Following on from our inept performance yesterday I just watched Burnley get a point at Chelsea and I mused on a comparison between Burnley and us. Burnley is a smaller town than Barnsley with an infinitely more successful football history. Surrounded by other clubs as we are they have an expectation of Premier league that we don’t have. Is it just about ambition, belief and expectation or is there something else?
I don’t think there’s any expectation of premier league just a brilliant manager getting the best out of his side. I think it’s telling that no one ever comes in for their players yet they regularly comfortably stay up. If Dyche left I’m almost certain they’d go down the following season.
We can’t keep a manager for more than a season. Perhaps that’s where the investment is needed. Now is the time to do it.
We missed the boat last season. You can add the CEO in that as well. Had it all and they let it slip through their fingers
They need to get their finger out during the international break and maybe think further than next May.
Shameful how they’ve let the work that led to season go down the drain. Even more annoying given it’s such a poor league, yet we’ve become the worst team in it.
To answer your question. There are a lot of Burley fans where I live and (sadly) I work with a few. It is simply a question of expectation and ambition. They DO expect to be in the top Division, and they have; nearly 60 seasons compared to our one. They’ve won the thing twice and challenged at the top on a regular basis. That builds expectation, some might say entitlement, in the fan base. Don’t get me wrong, they know they are not Manchester Utd or Liverpool but when I’ve put it to Burnley friends that we’re similar Clubs in stature. I’ve had two reactions. “Your nuts, Barnsley are nowhere near us in what you want and can be. We want the top flight and you are happy, at best with the 2nd tier” And “Yes, we’ve got some Neanderthal fans who we need to get shut of as well.” I’m not sure which reaction upsets me the most.
There’s something about continuity as well. Son in law is a Burnley fan and there’s no feeling of them punching above their weight. Having said that it can’t all be expectation, the Owls expect to win the European Championship.
Yes sadly like a majority of the population of Barnsley, the club is far too ready to accept the status quo and it's position. We wear the little old Barnsley tag far too easily and accept the condescending pat on the head for trying but failing as enough of a prize.
