Fan's eye view, with Stephen Cummings

IT ALL seemed like a dream come true. In the middle of July Chris Waddle arrived at Turf Moor in a blaze of publicity.

Here at last was the Messiah.

Here at last was the man who was going to lead Burnley Football Club out of the barren wastelands of lower division football, and into the brave new world of the First Division - possibly even the Premiership.

He certainly talked a good game. He seemed to match his words of ambition with the personnel he brought to the club.

The first arrival was Glenn Roeder, the national team's defensive coach.

Then came Gordon Cowans and Chris Woods, ex-England Internationals both, with a wealth of experience under their collective belts.

Add to this a sprinkling of Premiership quality signings, and it seemed to be tied on that the Clarets would be promoted by the following May...possibly even as champions.

Except it hasn't quite worked out that way, has it? With little over a quarter of the season already elapsed, Chris Waddle and his dream team lie one place above bottom in Division Two having managed to record only one victory in 13 attempts.

So how has this come to be? How is it that Burnley Football Club is looking more likely to be fighting a relegation battle rather than pushing for First Division football come next May?

Firstly, the Clarets defence is still a problem.

When Waddle arrived, he made encouraging noises about this citing it as the area which cost us promotion last season.

But in reality little has changed. I know I am not the only Burnley fan who looked on in horror this weekend as visiting Bournemouth were gifted two of the softest goals they will score this season.

A tight defence does not allow the opposition free headers.

Nor in free kick situations does it leave gaps in a defensive wall, through which one could drive a bus - and a wide bus at that.

Similarly, midfield remains a concern. Too many different personnel have been employed here - the result being a lack of consistency, which in turn leads to a lack of direction and cohesion causing general confusion.

Waddle must by now realise where the problems are. He must also solve them immediately because soon it will be Christmas and shortly after that it will be May and nightmares of the dreaded drop may well become reality.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.