SEASON PREVIEW

It's been a very British summer. 
Not only have we staged our own Olympic Games, with Team GB doing us proud, we saw Bradley Wiggins become the first Briton to win Le Tour in it's 99 year history. At Wimbledon, Andy Murray came even closer than usual in his annual attempt to lift the title, and of course, England's footballers failed in a major tournament once more, eliminated on penalties - who'd have thought it? 
Oh, and the weather has been blummin' awful. 
Yes, it's been a very British summer indeed.


But for those of us of a football persuasion, this time of the year is all about pre-season. It's about our club, our town, our passion.
It's a time for hope, positivity, and to look ahead with optimism. 
Or at least, it should be... 

This season sees our club celebrate it's 125th year. I wonder how many times during those years we have been written off before a ball is even kicked? Many times I would imagine. In fact, in my lifetime as a Reds fan, barring a couple of years in the late nineties, we've always been relegation candidates when competing at this level. Take 1996/97 for example, the season that saw us promoted to the top flight - we were nailed on certs for the drop. We'd lost the likes of Brendan O'Connell, Lee Butler, Owen Archdeacon, and the previous season's top scorer Andy Payton. They were replaced with a variety of old pro's, and unknown foreigners. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, expected us to start the season with 5 successive victories, or finish the season as runners up.
We were favourites to go down last year also. Sweeping budget cuts, a new manager installed, whose recruits were largely from the lower leagues, all added to the feeling that it was time up for us as a second tier club. 
Well, we're still here. And we're still everybody's pick for relegation. Some folk never learn.... 

THE MANAGER 

 

Keith Hill's first season as a manager at this level, as he himself has since admitted, was a massive learning curve. I don't believe he or indeed his number two Dave Flitcroft knew exactly what they were letting themselves in for when taking up the reins at Oakwell. You only have to take a look at the list of former managers who have sat in the home dugout at Oakwell to realise that the job is a bit of a poisoned chalice. 
The likes of Steve Parkin, Nigel Spackman, Simon Davey, and Mark Robins were all touted as up and coming young managers with bright futures ahead of them, upon their arrivals on Grove Street. All four of those individuals are currently without a managerial job. 

After over four years of unprecedented success at Rochdale, Hill made the short journey over the pennines, and the initial reception from the Barnsley supporters was quite positive. His bubbly, and confident attitude instantly won over the few doubters, especially after previous incumbent Robins, whose interviews were usually one and the same. 
Hill spoke of building a team to excite the fanbase. A team he himself would pay to watch. He stated the requirements of his players - 'Endeavour' 'Hunger' 'Desire' and the correct 'DNA'. He wanted winners. There wouldn't be room for show ponies, or flair players who were unwilling to also put in the hard yards. To this day, Keith still reiterates his requirements. So much so that he's often parodied by many a supporter in the online community. But to be fair him, he was saying exactly what the supporters would have wanted to hear, after yet another season just gone in which the club seemed to give up once the New Year was ushered in.

Jason Shackell joined Derby County

 LAST SEASON

The club had released a statement just prior to Hill's appointment, in which they stated "it's time for us to be more radical." 
And as the new manager began to recruit, it was clear to us what they meant by radical. We saw an influx of lower league signings, as well as the odd loanee and free agent. The only money paid out in pre-season was minimal to say the least. Gone were the sort of summer signings the club were used to. Also gone, was the previous summers big signing. Club captain and current Player of the Year, Jason Shackell departed for Derby County. To say the doubters increased, would be an understatement. But a handful of pre-season friendly victories, in which the new-look Reds displayed some exciting, passing football, alleviated some of the supporters' worries. Indeed, the 2-0 win over local rivals Sheffield Wednesday was a joy to watch. It was attack versus defence for the majority of the game, and as Keith Hill said, "we passed them to death.." 

