What do we think DW would make of the current squad...?

Lots has been said re the pros/cons of the Rochdale project, but it was also noted in the early weeks of Flitcroft's tenure that the set up. tactics and individual players bore a striking resemblance to motley bunch of misfits that made up the sublime team of 96/97.

Do we have all the components at the club for Danny to come in and work some magic upon?

Serious question, for me.

 

he is most likely

getting his barge pole out right now matey.

 

Re: he is most likely

I think you'll be safe down there!!

 

well ok then

I reckon there are good many there that Danny could work with

 

Motley bunch of misfits?

Really?

 

I think we have good enough players but we need a consistent team within a consistent squad. I think we have too many players and we need to trim the squad. Case in point for me is Mellis. High quality player but you have to play him in the middle of the pitch. Butland, Steele, Ramage, Mellis etc are easily good enough for this league.

 

Stephen Dawson is Neil Redfearn. Minus the ability and end product.

 

Dave Whelan?

 

Of course, it was a mongrel of a side, everybody knows that?

A handful of youth players, 3 or 4 journeymen ( we were Redfearn's 7th club) a Trnidadian international and a Serbian exile who had both washed up in the Portugese 2nd division, an unwanted little & large double act strikers well into the autumn of the careers, a Dutch defender with a doctorate who had practically quit football the year before? And Darren Sheridan?

Hardly thorough-bred mate, not on paper any road!!

 

Managers, especially from the lower leagues will look at Barnsley and think -

1) Good set of players that just need confidence in their ability.
2) Some good young players
3) Good ground with excellent facilities
4) Great set of fans. With a fan base that has never been realised.

 

Oh how I wish we had some misfits like that now !!!

 

Throughout the 93/94 season we flirted with relegation. We were rooted in the drop zone from the end of October until the beginning of March and although we never hit rock bottom, we were second bottom for long periods. A decent run in February and March saved our season, but we lost 7 of the last 10 games and ended the season in 18th position, 4 points clear of relegation.

Viv Anderson had seen enough and buggered off to Middlesbrough, from a manager to a coach. We'd no money. The Taylor report meant that for the following season The Ponty, the terrace in front of the old stand and the kop would be closed. We'd got no manager and a squad of players who had narrowly avoided relegation and capitulated in the last 10 games. Season tickets barely sold and during the 94/95 season there were less than 4,000 in the ground for some games. John Dennis took a chance on Danny Wilson. I doubt he had any other option. Things were grim.

Danny didn't have a transfer budget of any sort. He didn't sign a single player before the season started. He didn't sign a single player throughout the season. He brought no one in on loan.

It was one of the best seasons since I've been watching Barnsley. We played some scintillating football. We won 15 of our 23 home games, losing only 2. We finished the season in 6th place, any other year we would have been in the play-offs.

What would Danny Wilson make of the current squad? That it's in a hell of a better state than when he last took over I would imagine. And with room to manoeuvre in the transfer market, we're like Man Utd now compared to what we were back then. Danny built us up from nowt last time. The ground was dilapidated, the squad threadbare and the bank account empty. Within 3 years we were in the Premier League. What could he do with some decent foundations?

 

Can't think of a more accurate post I've ever read on here. Spot on.

 

Seconded!

 

I think most people would look at the squad and agree its not a bottom of the league one. But therein lies the problem.

 

Brilliant post jay,

 

didn't he break his leg when he was a player? i remember him mentioning it once in an interview

 

Brilliantly accurate post Jay.

It was indeed the best few seasons whilst watching a Barnsley team. I am one of the lucky few (along with my wife) who saw all the home games during that time.

 

Give Jay the job!!