Brammer’s Blog

It has been interesting to see that football agents have already moved into top gear in readiness for the Summer transfer market – especially in relation to two on-loan Reds players.

Sky Sports’ website has produced a couple of stories this week, both of which would appear to have been planted by the respective players’ agents. 

Firstly, Andranik is quoted as saying that ”My contract runs out next year and I would like to return to Fulham.” The probable story here is that Barnsley have told him they don’t require his services beyond the end of the season, therefore he has to try and rebuild bridges at The Cottage. As one bloke who sits behind me at Oakwell sagely observed, Andranik is ‘a rich man’s Togwell’, referring to the fact that he runs around a lot with little end product yet probably earns significantly more than poor Sam ever did. Andranik then goes on to contradict his statement of loyalty to Fulham by saying that “(my) contract allows me a transfer to a different club if I have an offer. I would consider other offers.” Which – in agent speak – means ‘please come and get me’.

Meanwhile ‘Sky Sports understands’ (i.e. his agent rang them) that Adam Hammill is being tracked by ‘a plethora of clubs …thought to include Bolton, West Brom and Wolves.’ Again, the likely truth behind this is that Hammill has realised he has no future at Anfield and his agent wants to put pressure on Barnsley to make an offer (and therefore prompt a bidding war for his services).

I’m sure that the Oakwell hierarchy are wise enough not to fall for all this propaganda. Due to the parlous financial state of most clubs at present it is likely that there will be plenty of players available for transfer over the Summer and the Reds don’t need to be hasty in their recruitment policy. We need to concentrate on quality – not quantity – of signings. Although it would be nice if we could recruit Adam Hammill who has been ‘earning rave reviews’ and been a ’shining light’ for the Reds, so much so that he has ‘alerted the England U-21 coaching staff’ to quote the words of his agent…sorry, I mean Sky Sports!

At least there has been some good news emanating from Oakwell this week, with everyone’s favourite canine being awarded a prize at the annual Mascot Gold Cup.

Apparently Toby won the ‘Best Mascot in Parade Ring’ at Wetherby Racecourse, where he was no doubt demonstrating the same type of swagger he displays at Oakwell before kick-off.

I’ve always been intrigued by football mascots – or more specifically the people who don such outfits. Why would you do it? Surely there can’t be much job satisfaction – you have to lumber around the pitch wearing a very heavy (and sweaty) costume while several thousand people take the mick out of you. Nor can it have much kudos with the ladies either. You can imagine the scene; you’re on a first date in a posh restaurant with the girl of your dreams. All is going well, when the conversation naturally turns to what you do in your spare time. “So what hobbies do you have?” she enquires. “Well, I like to dress up as a giant dog…”

Talking of dogs and dating – I’m not going where you think here – reminds me of that awful decision to create ‘Tina Tyke’ as a partner for Toby. Whoever came up with that concept needed their head testing. A bulldog with a handbag and the facial expression of an inflatable doll (so I’m told!). It was like something from an erotic version of Hammer House of Horror. Unsurprisingly Tina was soon sent to the doghouse.

Anyway, I’ve gone off at a tangent. In the same way you wonder why you never see baby pigeons, or why men have nipples – I’m sure I’m not alone in wondering who is ‘Toby Tyke’? (I also wanted to know who ‘The Stig’ was, but his identity was revealed the other week). There have always been plenty of rumours circulating amongst fans, from the plausible (an Academy player) to the bizarre (a former Chairman), but most have ultimately proved to be unfounded.

I did unwittingly discover the identity of a mascot the other week at Coventry. I was making small talk with the chap in the press room before the game and he came across as an intelligent and unassuming guy. Anyway, about an hour before kick-off he made his excuses and left (I assumed he was heading to the press box to prepare for a broadcast).

Imagine my surprise therefore when said man walked into the press room at half-time dressed as an elephant (minus head obviously or I wouldn’t have recognised him!).

It begged two questions. Firstly, why would a well-adjusted bloke perform such a role? And secondly, what the hell has an elephant got to do with Coventry?!

