Watching our midfield struggle yesterday with a massive Connell shaped void in the middle my thoughts went back to my favourite ever line up where we had a great midfield with Banks and Galvin but who only functioned so effectively because of the glue that held the team together. An unspectacular but incredibly efficient player called Ray McHale Fast forward 40 years and I think though Kane and Philips are not really in the same league as Banks and Glavin they are far more effective with Connell to hold the team together. Got to hope he is only out very short term. As we have a run of games when we can least afford to be without him.
I remember a Supporters Club meeting at Oakwell when Ray was a guest. He admitted that his passing game resembled a crab's movements. He would slide the ball to one side for Ronnie to pick up and instructed Ronnie to 'Go and grab my win bonus for me!' An integral part of what, for me, was the most exciting Barnsley team in my 60 odd years of watching the Reds.
Ray McHale was vital to that team. I'd probably say Connell is a better passer of the ball, McHale was great at breaking up play & finding simple passes. No one in our midfield is up to Glavin level, or Banks, but we do have a lot of individual strengths in the current team. If you crossed Phillips with Luke Thomas you would have a Banks. We'll never see a player as good as Ronnie again sadly, that was a one off. We have to move on, but comparisons set the bench mark. Our lads are young now, with a lot of potential. Banks was a young 'un too & McCarthy, but we had a lot more experience in that side than we have now.
I agree that McHale's holding midfield role was important in allowing Glavin and Banks to do their very effective and exciting stuff further forward, but I think Connell's long range passing, excellent set piece delivery and shooting ability make him potentially an even better player than McHale. Time will tell.
One of the most underrated players in BFC history. So much so that one Graham Souness crocked him before the ball left the centre circle from the kick off in the League Cup in 1981/2.
Always a massive fan of Ray McHale. The opposition can’t play if the haven’t got the ball and he made sure they got as little as possible. The other thing about that team was that when he laid it off to Glavin or Banks he didn’t need to look, he knew they’d be there. That was a beautiful side to watch. Going now for an emotional moment thinking about it.
Mchale was given a dog's life by some of our crowd. We had lots of flair players like Glavin and Banks so he didn't stand out much in that midfield but he was the one who did all the hard work to allow Banks and Glavin to get forward. Vastly underrated in my eyes
I’m not old enough to have seen McHale, but Connell is the most integral cog in our machine. I’d still just about make Andersen our current player of the year, I think he marshals the two that flank him excellently, is a strong leader and a bloody good defender at this level - but taking Luca out of this team appears to do more damage than losing Mads. Hopefully this virus/bug he’s had has sufficiently cleared for this week’s home game double header.
Criminal we didn't get promoted, remember we finished in a playoff place. Sadly they hadn't been introduced yet
McHale and Glavin were before my time, so will have to use Sheridan and Redfearn as my example to compare with.
Aye and the 2-0 home defeat to Gary Lineker... Should have won at Luton on the last day as well but for a wonder strike in injury time after we lost possession in midfield. I remember that their manager David Pleat said we were the best team they'd played all season; we beat them 4-3 at home.
All great midfields have balance McHale gave that team and Connell does the same all teams need a water carrier big miss on Saturday back Tomorrow hopefully.