Comments
On Owen Coyle and Brian Laws
2010-01-13 18:27:58
Welcome back to Brian Laws as Burnley's new manager. I say welcome back because Brian is a former player.
Fair to say Owen Coyle's departure to Bolton was like a kick in the guts of a lot of Burnley fans but chairman Barry Kilby and fellow board member Brendan Flood have moved quickly to fill the gap. I made a video reflecting on Coyle's leaving, but didn't get a chance to put it up because I was preparing for the Iraq inquiry. So this blog continues after these messages:
I welcome the Laws appointment and am glad it has been made in time for the little matter of the visit to Manchester United on Saturday as we seek to do the double on them! I am also thrilled Graham Alexander is stepping up to be coach as well as player. The departure of first team coach Steve Davis, a real Burnley legend, was for many an even bigger gut-kicker than Owen Coyle going. ‘Grezza', the oldest outfield player in the Premier League, and one of the fittest, is rapidly developing legend status too and this will add to it.
There was an embarrassing moment yesterday when a text pinged in on my phone as I sat down to give evidence in one of my sessions at the Iraq inquiry. It was a voicemail message from one of the managers whose brains I had been picking for Barry and Brendan on the various names that had moved in and out of the frame in recent days.
It is no secret Shaun O'Driscoll was really fancied and clearly the top names in football management see him as someone who will be a Premier League manager one day. But I know Barry and Brendan felt Brian Laws, in addition to knowing the club and the area as well as he does, edges it on experience. They are also hard-headed users of stats and I know they did a pretty rigorous assessment of Brian Laws' results set alongside the relative budgets his clubs had. Yes he has known relegation but he has known it from the perspective of being starved of funds.
Lots of people have been asking why they didn't go for an Alan Curbishley or a Steve Coppell. They were not options, for different reasons. It is also worth remembering that the management team that decided on Laws is the one which did the same kind of tough assessment on all available talent before taking the risk of going for Owen Coyle. So I am happy to trust their judgement and urge all Burnley fans to welcome Brian Laws and give him real support.
We will troop to Old Trafford knowing it will be a tough contest, followed by Liverpool in the Cup, Coyle's Bolton away, then Chelsea. That is one hell of a tough start. But it reminds me of the tough start we had to the season. This is our season starting all over again.
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Stronger together - whether Scotland or expensesPublish date: 2009-05-22 10:22:36
Back to Number 10, familiar faces, familiar argumentsPublish date: 2009-05-21 10:14:34
Speaking up for ParliamentPublish date: 2009-05-20 11:44:17
Peace in the Middle East - yes he canPublish date: 2009-05-19 09:37:35
Breaking news - one frenzy at a timePublish date: 2009-05-18 10:34:30
Getting a good look at Vince CablePublish date: 2009-05-17 09:36:55
How do you solve a problem like Silvio?Publish date: 2009-05-16 09:32:21
It was the internet wot won itPublish date: 2009-05-15 10:04:57
There now follows ... a good whack at CameronPublish date: 2009-05-14 17:21:28
They got their kit off - so you get your cash outPublish date: 2009-05-14 07:41:11
Expenses row must not obscure Tory intentions on minimum wagePublish date: 2009-05-13 16:12:08
We love you Burnley, we do ... what a nightPublish date: 2009-05-13 02:37:17
A tweet cannot express the wonders of TGVPublish date: 2009-05-12 08:48:31
It's Mind week - Get it off your Chest with me and Stephen FryPublish date: 2009-05-11 06:29:15
Hate the Mail, love ObamaPublish date: 2009-05-10 10:04:00
