Best Ever Barnsley Midfielders

Following on from the discussion in the Hourihane thread, who are, in order, the best 5 midfielders you've seen play for Barnsley? I'm defining midfielders as people who play in central midfield rather than wingers. So Hammill, Bullock etc aren't eligible.

Right, here's mine;

5. Jacob Butterfield. Close between him, Anderson and Scowen but Butterfield was/is the most talented of those three. Two feet as strong as each other and a passing range of a top player. Dare I say, who knows the heights he'd have reached had Brown not 'done a job on him'.

4. Brian Howard. Naturally gifted lad who scored some super goals for us. Should've got a lot more out of his career than he did and at times he looked head and shoulders above his team mates.

3. Conor Hourihane. On his day he bossed games like no one else I've seen playing for us. Improved loads in his defensive side and his set pieces are close to world class. Great leader as well.

2. Neil Redfearn. Had everything. Could do everything. Fantastic captain and the figurehead of the glory days

1. Craig Hignett. Not the same service and impact as Redfearn but a more magical player. So clever in all aspects of his game and electrifying to watch.

 

You never saw Ronnie then. Different class.

 

You must be too young to remember Ronnie Glavin. Him and Banks were unbelievable in the 80s.Jan Momby was good until teams sussed out we were a one man midfield and so man marked him.Always liked Anderson de Silva as well.

 

I am yes sadly. Never saw him play and the few video clips can't do him justice I'm sure.

 

5. Hourihane
4. Banks
3. Hignett
2. Redfearn
1. Glavin by a country mile.

I could change the order of 5-2 every time I look at the list.

Mention too for Sheridan, Agnew, De-Silva, Howard and a very underrated O'Connell.

 

Ronnie Glavin outstanding then am happy with with the rest on the list.

 

5 - Brendan O'Connell - worked his nuts off, had more skill than he was credited for and scored about 40 goals, some of them stand-out, that got us big wins against the likes of Sheff Utd, Leeds Utd and Newcastle. My first hero. Baffles me that folk used to criticise him for being a headless chicken.

4 - Darren Sheridan - For those who rate Josh Scowen (me too), Shez was twice the player. Wand of a left peg. Didn't run about like a Scowen/O'Connell, but was positionally sound and bullied his opposite number. Scored great goals and a bigger reason for our success than he's ever been respected for.

3 - Stephen McPhail - Very rarely talked about, but the absolute key to our promotion in 2006. Had the technical grace and quality of others, but actually played centre mid that year. Calm, composed, classy, he was something else. Something about Irish left pegs...

2 - Conor Hourihane - Started out as a Howard/Butterfield, a number 10. Left as a complete midfielder. The definitive closest thing to Redfearn we've had since. By the time he departed (and we cried), his tackling and defensive skills were the stand-out moments for me, not the world-class set-pieces. A leader of men, ultra professional beyond belief, trust me. One of a kind. Seeing him lift that trophy at Wembley (Oxford) is my second favourite memory behind the '97 promotion.

1 - Neil Redfearn - If I was building a centre mid, Redders is what I'd finish with. Maybe with a bit more pace these days. But he was a leader, a warrior and still scored some of the best goals I've witnessed. You'd be hard pressed trying to find poor Redders goals. I've seen better footballers, but I've not seen another Redfearn, and he is the greatest player we've had in terms of what he brought us. He's even got RED in his name. When I think of us, I think of Redders.


Some fluff.....


I don't class Brian Howard as a centre mid. He played wide so often, or just behind the striker(s). Same goes for the missus' lad. Only McPhail touches Butterfield for technical quality and impact in one season, it was the first time I'd seen a Barnsley player and thought "this kid is way too good for us." But when with us, he wasn't a proper centre mid. And, as much as I'll class Craig Hignett as the most talented footballer I've ever seen in that red shirt, he was a forward, not a midfielder. He never played midfield. He was a forward. That's my reasoning. I've picked five centre mids.

 

Brilliant read that, cheers. You could debate all day about how to define a centre midfield player but all of your five are unquestionably that whereas others have been more adaptable position wise.

McPhail is an interesting one. I never really warmed to him after he came across very much as a luxury in his first season. But he was exceptional at times a year later and was far far too good for League One when he turned it on.

Agree with the honourable mention for Stumpy. Brought loads to the team and like you say, no lack of ability to go with the combative nature of his play. Every good team needs a Sheridan in some form. Preferably 5 foot 4 with an XL shirt and an Edwardian bank clerk's haircut.

 

Ronnie
Redfearn
Banger
Stumpy
Hourihane/scowen

 

nailed it

 

A list of best ever midfielders has to have Glavin at the top.
If it's "best you've seen" then fair enough, miss him out.
For those of us who did see him, trust us, he's top of the list.
Plus, though I'm too young, I'd have thought Blanchflower would be on it.

 

Good read that, although if we're going to take position into account Stumpy often played left back for us. An incredibly versatile player, what a find from non-league when he was well into his 20's. As for Higgy, he wasn't an out and out striker, he did generally play much deeper. In fact it wasn't always clear to me exactly where he was playing. Walsall home in 99-00 he spent most of the match just walking up and down the wing, looking pretty lost and generally not very interested. He basically did absolutely fck all that game (apart from scoring one of the best hat-tricks I've ever seen).

 

Ronnie.

Then any four others you care to name.

Some great shouts above for others though. Especially Redders, Banger, Connor, Shez and AdS.

For the older reader, honourable mentions to players such as John Bettany (from a time when every team had a Schemer), Bobby Doyle (one for you Big Lil), Anton, unsung hero Ray McHale, Ali Miller (one footed, but what a left foot), Stuart Gray (but often played left back).

Not for the faint hearted, a midfield three of Graham Pugh, Alan “Animal” Little and Gwyn Thomas. Yellow cards aplenty these days.

 

Great read that and agree with so much of it, especially about Shez and Conor.

You makes good point about Higgy although Bassett played him in a weird right wing sort of free role position rather than forward I reckon. Seeemed like madness but it was a stroke of genius as no ****** on the other team knew where he was playing either...!

 

1. Glavin
2. Glavin
3. Glavin
4. Glavin
5. Hourihane

 

Glavin
Redfearn
Hourihane
Howard
Gray

The top 4 are self explanatory, number 5 I was struggling to decide between a few who’ve mainly been mentioned, butterfield, O Connell, Mcphail, Sheridan all we’re fantastic for us for differing reasons, I didn’t consider Ian banks I saw him as a right midfielder, not winger but he played most of his career in what is the role Potts is doing now.

I went for Stuart Gray, we were really crap for the majority of his time here but he stood out as great player and leader, he was calm composed and had an excellent left foot, it’s true he did play some games at centre back too but the majority were in centre midfield.

 

Ray McHale, Ian Banks & Glavin, what a midfield that was.

 

Thick end of 40 goals a season from midfield (including one from Ray)

 

Here's my summary

Neil Redfearn

The end.

 

GREAT, fantastic, entertaining, SWANKY, ornate , spectacular, FANCY, impressive and most of all DISTINGUISHED. These are but a few words to describe all mentioned above in threads. BUT the one who stood art the most,

RONNIE GLAVIN. If i wa born a bird id'av had his babies