Barnsley FC can announce their retained list for the 2025/26 campaign.

[perkytyke]

Jackson Smith is a keeper Jules!

I think Dallas and Lopata will definitely be out on loan again swiftly, probably Lofthouse as well?

I can see Philips being sold this summer.

There is a lot of wheeling and dealing to be done on the last day of the window as usual…….

[Jules88]

Jackson Smith is a keeper Jules!

I think Dallas and Lopata will definitely be out on loan again swiftly, probably Lofthouse as well?

I can see Philips being sold this summer.

There is a lot of wheeling and dealing to be done on the last day of the window as usual??.

Ooooops, missed him. I would go with the two we have then. Save the loans for a decent striker. Or John Stones??..

[Shadrack the Red]

I would also like to see some of the contracted players moved on somehow , O"Keefe , Lofthouse , Earl, Mael, Farrugia , Cotter , Lopata , Nwakali , Dallas and Watters for example , what on earth have our recruitment team done to us ? somehow they have managed to overload our squad with below division one standard players, it beggers belief , hopefully we have shown the door the data style recruitment !!!

[Jules88]

I would keep Earl.

[Young_Nudger]

I would also like to see some of the contracted players moved on somehow , O"Keefe , Lofthouse , Earl, Mael, Farrugia , Cotter , Lopata , Nwakali , Dallas and Watters for example , what on earth have our recruitment team done to us ? somehow they have managed to overload our squad with below division one standard players, it beggers belief , hopefully we have shown the door the data style recruitment !!!

O?Keeffe has to up his game - because Bland will be the first choice.
Lofthouse - good player but where does he fit into the squad ? Consequently I?d sell.
Earl - potentially the best left sided centre back in the league.
Mael - too many mistakes - sell.
Farrugia - is going to be an important player for us this season.
Cotter - there is a player here - his speed frightens defenders - but his end product needs to improve.
Lopata - we need to have another look.
Nwakali - on a number of occasions he?s been the best player on the pitch.
Dallas - had his chance - sell.
Watters - PLEASE give this player away.

As said in a previous post - with the number of players leaving the club it?s looking increasingly likely the club is turning the clock back to the pre
Patrick Revolution - where the club was going head to head with other clubs - often much wealthier clubs - trying to out bid them for players.
That is to say - trying to buy success.
It didn?t work then.
It won?t work now.

[Shadrack the Red]

No need to try and out bid any club for a player, just scout the leagues and go for the players who you think can do a decent job at the level we are playing, watch them , talk to them , do research and due diligence and continue to develop our own , use the loan system to bring in better quality players we could not afford to buy but would improve us , for example Harvey Barnes ( and there are many more ) etc. Regarding retained list , I got as far as you saying that Earl is one of the best defenders in the league and realised it was pointless debating , Earl is to defending what Putin is to world peace , my wife is quicker then him and she is 71 and had a knee replacement plus she is likely to make less mistakes , also there is no need for any of the wing backs , we need full backs who can defend and I expect to see Bland develop into a very useful midfield player.

[NerfHerder]

I would also keep Josh Earl. Has his poor games and has his good games. That?s why he?s a third division player. Shepherd and Earl as the 2 left footed centre backs for us next season would work well I think.

I?m hoping Bland can kick on and improve on his impressive start as he could be a good option in midfield and to fill in at full back, if needed.

O?Keeffe and Cotter can go for me as neither are good enough defensively to be a full back or have enough end product to be a winger. Maybe, and it?s a big maybe, Cotter could be an occasional impact sub because of his raw pace. I expect him to leave though.

I suppose w are more likely to see Farrugia in his natural position of left wing. That?s if he ever gets off the treatment table.

MDG can go as he loses concentration too much and makes too many mistakes. Not sure anyone will buy him from us though. Maybe a second division French side perhaps?

Watters is a weird one because we need central strikers as it is but he missed so many chances last season. Particularly towards the end of the season. He is rapid at running in behind though so maybe that might keep him here.

Nwakali certainly divides opinion in our fan base. I think I?m somewhere in the middle. On the ball, sometimes he can look premier league quality and he?s certainly one of our more gifted players. However, he?s nowhere near good enough off the ball. Tackling, marking, tracking back. He does none of these. If Hourihane wants to play high intensity football next season, I?m not sure Nwakali fits into that.

Going to be a busy summer for us and I really hope, for a change, we can get bodies in and out early. There?s some decent out of contract players available so let?s hope we can move quickly with these.

[pass_and_move]

I would also keep Josh Earl. Has his poor games and has his good games. That?s why he?s a third division player. Shepherd and Earl as the 2 left footed centre backs for us next season would work well I think.

I?m hoping Bland can kick on and improve on his impressive start as he could be a good option in midfield and to fill in at full back, if needed.

O?Keeffe and Cotter can go for me as neither are good enough defensively to be a full back or have enough end product to be a winger. Maybe, and it?s a big maybe, Cotter could be an occasional impact sub because of his raw pace. I expect him to leave though.

I suppose w are more likely to see Farrugia in his natural position of left wing. That?s if he ever gets off the treatment table.

MDG can go as he loses concentration too much and makes too many mistakes. Not sure anyone will buy him from us though. Maybe a second division French side perhaps?

Watters is a weird one because we need central strikers as it is but he missed so many chances last season. Particularly towards the end of the season. He is rapid at running in behind though so maybe that might keep him here.

Nwakali certainly divides opinion in our fan base. I think I?m somewhere in the middle. On the ball, sometimes he can look premier league quality and he?s certainly one of our more gifted players. However, he?s nowhere near good enough off the ball. Tackling, marking, tracking back. He does none of these. If Hourihane wants to play high intensity football next season, I?m not sure Nwakali fits into that.

Going to be a busy summer for us and I really hope, for a change, we can get bodies in and out early. There?s some decent out of contract players available so let?s hope we can move quickly with these.

Totally agree with all of that Nerf. A very balanced and considered view.

[Young_Nudger]

The recruitment team are going to be feeling a bit bruised after the announcement that these players have been released:

Benson - million pound player.
Cosgrove
McCarthy
Pines

As for the scramble to sign desperately needed strikers:
Lewis
Rodrigues
Signed in January - sacked off in May.
What a testament this is to the abilities of Dan the Man Sormaz.

[animallittle3]

Looks like Hourihane is in charge of recruitment so at least that's good news now we've got a football person back doing the most important job in the game .

All we need now is John Dennis back running the club and we've half a chance next season .


https://www.barnsleychronicle.com/ar...squad-together