Burnley 1 Reading 0 - a biased reportPublish date: 2009-05-09 21:26:32
MPs expenses - time for party leaders to meet againPublish date: 2009-05-09 09:50:19
Should happiness replace prosperity as national goal?Publish date: 2009-05-08 08:43:23
Musings from a sleepless nightPublish date: 2009-05-07 07:33:49
Darren Fletcher - an injustice that has to be rightedPublish date: 2009-05-06 09:52:29
Maggie's legacy not as great as she thinksPublish date: 2009-05-05 08:33:02
Here's hoping Cardiff is metaphor for CameronPublish date: 2009-05-04 09:38:30
More Mr Benn and Co pleasePublish date: 2009-05-03 10:03:00
Going Fourth with JPPublish date: 2009-05-02 18:25:41
Journalism - print first, think laterPublish date: 2009-05-02 09:10:01
In praise of two poetsPublish date: 2009-05-01 10:26:36
JP hits the road againPublish date: 2009-04-29 18:52:11
My night with Eddie IzzardPublish date: 2009-04-29 10:53:25
Explaining the 50p top tax ratePublish date: 2009-04-28 09:22:53
George Best and Martin McGuinnessPublish date: 2009-04-27 09:02:35
Cameron confused over indepdendence and impartialityPublish date: 2009-04-26 12:20:56
Guide ro Marathon running part 2Publish date: 2009-04-25 11:01:34
Good signals on coal and the OlympicsPublish date: 2009-04-24 10:45:28
Tips for the London MarathonPublish date: 2009-04-23 17:29:27
Missed the Budget, saw why it matteredPublish date: 2009-04-22 23:09:31
Football good, politics bad. AllegedlyPublish date: 2009-04-22 00:00:24
The Great Wall gets greaterPublish date: 2009-04-21 09:55:22
Two sides to police storyPublish date: 2009-04-20 11:39:54
Budgets, Balls, billionaires and Susan BoylePublish date: 2009-04-19 12:31:45
Do muscles have memories?Publish date: 2009-04-18 09:44:44
Bring back standing at footballPublish date: 2009-04-17 14:50:22
When Facebook friends fall outPublish date: 2009-04-16 12:29:16
Guardian sightings and the email and bath plug agendaPublish date: 2009-04-15 11:32:16
The spin is all in the prismPublish date: 2009-04-14 09:22:41
A setback, not a crisisPublish date: 2009-04-13 12:55:19
The real lessons from Damian McBridePublish date: 2009-04-12 10:49:47
Will English always be the dominant language?Publish date: 2009-04-11 10:02:02
On the pipes and what makes a ScotPublish date: 2009-04-10 11:06:20
John Prescott lazy? NO WAYPublish date: 2009-04-09 09:11:31
David Frost is seventyPublish date: 2009-04-08 08:48:38
The Speaker, BBC2, tonight and tomorrow 8pmPublish date: 2009-04-07 14:25:31
Obama, colds and being woken by Korean missilesPublish date: 2009-04-06 11:59:24
When a call matters more than protocolPublish date: 2009-04-05 11:33:42
Green Cities Champions LeaguePublish date: 2009-04-04 10:19:53
Could Cameron have delivered the G20 deal?Publish date: 2009-04-03 10:11:59
Of Benn and BonoPublish date: 2009-04-02 08:21:16
Memo to Sarko - allez vite a LondresPublish date: 2009-04-01 08:46:17
Happy April Fool's DayPublish date: 2009-04-01 01:44:05
Eurostar, Le Monde and a thought for the G20 sherpasPublish date: 2009-03-31 09:17:22
Why Kevin Rudd made an impactPublish date: 2009-03-30 10:24:41
Pre-G20 hype matters less than post-G20 processPublish date: 2009-03-29 13:17:28
The Damned UnitedPublish date: 2009-03-28 10:37:04
A hobby horse, a plug and a bit of sportPublish date: 2009-03-27 10:22:23
Cloughie - he had a lot to be big-headed aboutPublish date: 2009-03-26 09:38:36
A sad sight of the old fearing the youngPublish date: 2009-03-25 17:03:07
Post-modern, post-structural, or bullshit?Publish date: 2009-03-25 08:18:02
Learning the right lessons from ObamaPublish date: 2009-03-24 08:53:15
Lazy Dave needs to keep an eye on lazy KenPublish date: 2009-03-23 11:16:14
Farewell favourite restaurant, hello hometownPublish date: 2009-03-22 08:18:09
Dave, Danny and have the Tories really changed?Publish date: 2009-03-21 08:55:13
Life beyond Dover ...Publish date: 2009-03-20 10:11:21
My friends in The New Statesman - Fergie, Fiona, Tony, Sarah, Kevin, 'Dacre,' and a great GB idea for the G20Publish date: 2009-03-18 10:38:22
