Players come and players leave

Reminds me of Spackman and Winstanley

Releasing a crowd favourite.

In Spackman's case it backfired as performances were dire and relegation followed.

I sincerely hope the same doesn't occur with this. DW has made a brave decision to release the most popular player at the club. We can argue the merits of the decision, but it has been made, and DW will have to live with the outcome.

For all concerned I hope it is a favourable one.

 

For me I was of the opinion his contract last season was one purely for him to get his testimonial and that he would be used sparingly when called upon because of injuries and suspensions etc. I never imagined he would be offered a further contract this season but hoped the club would offer him some role within the club, maybe that has happened, I dont know, maybe it wasn`t acceptable or something that he may like to revisit at a later date.

When we sign players we need em to be able to play 50 games a season and in Bobs case I dont think that is possible anymore (although we have signed quite a few that have been one step away from the knacker man). He goes with my thanks for his efforts on our behalf and would love to see him return in some capacity in the future.

 

Summed up nicely.

 

Yet we signed a load of unfit players in January....

He decided to play Tom Kennedy at right back.

He's regularly selected Etuhu and Lawrence of late, despite having injections 'to play'.

Knowing it was Bobby's last chance to play for the club, on Saturday, he gave him a ten minute sub appearance. But bizarrely, he gave a start to an unfit Peter Ramage. A loanee. Because "he deserved to play a final game".

Forgive me for not subscribing to your theory, mate.



Bobby was fit enough to play for the last two months. Fit enough under Flicker too. He didn't break down with injury because he's old and unfit. He ran his blood to water, bossed the game at Leeds. A game where he and Nyatanga were our shining lights, both ended up injured due to lack of game time. A game we didn't pick Kennedy or start with Dawson. It was a great performance that day.

Danny then recruited a load of unfit players, some with notorious attitude problems, basically, the opposite type of player that both he and Mansford are now saying we need. Not to forget he picked McLaughlin when injured, who lasted half an hour. And Reuben, t'other week, who again was injured but sent on to play. So no way was he not given games (Bobby) because of fitness issues. I don't/can't buy that.
I believe he didn't rate him. Nowt wrong with that. He's the manager. But I do think we'd have fared better with Bobby in the side. For example, at Hillsborough. Rather than ******* Dench lovely person.

Danny didn't rate him. Danny has got shut. Perhaps he'll explain why at some point?


I have no issue with Danny. I just disagree with him releasing Bobby. Just as I disagreed with Flicker releasing Foz last year. **** happens though, and I support the club, not any one individual, including Wilson. Unlike - it seems - many others. I know he was a hero in the 90's, I will forever laud him for that period he oversaw. But he's made, and continues to make, a right pigs ear of his second spell here at Oakwell. I'm not that misty eyed that I refuse to accept or see what's in front of me.

That's not aimed at anybody in particular, either. Just having my own say on things. As I do. Disagree? Good. Healthy debate should be encouraged on here, not the kind of message put over by the OP..

 

So whats your issue with me then Whitey?

 

No issue with 'you'. Just disagree with your post which came across (to me) as though we should all just accept it whenever a player comes or goes. I prefer to remark upon such events. Especially when that player has represented us for a decade. I was 22 years old when Bobby made his debut. I was there, it was sweltering, we wore black. I've been through a lot in my life while Bobby has played for us. He's been a red for 10 of my 26 supporting years. Crazy to think really. Be nice if Steele stuck around for another four years. Another 'proper' Tarn laiker.

 

I wont forget what a great servant he has been but there does seem to be quite an obsession with Bobby Hassell.

Time doesn't stand still and the club has to move on.

I know its a football cliche but no one player is bigger than BFC except perhaps Mido.

 

Thats why you're a football manager isn't it? ????????

 

I'm in no doubt about what a loyal and tireless servant Bobby has been, but as the OP says, life moves on.

It is difficult for any of us to say he has the ability fitness wise to carry on playing at the level we would require of him. Granted he broke down after Danny's first two games as he hadn't been playing competitive football, but maybe it would be a vicious cycle of returning from a lay-off and being back on the treatment table again before he could return to the required level of fitness again if we were to keep him. We all know that the budget is tight and that we can't afford passengers.

So it's a sad thought that he's played his last game for us but probably the right decision. However much I would have loved to see him remain at the club as a coach, it would only ever be plausible if there were a vacancy on offer for him to fill. If we add to the backroom staff this summer then I'll stand corrected, but it seems, simply, that we are already stocked and ready to go in that department. I'm sure that he will be the first into the boardroom for an interview when such a situation arises which he is interested in, this last point also being important, as there is no guarantee he would have accepted a job coaching the Under-14s, for instance, when he still clearly feels his playing career has not come to an end.

I hope that this will all be forgotten in 12 months time. I hope that we have a successful team, one in which our fans don't pick out scapegoats who are apparently 'heartless feckwits who aren't a patch on Bobby', and I also hope that Hassell goes on to continue his career in a successful capacity, and we can look back on the unswerving loyalty and great games he had for us without bitterness that he's not here any more. I'm sure that's the philosophy the man himself will most likely take.

 

And sometimes less is more.

 

Less is always, in some cases.