Unfortunately, despite an encouraging point gained on the opening day away at Nottingham Forest, the Reds start to season 2011/12 was very worrying. Three successive home fixtures, saw three successive defeats, including League Cup elimination at the first hurdle at the hands of lowly Morecambe. The sense of belief that had been built up during pre-season, both by supporters and players alike, soon evaporated, and the atmosphere at Oakwell was morose. Both those early home defeats to Southampton and Middlesbrough were difficult to stomach. Not because of the quality of the opposition, but the lack of quality from the Reds. Simple passes were going astray, there was practically no threat going forward, and the defence seemed intent on contributing to our own downfall. It was bad. But the reaction from a small minority of our support was just as hard to accept. This was a new regime, just weeks into the job, and to be given the abuse they were so early on, well, it beggared belief. 
But then, football supporters aren't often flagged up for their patience..

Amazingly, we then turned over eventual champions Reading on their own patch, in a cracker of a game. That performance kickstarted the season for us, and we got our first true glimpse of who was to turn out to be our key player for the first half of the season. Step forward Jacob Butterfield. At just 21 years old, Keith Hill had made him captain, and started him in the 'hole' behind the striker. Looking back now, knowing what we know today, it's hard to believe just what a bold gamble that was. Here was a lad who couldn't get a start under the previous manager. He was perceived to be an 'impact' player. Well, over the next few months young Jacob went on to make an impact alright.. 

Jacob Butterfield - Led by example

 

THE DREADED MONTH OF JANUARY

By the month of December, the Reds had performed so well that we were now seen as a decent outside bet for the playoffs. As well as the aforementioned Butterfield, the likes of Portuguese wide player Ricardo Vaz Te, striker Craig Davies, and Scottish winger Jim O'Brien were in a rich vein of form. Backed up by the ever reliable Bobby Hassell, workaholic David Perkins, shot-stopper Luke Steele, and box-to-box midfielder and Manchester United loanee Danny Drinkwater, we had a first eleven that proved to be more than a match for most sides. The way the lads went about their business was pleasing on the eye, but with no end of graft. There looked to be a real sense of camaraderie, and the abuse meted out to Keith Hill in August was now replaced by songs bearing his name. It was about as good a period to be a Reds fan that I can remember, barring the obvious campaigns in the late nineties. The feelgood factor that enveloped the club though, was soon to be destroyed by the dreaded month of January. 

Old pals act - Vaz Te reunited with Allardyce

As is usually the case though for a club the size of ours, our eyes weren't the only ones impressed by what was on show at Oakwell. 
Two of those standout players that had served us so well - Vaz Te and Butterfield - were both attracting interest from so-called 'bigger' clubs. Both were also entering the final six months of their contracts, and neither had shown any signs of renewing. 
And on New Years Eve, the local derby with Leeds United at Oakwell would be memorable for the pair of them, but for different reasons. 
A disgraceful challenge on Butterfield, by Leeds veteran Michael Brown in the opening minutes of the game went on to put Jacob out for the rest of the season with a serious knee injury. Not only did we now lose our brightest talent, we also lost out on a potential big fee for the lad. 
Replacing him that day, Vaz Te went on to score an incredible hat-trick as we romped to a 4-1 victory. But he too, would soon play no further part in a Reds shirt. A rather prolonged deal was finally settled on deadline day, as Ricardo's former mentor at Bolton Wanderers, Sam Allardyce, took him to West Ham United for an undisclosed fee. The fee eventually came to light during a post-match interview with Allardyce, who described the capture of Vaz Te as "the best £500,000 I've ever spent.." 
This went down like a lead balloon with the Barnsley supporters, and I reckon with Keith Hill too. Within a month, we had lost two of our playmakers, with injuries also robbing us of Steele, Hassell, Perkins and O'Brien for much of the remainder of the campaign. Not to mention the loss of ace loanee Drinkwater, who Manchester United sold to Leicester City for around a million pounds. Yes, as per every Barnsley FC season - or at least it seems that way - January had struck again. 

