12 months ago we were all happy...... and now ........

12 months ago we were all happy, looking forward to our next win at home or away, and knowing we were a great team, great joy at winning and totally confident of promotion, and now, 12 months later what an abject opposite. Bickering fans, bickering team and I am pretty sure, bickering Management. Now don't get me wrong, I do mostly blame the daft policy of flogging off our family silver (ie the players) for short term apparent gain but I am sorry but I am personally looking forward to next season where we will be happier, we will be winning games and the glee of seeing Barnsley win will make all us fans far happier than the misery of what's happening at the moment. Just my view.

 

And I wish you every happiness in your state of blissful contentment. The owners will be extremely grateful for loyal fans like yourself.

 

Thank you much appreciated for your heartfelt and sincere reply.

 

Count me in on that statement

 

Unfortunately there are another 8000 fans like you which is all that is needed to run the club. Regardless of who is in charge.

 

Be as sarcastic as you like, you won't spoil it for him, or me.

 

The majority then, thank God.

 

Can I just place on record that, even though the pair of us are polar opposites with regards to this issue, I have the utmost respect for you (and like minded folk) & your viewpoint. Just because someone thinks differently to me does not mean I can't show respect to them. If I don't show appreciation and respect to others, I can't expect it to be shown to me and my opinions.

 

I admire your support but I don't think you're seeing anything in return.

 

Are you sure that with the inevitable fire sale of any saleable assets in the summer leaving the squad bereft of quality and coach who seemingly as one way of setting a team up whether it's working or not that Barnsley FC will be winning many games next season because I for one aint that confident that L1 will be the cake walk it was last time.

 

We shouldn't take winning in the league below for granted (if we are ultimately relegated).

I'm not going to say we won't, I made that mistake last time and was proved very wrong. But I believe the influence of an excellent manager, which I hadn't factored into the equation, played a much more pivotal role than many give credit for. Maybe it didn't, maybe it was just the quality of the squad, or maybe it did and we have another excellent manager in Struber, too early to tell imho, who will repeat Stendel's accomplishments, but there are clubs much bigger than us who have suffered the drop, expected a winning season but failed. And failed again and again.

 

My comments were sincerely meant. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

 

We are though, we're seeing the super reds take to the field & that is basically what it's all about.

 

Oooh it's the meek. Blessed are the meek. I'm glad they're getting something as they have a hell of a time.

 

A couple of a major differences...

1. the new owners had only been in charge a few months last time. They had made mistakes but we were willing to give them time. This will be now there second relegation and mistakes have been repeated

2. they appointed a new head coach last time. Although DS was unknown a new coach always stirs interest. This time it is likely GS will still be in charge

3. we kept most of our squad last time. This time Mowatt, Woodrow will go for definite. Wouldn’t surprise me to see bids for Chaplin and brown too

in short, the last time we went into league 1 I was confident, this time I wouldn’t be.

 

I think it all depends on how you measure your expectations. Some fans want instant success, some want gradual success, others are just glad we have a team.

 

A question then, Mr G. Are we in any way better off as a club than the day these owners took control?

 

I agree with the plan and types of player we sign. I also think the board were right to sell Moore, Lindsay and Pinnock. There is a lot I like about the club. However, I don't like the fact that the owners know that as long as they get the desired number of season ticket holders they can do what the hell they like. I think in my case it was blind optimism. However, when I sit back it looks bleaker and bleaker. I haven't got a divine right to see a Barnsley side at the top end of the Championship fighting for a place in the Premier League but that's what I want otherwise I can't see the point. I can't see how a policy of just breaking even achieves that.

 

I'd be happy with just competing in the Championship - even in the bottom half. But what the Board did before the season started effectively torpedoed that. And the fact that sufficient numbers will continue to give their support regardless (which is their absolute right) means that the owners can continue to run the club in this unsatisfactory manner. In my opinion.

 

My only silver lining is that whilst there is the 8000 die hards it shouldn't get any worse than League 1. It's a catch 22.