I genuinely admire Danny Wilson, however,

...I can't help feeling concerned at how quickly Wilson appears to have slipped into the short-term thinking that has afflicted the club ever since we returned to the Championship. Once more we have no home-grown players in the match-day squad so we can accommodate the likes of Martin Woods who, as far as I can see, hasn't exactly pulled up any trees in his career to date. Having learned that Jordan Clarke (once coveted by Manchester City) has gone to Hyde!! on loan, and that Digby, RNL and Rose are not deemed suitable for a place on the bench, yet we take a massive short-term gamble on Frimpong, does not fill me full of confidence for the long-term future of the club. Perhaps we need to be relegated in order to re-focus the club on more long-term aspirations instead of this annual miserable scramble to avoid losing the supposed £6m revenue that results from relegation. As I said to someone yesterday, what exactly is this £6m doing for the supporters? As far as I can see it just enables the club to continue the struggle in some vain hope that an investor will come in and move the club forward.

 

it is short term this season though, get through this hopefully survive and then plan long term

 

Perhaps. But I'm struggling to work out how this season is any different to the previous seven.

 

I don't think he's got any choice for this season. It's not his fault we're in the mess we are in. Agreed that we need to start planning long term from the summer though, whether we stay up or not.

 

I was talking to a friend yesterday who went down to that friendly we had with Preston in midweek. We lost 1-0 to what was basically a Preston Academy side. I know the results of these matches don't matter, but he thought, Hassell apart who just old manned his way through the game playing the ball to feet, we were awful. The experienced professionals did nothing, but he was particularly disappointed with Digby, who, he said, looked miles off the pace and simply couldn't find another Barnsley player with the ball. Asked if he would have selected any of the above three you mention for the game with Ipswich: "No ******* way!"

However, he did say a couple of the young lads who came on as subs looked alright. Is it Nana?

I know I'm giving second hand news, but just passing it on.

 

Everything with relation to Danny Wilson's remit for the current season is survival and, therefore, short termism. However, irrespective of our final position, there is no reason to question Danny Wilson's commitment to providing youth with an opportunity to show off their skills. Throughout his managerial career he has done so. A failure to play youngsters, however, does not automatically mean the manager does not believe in blooding them per se. It can also mean that the youngsters are simply not good enough (Bennett, Taylor, Adam are classic examples in recent years).
With respect to Jordan Clark, is it possible that the lad so far has not developed to the standard required? There has been countless young lads who have not fulfilled their early & initial potential. Perhaps, if Danny doesn't feel young Jordan is quite ready for first team just now, a spell at a club further down the footballing pyramid might be just what he needs.

 

Agree with the sentiments of the OP but isn't Danny himself only signed to a short term deal? I might be wrong like.
Maybe board should back him with a 3 year deal regardless of what league we are in and allow him time to build a project

 

It's like Groundhog day though isn't it. Every season we have to have this short-term outlook because every season we're desperate to stay up. Every summer we say, 'right, we need to plan long term', but then ten games in to the next season we're in the bottom three, trying to sign loan players to survive. The only season's we've managed to give game time to the youngsters, in the hope of long term progression, was under Robins and Hill's first season. We were effectively safe with five games to go on both occasions. Nothing will change with regard to short-termism until as a club we get established higher up the league.

 

It's easy to criticise and I'm not doing so just for the sake of it. I guess I'm just concerned that the club fails to develop its own players despite the apparently large investment in the academy. Perhaps it is simply the case that the individuals just fail to develop (with the very obvious exceptions of Butterfield and Stones). But perhaps it's also the lack of opportunity. The point I'm trying to make is that taking risks with youngsters is difficult when you are fighting a constant battle to survive. I have to say honestly that I don't derive much pleasure from visiting Oakwell these days, and haven't done for several years in fact. Seeing one or two of our own coming through might help - although we'd probably only get a short glimpse before they were flogged to the first bidder (a la John Stones).

 

I attended the evening with Danny Wilson the other week and he picked out the three players you also mentioned for particular praise, RNL, Digby & Rose. He also said they WOULD have a part to play this season.

 

It was 1-1 against Preston. And Digby was immense. Hemsworth told me so last night.

 

We're having a "go for broke" attempt to stay in the league mate, the signings he's made are generally better than I thought we could have got (at least on paper) and I think going with experience is a common-sense approach to achieving a place outside the bottom three.

Only thing I question of Wilson is the decision not to bring in a left back in January, even if it was only someone to provide competition to Kennedy - instead we have two quality right backs on loan and one left back who is no stranger to a lot of iffy performances.

 

I don't think you're criticising mate, just giving a genuine and well thought out point of view.

I wasn't saying the above players are crap, just that they may be off form at the minute. Danny Wilson has always been a manager who likes to give youth a chance. I expect him to give these players a chance, but to do it when they're looking good in training and practice matches, rather than when they're below par. That's my theory anyway.

I hope you start enjoying Barnsley games again, I hope we get more youth players in the side and I genuinely believe we have a manager at the helm who will bring back better times and help young players develop. Even if we go down, we've got to stick with him.

 

The pace wasn't there on Tuesday and yes a lot were poor performances but you have to try them at first team level.

Hassell was not at it. The amount of times he let the ball bounce in front of him on a bouncy surface was criminal. Digby was okay but made the right decisions. Abbott was about as good as it got for barnsley.

RNL NEVER plays well in those games. He's just not interested or that's how it seems.

Rose played okay. There wS a young winger from the academy that played well. Nana played okay, too and he's confident from scoring a lot with the u18's.

Mvoto looked good in defence and was a lot quicker than I thought.

 

My mate went to Preston game and said bobby never put a foot wrong in the 30 mins he played

 

Yup, that's what I was told. Didn't do anything special like, just the simple ball to a Barnsley player.

 

if thats what you think then how does that attitude warrant him being put in the first team ?

 

I'm cringing for you. Just give it up. It's beyond embarrassing.

It's ok to talk nonsense like that if you're the only one watching it because no one will pull you up on it but I've read 2 people on here say he did well & 2 I know who went tell me he did well yet you're coming on here pretending he was poor just to suit your agenda.

Grow up.

 

That's what we missed against Ipswich , somebody to control game from midfield rather than continually giving ball away easy