.....if Luke Steele does leave? I have every confidence that Flicker will get this right. Players come and players go........fans and clubs don't (unless you're MK Dons).
no but certain players are better than others ( in my opinion of course) long term it matters not one jot if he stays or not, short term however i believe its of vital importance we either re sign him or get someone in better.
Obviously it does yes, and to a lot of supporters. It's one thing dividing opinion, but the majority point of view usually pans out correct. Especially when it is this overwhelming. I'm surprised Flitcroft is gambling with the supporters' faith so early on, anyone would think he walks on water. If we start shipping goals early season, that will come right back at him. And I've said it before, Luke stuck his neck out on camera in support of Flitcroft's appointment. That would appear to be quickly forgotten. I like Flicker and was right behind him from the day he took charge, because the players wanted him. But I'm not happy about the way Luke is being treated at all and it has and will dampen my enthusiasm for the new season. That £100 + trip to football isn't looking quite as inviting as it was.
I think Luke Steele is a better goalkeeper than Ben Alnwick. However, I'm unaware of the rule which says Alnwick is at the peak of his game, incapable of improvement. Recently, players such as Dagnall, Golbourne, Wiseman, Dawson, Etuhu have all improved their performances after shaky starts to their Barnsley careers and criticism from the fans.
Whether it matters and whether Flicker gets it right is not really the point that most people are taking issue with. The issue is that he is a good player and we're not being given the truth about why he is being offered such reduced terms.
In the grand scheme of things, no. But for the short and medium term future of Barnsley football club I think it does matter. I like to see good players playing for Barnsley. Luke Steele is a good player. He was as pivotal in that post Keith Hill run last season as any other player in the team. Much more so than many. So he is capable of keeping goal in a team that can produce play-off challenging form. And let's be honest, away from home we played many games with our backs to the wall, but even against the top sides we conceded very few goals. You need a very good goalkeeper to do that and Luke Steele proved beyond any doubt that he is one. It's tough for Barnsley football club. We haven't got a lot of money, so when we do produce good players it's hard to resist when other clubs come in offering money. It's even more difficult when the players say they want to go. But that's not happening with Luke Steele. Not because other clubs don't rate him, but because no club needs lots of 'keepers. Championship clubs may have 5 or 6 well paid strikers and 7 or 8 midfielders on top wages, but they'll only have a maximum of 2 well paid 'keepers, often just one with a reserve and a youth player as back up. Why bring in another top wage earner when you've already got someone for that position? So Luke is ours if we want him, but we genuinely don't seem that bothered. All we have to do is offer a decent contract, preferably for more than a year, and he's ours. And that's the goalkeeping position sorted. A championship standard 'keeper all ready to go. But it looks like we're going to let him walk away. It's so frustrating when the likes of Vaz Te and Stones and Davies and Howard and Hammill are taken away from us without us being able to do much about it, but for us to just let someone go when it's completely within our power to keep them just seems bananas to me. It'll not stop me going, there'll be no teddies thrown about, and no doubt if Luke's replacement is his equal or better I'll soon forget about it, but at the moment I think our whole approach to re-signing a very good player is wrong.
I know what we've been led to believe with is age but don't you think it's to free up some money to bring a better calibre of player to the club (which might be championship class and not lower league). But my bone of contension with the offer to Steele is the length of contract offered. Why not offer him a wage cut but with a 3 to 4 year contract which would offer him some security and if another club came in for him we might get some transfer fee
Good points well made - I could also add something about the fact he has been with us for several years and in that time has undoubtedly worked hard for the club and been a key player both in our fight for survival this season but also in previous years not to mention the cup run we will all still be looking back on for years to come. He is a part of Barnsley FC and has shown a real commitment to the club, even if someone just as good comes in it will take some time to get the same feeling of belonging here. Not put that very well but its something that made the likes of Sir Alex stand out - look at the way he treated established stars like Giggs Scholes Schmeikel etc - something that has almost gone out of football is the loyalty aspect - much underrated in my opinion and it does work both ways
If anything, he's the one player in a squad with the most scope for improvement. He hasn't managed to hold down a regular starting spot all his career. He was never in with a chance at Spurs because they had the likes of Gomes, Friedel and Cudicini so he has only managed a handful of loan appearances. I think it's an attempt to save on wages. I think Flicker is looking to either bring someone in on low wages as a replacement (or for Steele to accept the low wages) or promote Alnwick and free up a large chunk of the wage budget.
I'll be glad When the goalkeeping issue is sorted out, one way or another. I'm still really looking forward to the coming season, more so than for a number of years.
Re: I'll be glad Are you saying there's an issue with the contract offer? Might he leave? Wow! I honestly had no idea. Not seen any other threads on this before now. We should definitely raise more threads on this - it's an outrage.
As I said I'll be glad when it's all sorted. But if others want to continue the debate, that's their choice & right.
I'm not worried one bit..........good shot stopper.........but does not comand his area and his distribution is awful Steele cannot pass the ball........Remember....the goalkeeper is the first line of attack........and if he is constantly giving the ball away then this in turn constantly puts the team into retreat There are better keepers out there and with whats happening (you can only read between the lines) then Flicker is determined to strengthen the goalkeeping position Which means.......new keeper while Alnwick stays at No 2.
I just hope if Alnwich does start the season as number 1 that people aren't abusing him for every tiny little mistake just as a lot of people did with the likes of Wiseman, McNulty etc last season. It doesn't help at all.