A harsh winter took it's toll on Keith Hill

THE DOWN-HILL SPIRAL

As we sat around mid-table entering February, despite the loss of so many crucial players, the talk was more of the playoffs than the bottom three. Keith Hill's recruits up to this point had largely proved successful. And so as he again raided the lower leagues, and utilized the loan market, we could be forgiven for thinking we'd be okay. But the likes of David Cotterill, Michael Tonge and Korey Smith, never delivered on anything like a consistent basis. Fan opinion started to sway back the other way, as the vitriol usually spared for General Manager Don Rowing, was now aimed squarely at the manager. 
Poor results, compounded by an apparent change in mentality, left Hill on the backfoot. His much publicised spats with the fanbase during the first half of the campaign were starting to come back to haunt him. But Keith is stubborn if nothing else, and again he seemed more up for a fight with the supporters, than his own squad did with the opposition. Personally, whilst I found some of his early interviews quite brave, I could see the method to his madness. The fact the team were achieving more than we expected served only to add weight to the guys opinions. But it's a different kettle of fish when that same team implodes week after week. To still attempt to re-educate the supporters about their own club, after yet another embarrassing showing is something I'll never truly understand. But this is Keith Hill. 
I think the early success he enjoyed, both in terms of performances/results, and his player recruitment, reinforced his own belief in himself and his ability. Basically, I think he got over-confident. And when January bit, and his second attempt at building a team failed, his ego took a battering. Hence, in my humble opinion, his negative mentality in the latter stage of the season. And, that stubborn streak. 
He seemed loathe to omit the players he'd recruited, despite some very poor displays. The likes of Scott Wiseman and Jimmy McNulty, who had performed well up until February, looked in need of a rest. If not for fitness, but to ease some of the pressure. Some of which came from the stands, as Keith himself referred to on more than one occasion. And his decision to bring Frank Nouble back to the club for a second loan stint baffled us. As did his continued presence in the starting lineup at the expense of the likes of Reuben Noble-Lazarus, Jordan Clark and Danny Rose. To many, the loans of Nouble, and later Kallum Higginbotham did nothing to improve the squad, and served only to stunt the development of our own standout youth talent. 
Another season of struggle, another season of selling our brightest talent on the cheap, and another season where we saw far too many short term loanees brought in, who offered little if anything to the squad. So much for the radical approach eh?

In the end, we limped home. So much so that only Portsmouth's poor use of their abacus, and subsequent points deduction, saved us from relegation. 
As good as the first half of the season was, the second half overshadowed it. And my worry as a supporter as I headed away from Oakwell on the final day, was that perhaps this was a sign of things to come..

A NEW SEASON, OR THE SAME OLD?

So here we are. It's the start of August and as ever, there have been many in's and out's at Oakwell, as Keith Hill again attempts to build a squad capable of competing at this level. He succeeded last summer, only to fail once January ripped it apart. We pray, as Reds supporters that he can again find a winning formula. 
But it's proving rather futile for any Barnsley manager to build a squad in the summer. The size of our club and the restraints on budgets always see us as sitting ducks when the so-called bigger clubs come knocking in the New Year. And, it seems those above Keith Hill are quite happy to use short term measures when running the club. Again, we fans can only hope and pray that should Keith build another competitive squad, that the board finally learn from past mistakes and allow him to add to it, rather than take it apart. Or at least wait until the conclusion of a campaign before selling our better players. January is not the right time to rebuild. Certainly not for a club of our size. Lessons need to have been learned. Because the supporters are clearly fed up of the clubs approach. I'm led to believe that in Mark Robins' last season in charge that the amount of season ticket holders stood at around 9,000. That figure dropped by 1,500 last summer, and again, if I'm being informed correctly, we are set for another fall of at least 1,000. That's a hell of a lot of supporters lost in just over a year. I don't wish to use this post though to pick holes in the club or it's strategies. And to be fair to Don Rowing, he's probably following orders. Also, as hard as it is to accept at times, we probably are overachieving just by retaining our second tier status. But supporters don't want our sole ambition to be just that - staying up. Yes, we know how tough this league is. We understand the financial difficulties. But don't take away the hopes and dreams we have, by settling for the same old same old. 