Well you certainly can’t say it’s dull being a Barnsley fan. There’s no danger of mid-table mediocrity for us, as once again we head into the final week of the season with our Championship status at stake.

It could have been oh so different. Had we hit the back of the net against Derby in a game we dominated, had we scored that penalty against Forest, had we not conceded at the death against both Watford and Coventry. And that is just in the last month! There is a thin dividing line between success and failure, and unfortunately we’ve been the wrong side of it all season.

The result at the Ricoh Arena was a classic example of a missed opportunity – a draw plucked from the jaws of victory. It is easy to point the finger of blame at the referee – or curse our bad luck – but the players must also accept some responsibility. Yet again both Bogdanovic and Macken missed simple chances which would have given us an unassailable lead, and in the last 20 minutes we retreated deeper and deeper, allowing Coventry to camp in our half with the inevitable consequences.

For once I actually felt sorry for Simon Davey. He got his tactics spot on, he picked the correct personnel, his substitutions were timely and logical and he clearly had the players motivated. He must have felt as though he’d run over a black cat or walked under a ladder.

So, on to our next ‘cup final’. Anyone who thinks Saturday’s game will be easier because Wolves are already promoted and Mick McCarthy is a Barnsley lad are sadly mistaken. They will want to put on a show in front of a sell-out away following and as there isn’t any pressure on them they can play without fear. Equally, if there is one thing we know about Mick it is that he is as committed as a manager as he was as a player – there will be no room for sentimentality.

Unfortunately I won’t be at Oakwell to see the game because I’m off to a wedding. I accepted the invite many months ago when I assumed the Reds would be comfortably placed and there would be little at stake. How wrong I was!

As the wedding doesn’t start till 4pm I will no doubt have to sit in the church listening to the commentary like on one of those comedy sketches – although I will try and refrain from jumping up during the nuptials if we score! Rest assured that while I’m in church I will take the opportunity to pray for divine intervention at Oakwell!

It seems that Mark Stokes’ article on Reuben Noble-Lazarus has caused some controversy amongst Reds’ fans – so I thought I’d add my two penneth for what it’s worth!

Despite what the conspiracy theorists would like to believe, I suspect the reasoning behind the appearance of Noble-Lazarus is mundane rather than Machiavellian. Reuben is clearly a lad with a lot of potential and it would seem logical for the Club to protect its’ financial interests by making him a full professional and handing him a first team appearance. That way the Club will be entitled to a larger compensation package should he decide to leave. What would the reaction have been had Reuben departed for a pittance because the Club hadn’t exploited that opportunity?

Nor do I buy into the ’smokescreen’ argument. Managers are judged on results – always have been, always will be. Did the appearance of Reuben change my opinion of Simon Davey? Of course not. If that was the intention then it certainly didn’t work.

As for Reuben’s trial at Old Trafford – again I can’t see what the fuss is about. It appears Man Utd made a formal approach and both the Club and his parents thought it was a good opportunity to aid his development. If he doesn’t join them permanently then he will have benefitted from the experience, and if he does go the Club will presumably receive adequate compensation.

I think Reuben has been the victim of circumstances at Oakwell. Had the Reds been in a comfortable mid-table position I imagine he would have been involved in the first team squad over recent weeks.

Finally, Mark commented on the ‘Davey Out’ campaign. There is no doubt that there are a minority of supporters who never wanted Davey and will not rest until he has departed Oakwell. Equally, there are a minority of fans who will always back the incumbent boss – irrespective of results and performances – because of their unquestioning support of the Club.

Between those two extremes sit the majority of us who crave stability and want Simon Davey to succeed but are increasingly questioning whether he is the right man to take the Club forward.

However, the Davey in/out/shake it all about debate isn’t helping anyone at the minute. The priority has to be Championship survival, and the only way we can do that is by pulling together and backing the gaffer till the end of the campaign.

It is a sad state of affairs when a Barnsley manager feels the need to take his players away from the town to prepare for matches because of all the negativity surrounding the Club. We all need to take a long hard look at ourselves – fans and media alike.

