Best must be yet to come...
HALF term report as the international break approaches?
Much improved and can – perhaps must – do even better.
The improvements since Clarets Corner last appeared have been huge. We left the narrative having shored up the defence but were having trouble scoring goals, a situation that's eased considerably, despite last Saturday's defeat at Reading's hands.
The "must do better" bit comes bearing that game in mind and with an eye on the forthcoming fixture list, which includes tough challenges in the form of another meeting with the Royals, this time at Turf Moor, a home clash with Birmingham and an away visit to Molineaux all on the cards after the home countries and Ireland have done battle next week.
Reading have a formidable front line, who dispatched the majority of the chances that came their way at the Madejski Stadium, but the indications are that they were actually under par. Although Burnley had good possession during the first half in particular, so were we. Reading might have been toppled (or at least equalled) by a top form Burnley.
None of the above are going to be easy games but the benefits if Burnley can crack on and snatch some results from these games (as in the fantastic Coyle inspired performance at Wolves last year), while maintaining momentum in the other games, could be huge.
The giants can be toppled, but Coyle's men will have to be on top of their game to do it.
- HOW'S this for a few names of players who were on top of their game much more than they were off it?
Jimmy McIlroy, Steve Kindon, Martin Dobson, Colin Waldron, Ray Pointer, Jon Francis, Roger Eli, Jimmy Robson, Ian Brennan, Andy Lochhead, Jim Thomson and Frank Casper all served Burnley with distinction and they're all in one place this Saturday for the launch dinner at Turf Moor of the latest book penned by Todmorden author Dave Thomas (pictured).
The club commissioned Dave to write a second volume of No Nay Never, with proceeds going to the Burnley FC Youth Development Trust.
Volume One was indispensable in my view and the new book looks set to join it with some in depth accounts of matters close to the heart of anyone with an interest in the club's history.
Topics covered this time around include the Derek Gill diaries, in which the former director sheds light on what actually went on during the John Bond era, special features on Colin McDonald, John Connelly, Pointer, Dobson and the Bedlington terrier himself, Brian O'Neill.
The 1962 cup final gets special focus and Dave's in depth interviews with modern day legend Stan Ternent (promotion season and his final season) should make this an excellent read. The books, on sale soon, are 14.99 each.
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Weather for Halifax
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -1 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North west
