Why I’m falling out of love with Barnsley

The fans.

I once watched an interview with a musician and he said he doesn’t listen to his critics online because a lot of the time it is just people bonding over being negative or acting like they’re an expert on something to boost their own egos and I think this is exactly what’s happened to us at Barnsley. We’re always looking for the smallest thing to cry about and it’s become trendy to bash the club.

Controversially I actually think the new board, Khaled and the club as a whole are doing a good job. After the worst season in our history we put together a team who finished 4th and went right through to the last kick of extra time at Wembley. We tried new things like “hey Jude”, renaming the ponte and the funky new kit. Yes we lost Duff but we replaced him within two weeks with a coach who fits our identity perfectly. We lost our keepers and signed two replacements. We sold Andersen but got a very good fee despite his contract situation. Our defence is weaker but we’re clearly looking to strengthen that area.

Can we please stop going into melt down over fairly insignificant things. We have no idea what’s happened with Debrah. He could have failed a medical. Asked for too much money. Or even a better target might have come available that we’re pursuing instead. We don’t know. And we shouldn’t be believing what a 15 year old kid heard from his mate on twitter.

Instead of finding anything and everything to criticise let’s give the club time to put things right and more importantly let’s give Collins time to settle and implement what he wants. I think we’ll all enjoy it better if we support the club. Build an atmosphere. And discuss what we think is working and what we love about Barnsley.

 

You've missed out losing our photographer of 20+ years and cancelled friendlies that folk were looking forward to and planned around And Tues night seemed positive with the Hull friendly as well.
The constant of a football club is the fans. I don't think we need to do them down. Yes some are negative, excessively so but that's football.

 

Again I don’t think either of those points deserve the uproar they generated. We cancelled two friendlies at guisley and Mansfield. We wouldn’t have taken anymore than 500 fans anyway who can all get their money back and cancel any annual leave they might have taken so disruption is minimal. And both were for the U21s and fringe players. If Collins would rather them be involved with the first team set up for now while he assess what he has then so be it.

As for the photographer. It’s always awful to see someone lose their job. I personally would much prefer to keep a loyal employee from the area at the club and given his service I think a tribute of some of his best images over the years on the website should of been the least the club could do. However the reality is like any business they can hire whoever they want especially if they have to review their business costs. And ultimately who they choose to take the match day pictures shouldn’t really affect your support of the team.

I do take your point though. Everyone is entitled to an opinion and that’s fine. I just think we’ve become too quick to criticise and too reluctant to praise the club.

 

Far too tolerant and nicey nicey about the club. Bet you vote green, wear sandals, have a beard and give money to Barnardo's.

 

I do think that the period between the end of last season and today has been a bit of a shambles. That’s not to say things may get better but so far it has not been the ‘kick on’ from last season I hoped for.

The season starts in little over two weeks, time for the bodies to come in but hardly time for them to assimilate in to the team. One big factor last season was playing catch up, we appear to be in a very similar situation again.

Spectemur Agendo.

 

It's not controversial at all, I think exactly the same.

Excellent post btw.

 

That’s true! And for the most part I agree with you. In an ideal world I’d like all our signings done and getting ready for the new season and I’m sure the club would too. But thats not the world we live in. I just think we’re dealing with what comes our way as best we can. And while it’s maybe not been ideal it also doesn’t warrant the uproar either.

 

I all want to know is what is happening, we have just had a very successful season but yet again the optimism is evaporating. 2 weeks away from the new season and yet I am not looking forward to it. Collins has been here 9 days but he is confident that player will be brought in. The scary thing is that we are now in a position that we can’t financially complete with half of the teams in league one, the future doesn’t look good at the minute. Can we just show a little bit of ambition and not just be happy just to be a mid table league one team that flirts with the top half.

 

I agree with everything you’ve said. Stopped looking at Facebook and Twitter, fans genuinely lost their minds. Never know a summer for rumours and meltdowns over insignificant things. Anyone would think this Deborah was the new Paulo Maldini

 

Absolutely fantastic post mate. I feel the same way, though to my shame lately I've been responding with pettiness as its just constant. Twitter is a blight on football, that is for sure.

