Again, as I said, he clearly reads these things so here is your chance to let him know what you think.. As well as making your selection, please add your thoughts below
Jacob is the most talented player at the club. The best academy product we have had. And in my 23 years at Oakwell, the best technician I have seen pull on the famous red shirt. So of course, I would love him to sign a new contract, and if he was to leave then, at least we would recieve a proper fee - Don Rowing allowing.. That said, I would rather we relieved him of the captaincy. Not as a slight against the lad as such, more to allow him to express himself without that added burden. I would rather we gave it to a Jim O'Brien, a David Perkins, or Bobby Hassell. For obvious reasons. I feel that his stalling over the new deal, being captain, and making bold statements, is opening him up to a lot of extra criticism. Its to be expected, and he should get used to it. It will only get worse when he ends up in the big leagues. I have said it before, he WILL be a Prem player sooner or later, and I feel the bigger the club and better the team-mates, the better chance of success. He is a fantastic young 'footballer' and it would be a shame to see him go to a Wolves, Stoke or Bolton. If he was to leave, then someone like Fulham, Swansea or Soton would be a good step up the ladder, where if he continued to progress at his current rate, the big clubs would take a chance on him. And looking at the state of Englands midfield, who is to say he wont end up making it? I love watching him when we are on-song, but he does go missing when the chips are down. Luckily, he is on-song 8 times out of 10. And at his age, he has plenty of time to improve on the weaker areas of his game. And finally, those who say he cant tackle clearly havent checked the stats for this season.. I want him to stay, but he isnt irreplaceable
I wouldn't say he's key to our progress... I'd say we are key to his progress, regular first team football is exactly what he needs to develop. He isn't irreplaceable, but I wouldn't want him to leave either.
He's a talented player who enhances our squad. Just don't understand some of our fans' mentality sometimes. jacob butterfield is not the messiah, but he is one of the more talented members of our squad. Personally I would kill to play for the Reds but that's because its my town, but if I were Butts I would want away. Who in their right mind would want to play a bunch of supporters like ours if they didn't have to? (money & career aside) For those who do slag him off ask yourselves this ... what good can possibly come of your slagging one of our own players off. What one positive thing will happen as a result of it?
If you`ve the opportunity to leave for a Premiership team snatch there hands off because chances like the one you maybe facing dont come round too often and lifes full of folks who have said "what if i had done this or that". If that is how it is to be good luck, hope you can make the step up in grade. But, till that day comes, remember whilst putting on that Tarn shirt we expect nothing less than 100%. Thanks for the entertainment if short but sweet.
Problem with football these days, is that too many half decent prospects are picked off by the richer clubs to sit on their books or farm out to lower league teams on loan. If the player turns out to be the real deal, they're either sell on at a huge profit or keep for the first team. Trippier, Mellis and soon Hammell.
Personally I'm hoping we can keep him for a couple more years and give Hill the chance to develop him further but if he does go in Jan or the summer I think Hill will have a fee targets already selected to replace him.
If I was him I'd leave if I got a decent offer. Football is short career and you definitely have to look after number one and bugger what the fickle fans think. Whenever he moves he'll get booed on his return to Oakwell like 9 out of 10 players who leave here. His career could be finished with just one bad tackle so he'd be wise to seriously look at any offer a bigger salary. Even players like Hassle would be off if they got a better contract and improved salary. Other than the "he'd be better off learning his trade at a lower level" argument, what reason would he have to stay here? Plus, he could be loaned out to a lesser club like Kyle Walker was and still earn his decent salary whilst getting first team action on loan.
Re: If I was him The formula is quite simple for me: Football teams need to recruit and keep hold of quality players, and move on underachieving poorer quality players. Jacob Butterfield is one of our better, most important (possibly best) players, therefore I cant see why anyone wouldnt like to see him stay at our club.
