THE BARNSLEY STAR REPORTS

Richards out to prove a point to Reds chiefs


MARC Richards is a man on a mission.



The Barnsley striker might well have been kicking off against Northampton tomorrow, if the management at Oakwell and Port Vale had their way.
Instead he hopes to be part of Barnsley boss Simon Davey's taskforce at Luton.
Richards says that, although Barnsley were willing to palm him off to Port Vale in exchange for Leon Constantine, he is more than happy where he is.
"I'm settled here, my family are here, Barnsley is a special club to me," he said
He was happier under former boss Andy Ritchie's management and, although he has started only one game under Davey's regime, Richards has not surrendered hope of breaking back into the team and staying there.
Anyone who thought Richards had given up on Barnsley did not see his appearance off the bench against Southend on Tuesday, when he injected pace and aggression into the team.
He is out of contract in the summer but has made it clear that he will do all he can to earn another Barnsley contract.
Richards remains second top scorer with five goals. He scored three in the first four games of the season and achieved a career ambition hitting the winning goal against home-town club Wolves on the day his lad, Callum, was mascot.
It was after that game that Barnsley hit a patch of form which led to Ritchie's dismissal and Richards being left out in the cold.
That run of one win in 11 included Luton's 2-1 victory at Oakwell. The match was looking a dead cert 1-1 draw until on loan teenage goalkeeper Vito Mannone, making his league debut, fumbled a cross in injury time and gifted the winning goal to Ahmet Brkovic.
Mannone has long since returned to Arsenal.
Former Barnsley keeper Marlon Beresford has fallen out of favour at Luton since Dean Kiely arrived on loan from Portsmouth.
Luton have sold on Carlos Edwards and Rowan Vine from the team that won at Oakwell. Yesterday they re-signed central midfielder Matthew Spring from Watford for an initial fee of £200,000.
The 27-year-old left Luton for Leeds in 2004 and joined Watford the following year but has struggled to establish himself in the first team this season.

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He's not good enough for the Championship

just that.

 

Opinions

Some say the same about Fallon who's off to Plymouth for £300,000. He was a class above owt in the play off game.

 

I remember when Luton played at Oakwell

Mannone howler !

 

RE: we need more players like Richards

he actually gives a toss about this club and always give 100%, he may not be the most gifted player at the club but he is proud to be a red.

 

you forgot to add...

'IMHO' </p>

just that.</p>

 

Im basing my opinion on

the games I've seen him play in. Played above himself for a few weeks at the start, but the difference between a League 1 and Champ striker is the goals to chances ratio. He's missed far far too many easy chances, and his lack of mobility stands out a mile. Dele Adebola, he is not.

 

I'm glad he's staying

Given what we have I would want him in the side. With a fired up attitude it could be interesting (IMHO) andI hope he's in the starting XI tomorrow.

 

Paul Hayes - target man!

Opinions. </p>

 

RE: I'm hope so too

This would be my team:

Colgan

Hassell Kay Atkinson Eckersley

Devaney Howard McCann K Reid

Richards Nardiello


Its a tough call for the 2nd CM position with McCann, Togwell and Mattis in the frame but i think Togwell needs a break.

 

I for one am glad he is staying, he is one player who puts in 100% effort and has a decent tough. He gets a lot of unjustified stick and can score quality goals if he gets the service.

 

The problem is

if the few chances we create fall to him, he's likely to miss. he scored 5 goals when we were creating 20 chances a game, having said that, you're right, with the limited options we have available, and the likelihood that the game will be spoilt by the conditions, his names as good as on the team sheet already.

Nardiello has been disappointing, Hayes is the only striker I think has a chance of cutting it in the Championship, and he needs to be more clinical. If we dont sign 2, worst case 1 striker before end of Jan, I can see us finishing the leagues lowest scorers.

 

Time to give Darren Jack a run out up front

Lad has has never had a look in since he signed for us

 

RE: Correct

If you're in a battle, I'd rather have Ricahrds with us than a pansy like Hayes or Bardy. With Richards you know that you're gonna get 100%, whereas with the other 2 you're never sure if they can be bothered or not. He not be the most gifted striker in the side, but he will always work his rocks off.

It'll be interesting if Davey starts with Richards and Nardiello, because they've hardly ever started up front together, and when they have, some of our better results have happened - notably Huddersfield away int playoffs, and Oldham away when we won 3-0.

 

i'd be more worried if he wasn't getting chances

missing them is all down to form which can easily be turned around but getting in the positions is the most thing!

I feel for him a little because i think he has been made a scapegoat a little by davey as he also started under AR.

Maybe this is the kick up the backside he needed and at least he is willing to fight for his future and the club unlike some!

Lets put it this way he made a impact when he came on tuesday night, now he has something to prove, give him another chance i say!

 

in a word

no, he is better dropping off the front man.

his link up play with midifeld is crucial for me, he supports both wingers and when on form he is has the best footballing brain at the club!

 

100% agree nt

 

Soz, that was a sarky comment aimed at S.M.'s complete lack of

knowledge of Association Football.

 

RE: we scored in each of the 1st dozen games with the same strike force we have now.

whats changed?