have a well deserved and approved pint down the pub. Then a nice touch, star of the show Eagles taken off to take a well deserved bow to cheers and applause, and young Michael King from the development squad brought on to give him a taste of the first-team. Nice touch Brian, good management and a great moment for the young lad. "A thoroughly professional performance," summarised Phil Bird with young lad Wes Fletcher also brought on for his debut. A point or more on Saturday at Swansea and this will have been an excellent month for the Clarets and Brian Laws. Clearly he is very thoughtful, having invited the King and Fletcher parents to the game to see their boys' debuts.
Before the Morecambe game came stories that Celtic were after Eagles and that in fact he had been seen up there the day before. But next came the surprising news that Eagles had signed a new contract at Burnley. What a turn up for the books that is, a real boost and a feather in Brian Laws' cap. In two games he has been the star in one of them, made two goals via penalties, and scored one himself. Nobody can say that Burnley are not making the effort to return to the Prem. Hang on to Bikey and Mears for the next ten days and all might be well.
And so to Swansea, Leighton James' 'other' favourite team; the Liberty Stadium where Burnley had an unbeaten record, but mind you they've only played one game there, a 1 - 1 draw under Coyle; Bank Holiday weekend and some fans who travelled by road on Friday taking six or seven hours to get there. Their journey home must have been even worse with nothing but a 0 - 1 defeat to think about, Sinclair scoring for Swansea early on in the 8th minute, but with a more than probable offside in the build-up. When Swansea went down to ten men in the 57th minute it opened the way for Burnley to get back into it. But then just three minutes later Mears was sent off for a daft tackle when a modicum of sense and restraint would have kept the numerical advantage and given Burnley a great chance. Iwelumo missed a glorious heading opportunity which he should have buried. In the closing minutes Burnley pressed hard but even with 5 minutes added time, Swansea deservedly hung on for the win, and it was a long, miserable journey home for the Clarets who had seen Burnley sliced open by pace time and again in the 20 minutes by wing men Dyer and Sinclair during which several reports said Burnley were given a torrid time. Others said that after that period Burnley were the better side. Manager Laws saw it as a game with everything; passion, drama and two teams going at it hammer and tong. After the 3 - 0 win over Leicester there was a feeling that supporters were warming to Laws. After this setback out came the doubters and critics again. Maybe it's going to be a season of two steps forward, one step back.
Burnley fifth with 7 points, Portsmouth bottom, and Cardiff (half the team with wages paid by other clubs) now top.
Finally, this piece is dedicated to the memory of Lance Corporal Jordan Dean Bancroft, from Burnley, who died in the wilderness that is Afghanistan. News like this makes football, and all that goes with it, of no importance. All of us are filled with admiration, respect and deepest sorrow.
You've borne your burdens well...
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets...
You've served your time in hell.