Briefing Notes for the New Season — Part Two Friday, 26th Jul 2013 12:00 by HarryFromBath In the second of a series of pre-season reports, HarryFromBath assesses the mood around the Championship clubs by delving into their forums. Barnsley, Huddersfield Town and Doncaster Rovers are under the spotlight in today’s notes. Barnsley“Are we suddenly rich? I’m really confident of staying up this season. But... are we still being prudent? Where’s the brass come from?” With 18 players either signing contract extensions, becoming permanent signings after being on loan or coming in from elsewhere, Barnsley have been very busy in the transfer window. As well as the extending contracts of squad players of the calibre of former Blue Jason Scotland (pictured above) and keeper Luke Steele (below), they have given contracts to former loanees such as striker Chris O’Grady, who came in from Sheffield Wednesday in January.
Left winger Dale Jennings eye-catchingly joined from Bayern Munich, 20-year old striker John Cofie has come in from Manchester United, Welsh defender Lewin Nyatanga has joined from Bristol City, and they just announced the signing from Oldham Athletic of 24-year old defender Jean Yves M’Voto, who had been in negotiations with Doncaster Rovers. Many Tykes are putting this down to effective salary negotiations, with heavy wage earners either taking reduced terms of leaving the club. “I think Luke Steele taking a pay cut, defender Bobby Hassell taking a massive pay cut (in a new one-year deal) and Stephen Foster being sold (to Tranmere), who were all big earners, will have helped reduce the wage bill.” “Matt Done (gone to Rochdale), Rob Edwards (centre-back) and Toni Silva are off the wage bill and maybe defender Jim McNulty is getting less money (in a new one-year deal). I reckon the wages won’t be that much bigger.” Manager David Flitcroft’s dealings in the transfer market have generated huge optimism. “I really think we'll be the surprise team this season and prove a lot of people wrong. I'm gonna predict we'll finish in ninth position.” ”I’m going to put a bet on that we'll be highest-placed Yorkshire team come end of season. COYR!!!” Michael Chopra played on loan for the Tykes in 2004/05, and was a great success. He was linked with a move back to Oakwell this summer, but would not have been welcomed back. “Chopra's finished as I see it. He was a good, keen young striker when he joined us last time. Now he's damaged goods.” Some of the criticism was characteristically blunt. “Chopra isn’t the same lad we had years ago. We don’t want him down at the ‘Well, the boy’s an idiot. We seem to have a well-grounded bunch in our squad. We don’t need him upsetting it.” Interestingly, one of the Tykes’ alternative targets for a fourth striker is our former loanee Aaron Mclean (below). “Big no for me. He is a 30-year-old with a poor record apart from Peterborough. Personally I don't think he's any better than Daggers (Chris Dagnall).” His goalscoring record has given many Tykes cause to be wary.
“I prefer to see Scotland come on off the bench. I don't think he has the same impact when he starts. He frightens teams when he comes on in the second half.” With Chris O’Grady widely seen as Barnsley’s lead striker, Jason Scotland is seen as a well-respected support along with Chris Dagnall. “Who do we play in midfield?” Most tactical debates revolve around who to include, with Jacob Mellis, Kelvin Etuhu, David Perkins, Stephen Dawson, Scott Golbourne (as a left wing-back), Jim O’Brien, Dale Jennings (left wing) and Scott Wiseman (right wing-back) all possible starters. “It's not a bad problem to have. For the first time in a long time we've got competition in most areas which will definitely get the best out of the players. Flicker (David Flitcroft) will be able to change the team to suit our opponents which we haven't been able to do for a long time.” “I think we'll start the season playing a 3-5-2 formation with wing-backs. If we do get some injuries we have the players to change things around.” “I got the impression that the formation we play, and the players we use will depend on the opposition. He said he liked the opposition being uncertain on how we will set up, and us to be flexible and change formation during a match if need be.” Barnsley Fans’ Thoughts on ITFC and the SeasonThere has been no mention of us in their promotion or relegation forecasts, but we did pop up a few times on a “who do we hate playing” thread. “It's always Ipswich for me. No matter how much we are in form and they are not, the buggers always seem to ‘get a result’ against us. Nightmares include: (1) Some time ago, can't remember the year, 3-0 up at Oakwell with eight minutes left. Result Barnsley 3 Ipswich 3. (I am sure that this was a 1996 game under George Burley, when Simon Milton and Ian Marshall did the damage). (2) The huge game at Wembley. 2000 play-off final for a place in the Premiership. Lee Barnard's penalty saved, Georgi Hristov's header saved at 2-3, breakaway 2-4.” Huddersfield Town“I for one am relatively happy with a little more stability and working on improving what we have.” Most Huddersfield supporters are pleased with the club’s transfer dealings, even it if represents steady improvement at best. Most expect a mid-table finish. Being ahead of Leeds is as much the goal as any promotion to the top flight.
