Admirable loyalty from the Gaffer. (From ze Staronline)

<div class="ds-headline" id="ds-headline">Hands off my team - ritchie</div><div class="ds-headline"></div><div class="ds-firstpara" id="ds-firstpara">BARNSLEY boss Andy Ritchie has issued a 'hands off my players' message ahead of Thursday's deadline for loan deals.</div><div class="ds-firstpara"></div><div class="va-bodytext" id="va-bodytext">Ritchie is determined to hang onto all his first team regulars as the season draws to a climax.
&quot;These lads have been absolutely tremendous for me this season,&quot; he stressed.
And he was all but ready to rule out recruiting players before the weekend.
&quot;We've been monitoring things but there has to be some loyalty and if I was to bring someone in that would show some disrespect to the players who have got us where we are,&quot; Ritchie added.
Meanwhile Paul Hayes is set for a recall to Barnsley's starting line-up on Saturday.
Tommy Wright is to serve a two match suspension following his 10th caution of the season at Hartlepool.
He will miss Saturday's home game against Bournemouth and the trip to Huddersfield on April 1, leaving the door open for Hayes' return.
Wright was substituted on Saturday, Hayes took his place then.
Another option open to manager Andy Ritchie could be Daniel Nardiello.
The former Manchester United strike missed the trip to Hartlepool with a slight groin injury.
Colchester and Brentford both play tonight and can increase their advantage on sixth place Barnsley.
Fifth placed Colchester are at Doncaster Rovers. Brentford, who are second, go to Gillingham
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Over to the players then

suppose its up to the players to repay the faith. big gamble that no one irreplaceable gets injured. like Hassell. or McPhail.

 

RE: Over to the players then

Is this masterful psychology or a bloke freetend ?

 

2 year contract

in the knowledge he has another year, maybe wise not to show all his cards.

do you think we'll have a better chance next year if we miss out this time? I suspect the standard in League 1 cant get any worse. Forest will be stronger, those coming down better equipped, those coming up, hmmmm...hate to think we're being cautious at the wrong time.

 

RE: 2 year contract

Depends who we hold onto.</p>



A side based round Colgan, Hassell, Reid, Hayes, Wright, Richards. With McParland, Devaney needs some backbone.</p>

 

So, in a nutshell.

We have no players for sale (unless someone comes in with a "silly" offer, say a bag of mabs) and we're not going to fork out for any more.

I bet Andy wishes Gordon Shepherd would do his own talking.

 

RE: 2 year contract

expect Forest, Oldham, Bristol City and a few teams that come up next year to be strong. Possibly also tranmere - think it will be a tougher league next year

 

it must be nice living on planet Ritchie...

...a world where things never go wrong people never get hurt and where you can shut your eyes and cover your ears and pretend things nevere happened.He talks about loyalty but what has that got to do with replacing Burns a player who has already gone and did a job that none of the others has adequately filled since, and has he not noticed that we are always stretched to the limit due to injuries or suspensions.FFS I think he's done a pretty good job under the circumstances so far but he's either toeing the company line here, showing a distinct lack of backbone or knows that the players are such wusses that they will take their ball home and go running to their mams cos somebodys not letting them play an its not fair.Are they men or mice,the way things are going better play safe and keep an eye on the cheddar .

 

My guess is...........

.....they're not his words mate. He doesn't get the final decision on the movement of players, he's just the one placed in line of the fallout when promises are broken.

 

RE: My guess is...........

aye, my guess is that burns was on a good wedge and it was a relief to get him off the books. i dont think mcphail will stay either for the same reason

 

Just like the loyalty Burns showed you eh?

Will you ever learn?