By Turftalker
July 29 2004

A new season is almost amongst us and Turftalker once again dons the columnist hat to jot down his opinions on the clarets. Here he talks about the first couple of months of Steve Cotterill's Turf Moor reign.

Greetings clarets! Hope everyone is well after the summer. I do hope we all have recovered from Beckham's penalty kick in to space, Papadopolous winning the European Championship (who would have believed that!) and another Sven affair. For once summer has been interesting!!

Turftalker - Column 1 - 2004-05 - July 28th:

"Steve Cotterill: The best thing since Stan Ternent?"

Well the months have past by and slowly and surely the raw emotion of Stan Ternent's last days in charge are fading. Some opinions have been swayed, some clearly have not - the fans are still largely split between those who felt the failure to renew Stan's contract was good and those who think it was just plain bad.

But one thing that has not remained split, is the crowd's overall appreciation of the work Steve Cotterill has done so far and the rising enthusiasm that we may just have found ourselves another star manager. It is early days yet, a football has not been kicked in a competitve match, but the positive evidence is building up.

Cotterill has come in and performed in pre-season with great dignity, professionalism and drive. He has praised his predecessor, not made wild promises about gaining Premiership status in a short time and he has shown he not willing to moan about finances but just get on with it.

He has appointed a back room team that is both young and well qualified. Cotterill is a "pro" licensed coach, while his assistant and first team coaches are both UEFA grade A qualified. We have begun to train at least twice a day, starting at breakfast. We are about to appoint a masseur and a dietician. Suddenly Burnley FC seems to be accepting the need for even greater professionalism from its players. We have entered the 21st century and we may just be following Bolton's superb example, in how to prepare your players.  Look how successful they have been!

Successes have also followed in the players that he has signed. Yes there have not been enough signings to create a squad even as big as last years threadbare one, but the quality is building. A new goalkeeper was probably high on most people's wish list - Steve Cotterill acted. A captain who could drive the team on was also on the list - Steve Cotterill acted. A new look defence, to cut out the two years of dreadfully high number of goals conceded, would also have been on the list - again Steve Cotterill acted. He even took Burnley to Europe for the first time in 40 years!!

Yet even with all this, he would not have had half as much success if his tone did not suggest that he is a man on a mission, a man who knows where he wants to go and how he wants to achieve it. His belief in good organisation, great fitness, flexible tactics and the progressive construction of a squad are qualities shared by myself and no doubt thousands of other clarets.

Steve Cotterill really has had a good start to his Turf Moor reign, manager of the month for July was one fan's suggestion and he may not be far wrong there. The future bodes well and all clarets, wherever we may be, should be able to rest easier and prepare ourselves with increased optimism for 2004/05. A new season, a new start and new ideas - but I am willing to predict the same old clarets rollercoaster!

Steve Cotterill: the best thing since Stan Ternent? Certainly.

Enjoy the new season,

Turftalker.