And before anyone suggests otherwise I have written this article without any influence from Don Rowing, Patrick Cryne, Simon Davey or Mark Stokes!

In many ways the game against Coventry tonight can be seen as Simon Davey’s ‘Joker’.

If he plays his cards right – to quote the big chinned one (Brucie, not Jimmy Hill) – then he can put the Reds within touching distance of safety.

Of all the possible games in hand though, I suspect Coventry away would have been somewhere near the bottom of Simon’s wish list. Historically games against the Sky Blues have inevitably gone the way of the Midlands side (and usually by a four goal margin!). In fact we haven’t beaten Coventry on their own patch since 1923, which doesn’t bode well.

Although the opposition have been in poor form of late (including defeats against our relegation rivals Forest and Plymouth over the past week), they still have plenty of quality in their ranks. Chris Coleman will not want a repeat of those last two performances and he will be looking for a reaction at the Ricoh Arena this evening.

The result tonight is not only about the points, but also about psychology. If the Reds were to emerge victorious it would not only provide a huge lift to the Club, but it would also be a crushing psychological blow to those around us at the bottom. Let there be no doubt about it, tonight’s game will be as eagerly watched in East Anglia, Nottinghamshire and Devon as it is in Barnsley.

Hopefully the lads can do us proud. Whatever people feel about the players and management at the moment, the most important thing – as always – is the Club. We’ve got to stick together over the next fortnight and I’m sure the Reds fans who travel down tonight will give their usual vocal support.

Finally – on a complete tangent – it is good to see Kevin Blackwell getting his comeuppance again. Apparently, only a couple of weeks after dismissing Simon Davey’s complaints about the slow reaction of Sheff Utd’s ball boys, he found himself in the same predicament himself at Turf Moor yesterday.

I think Buddhists call it Karma. Come to think about it, Mr Blackwell does have a Buddha-like physique…

Here’s one for the ’stattos’ amongst you. I’ve just been comparing the relative scoring records of the Reds and Reading prior to Saturday’s encounter.

I reckon we have deployed 10 different strikers during the course of this campaign – Mostto, Odejayi, Rigters, Adam, Cureton, Coulson, Mifsud, Bogdanovic, Hume and Macken. Their combined return is 22 goals.

The Royal’s leading scorer – Kevin Doyle – has hit the back of the net 18 times this season.

So one player at Reading is only 4 goals short of the combined scoring capability of 10 Barnsley attackers!

It just underlines the importance of having a goalscorer at this level. I suspect we will more than match Reading in terms of commitment, quality of football and possession – but when it comes down to it, which team will convert their chances?

Alas I fear we all know the answer…

As Simon Davey reflected after Saturday’s game ‘football can be cruel sometimes’ and it was difficult not to sympathise with him.

It certainly wasn’t a classic performance from the Reds who – like a disappointing Watford side – had to contend with persistent drizzle and a cabbage patch of a pitch. Yet having edged in front courtesy of Jon Macken they looked like they were heading for a comfortable (and critical) 3 points.

Ultimately it was an individual error which cost us, from the usually dependable Heinz Muller who failed to punch an innocuous looking cross away. Perhaps it was due to a lack of concentration because he hadn’t really been called into action during the second period.

If dropping two points in the dying stages of the game wasn’t bad enough, we then heard that Forest had overturned a 2-1 deficit to emerge victorious against Bristol City. As Simon Davey rightly pointed out, it’s those kind of twists and turns that we are going to witness right up to the end of the season.

Davey’s counterpart – Brendan Rodgers – acknowledged his team hadn’t performed and felt it was because his players had taken their foot off the gas having reached a position of safety (I wish we had that problem!).

Incidentally the Watford boss was very impressive in his post match press conference, being both articulate and humorous. You can certainly see why Watford have gambled on the 35 year old. They say nice guys come last, but his record at Vicarage Road so far suggests otherwise.

I’m reliably informed by Barnsley One Editor Mark Stokes that Brendan is the second most popular figure from Ballymena (after himself)!

Once again the post-match interviews on Tuesday night provided plenty of entertainment.

