COG - The BFC lowdown (as promised)

[Notters]

iven to think the attendances issue is vastly overrated, especially when you dig down and look at away followings too, where we don't set this division alight.

I think we do fecking well given the distances involved.

 

[sparkie]

I think we do fecking well given the distances involved.

Very good point.

Away attendance comparison between clubs is meaningless if it doesn't factor in travel distance and difficulty.

 

[Mackenzie]

Well,the long and short is,it does not differ,but it could also be argued that we as a club are only 3 seasons old,average 27,000 gates and have spent our entire existence in the Championship...

Well yes you could try and argue that if you wanted, but you'd be wrong.

 

[GoldWithFalmer]

Well yes you could try and argue that if you wanted, but you'd be wrong.

So we agree,it's no different,however it's dressed up.. it makes historic referencing a touch difficult too.

 

[albionite]

https://audioboo.fm/boos/2339201-in...=retweet&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

More about his time at Barnsley but some might be interested.

 

[mona]

Impressed for Rochdale against us at Spotland in 2011. It's usually worth noticing Rochdale strikers.

 

[WhingForPresident]

I do think the attendances issue is vastly overrated, especially when you dig down and look at away followings too, where we don't set this division alight.

Always enjoyed trips to Barnsley, even the first one in 1981/2 when they thumped our top division prima donnas 4-1 in the League Cup, in front of 27 from Brighton. Pubs are cheap and the locals are hilarious.

Barnsley have played in the PL, we haven't, so give them some respect.

If playing in the PL makes you a 'big' club, does that make Swindon and Oldham are bigger than us too?

History is history, and we're heading into a 3rd consecutive season with crowds of over 25k, whereas they haven't even come close to breaking the 20k barrier once in that time. In terms of the size of our fanbase, the quality of our stadium & training facilities and our financial clout (not to mention the fact we are also in the division above them), we are way ahead of them in modern times, and therefore a bigger club in my eyes at this moment in time, though yeah, it hasn't always been that way.

We were miles ahead of them with away attendances too last season, despite the fact they had Bolton, Wigan, Blackburn, Blackpool, Wednesday lolol, Donny, Huddersfield, Leeds and Burnley all within a closer radius than our nearest away game (Millwall).

We clearly have different views on what makes a big club though, rendering all of these rather pointless facts.

 

[El Presidente]

If playing in the PL makes you a 'big' club, does that make Swindon and Oldham are bigger than us too?

History is history, and we're heading into a 3rd consecutive season with crowds of over 25k, whereas they haven't even come close to breaking the 20k barrier once in that time. In terms of the size of our fanbase, the quality of our stadium & training facilities and our financial clout (not to mention the fact we are also in the division above them), we are way ahead of them in modern times, and therefore a bigger club in my eyes at this moment in time, though yeah, it hasn't always been that way.

We were miles ahead of them with away attendances too last season, despite the fact they had Bolton, Wigan, Blackburn, Blackpool, Wednesday lolol, Donny, Huddersfield, Leeds and Burnley all within a closer radius than our nearest away game (Millwall).

We clearly have different views on what makes a big club though, rendering all of these rather pointless facts.

Agreed, we all can selectively quote stats.

 

[Bwian]

I think we do fecking well given the distances involved.

So do I. We only have to look at some of the visiting numbers at The Amex (not having a pop at away supporters) by clubs North of The Midlands to see the impact our location has on attendance. There are a few who bring impressive numbers but teams like Burnley, Blackpool (who normally travel in decent numbers), Blackburn, etc., rarely take anywhere close to their allocations. It's not surprising that it works in reverse for us as well.

 

[fat old seagull]

Chris joined us from our near neighbours, Sheffield Wednesday.

He scored near enough a goal every other game. He created (directly) plenty. Indirectly, he assisted many more.

He led from the front. He can hold the ball up as good as anyone. He's strong, powerful and has the knack of positioning his body (his backside in most cases) in such a way that defenders can't get close enough to him. But he's also got great feet. He's not Zlatan, nor has he the technical qualities of a Messi or Ronaldo. But he's deceptively tricky. He can score from inside and outside the box, left foot, right foot, occasionally with his head. But he prefers the ball into feet. He's not quick, but those who deem him slow are being unkind. He's got a great turn of pace from standing starts that gets the ball out of his feet and in a position to smack it towards goal.

He can take a penalty well, although the couple that he missed last season pretty much cost us if you want to look at things like that. But then, were it not for his 15 goals we'd have been relegated by Xmas. We were that bad. Honestly, a handful of displays aside (one against you lot while COG was injured) it was about as bad a Barnsley side that I've seen in 26 seasons as a supporter. The season before that, we were awful for most of it but pulled off a remarkable run to stay up, COG being key to doing that. But all in all, he's done what he's done for us playing in a poor side low on confidence and beaten up on a regular basis. I can only imagine him being even more impressive were he in a capable side.

He's had lots of clubs, some of them loans, and on paper he's hardly a mouthwatering acquisition for you. He might turn out to be awful for you. He apparently was for Wednesday, despite him being their top scorer at the time they let us have him. But I seriously can't see him being awful for you. He's a terrific option to have, easy to love (works as hard as any striker) and will chip in with and create goals. Not to mention the fact that defenders know they've been in a game.

I'm sad to see him go. But we had to cash in, we have such a rebuild on our hands. But he's gone with near enough a 100% positive reaction from the fanbase, which says everything. I won't lie, I'm not really bothered about your club. Bit of an irrelevance to us as I'm sure we are to you. But from now on, I'll be looking out for your results and wishing COGba all the best.

Thanks for reading. Treat him well, eh?


And here's a quick video I cobbled together earlier:

Really nice of Whitey to go to all that trouble for us....... Such a feckin shame he then posts this on Barnsley forum!!

"I will always give everything, no matter who I’m playing for, but having played for Leicester City and Sheffield Wednesday in the past, I know what it’s like to play for a big club – and Brighton certainly fall into that category.
There was no need for the Leicester and Wednesday part of his comments. I don't really care, but I saw it and thought it was worth sharing. and Brighton aren't a big club. Never have been, and unlikely to ever be."