Definitely not for me, he gave us the line about loyalty blah blah blah, then jumped ship at the first chance, but more importantly i think he looked at the summer knew mads was going potentially others too, probably knew budget wise we were up against it financially and we'd be looking to trim, that says alot about character that he didn't fancy building a team and wanted it ready made, as it's proving at Swansea. The football we've played has been better Oxford apart, even posh which we were 1-0 individual errors cost us that day. Collins is doing a great job it's looking like another sound appointment, there's loads more to come, stay clear of injuries keep the results, were getting better and better really fancy us for top 2
You can get the monk on all you want about how he left, but he went to a bigger club in a better division & left us in a better place than he found us. Rather that than us sack someone for being rubbish. He's the best gaffer we've had here in 2 decades imho and I'd carry him back here if we every had a chance to bring him back & needed a gaffer. Nowt like cutting your nose off to spite your face.
Can you really say Duff is best manager in 20 year Ismael finished 5th in championship 23 places higher than Duff 4th in league 1 for Barnsley FC is pretty much what everyone in the football world expects us to do after relegation
He did indeed do well with the squad last year if that's what you're implying but as other people have intimated the context of him leaving after what he'd said leaves a sour taste. I think that's why people 'hate' him. I dont hate him but don't want him back for that contextual reason. He also said he left because of his ambition. Why could he not have ambition with Barnsley and take his project here forward? Again, for that reason again I wouldn't have him back. The guy can do whatever he likes from now on for me as long as we dont have him back. He didn't get Barnsley up, he bulls.hitted and then bogged off as soon as he could. As you say therefore, move on.
I find the contrast of reactions between Duff & Val really interesting on here. Both did a good job whilst here, one helped rip the heart out of the club when he left taking numerous people with him the other is deemed to have lied. Yet the one who is deemed to have lied is thought less of.
If Collins leaves, only reason id have him back if his contract had a large release clause added. At least we'd get some more money if another club was stupid enough to pay.
I wouldnt take him back and not because he lied and i thank him for the job he did. That said I think we have the makings of a great head coach now with Collins each week we seem to be solidifying our position and have to say over all the end of the transfer window we did some good business yes it takes time to gel a team but from what i am seeing so far we have had a couple of games where we came up shortbut its early enough to put right and we are now in the top six which i feel any of us would take at this point i think we should just focus on BFC and what we can control which is our players and coaches and signs are looking stronger each outing latest international break has been useful bedding new players into training properly for a good amount of time and that showed against Burton was a good team performance and we still have Styles to come in and Cosgrove once he gets up to speed properly with game time i feel he could be a force for us so i wouldn't be contemplating bringing anyone back in even if they did a good job we seem to be moving forward now so why go back? just my thoughts on it
I agree. Loads of strength and depth. To be able to drop Shepherd when he's playing out of his skin bodes well. To be able to leave Cosgrove on the bench too.
I don’t hate Michael Duff. No problem with him leaving. It happens. But he left in a way which means I just wouldn’t ever trust him again, and that’s no good to me. In terms of outcomes, I personally think several recent managers achieved more. Heckingbottom, Stendel, Struber, Flitcroft either got us promoted, won silverware or dramatically saved us from relegation, while Ismael took us to the PL play offs. Duff brilliant in his short time, no doubt about it, and I wish he’d stayed. But he didn’t, and his CV will now only ever say 53 games in Division 3. I totally get the points people will argue in his favour though.
Dyson what abart this context Andersen- Premier League Club Bobby Thomas, Brad Collins, Liam Kitching- Championship Play off Finalists Jordan Williams- Solid Championship Player Devante Cole- League one top scorer Luca Connell- Clearly another level Duff had some tools and a half last year
He left us in the same place as he found us. I don't think anyone is bothered about him leaving for another club in a better division for more money. Its more the fact he banged on about loyalty so much and how it was a long term project. Even after Wembley he said we dust ourselves down and go again. At least with val after the Swansea game you knew he was off. Duff left us in abit of a bad situation as players like isted were more or less signed then didn't want to come with the uncertainty of him jumping ship. He's a good manager, best in 2 decades? I'm not sure he ultimately achieved nothing.