Eddie Howe looks for attacking Burnley FC team

WHILE Clarets boss Eddie Howe will bring new faces into the club this summer, he feels he can get more out of the players already at his disposal.

Howe is eager to keep the nucleus of the squad together, and build on it.

A frustrating campaign was blighted by inconsistency collectively and individually, but while he will go about building his own team in his own image, he feels there is more to come from some of the players already at the club.

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Howe wants to entertain in the manner his side so thrillingly delivered in the wins against Derby and Middlesbrough, while trying to keep the soor shut at the other end.

And he spoke of his footballing plans for the coming campaign: “Our principles won’t change.

“We are firm believers of open, attacking football and I think our style was evident towards the end of the season in terms of how we want the team to play.

“We want to be hard to beat so we need to try to get both areas of the pitch right, offensively and defensively.

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“With a good pre-season and time on the training pitch I think we can do that.

“I hope we can keep the core of the squad together. I think that’s important.

“It’s a case of getting the best out of what we’ve got more than anything.”

Howe spoke of his admiration for Swansea and their style of play - fluent, attacking football after beating the Swans 2-1 at Turf Moor in April: “I think they have a unique way of playing, and full credit to them for sticking to those beliefs.

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“They are one of the best teams we’ve played against this season, and I admire the way they go about playing the game.

“Ultimately, the long-term vision is that’s where we want to be, but it’s going to take time.”

But he wants Burnley to be unique as well, while incorporating the best facets of Brendan Rodgers’ side: “I wouldn’t say Swansea are the template for us.

“We don’t set out to immitate anyone, although we like their ethos.

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“We will be slightly different, but certainly there are things I can take from them.

“I think they’ve had a good season and they’re a good team to watch.

“But we will do things our own way.”

Having already looked at different systems and personnel, Howe is keen for Burnley to be adaptable, depending on circumstances and opposition: “As regards shape, we’re quite flexible in that.

“At Bournemouth we were limited to three systems, all depending on who you’re playing and where you’re playing, all depending on how the game’s going.

“You’ve got to have a plan B.

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“A lot depends on the enviornment you’re in and if you’re able to adjust.

“We’ve had to look at quite a lot of things.

“Sometimes you can identify weaknesses in a team and that might change the way you’re playing, and personnel, to give teams a problem.”