The Play Off Final Team

Feeling a bit bored, so I thought I'd look up what happened to the lads who played in that memorable match at Wembley in May 2016. Here's my summary: -

Davies - still here and captain.
Scowen - playing regularly at QPR, lower regions of Championship, red card yesterday.
Roberts - not playing, on the bench at Birmingham, bottom of Championship, getting hammered by fans as they lose most games.
Mawson -playing regularly at Swansea, bottom of Premiership, getting hammered most games.
Williams - playing regularly at MK Dons, lower regions of League One, captain I think.
Isgrove - back here after a wasted year at Southampton, just back after injury, looking good but not played enough.
Brownhill - playing regularly at Bristol City, 2nd in Championship, never our player anyway.
Hourihane - on the bench at Villa recently, in and out of side, didn't get on yesterday, upper regions of Championship.
Hammill - still here, in and out of side, not scoring as freely as last season.
Winnall - T**t. At Wednesday but on loan to Derby, can't get in either side, either on bench or not in squad.
Fletcher - at Middlesborough after wasted year at West Ham, either on bench or not in squad, hardly plays.
Subs: -
Nyatanga - unattached.
McCourt - at Chesterfield, playing quite regularly and scored a few.
Townsend - still here.
Watkins - at Norwich, on bench most games.
Toney - at Newcastle, on loan at Wigan, playing regularly.
Chapman - at Middlesborough, on loan at Blackburn, not playing.
White - unattached.
Not in squad: -
Bree - at Villa, getting close to having to pay for his own ticket

Still here: Davies, Isgrove, Hammill
Playing regularly at a higher level: Scowen (just), Mawson (for now), Brownhill (not our player), Hourihane (marginal).
Doing nowt at a higher level: Winnall, Watkins, Fletcher, Bree
Playing regularly at a lower level: Williams, McCourt, Toney
Doing nowt at a lower level: Roberts, Nyatanga, Chapman, White

Just shows the effect of the money sloshing around in the game, when only Mawson is playing regularly at a significantly higher level than us. We could do a lot worse than try to get Fletcher, Roberts, Hourihane and Watkins back here in January. Winnall too, but he will need earplugs. Won't happen, I know that, but it just shows how frustrating the financial side of football is.

 

Opens a debate up around those currently warming benches elsewhere - were they only ‘that’ good because of how they were coached and managed at the time with us ?

Or is it much talent now wasted ? Bree &Roberts especially is scandalous.

 

Agreed, it goes to show how good our manager and coaching setup really is. Despite our current position, I believe he'll do it again. Roberts was a rock for us, although personally I didn't rate Bree. I'd have Roberts back in an instant, but we've got better right backs than James Bree now.

 

Over the years there have been very few players that have gone on to bigger things and made a real success of it - McCarthy was the first one I recall but there have been very few - Beresford, Robinson, Hirst as well - majority haven't quite made iT

 

I would agree with you about Roberts but I think you are being harsh with Bree , he is still learning his trade & I am sure with the right coaching & development he will become a very accomplished performer

 

No two fans will ever agree on a player, so your opinion is fine. I don't think he's a bad player, and as you say he was very young while with us. He can't get anywhere near the Villa side, and I believe we've got better full backs in McCarthy and Yiadom.

My real point is that it's sad to see a young player "wasted" because he moves to a club for more money where he never gets a chance to play. Sad situation, except for the lad's wallet.

 

True , but these days players appear to be guided by agents & young players need guidance , not sure they all get the help they need

 

Agree 100%.

 

There was no need for bree to leave when he did he could have stayed as it's no surprise to anyone that he's not getting a game.

All the players mentioned had a choice except Roberts but the money was too good that we got for him, if they wanted to stay they could have, we all knew that team together was special and could have gone far together but they all jumped for money, we didn't have the money then we do now.

I have no sympathy for any of them whether they left in the right way or not, the grass is not greener elsewhere and let them look back at their careers for how much money they earnt and not at what they were apart of, no loyalty from them none from me I'll cheer on mallan isgrove pinnock etc for now.

 

Eh?

 

What are you talking about? Mawson's very much a premier league player. Even if he stays at Swansea until the summer he'll be a premier league player next season no matter what. A number of Premier League clubs are after him. Seen WHU heavily linked along with Everton I think it was. If you search Alfie Mawson's name in twitter its clear he's there star player.

There was some very good players in that team. They had won 8 in 9 before Johnson left plus 2 draws against Fleetwood to put us in the Final.

 

Sorry poor i know - the players fancied playing away from barnsley found out that it was no better than at home and are currently sat on the bench not getting any no sympathy.

I might try to edit it out now. Cheers

 

Just keep in mind that they all did the same thing when they signed for us. So did most of our current players. The ones who have not established a regular place in the team could be accused by the fans of the club they left of the exact same decision.

 

Unfortunately in a relatively short career, money talks. I'd like to think if I was a pro footballer I'd be more driven to play football at a place I was settled, however I'm a right greedy get so I'd more than likely jump ship the minute I got the chance to earn 2/3 times my salary. With the exception of Bree, its not like they've any real loyalty to Barnsley either. We signed them all from other clubs. Its just part of the game unfortunately but hopefully with the new ownership structure, players like Roberts & Scowen will be offered enough money to stay put, rather than move on when they may not have necessarily wanted to, but were offered considerably more money elsewhere.

 

Also if you were performing for Barnsley like our lads were last season and coming up against players earning 3 and 4 times more than you, then I think it would be only natural to feel you deserved parity.

 

If the first team only Roberts and Williams who left are playing for teams below us and I can’t see that lasting. I’d say they have done ok.

 

I'd say that Winnall, Watkins, Fletcher and Bree are all playing at a level below us, that level being their respective reserve sides, thumb twiddling on the bench, sat in the stand, and the occasional cameo. It's a weak argument on my part though, I realise that!

 

Hourihane is a first team regular at Villa and has been playing well for them.

 

Hourihane & Winnall are on contracts we can't afford, and have probably ruled themselves out of most teams in our division now unless they come to loan agreements. I feel Scowen, Roberts & Watkins are wages we could match. I wouldn't go back though, move on.

 

5 goals in 14 games SSW, STB 11 in 28 games.