The Terriers have been buying carefully this summer, strengthening their attack by bringing back former ITFC striker Jon Stead (above) from Bristol City, James Vaughan from the Budgies for an undisclosed fee (thought to be in the region of £1 million), Martin Paterson from Burnley and Wolves winger Adam Hamill. As for those who have left, striker Lee Novak moved to Birmingham, midfielder Scott Arfield moved to Burnley, and Tom Clarke rejoined ex-Terriers boss Simon Grayson at Preston. “Having three centre-backs that most agree are not up to this division is probably the worst part of the squad.” Given that the Terriers’ negative goal difference matched ours for much of last season, the focus on buying strikers and attacking players has generated discussion. “The problem with signing someone else is that we could sign five more centre-backs and there is no guarantee that any of them would play consistently better than any of our current ones.” The expectation is that Mark Robins will deploy a 4-2-3-1 formation to protect the defence, despite the signings they have made this summer. “The reason for the defensive record during that period was that we concentrated on keeping it tight at the back in order to try to grind out results. This was completely to the detriment of our attacking play and meant that some games were pretty dire.” Many ITFC supporters remember that 0-0 draw in February at the John Smith’s Stadium. “With respect to the view that we played out some very dull performances while keeping solid, I agree with this to some extent. This was simply to stop the leaky defence and get some confidence in our play.” Many fans think that manager Mark Robins has strengthened the attack as much as anything in order to improve the balance of the team, thus relieving a defence which was overwhelmed on occasion last year. “We are crying out for a bit more pace and if we try to keep hold of the ball and play a bit this year then we will be exposed by pace on the break.” The return of former Blue Jon Stead to his first ever club has been much talked about. “Been looking forward to seeing how his game has developed since those embryonic days when he was lashing 'em in.” “His game stopped developing in 2004 when he had half a good season at Blackburn. Since then he's been slowly regressing a la Benjamin Button.” On a more serious note, they are quite anxious that the 30-year old will pick up niggling injuries as the campaign progresses. Ipswich old boy Alan Lee (below) also departed Huddersfield this summer after three years at the club, and is now coaching with the Town academy, although this week has joined in with first-team training at Playford Road.
He leaves the club with huge affection from their supporters. “Wish him all the best. He never gave less than 100% agreed, and nobody could use an elbow like Alan.. Alan... Alan... Lee…” “The only problem some Ipswich fans have with him is he went to Norwich, no questioning of his ability.” “He's accepting his playing career is coming to an end and is now moving toward more of a coaching role, initially with Ipswich's academy working with younger players. Good luck to him.” “There's only one thing that motivates Jordan.” “The only loyalty Rhodes has is to his bank balance.” A couple of threads about the former Ipswich striker descended into full blown rows, and reading these brought back a few memories. The main Huddersfield DATM forum is very polite, but descended into blunt verbal abuse when Jordan’s name was mentioned.
