LATEST FROM THE FA: REID ALL ABOUT IT FROM www.thefa.com Continuing our look at the different experiences of the various clubs and their preparations for the new season, we speak to Barnsley captain Paul Reid. Did you get up to anything nice over the summer? "We spent a good two weeks celebrating the promotion with all the fans and our families in Barnsley. After that I went to Marbella with a couple of friends for two weeks and then it was straight into pre-season training. Because of the playoff final we only had a short summer but it was a really nice rest." What were your thoughts on the World Cup? "I was really disappointed by it, not just from an England point of view but it was generally uninspiring. The amount of diving and stop-start nature of the games, caused by the referees giving so many free kicks, spoilt the tournament. Everyone was saying that this was England's year, our biggest chance to win the World Cup since 1966. We had the players to do it but I've got no idea why we didn't do better." How has your pre-season gone so far? "It's been really good - short but sharp. We didn't have a long time off over the summer, which meant most of us came back still pretty fit from last season. The only two games we've lost have been to Premiership opposition - Middlesbrough and Wigan - but we gave a good account of ourselves and it was extremely useful to play against top opposition. The results aren't important at this stage; it's about gaining match fitness and gelling as a team before the season starts." Who are your new additions to the squad? "The boss has signed Michael Coulson, Sam Togwell and Michael McIndoe. They've all settled in really well. Michael Coulson was here on trial last season but I haven't seen much of Sam Togwell. He didn't play too many games for Crystal Palace but he's young and I'm confident he'll do well. Michael McIndoe's been around League's One and Two for a while and I know how good he is because I've played against him." Which of your players should we be watching out for this season? "We've got a striker called Marc Richards who didn't get the credit he deserved last season even though he scored 12 goals. If he continues in the form we know he can produce, he'll definitely score goals in this division." What are your thoughts on the season ahead? "I think everyone will be tipping us to struggle, which is always the way with promoted teams, but from our point of view there's no point going into the season looking to avoid relegation. I definitely feel we can finish in the top half of the table but we're realistic enough to know it's not going to be easy and we're prepared to work hard to keep away from the drop zone." Which grounds are you most looking forward to visiting this season? "Personally, I always like visiting Hillsborough to take on Sheffield Wednesday. It's a local derby so there's some added spice there and the players always give that little bit extra. Obviously, we can't wait to play the likes of Leeds, Birmingham, Sunderland and West away, because they'll feel like Premiership games and that's when it sinks in that you're back with the big boys." Who are you tipping to win the league? "I'll surprise a few people by going for Coventry. They've got an excellent manager and invested a great deal in both the club and the squad. If they can hold it together they're going to be the dark horses for me." What are your personal ambitions for the season ahead? "Unlike many strikers, who set goal targets, I'm a defender and so to be honest I'm just aiming to establish myself as a top centre half in the division. I've been saying for a long time that I'm capable of performing at this level, but now I've got to go out and prove it to everyone." Are your preparations for this season different from last year? "No. The summer has been shorter than normal because we were involved in the playoff final, so we didn't get the chance to go away as a team. We played a game over in the Isle of Man but apart from that it's been a normal pre-season - a lot of work with the ball and a lot of fitness to get sharp for what will be a long hard season."
When Richards starts to be a little more subtle in his aggresion towards defenders he is going to be a real handfull. In this league his out and out strength will always result in defenders appealing for free kicks unless he can temper it with subtlety. He has to also learn fast that gobbing at the ref is doomed to failure in every case. If he can learn , then he is going to be one of our star players, that could be one of our legends in time to come............
RE: i agree Yep, he's very similar to Ships. Big and strong, holds the ball up well and brings others into the game. Just needs to chip in with a few more goals to be first name on the teamsheet. His performance at Forest last year showed what he is capable of.
RE: i agree few more goals and he would be an excellent striker, but he's got time on his side to learn. otherwise he's got all the attributes of being an excellent player.
more composure infront of goal also panics a bit still. If he could put in a notts forest performance every game hed be worth a fortune.
Pardon? Im sorry but are we taking of the same player? Marc Richards who kind of plays up front for Barnsley? He was very average last season and this year he will be out of his depth completely. To compare him with the names in this thread is way off the mark, If hes so good, why are we crying out for an established striker in the mould of Shipperly/Aylott?
RE: Pardon? he's still young!! mark my words he'll be a premiership player in a few years. might only be for a short spell but he'll play there. have him in side over nardiello anytime
Doesn't have to be either or... Can have both in side when Nads recovered. Richards is a talent - he's definitely got to improve in certain areas, but he's young & strong. I think he'll do well this year (if the fans get behind him instead of dragging down our young players) Think Richards gets alot of stick because people think he's older than he is.
personally i'd like to have both someone like shipps would be ideal for richards to learn from - he's 23/24 and if he was a bit more clinical/composed then he would be an excellent player in my opinion. His touch and hold up play is excellent, he's also pretty quick, strong and good in the air.
RE: personally i'd like to have both agreed. think all our strikers would learn from someone like shipps. queston that ritchie has to answer now is does he go for someone like shipps, who has had injury problems and probably won't get the 15-20 goals we could do with, or take a risk with a young prospect on loan like with did with chops couple of years back, and hope it pays off?
