Hate Barnsley, Hate Football

"It is Einstein's definition of madness to keep doing the same thing over and over again and expecting the outcome to be different" PATRICK CRYNE MAY 2011




After 29 games of a 'transitional' first season back in the old third division, Barnsley FC today parted company with its fourth manager in four years. In that time, the reds have gone from 17th in the Championship to 17th in League One. The above quote from our owner and benefactor preceded the appointment of Keith Hill, a success in his first managerial role with Rochdale AFC. A bloke who had built a reputation at Spotland for developing young and often, 'broken' talent/toys. Players who were sold on for good money. Not only that, his side played good football, on the deck. He also wore Barbour coats, chewed gum and came out with barmy quotes you could fill a book with. His appointment saw mixed reactions. Personally, he was the bloke I'd wanted us to appoint and so I was chuffed with it, despite sadness that Mark Robins had departed under strange circumstances. But aye, Keith was here, I was happy and excited. He ticked all the boxes. Didn't he? You know, the boxes created by the owner/board? 





"The board believe it is time to be more radical, to do things differently. We will base the future of the club on quality recruitment and the intensive development of our own standout youth talent. This won't be an end to loan signings, but they will take a lower priority within our squad structure." 






We all know how that worked out. A side cobbled together on a shoestring, captained by 21 year old academy product, Jacob Butterfield were comfortably top half approaching the new year. We then ignored Einstein and sold our best wide player for £500,000 (as we'd done 12 months earlier with Adam Hammill). We lost players to injury, and then waved goodbye to a loan player we heavily relied on (Danny Drinkwater). We'd have lost our young captain for a pittance too had he not been one of the injured. We did eventually lose him though, a few months later for a pittance, funnily enough. Because "the club don't discuss new contracts until the winter months". Good old Don Rowing. 

We ended that first season under Keith and the 'radical approach' in truly horrific form and only retained our status thanks to Portsmouth and their poor mathematics. We were just as atrocious once the following season was a few weeks in. Having spent a grand total of fúck all. The Butterfield money plugged a gap caused by loss of TV revenue apparently. To his credit (stupidity?) Keith stuck to his task. He recruited Toni Silva (remember him?) and told us he'd turn him into a £3,000,000 player. We even signed a lad on a freebie on the strength of his surname (Wayne Rooney's brother). We were skint. Properly skint. But then found £5,000 per week to bring in superstar striker and unsuccessful fat-fighter, Mido, the former Ajax and Egypt international. Money well spent considering the 23 minutes we saw of him. All eighteen stones of him. 

Speaking of Stones, Keith had found his next academy lad to propel towards the big league. That an 18 year old lad, skinnier than me was probably our best laiker in that final four months of the Hill reign does say a lot for that radical strategy dreamed up in the boardroom at Oakwell in May of 2011. A myriad loan players that we definitely never relied on came and went. And went did Keith, after an afternoon on Grove Street where I'm still to this day convinced he'd given up and handed Don the bullets to fire him. To imagine Scott Wiseman replacing John Stones in a starting XI in any game of football sounds blummin' barmy now, doesn't it? It was barmy 30 months ago too. Like a lot of us back then, I think Keith had had enough. 

I'm not glossing over Keith's 2012. We won 8 games in that calendar year. By the 5-1 thrashing at Watford in November, I'd suggested in this very blog that perhaps he had to go. I could then and still can defend him however, I can offer context and mitigation to support him needing more time but more importantly, more support. But aye, the results were appalling and he died because of them. He was also too honest and unapologetic for the majority of Barnsley supporters' liking. He said what he liked. Reds fans rarely liked what he said. Unless we were winning and then he was King Keith. But results are king, Keith. Not you, and not clean sheets. 

"We need to create value within our squad, not to sell players, but to enjoy success." 






Despite flirting with Terry Butcher and Sean O'Driscoll and getting told thanks but no thanks, it seemed likely that former reds hero Craig Hignett was to be appointed as Hill's successor. But in caretaker charge we had Keith's protege and number two, David Flitcroft. It was incredible that he'd stayed behind, that we'd only got shut of one half of 'Hillcroft'. The form shown during that initial spell in charge was incredible too though. Winning football matches was unheard of back then. So after beating Dirty Leeds at Oakwell, the board changed their minds and told club legend Hignett, thanks but no thanks and appointed Keith's best mate. Wonderful.

