Just a thought re DOF

I know its fashionable to continually kick Dan the man but as anybody thought in his role and the role of recruitment he can only sanction deals with the money the board gives him.
The transfer budget was increased in the summer I would guess to around roughly a million pounds plus.
The majority of that went on DKD.Now I know to us a million pounds isn't much of a budget but to most league one clubs it is.Once the budgets been spent its down to the board to either stick or twist.I'm not saying Mladens got everything right because he hasn,t but he can't spend what he hasn't got.
The sacking of Daryll is regretable and never nice but for me the timing is right.We're unlikely to reach the playoffs so Connor and the other coaches have a free hit.
I still think this squad should be in the top 6 and ultimately the coach has paid the price for not achieving that.
Barnsley is a very attractive club for any manager or coach out there but although in my view we have a fairly decent squad the board are going to have to somehow raise the budget by quite some increase.
The fans will back the club if they see they are trying there upmost to get us back up to the Championship.
Since they took over this is the first big blip we;ve had.Its time to get the train back on track and they;ve got a couple of months to appoint a better manager but to also provide the funds to make us more competitive next season.

 

Explain his loan recruits then, that obviously didn't command a transfer fee.

Slonina
Craig
Lembikisa
Rodrigues

By his own admission in the Clarke statement it's showing his failures, we are now yet again changing playing style after his previous playing style has cost 2 head coaches their jobs, one of which was appointed under his watch

It's indefensible Brian, I posted our home stats under his tenure every single marker wins,points,goals,goals Conceeded, average points per game, they have all massively declined it's in black and white.
I know you are trying to put a positive alternative on things, but it's starring you right on the face.
We are constantly scratching around for answers to make up for our lack of money in the transfer market, the difference at this level I'm sure you'll agree is often a good head coach, the issue being someone above him is say operate in XYZ way with XYZ players.

 

He's incompetent

He is a data analyst but he's dictating the style of our play. Put yourself in the dugouts then sormaz

 

This

 

"Barnsley is a very attractive club for any manager or coach out there"

Only those in lower league 1 or league 2....most above that standard wouldn't want it.

 

I agree with you in principle.

However, I believe the team - with the current Sporting Director - isn't an attractive proposition hence we ended up with fourth choice Darrell Average the last time around.

The previous recruitment of the head coach was a clusterfück and two poor transfer windows have done nothing to prove they have the necessary competence to recruit to the required quality.

To compound matters, they are a coward and won't front up the supporters.

They need to be relieved of their duties.

 

The Barnsley job is a good way to get a payout after less than a year’s work

 

I think the playing style directive is a bit of a myth.Clarke himself tried several formations which he couldn't get to work.The under 21's and 18;s play a different style altogether from the first team.
I want to see my team press and work harder.I watched an inferior Portsmouth beat Leeds the other day and they closed down and harried Leeds at every opportunity to win the game.If the board are wanting to see high energy pressing football its a thumbs up from me,we just need the right man to deliver.

 

I had the same thoughts about Pompey. Exactly how I would like to see us play. Reminded me a bit of us under Val and to an extent Duff

 

Lol.

Sounds like one of TMs 'names in the frame'.

 

https://www.barnsleyfc.co.uk/news/2025/march/12/club-statement--darrell-clarke/

Sporting Director, Mladen Sormaz, "we will take some time to ensure the next appointment is the right one with a focus on playing identity, returning to high pressing and attacking football."

Come on mate, at least be honest about what the club is saying. You're a representative for the fans. It's right there in black and white, a mandate for how we play by our Sporting Director.

 

I guarantee you we don't have staff watching these players properly they're going off video tape or websites now - we used to have actual persons watching premier league 2 games every week picking up Harvey Barnes / Ryan Kent / Ivan Toney / Trippier loans

 

We also need the right players though too. I don’t see many in the current squad capable of playing a high press.

 

"a list of replacements has been identified"
And we'll be fed the Rodrigues/Lembikisa BS in the summer, when we end up with our random 12th choice from the Latvian 4th division, that he was always on our radar, been watching him for months, blah........

 

You are contradicting yourself Brian, you are saying the playing style directive is a myth then saying if the board want us to play high press high energy.
I'm not sure why you keep defending this line? It's in black and white when Mladen was appointed on 2nd February 2024 that he would implement a game model.
It on record in an interview on 15th May 2024 in the chronicle after sacking Collins that he couldn't play the way they wanted.
It's on record today 12th March 2025 that they want to play high press attacking football.
There's 3 examples with statements to back it up, it's not made up or fabricated it's fact, I'm not sure why you struggle to accept the sporting director as part of his role sets the style of play and a coaching methodology for the head coach to follow.

Today we have changed that style of play again and laid out the blueprint even before the next head coach is on the building.

 

Bang on

 

Beat me to it Jay didn't see your post 100% true

 

I’d love to see Sormaz explain how you play a high press with De Gevigney, Roberts & Earl at the back.

This is what annoys me more than anything. He’ll come out with a comment like that to try & get the fans on side but he’s not there to answer questions so he’ll get away with this nonsense.

 

The Barnsley FC head coach role used to be an attractive position but not anymore in my opinion.
I don't think many coaches in League 2 would find it an attractive role. Non league or Johnny foreigner maybe.

 

I want to see high press football but Clarke wasn't delivering that.The 21's and 18;s dont play the same way as the first team.I still think some comments are taken too literally but thats just my view and if others have different views thats fine also.