Had to kick myself

End of the season has been a bit anti-climactic for me. As chance of autos disappeared everything's been a bit luck-lustre - difficult to generate any interest in the last few games. Sub-consciously that must have been the same for the players.

Then I reminded myself of what an achievement, in itself, finishing 4th in a league so strong that the top 3 all broke 90 points +. Mr Duff, you and your team (on field and off) have worked wonders - thank you.

Now, I'm hoping you and the collective team can show that we're not the 4th best team in the league - we're the third best and we're going to take that last Championship spot!

 

I agree. Before the season I said I'd be happy with top half or a bit of a play off push. What we've had has been so much better and the whole of the club deserves credit for their roles in it.

 

I said we'd finish between 8th & 10th, so this is already a much better season than I had expected. Hopefully we can make it even better - COYR!

 

I know it’s easy to say now but if we don’t go up it’s still been a great season what a season. Looking forward to next season which ever league we are in

 

Champions by Easter. I’m still standing by that ..

 

Agreed mate. At the start of the season I think I said I'd be happy with a top half finish, breaking into the Top 10 would be a bonus. Look at us now! 4th place and disappointed not to get automatic promotion! Duff and the rest of the team (and I include background staff and CEO Khaled) have done a marvellous job!

 

Glad you put disappointed not to make automatic because I am.

 

I am, especially the way we smashed Pompey, Derby, Plymouth & SW at home. I thought we were going to make the Top 2 at one point....

 

I think that's redundant though bud. All Barnsley fans will be disappointed we didn't make autos after such a good run against all the sides around us a couple of months ago. Putting 3's & 4's against Wednesday, Derby, Plymouth, and even winning away at Wycombe

 

Second highest points tally EVER. Scoring goals from all positions in the team (except goalkeeper). Won at all three opponents in the Play Offs during the campaign. Having a superb Head Coach.
All this after the most disastrous season in living memory.

 

Here’s another couple of positives:

By doing the double over Wednesday, we’ve basically denied them promotion

On a similar note, beating Derby 4-1 stopped them reaching the playoffs

 

Before a ball was kicked I think I said about 14th, with a stable mid table finish. Or maybe top half at best.
Then the team finally took off and had a slight chance at the autos, and that meant the Play offs at least with a few games to spare.
There are suggestions though of us being in trouble financially, if we don't go up, and that we'll need handouts to complete the season again.

 

We’ve had a wonderful season. Massive thank you to Michael Duff and the players.

In the last 30 games I think we are top of the form league.

I’ve got over the disappointment to the end of the season now and really looking forward to the play offs. I am sure Super Michael Duffy will have them fired up.

COYR

 

There's always a silver lining.

 

I think a majority of fans would've accepted a mid table finish after the disaster of last season.

Problem is, once the team shows how good they are, and get close to promotion, the anxiety is that it will all be ripped apart if we don't make it and we're back to square one.

 

Lets hope that the "everything's for sale cheap" mentality went out with Conman and Co being in charge..
We now feel like a club again and a big round of applause to Khaled and Co for bringing that back..I went for mid table finish at the start of the season so all this has been a fantastic bonus...aaannnddd it's not over yet COYR

 

We have over achieved for sure and after having not had a season ticket out of protest this season I have bought one for next, I can’t however look forward too much given if we don’t go up it will likely be a new manager and spine of the team.
The board seem to have learned some lessons treating us as fans but that could be tested over the summer

 

I wasn't sure what would happen this season but after last year and the departure of Morris in particular I could see freefall and possibly league 2 looming. Its credit to Duff in particular for stabilising the club. There is potential to kick on now as long as the same old mentality of breaking things up doesn't resurface. The board need to keep Duff if at all possible and act on his suggestions for team strengthening if doable.

 

I think until the last few weeks of the season we were even going under our own Radar, let alone everyone else's!

 

I fully expect Michael Duff to be Head Coach next season. He doesn't seem to me a person who jumps from job to job. Obviously if some fantastic offer comes in that would secure his family's needs then he'll consider it - but there won't be many clubs who can afford that kind of offer who would be attracted by his profile, I reckon.

Oh, and I note people are saying (including Mr Duff) that we are top of the from table over last thirty games. We were up until the Ipswich game. At end of season we have the same form position over 30 games as for the season as a whole. Here it is:-