Egyptian star Mido arrived with plenty of baggage

Portuguese youngster Toni Silva

Nigerian frontman Kelvin Etuhu

Former loanee Jacob Mellis signed a 2 year deal

Goalkeeper Ben Alnwick

INCOMING 

Keith Hill's five recruits thus far have all got pedigree. None more so than Egyptian striker Mido, whose arrival at Oakwell caused a bit of a stir to say the least. The former Marseille, Ajax and Spurs man has signed a 12 month contract with us, and despite worries about his weight and desire, his signing did much to lift the gloom that had enveloped the fanbase. Unfortunately, just this weekend, (04/08/12) he suffered a hamstring injury in the warm up prior to a friendly with Doncaster Rovers, and the initial prognosis is not good. He was never likely to be fit until around September anyway, but if it's a torn muscle you are looking at months out rather than weeks. It's a blow. 

The squad last season certainly lacked pace up front and out wide once we lost the likes of Vaz Te, and Hill has looked to former Manchester City winger Kelvin Etuhu, and Liverpool youngster Toni Silva to solve that particular issue. Both lads have pace to burn, but it remains to be seen whether they are up to it at this level. Etuhu's game time at this level has been limited, and Silva's only first team football came during a loan spell in League Two with Northampton last season. 

Goalkeeper Ben Alnwick has joined to add competition for Player of the Year Luke Steele's number one jersey. Once tipped for good things after his move to Spurs, he has since fallen off the radar somewhat. 
I thought it was a decent signing at the time, a more than adequate replacement for the outgoing David Preece. But since then we've found out that Steele is likely to miss the start of the season, and Alnwick's form in pre-season has apparently been worrying. 

The best bit of business so far for me would be the acquisition of former Chelsea midfielder Jacob Mellis. A couple of years ago under Mark Robins the lad showed promise, without ever truly delivering. You can only hope that since then he's matured, and under the tutelage of Keith Hill that he could get somewhere close to the performances put in by our last 'Jacob', who I expect Mellis to replace in a five-man midfield. 

Keith has also cast his eye over a few trialists this summer. The likes of Malaury Martin and Simon Gillett have trained at Oakwell, but since left without a deal. Former Ipswich Town center half Ibrahima Sonko is currently at Oakwell, and I'm sure I'm not alone in suggesting he's exactly the sort of defender we lack at present. Whether or not he's still up to it at this level, is another question. Hopefully answered shortly, as he's expected to start in the Reds final pre-season friendly away at Crewe Alexandra. 

OUTGOING 

Yes, the likes of Andy Gray, Jay McEveley and Nathan Doyle all left the club over the summer. But only one departure mattered to Reds supporters, and it was the drawn-out saga that was Jacob Butterfield's transfer to Norwich City. 
After his season ending knee injury robbed him of a move to the Premier League, and us a sizeable fee, it became apparent quite quickly that we were unlikely to see him again in a Tarn shirt. The lad had his eyes on the big league, and they had their eyes on him. Getting him to sign up and stay with us was always going to prove mission improbable, for Keith Hill. 
Eventually, after many rumours, the 22 year old playmaker was unveiled at Carrow Road, signing a four year contract. The only question to be answered now was the fee. 
Despite being out of contract, the fact he was under 24 years old meant Barnsley were still due a fee. But Norwich's first offer was labelled 'derisory' by Keith Hill, and the club duly rejected it. It now looked certain that the transfer fee would be settled at a tribunal. 
However, a week or so later and the two clubs did come to an agreement, with "well over" a million pounds changing hands. Whilst most of us concur that the lad was worth far more than the figure we received, it was good to finally get it resolved. 

