Decent player but not the right fit for Barnsley. My step father is a st holder at Middlesbrough, rated him as a player to a point but apparently he wasn’t a popular member of the dressing room and a divisive character. Wasn’t surprised they took the money from Leeds. Stendel is all about good honest graft, discipline, he needs players who buy into the need to work hard. Old fashioned values I guess. One of the reasons he’s such a good fit for a place like Barnsley. He gets it. Not his fault - but Bamford’s background has meant that he’s never had to work for anything. That coupled with being at Chelsea on stupid money - for doing nowt - led to him, by all accounts, becoming a bit of a high maintenance diva - including demanding his loan clubs when he was at Chelsea pay for his accommodation as is normal, utility bills, also standard, but also stuff like a sky subscription, broadband, appliances, all this as well as paying all of his massive salary. Bit much. It’s a redundant point as at nearly 26 and with the money he’d demand it’d never happen, but he could never play for us in my view. He’s been overly indulged all his life and I don’t see him buying into what we are about. I have no problem with anyone’s background, there are plenty of bare-arsed lazy folk who come from nothing, and some more privileged folk the hardest working you could meet - but I don’t see any hard work in Bamford, or even a team player. Only a selfish and ‘above the rules’ character, which I think his upbringing and subsequent ‘career’ at Chelsea might have contributed to. I wouldn’t want him. I don’t think he’s that great a finisher either to be honest.
I hear what you say about him and actually live just outside Boro so know what the locals think of him. In the main he is well thought of and clearly had his best spell whilst on loan to them for Chelsea, scoring plenty of goals. What I like about him is that he is a skilful, intelligent player with a touch class and flair about him. Also a very good box finisher in my opinion. I don’t buy the silver spoon theory and feel there is something of the Graeme le Saux suspicion about him and any other perceived to ‘educated footballers’ who dare to read the Guardian and indulge cultural interests. I’m all for that and dislike the kind of boorish prejudice they attract. Just don’t think he’s found his spiritual home yet. Agree that is never likely to be Barnsley but do think he will settle and thrive somewhere.
Should be ashamed of himself and should at least own up to his mistake. League should have hammered him to show such blatant cheating won’t be tolerated.