After the touchline fracas between the two management teams towards the end of the game, journalists were keen to find out what all the fuss was about.

It appears that Simon was unhappy with the ‘multi-ball system’ adopted by United (referring to the tactic of having numerous ballboys around the pitch who would instantly give United players the ball so they could keep the pressure up on the Reds).

As Simon pointed out, these ballboys suddenly disappeared when we had a throw-in, allowing United a breather and time to re-organise themselves.

His counterpart, Kevin Blackwell, claimed he didn’t know what Simon was on about and that he wasn’t in charge of the balls anyway!

If that wasn’t bad enough, as part of the half-time entertainment two giant inflatable balls were rolled out in front of the Reds fans. Do you think they were taking the mick?!

Talking of balls, anyone remember going to Shrewsbury Town when they used to play at Gay Meadow? The River Severn flowed around the back of one of the stands and they used to lose so many balls that they employed a local coracle maker to sit in one of his boats during matches and retrieve any that wound up in the water! If Kevin Blackwell had been in charge he’d have probably had him in a speedboat…

It was another disappointing away day for the Reds on Tuesday night, and one which followed a similar pattern – decent defending, creative football played in midfield…. and absolutely no likelihood of us taking the lead.

The first period was fairly even with neither side really having much impact, but in the second half United stepped up a gear and they were always the favourites to clinch the three points, it was a matter of when they scored, not if. The best the Reds could have hoped for was a 0-0 draw.

Although United’s first goal was scrappy, the second – from Lupoli – was a clinical and accurate finish which illustrated the gulf in class between the two clubs’ strikers. In open play we can match anyone in this division, but as soon as we get to the final third we seem to hit a brick wall (physically and mentally).

Our inability to convert penalties in the last couple of games has just compounded our attacking frailties. It is the same with set-pieces around the box which are now inexplicably being taken by Bobby Hassell. No disrespect to Bobby, but 7 goals in over 350 career appearances does not suggest he’s a dead ball specialist in the Beckham mould. It’s a damning indictment of the strikers at the club that they neither take penalties or shooting opportunities from free-kicks.

Two glimmers of hope from the United game were the appearances of Adam Hammill and Daniel Bogdanovic – who were creator and finisher respectively for the Reds goal. Surely both will be involved in the first eleven on Saturday?

Finally, credit to the referee, who for me was the best performer on the pitch. To be appointed to officiate in that game was certainly a poisoned chalice, but Mr Hegley did a fine job in letting the game flow whilst also keeping a lid on events if they threatened to get out of control.

The fixture against Forest may not have been that entertaining, but it was certainly made up for by Billy Davies’ post-match press conference.

Mr Davies gave a good impersonation of Buster Bloodvessel as he spouted a number of bizarre comments including;

1. Forest were the best side by a mile, should have been two or three goals up at half-time, only one side in it etc (Barnsley had 58% possession and 7 shots on target versus Forest’s 4).

2. The referee didn’t help them (even though he booked four Barnsley players against Forest’s one).

3. He was ‘misquoted’ by the press over his remarks about Chris Morgan. He actually said he wanted defenders like Lucketti and Morgan who are strong and experienced (they are hardly the best defensive pairing in the division, so why refer to them knowing the sensitivity of the issue in Barnsley?)

4. Chris Morgan and Iain Hume are ‘best mates’. Quite how he knows this having never managed either player he didn’t elaborate. I can’t see why Hume would be socialising with someone who fractured his skull. That would take a level of forgiveness even Nelson Mandela would balk at.

5. It was Billy Davies who helped keep us up last season by loaning us Macken and Nyatanga whilst at Derby – ‘People have short memories’ he said. In which case presumably he will also be taking responsibility for relegating Derby with the lowest Premiership points tally ever?

The diminutive Scotsman could clearly start an argument in an empty room and it is no surprise that he is renowned for bust-ups with previous employers.

I suggest you listen to the audio coverage of the press conference on Barnsley One. For those of you – like myself – who once considered Davies as a possible Barnsley manager of the future ask yourself ‘would I want this man representing my football club?’. I certainly wouldn’t.