Originally Posted by
pass_and_move
It's perhaps a grey area for many where the current owners are concerned. As ever I will try to be fair in my summary and see it from both sides.
The negatives-
They are foreign business people and have no affiliation to the town of Barnsley which automatically got suspicion aroused when they bought the club. That's fair comment for me. I still can't figure out why they're here to be honest!
They've not exactly endeared themselves to many of our supporters by the lack of communication. Many of us are mystified as to what the bloody hell is going on at times.
The threat to relocate away from oakwell to laik our home games in Lancashire was frankly an insult.
The way they went about things at Nice was distasteful to say the least. SB did some great homework on the PMG and brought us some good accurate information which again didn't set a great precedent as to what their intentions are here.
The sacking of Daniel Stendel and subsequent 21 word statement left a lot to be desired. It was handled very poorly indeed.
The naivety shown in 2019 selling Pinnock, Lindsay, Moore and Potts. Also letting Adam Davies leave on a free transfer and replacing all our proven talent with Championship novices was baffling and set the club back potentially 2 years.
The gibberish Conway spouted afooar the home game wi Luton in 2019(best transfer window ever etc) was ill advised. Some supporters saw straight through it.
The appointment of Jose Morais (Mourinhos ex cone man) was very poor.
The Watford pre season friendly cancellation was handled extremely poorly and lacked class.
The positives-
They have brought the club an identity. They decided to employ a high press system with young energetic hungry footballers and it has been refreshing in my opinion.
The players in the squad are targeted by statistics and data, scouted, then brought in if reasonable terms can be agreed.
They run the financial side efficiently and prudently ensuring that the club lives off it's own means and doesn't get heavily into debt.
Their last 3 head coach appointments (Stendel, Struber,Ismael) have all progressed the club on the pitch and made us a competitive Championship outfit. Hopefully the latest appointment Markus Schopp can emulate his predecessors and take the club on further.
They seem to have learned from previous mistakes and keep more continuity within the playing squad by not selling all our best players every transfer window.
The signings have been very good in the last twelve months. Dike (although only on loan) was a brilliant coup and took us from mid table to top 6. Morris, Helik and Brittain were excellent acquisitions. Kitching looks another great buy, so too Benson.
In summary I think the club has gone from strength to strength under the current owners. We have an objective other than survival which was the previous owners objective. With all due respect to Patrick Cryne we were going nowhere. As the fans used to chant a song that summed us up perfectly- "We're not going down and we're not going up, we're barnsley fc and we don't give a fk"
We've gone from existing to actually living. We have a purpose, an aim. I agree with Nudger that times at present are exciting. However, I'm realistic too. I don't expect us to challenge the top 6 this season with the change in our style of play but I'm confident we'll be comfortably mid table and possibly top 10. That'll do for me. Keep building and improving. Build the profile of the club year by year.
It could be a shyte site worse. Thaz only got to look at the goings on darn the road at S6 to realize that and also the many other mis managed clubs around the country. There's obviously plusses and minuses with the PMG but for those wanting them to sell, my advice is be careful what you wish for.