Iraq, Iran, GB, Obama and diplomatic chessPublish date: 2009-03-17 10:07:13
The Age of StupidPublish date: 2009-03-16 08:27:13
Is all change good?Publish date: 2009-03-15 10:00:06
The pressure of being a post-modern sex godPublish date: 2009-03-14 10:00:55
Cameron still hasn't sealed the deal with businessPublish date: 2009-03-13 09:21:49
Stand up for social workersPublish date: 2009-03-12 08:31:17
Surely Malcolm Tucker could have told Armando Ianucci ... You can't spin a spinnerPublish date: 2009-03-11 10:58:25
Start of a new approach from Labour?Publish date: 2009-03-10 09:54:12
A peace process still strongPublish date: 2009-03-09 08:21:05
Day of destiny for the real footballer of the yearPublish date: 2009-03-08 09:21:06
Private advice to Peggy Mitchell - the leaked note in fullPublish date: 2009-03-07 08:17:21
Boris, the Tories and the tummy-tickling poodle pressPublish date: 2009-03-06 09:49:37
A day in the life of the self-obsessed TV reporterPublish date: 2009-03-05 07:55:47
GB - good speech, well deliveredPublish date: 2009-03-04 19:31:05
Notes on the environment, a role in EastEndersPublish date: 2009-03-04 10:58:56
She may be my 'wife' but it is time to rebut!Publish date: 2009-03-03 10:52:59
Some speeches matter more than othersPublish date: 2009-03-02 12:04:45
Mental health and the Carling Cup FinalPublish date: 2009-03-01 09:08:17
Inside the chocolate factoryPublish date: 2009-02-28 10:23:59
GB on the G20, JP on Jeremy KylePublish date: 2009-02-27 09:14:36
Charity and the credit crunch, please give generously!Publish date: 2009-02-26 08:55:12
Why oh why are the Tories not home and dry?Publish date: 2009-02-24 09:44:59
Me, Dermot and ten top songsPublish date: 2009-02-23 10:02:19
Names round-upPublish date: 2009-02-22 08:43:39
What's in a name?Publish date: 2009-02-21 09:58:14
Editing the New StatesmanPublish date: 2009-02-20 11:42:36
Salute Peter M’s proper use of the F wordPublish date: 2009-02-19 09:58:58
Labour's communications challenge for the NHSPublish date: 2009-02-18 10:34:39
In praise of KeighleyPublish date: 2009-02-17 14:33:57
A night at the EmiratesPublish date: 2009-02-17 00:06:51
When marriage is testedPublish date: 2009-02-16 13:36:35
Spare me the myths and the whiningPublish date: 2009-02-15 13:29:50
Dave Cameron - is that all there is?Publish date: 2009-02-14 11:11:55
Boris Johnson: F is for ...Publish date: 2009-02-13 07:55:10
The Cameron vacuumPublish date: 2009-02-12 14:48:33
Lincoln, Obama, Blair and the 24 hour media culturePublish date: 2009-02-11 10:28:47
Eighteen interviews later ...Publish date: 2009-02-10 19:24:45
Time to talk about Time to Change on NewsnightPublish date: 2009-02-09 22:47:49
So that’s what they mean by online community?Publish date: 2009-02-08 12:12:51
First blogPublish date: 2009-02-05 15:23:57
TrickyTree
2010-01-14 17:17:05As a Forest fan I idolised Brian Laws when I was a kid, he's the main reason I ended up thinking it was acceptable to play at right back and not always want to be a striker getting all the glory. Can't understand why on earth Burnley have appointed him, though. When he joined Wednesday he said he was going to take them out of the Championship, but I'm not sure the fans approve of the direction he's chosen to take them in...
KEnny Hemphill
2010-01-14 10:57:09Liverpool in the cup? If only. You of all people, as a Burnley fan, should know better than underestimating the supposed underdog and assuming the Premiership team will prevail. Congrats on Brian Laws' appointment. As a Liverpool fan, I'm desperately hoping the new manager bounce effect is in full force at OT.
BarBar of Oz
2010-01-13 22:12:04The Iraq Inquiry supposedly has access to everything ever documented so it was illuminating to see how much of the questioning was taken and rehashed from AC's diaries. Couldn't they do better? Obviously not.
