Callum Styles

If he'd continued developing as he did under Val then he certainly would be. However, something has clearly gone wrong. Not entirely sure whether it's attitude problems (unlikely considering what successive managers have said), poor coaching or he's just stopped developing as a player, which happens.

 

What about the games where he played midfield. So at least a season and half nearly. He was top notch under Struhber and Val. Then became in my mind the main focus of the team. With too much responsibility to perform with inferior players around him.
Him wishing to play at an higher level to help him at international level is not an issue for me. His form certainly dipped. I get that. A move away and a settled mind, may help.
If he doesn't get that move. (it's obvious clubs dont want to pay a fee.) He's stuck on league one wages which will also play on his mind.
As I see it. The contract we more or less forced him to sign. As it appeared to me, we wouldnt allow him to leave (only on loan) unless he signed a new contract. Hoping his value would increase. Has backfired imo for both parties.

 

The thing is Hooky, and I'm not going to cover old ground on what I thought of Val's system, but he'll never play in that kind of set up ever again. He never had to play as a midfielder under Val, just transfer the ball forwards as fast as possible. Since then, in conventional midfield set ups he's struggled to impress. That season under Val doesn't make him a good player. Romal Palmer was integral to that side and he's struggling to make an impact at St Patrick's Athletic in the LOI which I'd put on a par with the Conference in England.
Same as everyone else though fingers crossed Styles has a good euros.

 

A season and half? No where near he featured alot for struber towards the end of his 1st season. He never played Central midfield for val.
When val left people said how he would be great in center midfield and mowatts replacement he was far too weak and looked a passenger. Then went to Millwall failed to impress enough. Then came back people said how he would tear league one up. Again a passenger even Collins ended up dropping him from center midfield putting him at wing back. Like said very overrated imo.

 

We can probably rule out poor coaching, unless he's unlucky enough to have had it at three different clubs (and Hungary, I suppose!)

 

Under Struhber he played 23 games. 17 in the championship in midfield. Was playing 2nd fiddle to Ritzmair even though in the games he featured as sub he was outstanding, and everyone wanted him in the side. Once he got in he was an ever present. And one of the main reasons we avoided relegation. Alongside Walton who took over from Radlinger.
Under Val he played in both roles. played 42 league games. Plenty in midfield if I remember rightly before Matty James arrived. Alongside Mowatt.
He then started in midfield the following season with inferior players alongside him. As for saying Palmer was as good. We differ on that greatly. That's personal opinions.
What he's done recently at Millwall and Sunderland I have not a clue only what I read.

 

One of those players who only ever seems to perform in flashes for me. When he's good, he's good. When he's not he's a passenger for most of the game.

Maybe the new guy will get him motivated and we'll have a player that does well and gets himself the move he clearly wants. If he continues to flatter to deceive I reckon we'll cut our losses and take whatever bid we can get.

 

I quite like Styles and wouldn’t be against him being at left wing back for us next season.

However, I don’t think that will happen. He’ll either want to be in central midfield or not at the club.

 

At no point have I said romal palmer was a good player I said even he looked half decent in vals side.

The only time imo styles has looked good is at wing back under val. You say he played under inferior players after val went but when mowatt went it was time for him to step up.. I went home and away that season.. I have eyes he was a passenger weak as piss. Same this season when everyone said right player for league one he's never stood out.

If he was or is championship quality someone will take a punt on him because what we're after is peanuts.

You can't keep living off a good spell 4 years ago at some point you need to turn it on consistently. In 6 years time we will be saying yeah he's good because he had a decent spell 10 years ago.

Watch the Derby away and Blackpool away in cup this season where he's playing center midfield absolute passenger one of the worst performances from any barnsley player that season. Collins never played him central after those and Phillips rightly played.

 

Sorry for the misunderstanding you thought even Palmer was half good under Val. I thought he was cack tbh. I thought Styles was outstanding and thought you meant half good. There are lots of different opinions on here. Re Styles. Maybe he fits somewhere in between.
He needs to go, I get that. I hope he gets that move. As lots of things make it uncomfortable for him. And hope he succeeds.

 

I think outstanding is ott, lads 24 going on 25 he's not a kid anymore time to turn up consistently for me.
What did you think to.him last season under Collins? Did he look standout in league one like he should have?

 

It's all about opinions mate. As I've said before. Under Struhber and especially val which was the period you mentioned.
I thought he was. I've also said why I think his game went downhill from then on. Pressure getting to him in effect cos so much was/is expected.

 

But he's played under 5 different managers since 3 barnsley head coaches and 2 on loan and been poor. Time will tell.

 

Is that not what I said in my last sentence. ?
The club messing with his head over his contact extension. Wouldnt have helped. It was definitely hoped his valuation would have gone up dramatically.

 

I'd agree, (he needs to be in the right frame of mind though) . but some think he is very good in both positions.
But as I understand it. Reading reports at the time Millwall played him in midfield and Sunderland at LW.B after a couple of games in midfield.

 

So it's everyone else's fault bar callum styles that he hasn't performed since?
And no the club gave him a new deal on improved terms with a sell on before he went to Millwall in hope Millwall took the sell on up which was said to be 2 million. So not massive money, he never impressed enough.

 

The club was hardly messing with his head over contract. He wanted to leave, no club wanted to risk buying him, so club said sign an extension to cover your loan period so we still get value and he did. It was his choice mate.

 

I'll ask you. Do you think the situation affected him, fine if no. We will have to disagree.
It was plain to see what went off at the time imo. Do I blame the club , No, it was in their best interests. I have a different opinion and have given my reasons on numerous occasions prior to this thread. Do I think he lost interest when our club were in dissaray. (Managers who couldn't manage.) absolutely. So yes I blame him for that. But the factors I gave, lead me into thinking the way I do. It's not a crime mate. Although you'd think so. Given there are numerous different opinions as to why he should go or play for us.

 

Not as I saw it at the time.
It was a choice he had to concede imo. He probably wanted a transfer and requested one. It was common knowledge Barnsley weren't prepared to let him go hoping his value would escalate. ( Even more so by loaning him to Millwall. Or do you think for one minute we signed him to play in league one with us?) Else he could have run it out. But playing in league one would hamper his chances at international level. Helik was warned about the Same. But released under contract. £2m was probably an agreement that satisfied both parties at the time. Certainly in Barnsley's best interests.
I reckon his agent probably did him no favours.

 

I get that but look at the players that left after val. 1 player doesnt make a side
I'm not even sure Ronnie could.
Mowatt
James
Freiser.
What were we left with in the middle barring Styles. No one of quality. That's why he reverted back to midfield. Even woodrow played a more midfield role. But couldn't hit a barn door that season. Brittan and William's wing backs. It's no wonder he didnt know his arse from his elbow. Cos managers used him in either role as and when necessary. Palmer was integral but far from good enough. Couldn't command a regular start. (Stats back that up. In minutes on the field) . No where near the calibre of those others under Val.
Like lots of others on here I wish him well. But with us i think that boat will have sailed. If he's still here i think Clarke will not go on the past but the present. And if he thinks warrants a place. He'll pick him. In any position he sees fit.
This malarkey around Millwall and Sunderland. I havent got a clue. But criticism of players is nothing new. Look at this board.
He played 17 games for millwall and suffered a 3 month injury. Sunderland 12 games. I've never defended his performances this season gone. But I also see that all this lot could be affecting him.
Someone mentioned his age. As 24/25
All this has been going on since he was 21 he is now only just 24. First played for us at 19 and became a constant. How many players have stacked up more than 230 games at league and international level at this stage. Very few I'd have thought.