I judge people and organisations from how they treat people and the circumstances they do so. Daniel Stendel came to a country and an area that he didn't know. He didn't speak the language at all. He didn't know the people, but he saw a challenge and believed in himself. To take up that challenge, he chose to leave his family in Germany, a sacrifice of huge scale and demonstrated a huge amount of bravery. His only full season saw him take a team that had collapsed and shown no fight to a battling energetic team of aggressive intent that didn't want to concede goals. To say he fit the Barnsley DNA with his style and personality doesn't do the man justice. In that season he lost an assistant coach, he had to contend with several injuries to a small squad, including the sickening injury to Kieffer and of course the incident with Joey Barton. In the summer, he asked to try and retain the squad. He asked for some experience. And all we got were kids. Now his reasoning has been proven accurate, just a day before his court case with Joey Barton, he has left our club. And all we get is a line that drips hate, acrimony and contempt for the man who Barnsley fans identified with. A German at one of Britains most divided times and bringing joy and smiles where ever he went. A humble honest decent man who made sacrifices and asked for little. Yesterday I was despondent, somewhat apathetic. Forlorn of what football is and what it has become for Barnsley fans. In just a handful of words, Conway et al have created an enemy. they have turned their own contempt in their brilliant manager, to contempt from me, into their actions and motives. Know this Conway, Lee et al. In one action and one communication you have created hostility. If you think you know Barnsley fans, you will now see you have absolutely no idea. Something not just reserved to this instance, but seemingly football more widely. If we burn, you burn with us.
The man united the fans back with this football club. They've managed to get rid of him 11 games into the season after getting us promoted and released a pathetic minuscule statement telling us so. I fear what you say is right, Oakwell could become toxic.
Excellent post. It makes all the more distasteful that they've sacked him the day, or days before he is in court regarding him being the victim of an assault whilst carrying out his duties for his employer. I would honestly love it if he takes the owners to court for unfair dismissal and takes all the Pinnock, Moore and Lindsay money.
