I don’t recall any comments that echoed an exciting signing at the time. Apart from the odd great strike it wasn’t until Danny Wilson took over that we saw him become the great player he was.
Do you not remember his season at Oldham? fantastic trademark strike after fantastic trademark strike? Him, Andy Ritchie and Ian Marshall banging goals in? Maybe it was just me who couldn't believe we'd signed the best player in the Championship for less than £200k.
That's exactly how I and all my friends viewed his signing. Then Mel Machin decided to play him as a defensive midfielder!
Oh yes, I remember him at Oldham, all I am saying is I can’t remember it being an eye-opening signing as such. However, that’s not to say that the years that have since passed may have clouded my memory somewhat
Well I know I couldn't believe he'd come to us at the time... then as BigLil mentioned, that Machin then decided to have him as a defensive midfielder was baffling! Imagine how many more goals he might have got had we played him in his natural position.
We were linked with him I believe. Think Southampton were offering cash plus Palmer for Barnard but Barnard stayed here and signed a new deal.
Cauley Woodrow, Alex Mowatt, Steve Mcphail, Jacob Burns, Craig Hignett, Ross Turnbull, Dale Jennings, Dean Gorre, Nick Colgan, Mitch Ward, Ashley Ward, Steve Chettle, Bruce Dyer, Mike Sheron, Jan Aage Fjortoft, Kevin Richardson, Jeff Thomas, Jan Molby, Deon Burton, Don Goodman, Maceo Rigters, Pederson, Kristenson, Frimpong, De Silva, Vaz Te. There have been loads. Some good, some bad. Not as little as some would have us believe.
It might be an age thing but I think that’s right. There’s almost pre-AC and post-AC Barnsley. His signing was unlike anything we’d seen before.