Barnsley’s Mission Ambition

Two words on everybody`s lips last season; ‘team spirit` – this season, however, ‘ambition` is the word banded around Oakwell.

Manager Mark Robins showed ‘ambition` when he arrived at the club, and has, more recently, shown ‘ambition` in bringing striker Garry O`Connor to Oakwell on a permanent deal.

But what is Barnsley`s ambition, exactly? A top-half finish would be an achievement, considering the lack of funds and the short space of time Robins has had to mould his squad together. Whereas last season, team spirit kept the Reds in this division but this term, ‘ambition` may see the Reds have a surprise assault on the play-offs. And why the heck not?

Blackpool sit pretty in the top flight after an incredible run-in at the end of last season – a season which saw Barnsley take six points from the Seasiders. Go back another season, Burnley were the boys who claimed the final promotion slot – yet the clarets claimed zero points from the Reds.

So is this the third consecutive season in which a northern team, whose name begins with ‘B`, whose manager likes to play attractive football, whose club`s expectations aren`t too high, but whose ambition is well outlined, gets promoted via the play-offs?

The bookies had Blackpool down to finish in the relegation places last season and the Barnsley fans are all too happy for them to make the same mistake again with Barnsley.