The big bonus of this window

Collins
Williams
Andersen
Connell

All remain at the club. That's a victory in itself. All four are vital if we're going to mount a play-off tilt.

 

Apart from Woodrow, who was the last player to sign a new contract with us? Did Mowatt?

 

Callum Styles I think, the last 3 just had theirs extended at the clubs benefit

 

Oh aye; I'd forgotten about him for some reason.

 

Kitching the other week?

LIAM KITCHING EXTENDS STAY AT OAKWELL - News - Barnsley Football Club (barnsleyfc.co.uk)

 

I think I should go back to bed.

 

But the circumstances of his contract extensions were a bit different. He signed his second contract with us when he'd only played a handful of games, and not established himself fully. Then he signed again in the summer, purely to allow us to get a transfer fee.

Unfortunately, I don't think any players sign for us with a view of staying here in their mid to late 20s. Andersen has probably known he won't be signing a new deal with us for about 18 months now, we might have had a chance to get Williams to extend last season, but not now. Kane is in the last 18 months of his deal now, if he has a decent second half of the season, he'll be eying a championship contract, and Connell is probably already planning when to push for his next step up, or his agent is anyway.

 

After all the comments about Preston definitely signing Jordan Williams and this being used as a justified reason to criticise the club, I'm pleased to see the lad still here.
It may well be that just because a rumour appears on social media, it doesn't mean it's factually correct.

 

What's all this stuff about Connell? Has he come out and said he won't sign a new deal or sumat? Is it just hearsay?

 

Big bonus for me is we've received undisclosed fees for players that have departed. It's better than them going for nothing. May only be a pittance but it's better in the clubs pocket.

Take a bow.

 

I just mentioned Connell because with how he's performed this season, I could easily see a championship club coming in for him.

 

He signed for 3 years didn't he?

 

I don't know. Did he Jeff? I didn't see.

 

All seems relatively meh to me. Not great. Not awful. No immediate strengthening of the forward line which still looks flimsy but a couple of decent acquisitions in midfield and defence. It wasn’t the window of an ambitious club but wasn’t a disaster.

 

Couldn't agree more mate.

 

Plus players coming back from injury.

 

That seems a bit harsh to me mate. We've added two forwards and lost one, taking us to 4 senior forwards, which is as many as you're going to want at this level, with Tedic still here as backup. We've also added a midfielder who is described as being very much an attacking player, and have Thomas returning from injury.

Whether any of the new recruits are any good or not I couldn't say, as like most of our signings I'd never heard of any of them, but the club have clearly identified that they were short in attacking areas, and have taken steps to improve there. Thumbs up from me.

 

It's people like you who won't believe wild unsubstantiated rumors which ruins the fun for the rest of us.

 

I know, I know, old mate.

 

Only time will tell which of the new players make the cut. Thomas already looks a great signing to me, plus Luke Thomas back playing.

We've lost no real key players & I feel confident we'll make the top 6, no more no less, but that would be a massive achievement in the circumstances. Having a great manager in Duff for me is the real victory. How long we keep him, who knows?