[Official Site] AN UPDATE FROM THE CEO

Well done khaled lad. you've done a sterling job. top quality against all the odds and in spite of all the criticism you've had to endure. Whilst ever you're with us we'll be OK. you have the vision and you have a can do attitude.
You also brought in the best manager we've had since DW1.
Well done again Khaled. Here's to another successful campaign next season
COYR.

 

Me neither, and Duff was clearly happy enough with the effort that Styles was putting in, to pick him in the early season games. Similarly, I wouldn’t have any issue with Mads wanting to move in, if he feels it helps him with his aspirations to play for his country.

Will it? He pretty much had to sign it to be given his loan move.

 

Transfer activity section reads to me as get ready for Mads departure.

 

If his head was right he’s potentially the best striker we have on the books. Unfortunately I doubt it will be so we’ll be looking to loan him out yet again.
If we could somehow get him into the same mindset as the rest of the squad he’d be a top player for L1.

 

Really warming to Khaled, he knows the right things to say but for the most part only when there's substance to back it up.

His description of the final is spot on - 12 months previous we'd have crumbled if something like that had happened. This time we (players, fans and staff) rolled up our sleeves, took the numerical disadvantage as a challenge and gave as good as we got. We lost due to very fine margins. We could have won.

I didn't realise ALI had two years left. If he's not going to be in the team this season he needs to be sold, even if that means taking a much reduced fee.

9000 season tickets is pleasing as well. It means there should be few, if any, matches where there's less than 10k reds fans in attendance while most of the away followings will be less than 1000. We need to ensure that we create an atmosphere that drives the team on. From the first time we set foot in Oakwell for the new season right until the last minute and it ends. I know it's a cliché but we need to be the extra man/woman/pronoun of choice and give as much as the players and staff. Get those scarves ready to twirl and wave.

 

Good interview, hit exactly the right tone.

 

Sell Styles and get Connell on a better contract with the money. That's the smart move.

 

Is there any evidence to back this up? A number of people say he's good but he's not really done that well at any club. His best seasons have a return of 1 goal in 3 matches while his normal return is more like 1 in 5. Over his career it's 29 goals in 179 appearances - 1 in 6.

Devante Cole has 74 goals in 320 appearances (1 in 4.5ish) by comparison and most people (myself included to a degree) don't rate him that highly.

 

Interesting underlying message about the finances in that interview, he has made it clear we dont have to sell and will only if we want to (players attitudes etc withstanding), which given the well documented losses at this level suggests the board will continue to back the playing side within reason.
There will be different views on that about good and bad but as long as it doesn’t saddle us with debts can only be a positive message for me.

 

I’d rather have Norwood in L1 than Iseka but a committed Iseka in the Championship.

 

He had a spell early on in the Championship where he scored something like 3 in 5 and his movement and finishing looked first class. I think he then picked up an injury and by the time he came back we were a lost cause. Like many others he simply threw in the towel.
That carried on into the summer hence Duff wanting him out. Whether he’ll come back a different animal now the club is in a positive frame remains to be seen.
Probably not, plus I imagine we’ll want to get some of his wages off the books. Shame really as I’m sure he’d do well in L1….

 

Styles back in the team and playing will strengthen us. Terrific talent just not had the best of times recently.

 

I'd imagine that Iseka thought we were the most unprofessional club he'd ever been at during his first season with us so no real suprise that he wasn't too enthusiastic last summer. Hopefully he comes back wanting to prove a point and Duff gets him firing.
It's in everyone's interest for him to do well.

 

Was he at Wembley?

 

Not sure, not seen that tbh….

 

He’s some player Iseka but a player is only as good as his attitude. I’m hoping he comes back and does what Thiam did for us in league 1.

He can hit 20 goals in this league, no doubt in my mind. However, his head has to be right. Will it be? I’m not so sure.

 

100% agree

 

Personally I think Callum styles is one of the most overrated players in recent memory. His poor games far outweigh bus good games and his best spell came playing as wingback in a system that made Brittain look a world beater too at the opposite side. Also huge question marks over his workrate and desire as he didn't exactly run his blood to water in his last season and a bit with us.

Iseka, ive seen nothing at all from him that I haven't seen from Norwood, cole, Tedic, watters, marsh etc but he does it even less frequently because of his lack of effort.

 

I think you have got that the wrong way round with Styles, it was Millwall who took him on loan to the championship because they see him as a championship class player .

 

Well done to one an all, good effort ,i'll continue to travel to away games, and can see me doing abart 6 home games next season. C,O,Y,R,