I disagree. We were a bottom 8 team in the championship. Aside from the games v Donny & Scunny we were generally playing sides with much bigger budgets & better players. The 2 holding midfielders gave us a platform to build off, gave players like Adam Hammill the freedom to attack. I would've loved to have seen more talented footballers at Oakwell but we had to scrap for every point & Doyle might have been poor on the ball but he was solid & did a job for us. Colace played plenty of forward balls, bright footballer who'd play the early ball out wide & generally didn't have to go lunging into tackles like Doyle because he could read a game.
This doesn't surprise me. Colace is like Perkins. Had 2 very good seasons but his last one was poor so people have memory issues & make out they were crap because things finished badly for them. Both are far better than Scowen & Pearson (& I'm a big Scowen fan). This is in no way me saying we should sign Colace as I've no idea what his fitness would be like these days. Can't see the harm in us having a look at him though
Lies damned lies and stats, they have to be in context to be used properly. For fun, here's a table showing the results of games Colace didn't play in during 2008/09. [TABLE="width: 443"] <tbody>[TR] [TD="align: center"]Club[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Result[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Club[/TD] [TD="align: center"]W[/TD] [TD="align: center"]D[/TD] [TD="align: center"]L[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Opp. Final Pos.[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Watford[/TD] [TD="align: center"]1 - 1[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Barnsley[/TD] [TD="align: center"][/TD] [TD="align: center"]D[/TD] [TD="align: center"][/TD] [TD="align: center"]13[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Barnsley[/TD] [TD="align: center"]1 - 3[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Swansea[/TD] [TD="align: center"][/TD] [TD="align: center"][/TD] [TD="align: center"]L[/TD] [TD="align: center"]8[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Barnsley[/TD] [TD="align: center"]0 - 1[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Southampton[/TD] [TD="align: center"][/TD] [TD="align: center"][/TD] [TD="align: center"]L[/TD] [TD="align: center"]23[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Norwich[/TD] [TD="align: center"]4 - 0[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Barnsley[/TD] [TD="align: center"][/TD] [TD="align: center"][/TD] [TD="align: center"]L[/TD] [TD="align: center"]22[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Barnsley[/TD] [TD="align: center"]1 - 2[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Ipswich[/TD] [TD="align: center"][/TD] [TD="align: center"][/TD] [TD="align: center"]L[/TD] [TD="align: center"]9[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Bristol C[/TD] [TD="align: center"]2 - 0[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Barnsley[/TD] [TD="align: center"][/TD] [TD="align: center"][/TD] [TD="align: center"]L[/TD] [TD="align: center"]10[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Barnsley[/TD] [TD="align: center"]2 - 0[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Plymouth[/TD] [TD="align: center"]W[/TD] [TD="align: center"][/TD] [TD="align: center"][/TD] [TD="align: center"]21[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Burnley[/TD] [TD="align: center"]1 - 2[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Barnsley[/TD] [TD="align: center"]W[/TD] [TD="align: center"][/TD] [TD="align: center"][/TD] [TD="align: center"]5[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Barnsley[/TD] [TD="align: center"]1 - 1[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Preston[/TD] [TD="align: center"][/TD] [TD="align: center"]D[/TD] [TD="align: center"][/TD] [TD="align: center"]6[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Ipswich[/TD] [TD="align: center"]3 - 0[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Barnsley[/TD] [TD="align: center"][/TD] [TD="align: center"][/TD] [TD="align: center"]L[/TD] [TD="align: center"]9[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Barnsley[/TD] [TD="align: center"]4 - 1[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Doncaster[/TD] [TD="align: center"]W[/TD] [TD="align: center"][/TD] [TD="align: center"][/TD] [TD="align: center"]14[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"]C Palace[/TD] [TD="align: center"]3 - 0[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Barnsley[/TD] [TD="align: center"][/TD] [TD="align: center"][/TD] [TD="align: center"]L[/TD] [TD="align: center"]15[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"]QPR[/TD] [TD="align: center"]2 - 1[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Barnsley[/TD] [TD="align: center"][/TD] [TD="align: center"][/TD] [TD="align: center"]L[/TD] [TD="align: center"]11[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Crewe[/TD] [TD="align: center"]2 - 0[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Barnsley[/TD] [TD="align: center"][/TD] [TD="align: center"][/TD] [TD="align: center"]L[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Div1[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Barnsley[/TD] [TD="align: center"]1 - 2[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Coventry[/TD] [TD="align: center"][/TD] [TD="align: center"][/TD] [TD="align: center"]L[/TD] [TD="align: center"]17[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Birmingham[/TD] [TD="align: center"]2 - 0[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Barnsley[/TD] [TD="align: center"][/TD] [TD="align: center"][/TD] [TD="align: center"]L[/TD] [TD="align: center"]2[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Barnsley[/TD] [TD="align: center"]2 - 0[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Derby[/TD] [TD="align: center"]W[/TD] [TD="align: center"][/TD] [TD="align: center"][/TD] [TD="align: center"]18[/TD] [/TR] </tbody>[/TABLE] Again, what would be more useful would be to see the form of teams in and around those games, rather than just their final position in the league. Edit: From a quick glance over both seasons, it seems to suggest that Barnsley were a below average team in those two seasons, but were probably a slightly better side with Colace in it, than without him.
From my memory of those two seasons Colace was a decent player, considering the results the team had. He was certainly good enough in that division to win player of the year, so he must have been doing something right
I've no issue with him being given a trial. Some are acting like we've signed him on a five year contract. If he's **** we won't sign him. If he puts plenty of effort in his trial that matches how much effort he's put in these past few years into begging for another chance, we might have an alright freebie.
He's so keen to play for us again, so if he's fit enough why not! Good player a few years ago. To be honest, I'd rather we gave the other South American midfielder who misses us another chance! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
We played 2 defensive midfielders but also 2 wingers and strikers. Not quite sure where this awful defensive tactics idea comes from. We always had a go. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Id be extremely keen to play for us and im fit enough, may aswell give me a go. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
heres some footage to jog our memorys, one thing I did notice watching it, is how close the players are in formation, think that's where L J ,is going wrong, he as players so far apart, never allows us to hunt in packs and form any fluid moves, come on L J watch and learn please , oh and if colace still can play like this he is a shoo in, to get back in team http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q...&mid=933DF4BB36FB1B5FA3BE933DF4BB36FB1B5FA3BE