Is it possible

To be incredibly happy, in fact f.cking ecstatic, at last night's events whilst still worried about the overall direction we're going in?

 

Yes it is but i keep thinking the club won't stand for it and have an excellent case for us to win - surely?!

 

I mean in general our strategy v the Wigan thing

 

For me it all depends on the recruitment for next season in order to gauge whether the board realise they f****d up and try rectify to obvious failings. Or they could think by us beating Brentford/QPR etc that were fine and need little improvement which I think happened at Fulham first game of the season. But yes to answer your question I'm delighted we stayed up but the jury is well and truly stIll out.

 

Personally I hope that this season has impressed upon our Board that in order to prosper in the
Championship, as well as signing young players who can be sold on for profit, you have to have a
blend of experience in the team.

I think the acquisition of Sollbauer and the effect that has had on a player like Mads aptly illustrates that
fact and if we are lucky enough to hold on to Gerhard, they sit down with him in an attempt to secure the
signings that in his opinion gives us a fair chance of staying in the Championship whenever the new season
starts.

 

Every barnsley fan was shouting it from the rooftops that we needed it - lets hope they are either not as arrogant to think they knew better or lax at getting replacements in next time.

 

Think the stats speak for themselves on that one surely, as regards goals conceded since he came?

 

I posted last night that Paul Conway is a lucky so and so. If we had gone down the vitriol heading his and the boards way would in my opinion have been something like we’ve not seen before.

staying up will possibly vindicate the boards policy and that scares me a little somewhat, they must see what a little experience and a team that plays together every week can achieve. If sell Mowatt, Woodrow and brown etc and replace them with kids from Leeds under 23’s because if worked last time I don’t think the fans will buy it.

 

I think things will be chaotic in Divisions 1 - 2 with many clubs having massive financial problems - some dropping out mid-season and the problems that will cause etc.

What ever direction BFC goes in the Championship next season it wont be as bad as what would have happened had we ended up in Div 1.

Let's enjoy the moment and give thanks to St Luigi Scrosoppi for favours received.

 

No Better Example to Learn From Than:-

Watson
Eaden
Davis
Appleby
De Zeeuw
Thompson
Sheridan
Redfearn
Bullock
Wilkinson
Hendrie
Moses
Jones
Bosancic
Marcelle
Liddell

Watson-Eaden-Moses-Jones-Liddell - 5 - Youngsters/Came Through the Ranks
Davis-Appleby-Sheridan-Bullock - 4 - Lower/Non League Signings
De Zeeuw-Redfearn - 2 Marquee Players at or Near the Top of Their Game
Bosancic-Marcelle - 2 Overseas 'Litttle Bit of Something Different'
Thompson-Hendrie-Wilkinson - 3 Experienced Veterans Still With Plenty to Give and Loads of Ability and Commitment

Balance = Perfect

 

Regards our future intensions I'll temporarily reserve judgement. I'd like to believe we'll buck the fire sale trend. Hold onto the Walton's, Woodrow's and Mowatts. Establish ourselves again as a Championship club. Believe in a manager who'd have finished 8th post lockdown and 12th since he took over. Slightly change our spreadsheet and look at things a bit differently. Don't have our pants pulled down on transfers. Don't over pay either. Engage with the fans more. Anyway, God loves an optimistic.

Fingers crossed.

Ps hope the EFL grow a pair and stick to the Wigan thing otherwise you can discount my post.

 

They have already lost 3k season ticket holders (admittedly some of them may renew now we stayed up) and almost relegated us by having a quick fire sale of 3 of our best players last summer and replacing them with kids. If they do that with mowatt brown and woodrow they are more stupid than I though. I would like paul conway to come out and give a few words on the season or a interview with say tykes t.v about the season and going forward. In last seasons promotion he couldnt give enough interviews now he has gone quiet.

 

I think clubs across the board will be down on ST holders due to the circumstances, cant hold that against them, we would have been down 3k no matter who owned us - to sell 7k was incredible. To be fair we've had our biggest crowds at League 1 and Championship level for years since they took over.

Always said this board is a very vocal minority.

 

There is no doubt that the decision to replace the players that we sold before the start of the season with a group of very young, but promising kids was high risk. The kids took a long time to gel, and they were not helped by the coach. Nevertheless, those same players are now a year older and all of them have more experience. Above all, the owners did not spend money that the club could not afford in trying to buy Championship security. Barnsley match day income is less than many clubs in the Championship, but those sums are dwarfed by borrowings from owners, and the trading losses which those borrowings encourage. We would all love it if our club could compete for the best players, but being competitive would put our future in more doubt than continuing with the same policies.

There will undoubtedly be player sales once the transfer window reopens. If he does not sign a new contract, unfortunately, Mowatt will be sold. It is not impossible that Woodrow will be sold because his playing style does not fit the Coach's strategy. The new players will be young, and they will be players who show potential, rather than finished products. I have explained the reasoning behind this strategy, and I do not propose to waste my time by doing so again. By now, you either understand it, or you don't. Following the Covid shut down and after the cases against Sheffield Wednesday and Derby County are resolved, it will be even more obvious why spending your way to the top is not sustainable. A new reality is about to overtake us, and Barnsley, with its proven way forward is ideally placed to take advantage.

We have a promising first eleven. We have some promising young players below that level. We will replace the limited number of players who leave with more of the same. It is a time leave behind old and outdated arguments. It is a time to be positive. It is a time look forward with renewed confidence.

 

In what sense?

I think staying up this season could prove to be a massive step in the right direction for us. We shouldn't be starting the season as favourites, or joint favourites to go down, with Luton, Rotherham, Coventry and Wycombe in the division, not to mention potential point deductions for other teams. I don't think we'll lose many players either, Woodrow aside, and all the current players now have a season of Championship football under their belts. We definitely still need some additions to the squad - not just numbers, but players that can come in and make an impact from the off. The full-back areas still concern me, we're very weak there with Ludewig going back.

I've confidence in Struber, though. We've been like a new side since lockdown, hopefully it can continue.

 

Perhaps it's an opportune moment for Ben ( Loko the Tyke) to do one of his impressive live streams
with Paul Conway in an attempt to understand the possible future direction the board intend to take the Club.

I think it's safe to say that if they persist in selling our best players and replacing them with young fringe
players from other clubs, it would only serve to increase the animosity and disappointment that has built
up since our new owners took us over.

 

Are you planning to write a Minority Report on last night’s game? Genuinely interested to see what you made of it. I thought he had left the substitutes way too late!

 

Already posted it last night. Not unreasonably, there was a lot of traffic on here last night and it is now about 5 pages back, but it is there.

 

With the greatest of respect Red Rain it is surprising to say the least that you are still running the hare of "spending your way to the top". Sheriff answered your arguments fulsomely last weekend whilst arguing that there is a middle way - something I have long believed.

Mr Liam Dyson - absolutely it is. I take the view that these owners are likely to behave this Summer as they have behaved in the previous ones unless or until they prove differently. They have not earned our trust. Moreover, they have got lucky this season. They will not always have the benefit of other rogue club owners who - on some accounts - have bet against their own club and thereby incurred a points deduction.

Last year, in the euphoria of the promotion without kicking a ball I returned to the ST fold. Immediately, Lindsay, Pinnock, Davies and Moore were sold, meaning that ST holders got to watch a side which was not that which they paid to see. Whilst I enjoyed last night to some tune, I am not willing to put more money in to the club under this regime until they show me that they will not compromise our chances of stability in the Championship by their asset-stripping ways.