What followed was possibly the most exciting period of football for us since Harry Bassett's first season in charge. A couple of shrewd acquisitions, some older heads reintroduced, or brought back in from the cold. It's no exaggeration to say that 'Flicker' did pretty much the opposite to what Hill had done. In terms of everything. Tactics, selections, tempo, interviews, results. That escape truly was great. In fact, as he would have said, it was special.. 






"I have had lengthy talks with Patrick and we have a shared vision." 

"We believe we have right manager in place now to deliver our long term vision." 







Nobody can blame the club if indeed they did cater to Flicker's every whim in the summer of 2013. The bloke had just masterminded a turnaround of biblical proportions. So he was given the green light to redecorate Oakwell's corridors, he got a new team bus, trips to St George's Park, changed the players entrance, renamed the gym in honour of John Stones, the skinny lad we sold to the Premier League for just £2,200,000. No. I've not heard of him since either... 

The manager was allowed to retain whoever he wanted, which he did, but then never picked them again (well, not until he became Bury manager). He even gave Bobby Hassell a new contract which was a fantastic boost for the commentary box in the West Stand. The previous seasons heroes were rewarded by not getting games and the "too old for a two year deal" keeper Luke Steele at 28 years old was soon replaced by a 41 year old pal of Flitcroft's who'd not played football much. 


It was mental last season. Off the back of winning 60% of his first 20 odd games I can only assume Flicker thought he could do owt, work miracles and so he decided to revert back to the Keith Hill approach, both in terms of tactics and attitude. Then he woke up, signed Paddy McCourt and after a brief glimmer of hope we returned to our losing ways, propping up the division with two wins from 18 games. The "man to lead us long term" was sacked in the November, less than a year in the job. Memories made. 

"Danny was at the top of our shortlist, we're delighted he's back!" 






So we go back to December of 2013. After much rumour, club legend and the only boss to take us into the top flight in our history, Danny Wilson returned. This time, to try and save us from relegation to the third tier. We were rooted to the foot of the table and it was always going to be a mammoth task, legend or not. Facts are, it never really got going did it? 

Strange though, because I remember going to Elland Road for his first match back, two thousand of us serenading him with all the 90's classics, he'd even brought Hassell in from the cold who put in an immense display in the centre of the park, as we dug out a 0-0 draw despite being reduced to ten men. I walked out of that old stadium that evening convinced that aye, Flicker and Keith had failed, they'd ignored our better players, got us playing horrid football and now we'd got our Danny back and we'd soon be safe and planning on attacking the playoffs the next season. Seriously. 

But nothing really changed. It got a wee bit better, some results gave you renewed vigour and belief. But deep down, we were going down and I could see it weeks before it was confirmed. Some of the signings he made looked canny on paper. On the pitch they looked horrendous. His decision to cast Hassell back into the wilderness was absolutely baffling. The behaviour of some of the players (at Huddersfield or on twitter) said it all. We were a joke, and whilst it was sad to see on Teeside our surrender and goodbye to the Championship, I sort of felt relieved too. We could rebuild now. Get the deadwood cleared out, stop signing loan players and win more games than we lose at a level lower down. I don't ask for much. I'm a Barnsley supporter. 





"We'll put together a strong, winning side, we'll be competitive next season but we do really need to limit the amount of loan signings." 

So we went into this new season, that level lower down and after a vast array of changes in playing personnel you must have, deep down, expected things to be a lot better than they've proven to be for us thus far? I didn't expect a promotion, or smashing sides up every other week. But I assumed we'd fare better than losing 50% of our games, going out of one cup at home to Crewe, nearly going out of the FA Cup against non league opposition at home. I've had to endure some of the worst football I can remember seeing, in a fair amount of games too. 

There was a slight upturn in fortunes a few months ago when we turned Bradford, Rochdale and Sheff Utd over. Three sides in or around the top six as we speak (type). We deserved to beat Bristol City too when they came here with their unbeaten record. Struggling after that to think of another good performance I've seen all season (I was on holiday when we smashed Gillingham). 

