[Official Site] Alex Mowatt on return to training

Alex Mowatt on return to training
Interviews

The Reds' skipper gives us an update after the return to first team training at Oakwell this week.

Continue reading on the official site...

 

Great to hear his comments re- " loves playing for Barnsley, loves the Club, loves the fans ".
Let's hope that when it's contract renewal time, he remembers those sentiments and signs up
again.

 

Cut and paste that for the majority of players we've had here. Only Kennedy and Wiseman would probably say otherwise.

 

Looks in great shape. I would say he looks in better shape now after two months not playing, then he did when he played. It's clear as day how hard he's worked during lockdown.

 

Tbf I think that they all have. Really hoping that it gives us an edge if the season gets played to an end behind closed doors

 

I think they should play out the season in the sports hall. If it bounces into the floor first it's a 4. If it hits the wall first it's a 6. However, if it hits the wall and you're caught one handed you're out.

Harsh rules but you need to be fit.

 

I agree, there is often a scripted response but I don’t see it this time. I think he genuinely likes being here and if we are miraculously still in the division after the season ends, I think he’ll sign an extension. I don’t think he fancies league one again.

Saying that, if someone comes and triples his wages, of course he’ll be off, who wouldn’t?

 

I think he'll be off. At his age he's got to look for that career defining move. It's the fittest he's looked in about 5 years.

 

You could well be right.

And I agree about his fitness, really seems to get his head down nowadays.

 

Spot on RC. In terms of longevity, an average career is relatively short. I've been reading a bit about Matt
Appleby. He comments that when he was playing he didn't earn big wages. He never went in to coaching
for that very reason, opting instead to train to be a deep sea diver, inspecting underwater vessels/ welding
etc. where he could earn upwards of £200 per dive.

One thing that Bens ( Loko the Tyke) streams have confirmed, is that to a man, every single guest has had a soft
spot for Barnsley FC, commenting on the warmth of the fans and its reputation as a genuine family Club. In truth that
is what endeared my son and myself to the Club back in 1987. We immediately felt " accepted" and " belonged."

It would appear, that the only factor that reluctantly causes any player to want to leave us ( of his own volition), is
the wages he can earn elsewhere which is such a shame. It's going to be interesting to hear what Barnie has to say
in tonight's live stream regarding turning Southampton down to stay a Red ,when he was offered the chance to double
his wages in back in 1998.

 

That is certainly an interesting ‘after football career’!

But yeah I agree, the wages are certainly the biggest contributing factor I would say. We cannot compete financially with a lot of teams in this league.

 

I have been watching some of the comments on the BBC Sports website. Some of the contributors on there,
reckon that as a result of Covid 19 , a number of Clubs could go bust and those that do survive, might well have
to trim their wage bills to enable their long term survival prospects.

If that happens and the EFL do eventually introduce a salary cap, Clubs such as ours might be better equipped to compete on a more level playing field.