Barnsley 3 Tottenham 1 : 23 years ago today

So where are you playing Hammill, Lil?

 

4-4-2 with Redfearn on the wing, lol

 

and what a team that would be

 

David Currie was one of my all time favourite players, capable of absolute pieces of magic on his day, but wouldn’t get a look in with some of the names mentioned above.

 

Hignett was like Adam Hammill.

Supremely gifted and at times the driving force behind the whole team.

 

I'm not. I've a great deal of fondness for Adam, but he doesn't make it into my XI. Neither does Eric Winstanley, Paul Futcher, Ian Banks, Ian Evans, Larry May, Trevor Aylott, David Hirst, Ally Millar, John Stones, Gerry Taggart, David Currie, for example. That's not to say I didn't like, respect or rate them. They simply don't get into my all-time favourite XI and, as it's my own personal favourite team, no one gets a say whether I'm right or wrong. Just as I can't tell anyone else who should be in their XI.

 

No. Redfearn & Hourihane would be in centre midfield, with Glavin and Hignett allowed to show their attacking flair.

 

I’m ploughing my way through the marathon Netflix season Vikings at the moment. Those lads had the perfect remedy to deal with people like Willard.

He would have been “Blood eagled” if Ragnar Lothbrok was a Reds fan!

 

So, you little tease, are you going to share the starting XI? Have a feeling you’ve posted it before and I could look for it, but in a moment reminiscent of Deon Burton at his best, I can’t be ar$ed.

 

No problems, old mate.
My All-Time Favourite Barnsley XI:-
1. Heinz Muller
2. Neil Cooper
3. David Booth
4. Ronnie Glavin
5. Mick McCarthy
6. Pat Howard
7. Mick Butler
8. Craig Hignett
9. Ashley Ward
10.Neil Redfearn
11.Conor Hourihane.

 

Great team, although Booth and Howard I never saw play. Just a bit puzzled at the choice of Neil Cooper at RB? I liked Cooper but he largely struggled to get a regular place in the great side of the 80-82 period, being more of a utility player filling in at RB, in MF and even occasionally at CH if I remember correctly.

 

For me, he was a better right back than Joe Joyce. Joyce took his place when injured and played very well. Norman Hunter preferred Joe, I preferred Neil. He was effective in midfield and excellent in central defence.

 

The game is all about opinions and you make a valid argument. Like I say I did like Cooper as a player, he was very unfortunate to not play more games.

 

Quite a team, Lil, and with four of them local lads.

Interesting choice of Mick Butler. With the possible exception of Allan Clarke, probably the most natural and deadly finisher I’ve seen in a Reds shirt. Pity about all the injuries - it really was brutal in the Fourth Division in the Seventies.

 

Both better than Gary Fleming and Nicky Eaden?
I always enjoy a good debate on favourite/best players/lineups.

 

Mick is my third all-time favourite Barnsley player, only behind Pat Howard & Ronnie Glavin.

 

My team is one of personal favourites, not necessarily 'best' players.

 

One of my favourite players was Steve Cooper, he’d never be in the top 20 strikers in my time watching the Reds quality wise, but he was a total mentalist on the pitch. I was always disappointed when he didn’t start, loved him.

 

Agree. Always liked Rodger Wylde as well. That smug sly grin every time he scored, quality.

And Andy Savile. But then how could you not love Andy Savile after getting a last minute winner at the blunts?

 

Your post is a wonderful example of an extremely well loved player who wouldn't be anywhere near a 'best XI'. I, too, loved Steve and wished he'd have stayed at the club for much longer.