Everything is for sale

And that's our reality. Barnsley isn't a place that players want to come to for lifestyle and glamour. Its parodied and knocked by anyone not from the town or affiliated with it, and fundamentally we're a stepping stone. We've carved a niche, openly that everyone knows about, that is to progress people and sell for profit, while bringing in more players to do the same. And if it doesn't work, they'll get paid off or shipped out as well.

Its just 2 years and 8 months since we got promoted from this division at Wembley. And all that remains aside from memories, is Adam Davies.

That's a phenomenal amount of change. And as a town and a population used to getting knocks and set backs, its not surprising that people see another departure as a knock. When you look at this window and we've lost a good number of players (and trying to offload more) without anyone of note coming in, but fundamentally, lost a good first team coach and our CEO.

Its the hope of every fan to have success. Whatever success is termed to be. To have hope played with is frustrating, painful and potentially dangerous. And that's what it feels like to me.

I can't blame GG or Winkler for leaving. I'd do exactly the same. I don't blame any of our players wanting to play in a higher league, I'd do exactly the same.

And that's whats so **** about this. I can understand we are a stepping stone, and that's highly unlikely to change without someone playing Russian roulette to risk all on fast promotion (which I don't think anyone wants). So all I'm left with is a conveyor belt of temporary faces that will never become legend or hero because they are too transient.

I can't complain with some of the football we've played. I can't complain that we've a shot at promotion. But I don't have to like this approach, which feels forlornly inevitable and every 6 months we'll see many faces go, many faces come, and know full well in short time, they'll be gone too. And the ones that do well will be gone even more swiftly.

But still, we have Adam Davies to hold onto... for now.

 

Good post.

Makes you think what’s the actual point?
Until we have a change of ambition we will forever yo yo between league 1 & The Championship

 

Great Summary, as for Davies if anyone had wanted him he'd be gone too.

 

Agree with practically all of that apart from the portrayal as Barnsley as a joke. Yes, for some people, but I'd argue a lot of people see the place as having a great football pedigree as seen by our one-time exploits in the premier league, recently at Wembley, our relatively large stadium, our away followings, and the high profile nature of a few former players.

I also agree that it's been particularly disappointing to see this conveyor belt continue under staggeringly wealthy new owners in January, and the transience meaning we can't build new heroes ( Hammill's return perhaps being an exception). That January a couple of seasons ago after the promotion and the rise up to the fringe of the play-offs was a chance for that- a team of greats to go down as heroes.

I have young sons and it really brings it home to me when I have to tell them Hourihane, Adam Hammill or even the half-decent like Brad Potts who they've been singing songs about has gone to a bigger team after a few months. There is little chance to see loyalty or gain an attachment to your team on the way you could when I was growing up in the 80s and I agree that it's sad.

 

Great post.

Sometimes it just hits you that this is the hand we’ve been dealt. On one hand we’re going to be financially safe for years to come whereas others like Bolton are always going to be teetering on the edge because of the way they’re managing the books. This is definitely a good thing as it ensures that there will be a club for the next generation and the generation after that to support.
But who will they support? I grew up loving Watson, Barnard, redfearn, all of which stayed with us for years and allowed them to grow on us and accept them into the fold as someone that actually cared for the club.
Who are the next generation supporting? Will any player stay long enough for them to grow on the young lads or are they leaving on the conveyer belt along with the rest? And if they don’t stop how will we expect the kids to stay with us? When they can just as easily watch Liverpool, Man Utd etc on the tele with their stars who will stay with them for years.

 

I opened this thread thinking it was about DFS

 

It feels like it is some days. Wonder if we offer 4 years 0% credit too?

 

Great post. I’d love a couple of Bobby Hassell’s & Steven Foster’s or even a Jim O’Brien. Just someone who’s here a few years who there’s some kind of connection to.

Sick of seeing fake, soppy posts from players who’ve been here 12-18 months & left as soon as possible. All they saw us as was a stepping stone. All this fan forever is laughable.

 

one of the best posts I've read on here, there is no point to football other than to produce nostalgia, but then in the same breath there is no point to anything

 

Periodically i’ve been critiscizing “the plan” since Cryne instigated it and it would seem more people, not the majority yet, are starting to question it. In my case the last few seasons, since it’s inception, have seen me question my own reasons for attending matches and believe it’s getting harder and harder not taking account of the current position the club is in but the expectation that in x number of years it will probably not advanced an inch, and that’a from someone who saw his first 1st team game in 1958 and has seen the club hundreds of times worse than it is now several times. The last 2 seasons i’ve renewed on deadline day but today will decide whether I renew at all this year.

 

Probably no point going then. Not saying you are wrong mind.

 

The main thing that pissed me off about the whole January 2017 thing is that squad had a great close connection with us. Only to be pissed down the drain due to the amateur running of the club, and lack of ambition.

Thats made me personally very wary about getting that same close feeling towards future players, thus losing a lot of enthusiasm towards the club.

 

I have an o a p ticket, so you might say not too bad but if I still paid full price there would be no contest and how they expect to increase pay on the day attendances with the ridiculous prices and perceived no ambition, I really don’t know

 

In fairness Danny this could be written about most clubs in the league.

 

Still **** though, isn't it?

 

Good post was trying to say summat similar abart the excitement folk get from the Jan transfer. Just dont see why, nowts long term unless its shiite and we cant get rid.

 

I try to constructively argue...but cant really!
We have to remember we sign players to sell them on for a profit........if we are successful..that is a by product and although nice for us...it.just means that we will receive a larger fee!

 

But how does that progress the club

 

It doesnt...we may (beacause we receive a higher fee) purchase a better than avarage player as a replacement, however most of the fee goes to the "overheads and running of the club for the future"
An example of that would be Woodrow coming in.

 

What an accurate, depressing post.