ONE MONTH TO GO

Welcome to the blog. The new look blog, that looks familiar, with a new name, that looks familiar. I thought it was time for a change of scenery, what with the change of scenery that is the third tier of English football. Not for us all of course. There'll be many of us who remember only too well the four years we spent down here in the noughties. But for a good portion of our younger supporters, this is new territory. I hope that's cause for excitement for them, rather than misery which transmits to them not bothering with the cause anymore.

Lots to get through in this update, but before we do that, why the new name, and what does it mean? Well, after a season of apathetic struggle where we as a club once more played by the financial rules set out by the Football League whilst others did anything but, I couldn't help but wonder just what was the point in it all? The relegation we've seemingly been aiming towards for the last three years didn't help, like. But football in general has really started to turn me off. I actually hate so many facets of it now.
I sat through a playoff final in which over £100m was allegedly at stake. A buffoon by the name of Greg Dyke then unveiled his marvellous ideas to improve the national game which included the superb plan to create Premier League 'B' teams who would be allowed to compete in League One and Two. Our club announced the earliest of 'early bird' schemes for season ticket holders, then had the cheek to describe sales as 'record breaking' for the month of April. Yep, the first time we've ever sold season tickets in April. We had our director, Barry Taylor suggesting that were the club to be renamed 'Barnsley Tykes' in return for millions of pounds, that the fanbase wouldn't complain. And in between England's heroes being embarrassingly eliminated from the World Cup finals in record time without winning a match, I saw a succession of God awful footballers leave my proud club. Off to find the next mugs no doubt. So aye, I think it's fair to say my love for Barnsley FC is pretty much the only thing keeping me involved with the beautiful game. 

It was on the BBS forum where I first saw it said. 'Love Barnsley, Hate Football.' It's since become the most used strapline among many likeminded BFC supporters. But nobody's claimed it as theirs, nor has it been trademarked or owt, so I've made it mine. For the blog. Sue me. 

As said, we waved (with our fists in most cases) goodbye to so many players this summer. Other than Bobby Hassell who I've discussed already in my previous article, the only one I was disappointed to see depart was Jim O'Brien. The energetic and hard working winger turned down the offer of a new and reduced deal here to sign for divisional rivals and club without a home, Coventry City. I have to say I was pretty surprised at his choice of destination, but unlike every one of the other misfits shown the door, I wish Jim all the best down there and I look forward to welcoming him 'home' later this season when he returns with the Sky Blues. He wasn't the best player I've seen, far from it. I haven't made a video of his best bits have I? But he was a top lad away from the club and a wholehearted, team player at the club, who for my money gave his all for BFC throughout his four year stay. Good luck to him. 



So we've seen a massive clear out. It's what most of us wanted. And it looks very much likely that we're going to have a raft of young academy lads in the first team. Again, what most of us wanted. However, it's become apparent when reading through social media and both the BBS and TykesMad forums that perhaps folk have now changed their tunes. I suppose it's easy to suggest that "arr, get kids chucked in" after witnessing the likes of Stephen Dawson and Tom Kennedy attempt to play football for two years. But now that reality has arrived, a wafer thin squad (no Mido) full of youngsters, the same folk seem to be yearning for another group of plodding, toilers. Each to their own. 

Me, I'm quite happy with our business up to this point. Don't get me wrong I'd have liked another couple of faces in by now, ideally, but we don't live in an ideal world and it's pretty obvious to me that the failure to get Chris O'Grady and others out of the door has hindered Danny Wilson and the club in terms of our own recruitment. The start of this week saw a tweet from a Radio Sheffield reporter suggesting that O'Grady, Kennedy and Martin Cranie were three players the club were now willing to listen to offers for. Thus followed a shitstorm on twitter especially, and less so on the forums, where 'Mansford/Cryne Out' was a popular cry as our supporters failed to see the wood for the trees. Again. 

It was old news, in my opinion. We've been relegated, we're going to lose a lot of money this year because of that. The three players in question are undoubtedly three of our top earners. Two of them may well have potential suitors as they've performed decently in the past in the division we've just left. In League One, we've got to adhere to SCMP. Simply put, we're only allowed to spend 60% of our turnover on player salaries. 
So why were folk so shocked, so disgusted upon hearing what was pretty obvious news this week? Furthermore, why are they bothered about losing three players who I'd wager would rather not be here? Two of whom who just aren't that good. Not when you're paying them big Championship wages. They're Tom Kennedy and Martin Cranie, not Darren Barnard and Arjan De Zeeuw. Have some faith in this manager replacing them with better players for less money. I mean, he did sign Barnard and De Zeeuw after all.. 




It's a bit different with O'Grady. I think he's a very talented footballer, better than some would give him credit for. He averages close to a goal every other game for us, and that's whilst playing in a team that's never been higher than 21st in the second tier. In a team with very few creative players and where decent crosses are more likely to be found in Dracula's lair. It's not just his goals we'll lose. He's made plenty as well. He's the focal point of the team. Our 'talisman'. But it's not just here where he's underrated. I would have thought there'd have been more Championship clubs in for him. As someone who's seen a fair bit of Middlesbrough I can't believe the amount of clubs circling around their wantaway striker, Lukas Jutkiewicz. He's no better than O'Grady. Or maybe there are interested clubs, more than we're aware of, but they know our financial plight and are merely waiting until the last minute before getting him on the cheap when we're at our weakest? It wouldn't be the first (or hundredth) time we've had our pants pulled down in a transfer window. 


