....? Very at the moment and understandably so. I come on here to share the hopelessness of our current plight with fellow Reds but it only serves to make me feel worse!! I was ecstatic when Danny returned and really thought that he would give us a chance of beating the drop. The three home games I've seen since he arrived have now rubber stamped my worst fears. We are going down for certain. Danny is still learning about our squad but some of his team selections have certainly worried me, particularly the faith he has shown in Kennedy. The January transfer window is very difficult to do good business in, particularly for a club with our finances and in our league position. I just don't think we can get enough quality players in that are needed to give us a chance. Two full backs, at least one midfielder (preferably 2) and a striker would be my shout. I am 100% behind Wilson in the long term and no matter what happens between now and May we must keep him to rebuild in League 1. The fans need to stick with the club after relegation but I know only the true die hards will. I'll be surprised if we sell 5k season tickets next summer, in fact I'd be amazed. Worrying times indeed.
sections of the fans base are expecting several signings in january, to keep us up. i'd be amazed if that happens. as you quite rightly point out, january is notoriously difficult to bring players in. when january comes and goes, the blame will start to shift to cryne and mansford (it's actually starting already). only a matter of time.
Things is, when blame does shift it's only human nature. Not backing robins started the rot for me. Then "cutting our cloth" a year too soon and hiring Lower league coaches who, after getting snubbed supposedly at a nearby club, agree to work with said cloth. Things appeared to be getting better however this proved a false dawn as three players(inc loans) who were making our team tick went for derisory sums elsewhere in January. Back to square one and stayed up by default after Pompeys points deduction. Yet more cloth cutting and sub standard signings came last season which ended up in hills dismissal. Flicker took over as this was the non costly option and by some miracle and thanks to crystal palace, we stayed up on the last day. This new dawn couldn't be continued this season and flicker departs but his mate is kept behind, Mellon, by Mansford and sons. Strange then to appoint Danny and keep Mellon "for continuity" purposes. The only thing that's continued is the losing mentality set some time ago. I despair at the whole sham that is barnsley football club currently.
Until players (and the parasites who negotiate their contracts for them) at our level accept that they are getting paid too much for what they do, clubs like ours will always struggle. This clamour for "investment" from outside sources makes me laugh. Why can't a football club run from its income like any other business? Having said that, the club needs a clearly defined strategy which the fans understand. A survival strategy, if that's the best we can hope for. Don't tell us we are getting solar panels and then do nowt. Don't tell us 3 times we are getting new scoreboard and then do nowt. Don't tell us we are going to stop using loan players and then sign enough of them for 2 teams. Don't tell us we need a new badge when we are conceding nearly 3 goals per game. Don't sign players, lower league or not, and then not play them. Don't alienate the fans by leaving one of our best players in the players lounge while his teammates are making idiots of themselves on the pitch. If we've got no money, how on earth did we get into a position where we had a squad big enough to turn out 2 senior teams and a youth team all on the same day? Who decided that we could afford all those wages? Why didn't someone say "I'm sorry we can't afford him"?. Poor direction and management from the top down.
