Struber

[animallittle3]

It has crossed my mind too. I think the youthful vigour of this squad will be the difference though. When Flitcroft first took over I felt certain players were underachieving under Keith Hill, letting the club, the supporters and themselves down. Flitcroft got a great reaction out of them which led to that great escape.

The season after their standards dropped back to shyte with a can't be arsed shrug the shoulders attitude and we were relegated at a whimper. One of the worst seasons I ever remember and a season that broke me as a paying supporter. That team barring 2 or 3 playets truly didn't give a shyte and had zero pride in the shirt.

This season however thaz got hungry youthful players who are keen to learn and make an impression. We ent got journeyman nobodys pinching a wage and only here to make up the numbers. We ent gorra teeum o losers. We have mental strength beyond what I thought was possible with such a young team and a fair bit o ability. A tell thi nar, wi some shrewd investment in the transfer market and not selling 4 of our key players the sky is the limit wi these lot.

They've all improved together. Mads Anderson is unrecognisable to what I witnessed in the early part of the season. Young Walton looks at ooam between sticks. Sollbauer has steadied our defence, Styles looks to be a star in the making, Woodrow can score goals if he's laiked in a more offensive position, there's much more in Jacob Brown's armoury imo, Mowatt gives a steadying influence and a certain self assured ness, Chaplins a consistent performer and a tough cookie. There's the basis of a good team coming through in my opinion. There's much promise with certain other players who are on the periphery at the moment and can progress their game further next season.

I can reconcile with much of what you say about Flitcroft and what happened back then .

I'm desperately trying not to be Mr Negative especially when we are all still on a high from last Wednesday nights events .

However , there's little doubt the season getting suspended helped us massively in pulling this off and I think it's reasonable to say we wouldn't have done if it hadn't .

When the season restarted we had a 9 game mini season .

Playing behind closed doors helped us in my opinion with having such a young group and more accustomed to this environment .

The high press was massively influential but it was easier to play because of the five sub rule and a water break in each half .

Once the season gets back to some kind of normality all the above factors aren't quite so effective in my opinion .

We are back to the 46 game grind and our style of play analysed by our opponents , have we got a plan B ?

There's more questions than answers in my opinion and I'm not personally going to allow myself to be totally convinced that this great escape has cemented us as a championship club .

Nothing would give me more pleasure than to be totally wrong and this young group along with Struber have us lower mid table next season .

[pass_and_move]

I can reconcile with much of what you say about Flitcroft and what happened back then .

I'm desperately trying not to be Mr Negative especially when we are all still on a high from last Wednesday nights events .

However , there's little doubt the season getting suspended helped us massively in pulling this off and I think it's reasonable to say we wouldn't have done if it hadn't .

When the season restarted we had a 9 game mini season .

Playing behind closed doors helped us in my opinion with having such a young group and more accustomed to this environment .

The high press was massively influential but it was easier to play because of the five sub rule and a water break in each half .

Once the season gets back to some kind of normality all the above factors aren't quite so effective in my opinion .

We are back to the 46 game grind and our style of play analysed by our opponents , have we got a plan B ?

There's more questions than answers in my opinion and I'm not personally going to allow myself to be totally convinced that this great escape has cemented us as a championship club .

Nothing would give me more pleasure than to be totally wrong and this young group along with Struber have us lower mid table next season .

Some very good and valid points Animal, hard to argue wi what tha saying. The key thing as you say was the C-19 break which gave us a chance to regroup and figure art a way to play in the remaining games. Had it not been for the break then I honestly couldn't see us surviving because it was too much on top.

Next season is condensed because of the late start and will be unbelievably tough. Strubers high energy system probably means we'll run out of gas. Having the experience of this season within the squad will help but it needs looking at squad wise. We need 2 players in each position, absolutely no doubt about it in my mind. However, if you look at the current squad, we can fill that with the right additions.

The green shoots are starting to appear with these kids. Dont get me wrong, I'm under no illusions how difficult it will be next season. Maintaining those standards is the challenge. We're no where near an established championship team as yet but there's encouraging signs that we could achieve that.
The board have to recognise this and bring in some experience to the squad. Quality over quantity.

If you were a Birmingham City fan for instance you'd be worried about next season, they look bang in trouble, same wi a few others. Meanwhile we have the momentum. This side went to Leeds and outplayed em, many a leeds fan saying that we were the best team to visit Elland Road this season. We went to Griffin park against a very good side and looked the part. Encouraging signs. I only can go on what I've seen mate and I liked what I saw. A high energy side who can pass the ball, mix it up physically and execute a game plan.


We need to strengthen and find that quality in the final third, a difficult challenge but not impossible. Out of the current crop Styles fits the bill for me but he is an unknown quantity at championship level, he'll have been watched closely by the opposition in these final games and it'll be interesting to see how he copes with the pressure and expectations next season.

Luke Thomas is another who's worked hard but flattered to deceive at times. If he can find his confidence and more consistency then we have a player, no doubt in my mind. Jacob Brown the same deal. Same wi Oduor.

Key players need to stay this close season. I expect 1 or 2 will depart but I certainly don't expect to see them leaving in their droves like last summer. If that happens we'll be fecked good and proper. Over to the board.

[animallittle3]

Some very good and valid points Animal, hard to argue wi what tha saying. The key thing as you say was the C-19 break which gave us a chance to regroup and figure art a way to play in the remaining games. Had it not been for the break then I honestly couldn't see us surviving because it was too much on top.