I honestly expected lots more from each of our centre halves, at this level. We have now gone 18 months with Dale Jennings and he's only shown up for about 6 weeks of that time. Chance after chance squandered. Meanwhile, we saw fit to get shut of Reuben Noble-Lazarus who was never afforded anything like that kind of run. Marquee signings Leroy Lita and Keith Treacy didn't deliver for Danny. The form of Kane Hemmings goes from weak to weaker, by the week. We supposedly couldn't guarantee Danny Rose games, yet in nearly 50 appearances between them this season, Hemmings and Lita have scored just four league goals. The 'developing our own youth' excuse washes only if you're developing them. That means giving them a proper run. But we've instead cast some out to make way for either older failures, or other clubs' youngsters on short term loan deals. It's just bewildering. And if that's Danny's fault, then it's those in charge to blame as well. They sanction these decisions surely? 

But there's things Danny got right too. I believe the signings of Conor Hourihane, Sam Winnall, Luke Berry, Adam Davies and on early viewing, Josh Scowen have been very good and all of them are of a good age and tied down to suitable length contracts. We've missed Winnall massively, as I said we would. Take Harry Kane out of the Spurs side right now, see how they get on. His injury has also affected the form of Hourihane. I agree all day long that Conor's not been great for a while now, and I'm not feebly trying to find excuses for him. But you go back and watch highlights of our good play/goals this season. The pair of them work so well together, bring out the best in one and other. You can't deny that Danny's had shít luck there. 

We also lost Devante Cole. He offered us something we've not had since - pace and a threat out wide. He took a chance on Alex Kiwomya probably thinking he'd be at that same level. He's not. I think Milan Lalkovic might yet be that man out wide and it's far too early to write him off. He too could prove to be another decent acquisition made by Wilson. And look how many academy products he's introduced. The likes of James Bree, George Smith and Mason Holgate in particular look very special and will hopefully earn us money in the coming years if this time we get true value for lads we've put so much work into developing.

It's also to be remembered that until Tuesday night's humbling, we'd not been beaten at Oakwell in months and had won our previous four. The away form has been dire, granted, but we've played a few cracking sides on those occasions which you have to take into account I feel. We're not drawing games. I think that's why we're still in a position in the table where a truly consistent and solid run could see us in the playoffs. And I genuinely do believe we can field an XI when all are available that ought to be capable of beating any side in this division, and regularly. 




I do then, as you can tell, see both sides of the Danny coin. I can totally understand why some would see this dismissal as the right choice. And I fully appreciate the opposed viewpoint that sacking him is daft. Most folk that I know are in the second camp of thinking. They're so angry, so frustrated at this decision that many of them - in this hot moment - are suggesting "I'm done" with BFC. And I'm not talking casual reds here, I'm talking proper diehard supporters. 


Of course, this is Danny Wilson though. He took us to the promised land. He'll be forever remembered for what he achieved first time around and so I have no doubt that a lot of people are clouding their true feelings and opinions with the memories of yesteryear. I know I have. Kind of. Because I've been more willing to accept his mistakes than I have in the past with Hill and Flitcroft. I've bitten my tongue on occasions when Danny's annoyed me, where in the past I'd have been quick to wade in. 




As anybody who has read my twitter timeline today will have noticed, I took the dismissal of Danny rather badly. The swear words were a giveaway. I was at work upon learning of his sacking. My mate Red Roy delivered the bad news, via txt. I don't care what tha thinks, I felt teary-eyed. Seriously. I felt like someone close to me had died. I walked home in a daze, gutted and more and more píssed off with every new soundbite coming out of Oakwell/Ben Mansford's mouth. You see, I could actually move on quite easily from this course of action if any of it made sense. But little does. 

"We've noticed a drop off in attendance recently. For a club with the 6th best gates we should be doing better as a business."





Really, Ben? We're using Sheffield United logic now are we? Fúck right off with that absolute nonsense. First off I suggest you look at our home crowds this season. We've had between 8,000 to 9,000 home supporters. Obviously, if you play Bradford at Oakwell and they bring 3,000 in September it's going to 'drop off' when Fleetwood bring 89 (yes, 89) on a Tuesday in February.

