And no I'm not swearing, they have a really good report on us for a change. It's about the ground, team and season in general. I fault their idea we have a team of journeymen, god they haven't been around long enough for that. Barnsley were visited by the top-flight suits because there is a distinct possibility they will be in the Premier League next season. South Yorkshire's Reds are now confirmed in the play-off semi-finals and daring to dream that they will be able to contest the £100million game. Barnsley had one season in the top flight in 1997-98 but the past decade has seen them yo-yoing between the Championship and League One and they only avoided relegation to the third tier on the final day of last season with an injury-time winner at Brentford. Yet here they are, with the potential to turn fantasy into reality. At the end of a week in which the dreams and aspirations of all clubs were threatened by six avaricious Premier League owners, Barnsley are fighting for the underdogs. 'You can't help but be excited and completely engaged about what has gone on at our club this season,' says Dane Murphy, Barnsley's chief executive. RELATED ARTICLES
Article is here, had to Google it: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/f...e-six-dont-Barnsley-secure-shot-big-time.html
Medics predict HOUSE PRICES will SOAR if unfancied Barnsley's hopes of 'miracle cure for cancer' bear fruit, as the mercury DIPS.
Premier League auditors have been on reconnaissance missions to Barnsley in recent weeks to cast their eyes over the club's famous old stadium. Oakwell, squashed into a space next to rows of terraced housing, is the kind of ground that screams traditional football. It has been renovated over the years but a major overhaul will be required this summer if the unthinkable becomes reality. Barnsley were visited by the top-flight suits because there is a distinct possibility they will be in the Premier League next season. South Yorkshire's Reds are now confirmed in the play-off semi-finals and daring to dream that they will be able to contest the £100million game. Barnsley had one season in the top flight in 1997-98 but the past decade has seen them yo-yoing between the Championship and League One and they only avoided relegation to the third tier on the final day of last season with an injury-time winner at Brentford. Yet here they are, with the potential to turn fantasy into reality. At the end of a week in which the dreams and aspirations of all clubs were threatened by six avaricious Premier League owners, Barnsley are fighting for the underdogs. 'You can't help but be excited and completely engaged about what has gone on at our club this season,' says Dane Murphy, Barnsley's chief executive. Promotion to the land of the giants would be transformative financially for Barnsley and should they break through, it would be a timely reminder of what this sport should be about. The potential for stories of this nature should never be threatened. 'It was exactly the situation with the Super League,' Valerien Ismael, Barnsley's head coach, told Sportsmail. 'This is the emotional connection with football fans and a story. Leicester City won the Premier League and people still talk about it. 'This is football, the reality that some magic moment can happen if you believe in yourself, if you believe in your principles. It doesn't matter if you have less money or quality than other teams. If you have togetherness, organisation and a clear principle, you can see everything is possible. 'This is why the fans and everybody stood up against the Super League, to protect our football. Mentality gives hope to the people. That is why we are proud to give our fans pride in a difficult situation.' And their fans should be proud. It would be stretching things to say that Saturday's 1-0 win over Rotherham was a classic - to be blunt, it was a typical derby, war of attrition with little finesse - and Ismael's face at the final whistle told you he was less than impressed. 'It was a really poor performance,' the Frenchman grimaced. They were fortunate, too, as it was remarkable that the winning goal - scored in the second minute by Carlton Morris - was allowed to stand after he crashed into Rotherham keeper Viktor Johansson when challenging for a high ball. Johansson suffered a suspected fractured eye socket and was substituted after lengthy treatment but referee Gavin Ward, remarkably, saw nothing wrong with the challenge. You suspect a different outcome if VAR had been in play. From that point, Barnsley were poor and their local rivals, playing their sixth match in 14 days, had more than enough chances but home goalkeeper Brad Collins excelled, his best work a brilliant save from Rotherham striker Chiedozie Ogbene at the death. How Barnsley played, though, was almost inconsequential. With their small budget and squad full of journeyman professionals, they should be fighting to keep their heads above water yet they are shooting for the moon. This was their 13th win from the past 17 fixtures and it was fitting, perhaps, that a piece of music from the Rocky films was played before kick-off because this narrative is also about overcoming the odds and showing what can be achieved with belief. 'You can feel everything that has gone on with the pandemic,' said Ismael, who took over last October when they were fourth from bottom. 'December, January and February was a tough situation for everybody. Through our performance, we gave people happiness and hope. We just keep fighting and, with togetherness, everything goes in the right direction.' It does indeed. The dream is still alive. In football, that is how it should always be.
I stopped reading at: "Oakwell, squashed into a space next to rows of terraced housing" I doubt they've ever been. It makes it sound like Luton, where you literally walk through somebody's backgarden to get to the away end. Squashed my ****. I bet Oakwell accommodates more open space than 90% of football clubs, with the training pitches, Academy and Car parks.
Think the translation is youngsters. Or else they got us muddled with our neighbours at the other end of the table!
Thanks very much for doing that. Still trying to figure out who the ‘journeyman professionals’ are. Also still not sure what this ‘major overhaul’ is? Beyond the West Stand, what?
My thoughts exactly, arnt journey men older players much older players then we have? Poor journalism.
With Cardiff missing out on the Play-Offs his agent will probably be plotting him a move to a lower end Premier League Club.