It was farewell to Jacob Butterfield

THE COMPETITION

It's looking stronger each season, this division. And this year, it's looking as 'northern' as ever. The relegated Premier League duo of Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers, join the likes of ourselves, Hull City, Leeds United, Middlesbrough, Burnley, Nottingham Forest, Derby County, as well as the promoted duo from League One - our local rivals Sheffield Wednesday, and Huddersfield Town. 
It should mean better crowds, and a better atmosphere both home and away. 

I have to admit that I've missed our trip to S6. To me, they're the club I love us to beat. So whilst it was amusing to see them struggle in the division below, I'm glad they're back up, giving us two more chances to create a MASSIVE upset...

Hillsborough

I think the usual suspects will be up there fighting for promotion. The relegated Premier League sides - especially Bolton - will fancy their chances of a swift return. Those who went close to promotion last season - Blackpool, Cardiff, Birmingham etc - I expect them to challenge also, and the likes of Middlesbrough, Leeds and Leicester could be up there too. 
Unlike the division above, The Championship is wide open, and difficult to predict. Any one of around 12 clubs could end up promoted, but those I've stated will expect to be up there come next May. 

Meanwhile, at the other end, I can see a struggle ahead for a few of the southern clubs. League One champions Charlton Athletic, their local rivals Crystal Palace, and near neighbours Millwall, have all got a job on to preserve their second tier status. The likes of Forest, Peterborough and Bristol City will have their sights on mid table, but could also find themselves embroiled much further down, in a relegation battle. 
I suppose it's fair to say that these are the clubs we ourselves will need to beat. It doesn't take the bookmakers odds to convince me we're likely to struggle again this season. And so games with Bristol and Peterbrough, will mean just as much as the 'biggies' with Blackburn and Wolves. 
One thing's for sure, it should be a cracker of a season.. 

All eyes on the prize

WHITEY'S FINAL THOUGHTS 

 I'm only being honest, but at this point, I would be stunned if we retained our second tier status for yet another year. I'm rather insouciant about our activity thus far in the transfer market. And for me the two areas we struggled in the most last season - attack and defence - look all too familiar. 
We've been crying out for a dominant center half ever since we returned to this level. Yes, we had Darren Moore a few years back, but he was well past his best. 
I've got huge doubts in the full back areas. It appears that Keith Hill doesn't see Tarn stalwart Bobby Hassell as an option. This I find confusing, as for me he's easily the best defender at the club despite his advancing years. 
I like the look of young John Stones, though. And perhaps after a year at this level Scott Wiseman will be much better this time around. His weaknesses defensively were often spotted by the opposition and from February onwards last season, they seemed to target him as our weak link. I don't like to be too critical of our players, but this is a big season for a lot of Hill's recruits from last year. 
I'm more happy with our midfield than any other area of the squad. We have good options now out wide, and getting Jim O'Brien to sign up for another two years could prove to be our signing of the summer. We missed Jim badly last season, after his groin injury ruled him out of much of the latter part of the run in. Same could be said for David Perkins, too. A real livewire of a midfielder, whose work in the centre of the pitch often went unnoticed, until he too was missing through injury. He's a key player for this Barnsley side, especially considering the way Keith likes to set them up. 
Further forward, and things get worrying again. Only Craig Davies scored goals out of our current Reds strikers last season. I dearly hope that Keith has his eyes on another forward, as it would be foolish to rest our hopes on just the one man. 

Davies and Perkins - Key players

So as you can imagine, I'm entering this season more in hope than expectation. 
Hope that we're once again capable of upsetting the odds, that Keith Hill and his team will have learned from last season, and that the board at Oakwell too, have realised the same mistakes cannot be made again. 

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog, and rest assured more will follow as our 125th year progresses. 

You can follow me on twitter 'here' and feel free to share with me your thoughts on the Tarn, or indeed my blog. 

Much Love, and Up The Reds!