Next season is condensed because of the late start and will be unbelievably tough. Strubers high energy system probably means we'll run out of gas. Having the experience of this season within the squad will help but it needs looking at squad wise. We need 2 players in each position, absolutely no doubt about it in my mind. However, if you look at the current squad, we can fill that with the right additions.

The green shoots are starting to appear with these kids. Dont get me wrong, I'm under no illusions how difficult it will be next season. Maintaining those standards is the challenge. We're no where near an established championship team as yet but there's encouraging signs that we could achieve that.
The board have to recognise this and bring in some experience to the squad. Quality over quantity.

If you were a Birmingham City fan for instance you'd be worried about next season, they look bang in trouble, same wi a few others. Meanwhile we have the momentum. This side went to Leeds and outplayed em, many a leeds fan saying that we were the best team to visit Elland Road this season. We went to Griffin park against a very good side and looked the part. Encouraging signs. I only can go on what I've seen mate and I liked what I saw. A high energy side who can pass the ball, mix it up physically and execute a game plan.


We need to strengthen and find that quality in the final third, a difficult challenge but not impossible. Out of the current crop Styles fits the bill for me but he is an unknown quantity at championship level, he'll have been watched closely by the opposition in these final games and it'll be interesting to see how he copes with the pressure and expectations next season.

Luke Thomas is another who's worked hard but flattered to deceive at times. If he can find his confidence and more consistency then we have a player, no doubt in my mind. Jacob Brown the same deal. Same wi Oduor.

Key players need to stay this close season. I expect 1 or 2 will depart but I certainly don't expect to see them leaving in their droves like last summer. If that happens we'll be fecked good and proper. Over to the board.

Without wanting to sound disrespectful or taking anything away from their achievements I must admit I'm heartened by the clubs who have come up from League One this season .

It could be argued none of them would have got promoted if their seasons hadn't ended but that wasn't their decision entirely so fair play to em but it does leave them very exposed to the realities of the championship .

The three clubs haven't a great deal of financial muscle either to improve their squads in readiness for the new campaign .

If Sunderland , Ipswich and Pompey had come up this year then it would be an entirely different thing altogether .

I'm far from convinced that the three promoted clubs are anywhere near the level ourselves , Luton and Charlton were when we got ourselves promoted last season and all three of us have struggled massively this season .

Same as I say I don't wish to sound disrespectful to the three clubs but I think they'll find it very tough personally .

Rotherham maybe the ones who could stay up given their recent experience in the Championship but even so I'd expect them to be fighting the drop for the majority of next season .

[pass_and_move]

Without wanting to sound disrespectful or taking anything away from their achievements I must admit I'm heartened by the clubs who have come up from League One this season .

It could be argued none of them would have got promoted if their seasons hadn't ended but that wasn't their decision entirely so fair play to em but it does leave them very exposed to the realities of the championship .

The three clubs haven't a great deal of financial muscle either to improve their squads in readiness for the new campaign .

If Sunderland , Ipswich and Pompey had come up this year then it would be an entirely different thing altogether .

I'm far from convinced that the three promoted clubs are anywhere near the level ourselves , Luton and Charlton were when we got ourselves promoted last season and all three of us have struggled massively this season .

Same as I say I don't wish to sound disrespectful to the three clubs but I think they'll find it very tough personally .

Rotherham maybe the ones who could stay up given their recent experience in the Championship but even so I'd expect them to be fighting the drop for the majority of next season .

A good point raised again. Realistic aims for us is to stay up again and build. Like you say though, with all due respect the 3 promoted clubs, in this situation they may well go straight back darn. One thing on their side however is the fact that barring wycombe, they've had a long rest and more time to prepare. The rest of the division hasn't and it's more or less back to the grind stone straightaway

[SBRed48]

The board have got away with it this season in the last seconds of the final games. Fine margins. Dane admits they have made mistakes in his much praised Statement so, knowing they will have learnt their lesson, i await the summer to see if things ev really changed. Key elements for me will be--

1 Convincing Struber to stay next season with cast iron promises of building a team with some players of his choice to counter the pull of his desire to return to life with his family in Austria coaching an Austrian club. I'm 60-40 of the opinion he will leave us taking Solbauer, Ritzmaier and Ludewig with him.

2 Not selling key players that have done well at various times for us this season--Woodrow, Mowatt, Styles etc

3 Buying two or three players with proven Championship experience (full back, midfielder, centre forrad) rather than a job lot of youngsters

4 Using the loan market for one or two players

The young lads that kept going over the nine games after lockdarn will not be able to keep that up under the relentless competition of the Championship over a season. Lets hope my converted overneet faith in my new mates Dane and Paul is not misplaced. My faith can't stretch to "Seasonal Membership" ( much better term than so last year's "Season Ticket Holder") but I hope to go to Rotherham and Preston away.

I await the summer's events with interest.

(All comments dependent on results of Wigan's appeal)

#Go With Paul
Build Barnsley Better

[animallittle3]

It's a pivotal season for me is the new season should we remain a championship club .

The steady gradual improvement without running up massive debts are under the microscope .

This policy has to work for the fans too , if the championship casino is to be beaten with two bob in your pocket as you walk in then that needs backing up and a lower mid table finish as proof in the pudding so to speak .

The ownership's real intentions for owning this club are massively on the line for me personally this coming season .

Every project needs a huge slice of good fortune if it is to succeed .

They may possibly have had that and they need to recognise it and build on it .

They won't be so fortunate again , this game doesn't work that way .

Bournemouth have dropped out of the PL today , they won't be returning .

This project hangs by a similar thread in my humble opinion at championship level .