The frustrated voices among us I do have sympathy for with regards to all this nonsense over Chris. It's dragging on almost as long as the saga we went through to get him here in the first place. And it does us no favours. The fact that it seems the only interested club at this point are our local and divisional rivals, Sheffield United, well, that serves only to stick in the throat doesn't it? I've grown dog tired of reading the never ending opinions of Sheffield journalist and tweeter extraordinaire, Alan Biggs on this O'Grady subject. But, I actually think he made a quite pertinent point recently when he suggested that were Chris not interested in a move to the Blunts, this story would have died some time ago. The willingness of a player to join you is THE first thing you determine in a transfer such as this. So aye, it stands to reason that this is a move that O'Grady wants. And that is reason enough for all Tarn supporters to let this go. Let him go. He can join the long list of BFC heroes who pitch up in S2 and do the grand total of jack for them. 


I reserve the right to banish some of the above words into the ether should Chris not join that horrid, immoral, joke of a club. 

Despite the doom and gloom, we have made three signings so far this summer. Former Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper, Adam Davies has arrived as backup for Luke Steele. He's highly rated by current reds keeper coach, Mark Crossley who worked with him at Hillsborough. We've brought in Cowdenbeath striker and Scottish Championship player of the year, Kane Hemmings. His goalscoring record is impressive, although this is no doubt another step up for him. And our only deal to involve money at this point was the capture of Plymouth Argyle captain and driving midfield force, Conor Hourihane, for a fee thought to be close to £200,000. 
I'm looking forward to seeing all three of them this season, in fact I'm aiming to be at The Shay this weekend as we kick off our pre season friendlies against FC Halifax Town. If I do manage to get along to the game then I'll try and upload a match report on here and maybe a few photos. It's work dependant though, and they've a tendency to be a pain in my backside. 






After a long old wait, we finally got to see what the new home kit looked like last week. Our deal with Nike has come to an end and this year we're running out in Avec merchandise. Who, I hear you ask. Avec. They're an affiliate of Nike I'm led to believe. And what they've given us is in my opinion an abomination. I don't buy shirts anyway, but I was going to change that this year and get one. Safe to say, there's more chance of me buying a Sheffield Wednesday shirt. Well, there int, but tha gets my point. It's foul. 

It's more annoying to me in that were there symmetrical white armbands, and no rectangular block under the collar, I'd have snapped one up. But it seems the manufacturer forgot to add the right armband and had some kind of brain fart with that 'thing' under the collar. Although, even with that 'thing' there, were there two armbands it'd be an improvement. As it is, it looks like a rushed job and proves that if you've a bespoke kit being made (this one is) you're better served by first doing a bit of research, asking those likely to be interested in purchasing one what they'd like to see on the shirt. But it would appear that logical thinking at BFC and seemingly Avec too is missing, badly. Like the right armband. 


Maybe the away kit will make up for it? We'll find out in a fortnights time. 






Matchday ticket prices were revealed yesterday. There's slight increases in half of the stadium. Yep, we've dropped a level and they've seen fit to charge a fair portion of Oakwell's supporters more for the privilege. If it wasn't so embarrassing I'd laugh. Not only that, it means that two thirds of the reds fans inside the stadium will be paying more than their away counterparts. Motormouth Mansford can sure as hell trot out a cliché and make a novel out of a short story but in terms of his remit as CEO he's (as far as I can see) improved very little in his 12 months at the helm. Ordinarily I'd suggest that's not enough time to form a judgement, but the fact we increased spending last summer and then suffered relegation with all the above thrown in for good measure, well I'm not reight keen. Summat about him doesn't sit well with me. However, if he reads this, there are so many ways in which you can get in touch with me, Ben. I'd be more than happy to have my opinion altered with hard facts. Because, I'm merely a supporter and we know very little in real terms. But we do pay our money.. 

As most will be aware, I've contributed to the BFC fanzine and soon to be registered charity (fingers crossed, eh?), West Stand Bogs and will continue to do so with an enormous sense of pride. It was practically the only good thing to come out of last season. The way that something from nothing has developed into something of real substance in such a short time, and raised over £4,000 for local causes in the process is nothing short of fantastic. But it's through the hard work of local lads, their creativity, and a 'can do' attitude. I've merely typed out a few words as I'm doing now. So I take my hats off to Liam and Rob in particular, and to the many individuals involved in putting it together and of course big credit to the supporters who've bought it in their droves, selling out each issue. 

Issue 5 will be released on the opening day prior to Crawley Town's first ever visit to Oakwell. I don't believe the price has increased though. I'm hoping to interview Barnsley legend Bobby Hassell over the next week or so and that will hopefully be included in the mag. Depending on how the interview goes and the amount of material, it may be a scaled down version that appears in WSB and so if that's the case I'll upload it in full on the blog. 

Well, that's your lot for now. Thanks to those who've visited this little blog of mine over the last two years. I hope to be posting in a more enthusiastic and happy manner over the coming season, and then by May of 2015 we can celebrate both the clubs promotion back to the second tier and Bobby's testimonial on the 4th of that month. Fingers crossed. 


Whitey