Away from home we're second best in the division for travelling. We've also the worst behaved fans in the country, Ben said recently. Confusing isn't it? But yes, recently the amount travelling has reduced (they're all locked up?), because the Chesterfield and Sheff Utd trips are only once a league season and we have to then go to Walsall and Milton blóody Keynes. What a poor comment to make. You know summat else, attendances bring in money, that's true, but they don't guarantee you league positions otherwise Sheffield Wednesday would be World Champions probably.. 

This business stuff trotted out today on numerous occasions. Why? I'll tell you why, it's because they're struggling to back up the decision to dispense of Danny on pure footballing reasons. Yes, we know Danny's a good bloke, cheers for reminding us. Yes, we appreciate we ought to be doing better, no problem with that. But as a 'football club', or a 'football team'. Not a business. I got home this afternoon, and Ben's there on SkySports News, telling me the 'business rationale' is why Danny has got the sack. 

Come again? 

What's wrong with just telling us the manager wasn't getting the results we feel we should be getting, that he's not getting performances from certain players and that all along this season the goal was to gain promotion? I could have swallowed that, apart from the promotion bit because not once was that suggested by anyone at the club this summer as the remit. 

I will at this point - without disclosing the detail - let readers know that I conversed with someone right at the heart of the club this afternoon, and told them exactly what I felt. They took my thoughts on board, and, admitted the statement from the club this morning wasn't good and in hindsight they regret the wording etc. Fair play for admitting as much. I think it was overly harsh to include in that statement the supposed budget and how it compares etc etc. I don't feel the reference to money so much is relevant, when just two weeks ago the club revealed it cost us half a million pounds to remove the last management team... 




Let me clarify summat though. I don't hate the owner, nor the CEO or anyone at the club. Far from it. I appreciate they're probably trying their best to achieve the best for our club. But without us, the supporters, there is no football club. And so I find it baffling that the club has made a decision that from where I'm sitting has gone down overwhelmingly badly with us, the supporters. There were boos on Tuesday at full time. Would have been strange had there not been. But I don't recall any chants or banners calling for Wilson to go. Even the latest poll on the forum still supported Wilson remaining in charge. Most fans would have been willing to see out the season and see where it took us. But the club has again pulled the trigger, it's again ignoring Einstein and again searching for that mythical 'perfect' manager who wins every game..



I would suggest a few names I'd be happy with if given the reins this time around, but part of me wouldn't wish it upon them as I'm afraid they'll last between 12 and 18 months unless they're doing what only two managers have done in my lifetime and that's getting us promoted. This current ownership have sacked both of them, by the way.. 



But here goes, a few names... 


I think Steve Davis fits the bill perfectly, so long as he wins a lot of games. I have no idea whether Hignett or Hassell would make good managers, but even though they'd end up ruining their legendary status, I'd love to see them back at my club. Same goes for Nicky Eaden whose beard gets my vote if nowt else. I really like Tony Mowbray too. 


Some surnames that will end my BFC relationship if they end up at Oakwell in any capacity... 


Appleton, Laws, Morgan, Saunders, O'Driscoll, Butcher, Evans, Jones (of Wednesday fame), Warnock, Megson. The latter two not because of their historical allegiances, but because they're anti the ethos we're allegedly supporting. 



Early favourites? Mark Cooper of Swindon, and Oldham's Lee Johnson. Hmmmm.



This has been a long old post. I don't apologise for that. Nobody forced you here. But if you read all this and have an opinion on the content etc, feel free to comment in the, erm, comments section below. Cheers. 

"WALKING ALONG, SINGING A SONG, WALKING IN A WILSON WONDERLAND!" 



There's only one Danny Wilson. I will always see him as a Barnsley legend and forever a hero to me. As the most recently sacked three or four managers we've had prior to Danny's second coming are currently showing (Robins, Hill, Flitcroft and caretaker Mellon), they're not bad managers really. It's time the one constant in all this admitted their mistakes, and truly believed what they were saying when coming out with quotes from the likes of old Albert E... 





Whitey