Just been down for a look at training and my comments on Ist team squad are on a previous thread.
I also had a chance to look at the academy squad which is now 16 strong with the addition of 9 first year scholars, details of whom are on main club site.
It looks likely that we'll acquire level 2 status which will mean an increase in staffing but it looks as though we have made a commitment to try and bring our own lads through.
Our academy is already well thought of and Butterfield's success in getting to the Premiership and the further development of our first year pros will make it easier to bring in quality.
We are now casting the net even wider with lifting of the restrictions on distances travelled, we have signed a young lad from London and one from Northern Ireland.
This has to be the future for clubs like ours. It's just a shame that previously information on our academy such as up to date results, line-ups, etc. etc. has been a bit thin on the ground.
I was assured that when the new club site was up and running that most of these issues would be addressed. 9 days and counting! Jonathan Lund. LOL.
Oakwell today!
posted on 3/8/12
Wasn't Jonathan Lund an emergency loan quite some time ago?? Think he was towards the end of the season before last?
Academy doing well with a few young lads pushing towards the first team. I've read good reports about Matty Steade especially, and we already know about Diggers, Stones and Lucas. Hopefully one or two more are there or thereabouts this season.
The fact that 8 lads were given pro deals speaks volumes, and credit must go to Ronnie and Mark Burton for the work they've done with the Academy over the last few seasons
Keep up the good work!
posted on 3/8/12
The new U21 leagues are going to be interesting and our 8 first year pros plus RNL and Tony Silva qualify for the next 3 seasons, plus Diggers and any others from the academy who break through.
Next season is still a little soon for most of them to break into the first team on a regular basis, but I'm very optimistic that we are starting to see the results of plans that were put in place a number of years ago.
Would be nice to read more about our plans - it would help our fans to feel that we are able to compete at this level not only by sheer hard work, but by smarter thinking, efficient use of resources and by the level of professionalism and expertise shown by our staff.
I hear many good things from the people I speak to, but would like our media team to disseminate this information more widely amongst our supporters!
posted on 3/8/12
It seems our media team are having problems in getting content updated on the club site, hence Jonathan Lund.
Even the BBC site, as well as many other sites have very out of date content, which is worse than none at all.
It's a poor service we're getting, everything appears to focus on the Premiership and the rest can whistle, I suspect!
posted on 3/8/12
Agreed, it might be too soon just yet. But it's looking like that we may have an influx of young kids breaking into the squad together, which we haven't seen since the likes of David Watson, Adie Moses, Nicky Eaden, and Andy Liddell, that can only bode well for the future and give other young kids hope.
Given that the big clubs can just come and pick the best of the bunch for next to nowt, it's great to see that we will give kids their chance if they're good enough and they may just want to stay at Barnsley and chance their arm, rather than go to Man CIty/Utd etc etc and be one of a number of players sitting on the fringes of the youth team.
The media side of it has always been a bit poor, the stuff they do update is usually regarding some promo or other, the Facebook page is a little better, but not by much. I've found Andew Lodge's new's website a lot better at rumours and announcements. Well worth a look if you haven't already.
It will always be about the Premiership, I mean look at the The Football League Show, and the matches shown on the BBC, all about the sides that come down from the Premier League. The Conference fairs even worse, they have a new's supplement which be on Five Live, but at 5am on a Monday morning!! Being an avid watcher of Non League football (I live on the Kent coast, so league football is limited at best) I think they deserve better coverage than they get. If you're not in the top flight then you can whistle Dixie for all they care I'm afraid.
posted on 3/8/12
Thanks for the info, Super! I will endeavour to find as much out as possible this season for fans such as you who can't get down to Oakwell.
I know from last year that there are a number of scouts and other professionals and also parents who are happy to have a conversation with an old gimmer! LOL.
I will continue to email Matt and Mark at the club with my comments though I suspect that some things are beyond their control owing to the website deal that the league is signed up to.
However, where I find that another club using the same template is doing better than us, I will point that out.
All in all, I'm feeling optimistic for 2012-2013, but then, I always am, can't see the point in doom and gloom! COYR.