I don't think anyone should escape criticism for the performances since January, be that the players, management/coaching staff, or at board level. What I would say is that it's too early to say "the plan" was primarily successful in getting promotion from league 1, just as it's too early to say the plan will be primarily responsible for relegation if that is indeed what happens. The previous 128 years of various plans, including buying experienced players, have given us an average league position of 6th in the current league one. The strategy at board level, to me, is clearly to get the club financially stable in the short term, and over several years to aim for a competitive second tier side. There are risks, relegation being the big one, but over time I'd think we could start to pay higher wages and transfer fees, not massively, but where we'd be competitive with those whose budgets are "mid table". I do think we've created our own short term problem with the amount of player turnover we've seen, Roberts was one outward transfer too far in my opinion and criticism is justified to a degree, and I've no argument with anyone saying that those who have left have been replaced by inferior players so far and in a ruthless championship. I think it does need a wise old head in each of the defence, midfield and up front. Some of the kids and inexperienced players will step up over time, others won't, but as turgid as things are on the pitch at present I can't myself make a judgement on our players or the plan at this point.
I’d see him as being more of a replacement for MacDonald. I think he isn’t better currently but imo has the potential to develop further than Mark.
I think Lindsay would have done better playing alongside Roberts like MacDonald did last season. Angus is struggling now that he has more responsibility. Not sure what to say about Pinnock or Pearson.
I think he's a better footballer in terms of playing the ball at his feet etc, both good defenders with different strengths, but I don't think he was seen as a replacement for Roberts? Hecky's comments back in the summer about losing Roberts seemed to reflect that his intention was to pair them together, and I think they'd have been an excellent partnership at this level. And I think that some criticism of the decision to allow Roberts to be sold is justified because of that.
Tend to agree but at the minute I don't think Lindsay is as good as a defender as Roberts was but I think he is better with the ball at his feet. I also think he will get better but might have got better sooner playing alongside Roberts.
I think centre backs the least of our worries. All four of Lindsay, Jackson, MacDonald & on the little I’ve seen of him Pinnock can do a job at this level I think with Lindsay been the one who’ll end up been too good for us. We’ve just been unlucky with injuries. Jackson & Lindsay had formed a decent partnership. I reckon MacDonald will come good again
Keep saying it defensively I think we are on a par with last season. In front of that we are toothless. We just don't carry much of goal threat.
Come on then mate. Step up stick up your money to run BFC for year after ungrateful year and then let’s see what other people think?
So those with money should be beyond critiscm and followed blindly? Sounds like a career beckons in a certain political party.
I can't really comment on the players leaving last season or in the summer because I don't know the ins and outs and it would be complete guesswork. What I do know is that there are people more in the know than me that followed a certain path and we are where we are. Would we have gone up had we kept the team together? No Have we lost players that I really enjoyed watching? Absolutely Was it sensible to cash in on players who were out of contract in the summer? Yes Do I think we could have offered scowen and Roberts the same money they're now on? No Do I think mcburnie would have been a major addition? No Do I think this current crop of players will grow? Yes, some may become top signings but some won't. Do I think we should ponce daft money on players like morsy and Danny grahams wages? Do I **** The above answers of course are only my opinions but I don't know the inner workings of the football club so they are as speculative as any others on here.
Do I think it sensible to decimate the squad to the level it was ? Do I **** Do I think it was sensible to replace the said squad entirely from untried lower league players and u23 players from premier league teams in the vain hope our over worked manager would work another miracle? Do I **** Do I think the plan was implemented in a way that caused damage to the club and that with a bit of forward planning by those in charge that damaged could have been minimised? Yes I ******* do Do I think the success of the promotion season was accidentally achieved because a small deviation to the plan was allowed ( the signing of Hammil) due to the dire situation at the time? Yes I do. Do I think the board / owner learned from this lucky break? No obviously not or Roberts and maybe even Scowan would still be here. Do I think we are in trouble this season? Yes without a doubt Do I think the takeover needs to happen for the long term good of the club? Yes Do I think the the club as a future without a takeover? Short term it will stagger on until the money from the fire sale runs out then I really fear for the long term future of Barnsley FC.
All true. The situation at Barnsley is not about the current players - because eventually they will come good - especially when other players are brought in that will compliment them. And the situation at Barnsley is not about the manager who has shown in the past that he can put together a very exciting team with relatively little funding. The situation at Barnsley is soley down to, as the initial post said, 'the elephant in the room' - and that elephant is the direction and funds put into the club by the current owner. Decisions made could have been a bit better - unfortunately the funding wasn't there. If Patrick was a multi billionaire then we would have the best owner in the football league.
Daft to think that if you want to assemble a competitive championship squad you pop along to Forest Greeen Rovers or Blackpool every couple of years and start again. Fair enough if you are tweaking a squad and adding potential but starting from ground zero on that basis is almost impossible. If it were everyone would do it.
In Conan's mind we were relegated into Division 2 under that 'crap manager' Johnson, and it's where we're currently still residing. Forget everything else that came after it, because it didn't happen. When we were playing well he said little, now we're on a losing streak he reverts to type and whines on about the bloke responsible for the change in fortune, which he's never really come to terms with. Pathetic.