Bayley McCann

I imagine that should we still be in this division, we’d likely sell some (if not all) of Phillips, Connell and DKD were appropriate bids to come in. We can’t surely keep going every year without selling players?

And what’s happened to Nathan James? I liked the look of him and not heard a thing about him in ages.

 

And the problem with that is that next to nothing of the money we’d make would be invested back into buying quality players

 

A couple of his performances were, but some were evident of a lad just stepping up from the 8th tier (or whatever level it was). Ironically his performance against Bradford in the cup is still up there as one of the worst I've ever seen from a player in a Barnsley shirt. I agree that we didn't adequately replace him, Earl hasn't been consistent enough, but I don't think we've mishandled Shepherd at all.

 

This thread makes me think even more that we got the director of football wrong. Nothing personal but i don't feel right now if we have a strategy for the first team squad i don't see it or we aren't very good at executing.

Our recruitment of quality players has been poor in key positions. We haven't really developed enough saleable ‘young and hungry’ players to contribute to our sustainability. Some better players than we have now left on a free so inability to extend contracts at the right time. Finally we haven’t enough home grown players making it into the first team. A few odd players when needs must on the bench but no-one nailing a first team place. We need to be better in all these departments to compete with a lower budget.

 

What about the million plus in the summer?

 

Who did we spend that on ?

 

The club spent - according to reports - around £600,000 on DKD remember.

 

I think we have long enough contracts on all of them to see off any bids should we want to, January 2026 is probably when our resolve will be seriously tested, especially if we're not contending for automatic promotion. Admittedly it would be rare for players of their calibre to play a fourth season with us. Also getting Benson off the wage bill will help the numbers look better.

 

Yeah that was our only big outlay on a transfer fee unless I’m missing someone but obviously money well spent.

 

You’re right in terms of contracts. We would hold a strong hand. But considering the Styles cash went on DKD, it’ll be two years since we received good money for the likes of Andersen and Kitching. The club needs to stand on its own financial feet and not be reliant on the owners plugging the gaps.

 

Which shows, with a proper budget for a position, the recruitment process works. Sadly, we don’t have the sort of financial clout necessary to spend half a million on every position. Nobody at this level does. Except the team leading the title race, which says a lot.

 

Not sure I agree, he played for us last season and plenty on here formed the opinion he wasn't quite ready for the 1st team. He was loaned out to Shrewsbury was it half way through then he's done well this season at Bradford similar to Lofthouse who had a good season with mk dons in league 2 last season.
But the majority on this board came to the impression that he had jumped up too many leagues from ponty and wasn't quite ready so I'm not sure knocking the club for loaning him out is justified.

 

We sold 1 player in the summer and paid fees for 4, so I'd argue that's proof that we're reinvesting money back into the playing staff.

 

This one really puzzles me. I went to the Hull friendly game with Winker and alongside Lopata he looked very promising indeed. He is a young lad and yes he will make mistakes but I doubt it would be more than O'Keefe or MDG. Lopata, loaned out, Shepherd loaned out to get suitable game time so what's this lad done wrong?