“How was he not loyal when he was here? He asked to move as he was far better than League One, was told to stay until summer and then he could if the deal was right. He didn't moan or groan, just got on with getting us promoted and didn't go and cry to the press.” “Did he not agree to stay with us to get us promoted rather than insist on a move in January? Yeah, he did, the bastard! Then he moved to quadruple his wage. No loyalty like what us on here have, because no way we'd be even considering doing that!” “Let's slag him off like we're utterly stupid. That'll learn 'im.” Terriers’ Thoughts on ITFC and the SeasonSeveral fans have us down for their surprise team/dark horses, with the relegated teams plus Watford once again frequently tipped to for promotion, although one supporter had us down for relegation. There is only room to add two quick one liners on former ITFC players: “Not the Titus Bramble debate again. He is an abysmal excuse for a centre-half and I would hate to have him here.” This next one was from a Connor Wickham debate: “My Ipswich supporting mate says he's twice as good as Vaughan but with 10% of the work ethic.” Doncaster Rovers“I’m pleased we’re making some additions, but I think we’re a million miles away from a Championship team, never mind squad.” “The problem is that we need at least seven more players between now and Blackpool (their opening game). Logistically this simply will not happen.” After their remarkable promotion clinching victory at Brentford on the final day of the League One campaign, Rovers have been shopping carefully in the summer market. The 23-year old midfielder Marc de Val Fernandez joined from Real Madrid. However, he picked up a knee injury in a pre-season game against Motherwell and is expected back in three weeks.
League One has been their supermarket of choice. Twenty-two year old midfielder Harry Forrester (pictured above) has joined from Brentford, along with 27-year old winger Mark Duffy from Scunthorpe. The final new face is the midfielder and South African International Dean Furman who came from Oldham, where he was captain. For some Rovers, things are not moving quickly enough. “What I can't understand is when Dickov was saying he wanted most of the signings in place before the Bradford pre-season friendly so they could implement tactics and systems for the Blackpool league game, Another manager working with his hands tied it appears...” “We need a goalkeeper, centre-back, a striker and all out of contract players signed up as well before the opening game against Blackpool. Ideally another centre midfielder as well but I don't think that is as desperate as the other positions before the start of the season.” A simple event like the contract extension of Irish midfielder Paul Keegan was heartily welcomed. Survival is this season’s sole objective. “It's poor that we won't have had a squad again for pre-season and it’s a concern that we will need the team to gel very quickly in an extremely strong league.” “Paul Dickov will be on thin ice come the start of the season unfortunately.” “So far, the signings that we have made have been good ones. I'm certain that Paul Dickov and the rest are doing what they can to tie down the players they want. That's all we can believe otherwise, if you allow all the speculation, rumour and titbits from the press to get to you, then it's going to be torturous waiting for official announcements.” “Whatever happens, I'm sure we'll have 16 players coming out in red and white hoops to play Blackpool on 3rd August, and do you know what, even with players we have now, I think we'll win.” “As far as Dickov being on thin ice? Well, as we have not played a competitive match yet, it's rather premature isn't it.” The transfer of Jean Yves Mvoto to Barnsley when discussions with Rovers were well advanced has caused resentment with fans. “M'Voto going to Barnsley is down to a duplicitous agent and player. Rovers invested time and money in the player, took him to Portugal and integrated him into the squad, with a signed contract in place, aside from one part that shouldn’t have been an issue.” There was an excellent recent article (which was also picked up on the TWTD forum) which looked at the pejorative term “the likes of Doncaster” referring to a team which any decent opponent should put in their place. “Great stuff.” “Brilliant! Definitely how I view my club - defiant against the odds.” “We really need to get a 'likes of Doncaster' chant/song going.” “Tune of Seven Nation Army - "We're the likes of Doncaster".” “It always feels better shoving it up those people when we do win against all these so called giants.” This one might run. The most active Barnsley forum is Tykes Mad , the best Huddersfield forum is Down At The Mac and the best Doncaster forum is Viking Chat. In the third part of the series, I shall cross the Pennines and assess the mood in Burnley, Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers.
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