Have watched all the proceedings via web - it's been a procession of witnesses testifying that Tony Blair/UK policy goals were entirely focussed on going the UN/diplomatic route; getting the US to agree to go to UN, and military action was only approved after diplomatic efforts had failed and after the HOC resolution.
The fact that the panel appeared to have absolutely no "inside knowledge" contradicting this was evident yesterday from their questions to AC.
The other thing that has struck me is the extraordinary quality of advisors, staffers and civil servants Tony Blair assembled around him during his prime ministership: David Manning etc.
And as for that John Sawers.
What.a.hunk.
No wonder his wife stuck those pics up on Facebook. Daniel Craig? Forget it.
gordon Henderson
2010-01-13 21:43:20Hi Alastair,
Bernard Ingham had a lot of clout in his day but you had more.If YOU had been against going for Saddam then the war would not have happened.
I am not sure what I would have done in your position--the quality of advice you were receiving from the Civil Service was weak and indecisive and the chief legal officer was sitting on the fence.
You had a Rambo sitting in the white house trying to get re-elected whose grasp of the world order was tenuous.
I may have done the same thing-who knows and it is just history now.
Is my firstpoint valid?
AM
2010-01-13 21:12:13I agree with you that our season is starting all over again, it is kind of spooky that our first game under Brian Laws will be against United. He will have a tough start but all the fans will be behind him, especially when we play Bolton. I am looking forward to that match more than the Blackburn match now and think from here on in the rivalry will be more fierce between us and the trotters. Coyle got us to where we are today, we must believe and help Laws to stay in the Premier League. Come on Burnley!
Alan Quinn
2010-01-13 21:01:11Ally, you go to Old Trafford in the week the club announced that it wished to do it's third refinancing since the Glazer takeover in 2005.
According to some united fans groups the club have shelved out over £370M in interest payments and only just touched the massive £700m club debt.
At least the Clarets don't have this millstone hanging around their neck.
btw I noticed yesterday you have a more than passing resemblance to KK Downing, the guitarist with Judas Priest! Any relation?
Sara Tidy
2010-01-13 20:48:54Thank you for demonstrating to both the British public and press yesterday what it means to be a man of integrity. It is shameful that so many elected politicians fail to stand up for what they know to be right in the face of popular and media pressure. I believe that Tony Blair took an incredibly brave and difficult decision, based on the evidence with which he was presented, and a commitment to ridding the world of a dangerous threat. He should be applauded not criticised for that. I admire your loyalty in defending him and in particular, your impassioned plea yesterday, that we should remember the horrific atrocities of the Hussain regime. It seems the British public either have very short memories or a limited understanding of the history of the 20th century. Well done Alastair! Hats off to you!! Sara Tidy
Johnny Trent
2010-01-13 19:23:38I do not care if we lose at OT so long as we stuff Bolton Bastard Wanderers and take the smile off the OC's face. Brian Laws may not be Fergie Or Wenger but he has been round the block and in any event now he is ours we get behind him
Patsy Hollis
2010-01-13 19:22:06AC, you are loyal beyond belief. Ignore all the sniping and carping from the pillocks of the press, the public saw what was blindingly obvious yesterday - that while some of the upperclass civil servants might run for cover and cover their own arses when the going gets tough for Blair, you will stand by him and stand by what you did. I agree Iraq is a better country and unlike most of the pillocks I go there regularly for the charity I work for. As a Cambridge United fan I also admire the steadfast loyalty you have shown to Burnley FC. Hope you stay up.
Charlie Hooper
2010-01-13 19:19:50Come on AC, who was the football manager who called you at the inquiry? If it wasn't Fergie, who else is trying to get Laws in? Never mind Iraq, this is a question that must be answered
colin.harrow
2010-01-13 18:56:24Dear Alistair you probably don't need moral support but for what it's worth you have 100% of mine. You gave a great performance yesterday and the newspapers today are only saying what you knew they would anyway. Nothing (unfortunately) is going to change that. Regards to Fiona.
Yours ever - Colin
Jim
2010-01-13 18:40:35You look AWFUL in the photos of your Chilcot enquiry appearance. Is SOMETHING weighing heavily on your mind, perhaps?
Another thing: why - when you are repeatedly branded a liar by the press and others - do you not take legal action against your accusers?
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