Great post.

 

While I respect your opinion and views. And again everyone is nervous to some extent about the new season because we all want the team to do well. It’s this outlook which I personally don’t think is particularly healthy for the club or you and your enjoyment.

When you say you “want to know what’s happening” what exactly do you want to know? The club are not going to confirm and deny every rumour whether that’s from a recognised journalist or a 15 year old with a mate in the know. It would take too long and some of it probably isn’t in the best interest of the club or players involved.

Equally saying we’re not in a position to financially compete is your opinion but it’s not a fact. No one on this forum knows what our budget is or what any other teams in the league have to spend. I’m sure there will be some teams in the league with more than us but certainly a lot more with less money than us. Just because we’ve seen an article saying Debrah is off to Walsall doesn’t mean they’re financially better off than us. They might value a player higher. We might have pulled out due to the players medical. Or because another target has become available. All speculation of course but my point is there’s no point jumping to a negative conclusion when we don’t know. Let’s just back the club to make the right signings. Support the signings we make. And back the club to make the right money on player sales. And most importantly not concern ourselves with silly rumours.

 

Everybody sees things in their own unique way, which is good because otherwise life would become very boring. If someone wants to have a meltdown becuase that is how they deal with things internally then they should 100% do so. Likewise anybody labelled as a happy clapper shouldn't be belittled when posting.

We see on here all too often ultra lefties or righties trying to shut down other peoples opinions yet on other threads if its something of their liking criticising someone else for trying to do the same.

We are all unique with our own viewpoint. As a hypnotherapist myself, one of our if you like golden rules is that an individuals perceived experience may not be reality.

We need to welcome lively debate, polar opposites giving their views without being derogatory, stupid name calling or belittling others. Accept people don't see life through the same lens as everyone else.

Same goes in terms of football or BFC related posts, don't shut people down for having their own opinion, everyone is free to post their own view and let people make up their own minds.

Remember. Agree with others or not, It cost nothing to be kind. I've butted heads with a few on here even playing devils advocate on subjects but proud to say I'm never the one in the conversation to start throwing insults at folk.

We're all a big group of Barnsley fans in the end, treat each other kindly.

Essay over.

 

Your right Frogger, the comments coming from both sets of fans (the positive fans and the negative fans) is pathetic at the moment, and there's absolutely no need for it.
Because hey, and this might sound weird, aren't we all meant to be fans of the same club ?.
I don't ever do Twitter and I can't understand the obsession with it, and I'm certainly not going to go mad over rumours and hearsay and insults on there.
But even though I am usually excited at this time, a fortnight away from the Efl season. I just can't feel that optimism right now, with what's happened since Wembley.

 

Great Post!

 

Just started getting into the meat of this thread. its a pleasure to read your sensible and rational posts. Thank you for attempting to bring a touch of realism into this place.

 

I agree every one is entitled to an opinion and I hope you don’t feel I’m belittling anyone. That’s by no means my intention.

The post is more intended to highlight the current tendency to jump to conclusions and believe something as fact. When we don’t know what is happening at the club. Taking a wild rumour. Putting a negative spin on it. And then taking it as a fact isn’t helping anyone.

If the club have done something we know to be fact that we disagree with then fine anyone can share their opinion good or bad. Similarly if the club does something good it should be open for opinion good or bad. However taking a random tweet from a student in Lincoln who heard something off his mate and using that to create outlandish facts or claims about the club isn’t healthy for anyone. And it’s even worse taking these rumours and going in on JAQ or Doug o’Kane or whoever on twitter. I’ve even seen the poor blokes from RAO getting heavily criticised.

imagine being Khaled working long days to get a manager in and put a good squad together only to find out everyone on social media is slagging you off because some kids mate said this that and the other.

 

That’s a shameless popularity grab.

 

Vegan too, I’ll bet? I can smell ‘em a mile off.!!

 

Would that it were. Misery appeals to the masses. Life is depressing. Announce Deborah! My back aches. I missed the recycling bins yesterday. I'm not appreciated at work. I wish they'd hurry up and finish fitting my tyres. I'm typing this from a bench by a noisy main road. She's cactus.

 

Get to sleep.!!