Again, care to expand? Why, in your opinion, is he 'past it?' In which run of games last season are you judging this on? And why is he still here? There's only one logical explanation for his continued exclusion, and 'past it' is not it.
Hes here to appease fans and reward his loyalty with ensuring he makes his testimonial year. If he was good enough the manager wouldnt be able to leave him out. To say hes always been quality would be stretching it too, hes been part of some of the worst defences in the league consistently. Doesnt mean hes not.been a good servant but hes not fit.to lace crainies boots. Sorry about the full stops i borrowed nudgers keyboard.......
Blinded by the lights mate. Flicker's lights. Why do you think he doesn't get picked? Can't be based on performances cos Bobby's were fantastic at the end of last season. Your one of Flicker's sheep.
Yep i do fully support the manager but that has no impact on me seeing bobby behind kennedy, mvoto, tangs, crainie, wisey , jake scott, mcnulty for cb.
It's hardly appeasing all of us fans though is it, seeing him sat next to Matt Bailey rather than in the matchday squad? And he would have been awarded the testimonial whether he signed up or not. That was confirmed last season. As for "if he was good enough the manager wouldn't leave him out" remark, that's piss poor reasoning. He wouldn't be the first player in football to be left out by a manager for dubious reasons. Many quality players are left out by managers, and many **** players are picked ahead of them. It's nothing new. I can only go on what I've seen over the last decade and in that time Hassell has been our most consistent player. Forget his loyalty, his beliefs, or the fact he's got ginger hair. The statistics show - every season - that we win more games when he plays, and concede less goals. I like Cranie, but he made more mistakes last season than Bobby has in that decade. Pray tell me what Cranie has done/achieved at Oakwell thus far that makes you believe Hassell isn't fit to lace his boots. Seriously. The best our defence looked last season was in the run-in against Watford, Leicester, Cardiff and Palace. That was bob's last run of games. I'd suggest then that form-wise even, he's clearly good enough. Nobody ever offers any evidence to back up their anti-Hassell posts. Never. Whereas I could post all night a variety of stats that show just how key he is.
Oh. Is it not so blatant that you really need it pointing out? You've been on here since 2012 so I'm pretty sure I need not bother. You know the reason.
Thing is, I'm not saying he should start every game. But to not even make the bench and be made to train with the kids all week is a bit strange. I ******* hate having to make the same point all the time. But I'm ****** if after 10 years of evidence - including that run-in - I am going to let some keyboard warriors piss all over his legacy with comments like "not fit to lace Cranie's boots". I'm not saying stupid things like that about any of our players. I value them all. But I just believe Bobby is our best defender. And when the time eventually comes where he isn't, and he's playing awfully etc, then and only then will I agree that he's over the hill.
Sorry but you should stop your rectum speaking too...Hassell's been a top quality full back as far as the Championship is concerned for many years,whether he still has it is one thing, but to dismiss his massive contribution to our promotion and retaining our championship status year on year is totally ridiculous.
By that logic, none of our players has ever been in a good Barnsley squad, we finish low down the league every season. So leave them all out? Fact is JOB got tore a new one yesterday while Bobby wasn't even on the bench. JOB isn't a full back, he plays pretty well as a wingback , but a proper fullback he isn't. Whether you rate him as one of our best or just 'average' the fact is Hassell can come on from the bench and fill in in Midfield, in central defence and at fullback, and not including him in the squad for just such a possibility is as shortsighted and stupid as playing Steele every week. The ONLY two gripes I have with Flitcroft at the moment. Not because of loyalty for a long service player, but because he can do a good job in all those positions. I accept most weeks any subs will be like for like, but sometimes you need to call on a true utility player to get you out of a hole. Yesterday was one of those and it's criminal he wasn't available.
Even without Hassell there were better options than JOB at full back. I'm wondering why he bothered keeping McNulty on...
I'm not sure Red, but I kinda disagree about Hassell. Our onfield Captain was busy making himself look an arse, again. I can't think of anyone better to come on at RB AND get a grip of the team on the pitch than the club Chaplain.
What I mean is without Hassell being in contention there were better options for RB in the match day squad
Ah McNulty. Yes I see your point. The Mellis for Perkins substitution was a bit odd as was having 3 strikers on the bench. McNulty to the middle and Wiseman to RB seems the obvious move. I can understand Perkins on for Mellis, but I think JOB for McNulty as well might have helped. That said it's with hindsight really as JOB had done very well at RWB before so I think they thought he'd be ok at FB, alas it wasn't to be.
Or **** it play Perkins there. Another mistake. Easy to pick out after the fact but when you have a defender on the bench and you play a winger at full back instead it begs the question why the **** didn't he just release McNulty?
Whilst I disagree with Whitey on Hassell is our best defender & the mistakes comparison with Cranie I'd say he's arguably our 3rd best defender behind Cranie & Golbourne. For me he's got to be involved. Like Whitey says the stats show that we do better when he plays, we tend to be more organised & as daft as it sounds it gives the whole team a boost when Hassell plays because there's a better atmosphere. As previously said you've only to look at the run in to see he's more than capable of performing well at this level and should get a chance.