In this series we are celebrating the 11th anniversary of OnThePontyEnd, and to do so we decided to set up a number of Twitter polls, to well and truly decide once and for all, what is the greatest Barnsley FC XI of the last eleven years?
In this series we are celebrating the 11th anniversary of OnThePontyEnd, and to do so we decided to set up a number of Twitter polls, to well and truly decide once and for all, what is the greatest Barnsley FC XI of the last eleven years?
Today we look at the final part of the XI, the attack. Midfield and defence issues have already been published, and the links to them will be at the bottom of this post.
RF: Ricardo Vaz Te
Despite spending only six months with the Reds, Ricardo Vaz Te was the winner of the right-forward vote, beating Jamal Campbell-Ryce and Marley Watkins to the position. Initially joining the club on a trial basis after his release from Hibernian, Vaz Te impressed Keith Hill that much that the Reds offered Vaz Te a contract. However, despite his red hot pre-season form Vaz Te could not take that same form into the start of the 2011/12 season, taking until October 18th against Burnley to bag his first goal in a Red shirt. After that goal, there was no looking back for Vaz Te, goal after goal followed, screamer after screamer, which meant every-time he put the ball in the net, came that shimmy celebration with Jim O'Brien! Particular screamers include one at London Road in a 4-3 victory over the Posh, and that ridiculous 8 second strike against Crystal Palace, the fastest goal in the history of the Championship. Then came probably Vaz Te's most iconic moment in a Red shirt, a hat-trick against Leeds United at Oakwell on New Years Eve, inspiring the Reds to a 4-1 victory, having come on as a substitute following the leg-snapping challenge from Michael Brown on Jacob Butterfield. Sadly, just a day later Vaz Te rejected a new contract offered to him by the club and the writing was on the wall. He left for West Ham at the end of that month. Despite this though, in the end it proved to be his early season goals that ultimately kept the club in England's second tier, and a Portsmouth points deduction.
LF: Adam Hammill
Taking 91% of the vote, Adam Hamill most certainly has the mandate to take up this position, absolutely thrashing Martin Devaney and Ryan Kent on his way to the left-forward birth. Initially joining us on loan from Liverpool, Hammill was an instant hit with the Reds fans scoring on the last day of the 08/09 season at home park in a 2-1 victory over Plymouth Argyle. The season after, 09/10 Hammill signed permanently at Oakwell, and had a good season, at the age of just 21 scored 4 and set up 5, along with also winning the 2009 goal of the year award for his screamer against Derby County in a move that we have seen so many times from Hammill. Cutting in from the left and bending a beauty into the corner was uniquely his trademark. However it was 2010/11 when Hammill became arguably the best player in the division at the time, and if anything that is an understatement. Scoring an impressive 8 goals and bagging 6 assists in half a season, along with stellar solo performances, most notably on that night at Oakwell where Leeds United were torn apart by Hammill's brilliance, he assisted 3 and scored 1 as we were victorious 5-2. Performances like these were bound to attract Premiership interest, and Hammill left for Wolves in January 2011, marking the end of his first era. It was just like the stars had aligned perfectly when Hammill made a return to Oakwell with Barnsley languishing at the bottom of England's third tier and on a run of 8 defeats in a row, Hammill scored and assisted in a 2-1 JPT victory over York City, the game many regard as the start of the comeback trail. What followed after this game was more than a mere fairytale and Hammill inspired the Reds to Wembley in both league and cup, with 3 goals and 3 assists in the JPT amongst which was a beauty against Oxford United at Wembley. In the league and play-offs Hammill was a different beast, scoring a Maradona-esque goal agaisnt Millwall at Oakwell in a game that lifted the Reds to within touching distance of the top 6, and eventually The Reds made the play-offs after a do or die fixture against Wigan Athletic. Scoring the opener in both legs against Walsall, Hammill stepped onto the turf at Wembley knowing full well that if he could repeat his heroics against Oxford he would confirm his place as legend. He did just that and more. Cutting in from 35 yards out on the left and unleashing a rocket into the top right stanchion, scoring what is in my opinion the greatest ever Barnsley goal, incredible. Despite two pretty average seasons after the Reds had returned to the Championship, Hammill will forever be remembered as an all-time Barnsley great, my favourite Barnsley player of all-time, no doubt whatsoever about that. 'Adam Hammill Is A Red, Is A Red, Is A Red, Adam Hammill Is A Red, He Hates Leeds Scum!'.
ST: Cauley Woodrow
Victorious with 56% of the vote, Cauley Woodrow is the striker in this side beating off Sam Winnall and Daniel Bogdanovic, both of whom probably didn't have the best chance of winning due to the way they left Grove Street. Anyway, onto Woodrow. Arriving from Fulham for a reported £700K, Woodrow made the perfect start to life at Barnsley, bagging in his 2nd league game for the club in a crucial away game with a sell-out Barnsley crowd at Accrington Stanley. Since then Woodrow has just gone from strength to strength always seeming to pop up with a vital goal, scoring 7 match-winners in 2018/2019 alone, more match-winning goals than any other Red since Craig Hignett in 1999/2000. Not simply popping up with winners, but also with crucial equalisers, like against Doncaster Rovers and Blackpool at Oakwell. With an end of season total of 16 goals as The Reds achieved promotion at the first time of asking to the 2nd tier, for the first time since the rebranding of the Championship, the Reds would have probably been a far cry from the top two if it was not for Woodrow's goals, and contributions. Impressively bagging a goal every 154 minutes, Woodrow's 18/19 we can only hope will be followed up by an even better 19/20! 'Nah, na na na nah, na na na nah, na na nah, na na nah ... Cauley Woodrowwwwwww!'.
This post marks the end of the XI, but don't fret more #OTPE11 themed content will be coming soon!
Read Best XI: Defence
Read Best XI: Midfield
What do you think? All feedback is appreciated, if you want to feed something back to me or merely want a chat about BFC you can find me on twitter, my handle is @TomOTPE.
Today we look at the final part of the XI, the attack. Midfield and defence issues have already been published, and the links to them will be at the bottom of this post.
RF: Ricardo Vaz Te
Despite spending only six months with the Reds, Ricardo Vaz Te was the winner of the right-forward vote, beating Jamal Campbell-Ryce and Marley Watkins to the position. Initially joining the club on a trial basis after his release from Hibernian, Vaz Te impressed Keith Hill that much that the Reds offered Vaz Te a contract. However, despite his red hot pre-season form Vaz Te could not take that same form into the start of the 2011/12 season, taking until October 18th against Burnley to bag his first goal in a Red shirt. After that goal, there was no looking back for Vaz Te, goal after goal followed, screamer after screamer, which meant every-time he put the ball in the net, came that shimmy celebration with Jim O'Brien! Particular screamers include one at London Road in a 4-3 victory over the Posh, and that ridiculous 8 second strike against Crystal Palace, the fastest goal in the history of the Championship. Then came probably Vaz Te's most iconic moment in a Red shirt, a hat-trick against Leeds United at Oakwell on New Years Eve, inspiring the Reds to a 4-1 victory, having come on as a substitute following the leg-snapping challenge from Michael Brown on Jacob Butterfield. Sadly, just a day later Vaz Te rejected a new contract offered to him by the club and the writing was on the wall. He left for West Ham at the end of that month. Despite this though, in the end it proved to be his early season goals that ultimately kept the club in England's second tier, and a Portsmouth points deduction.
LF: Adam Hammill
Taking 91% of the vote, Adam Hamill most certainly has the mandate to take up this position, absolutely thrashing Martin Devaney and Ryan Kent on his way to the left-forward birth. Initially joining us on loan from Liverpool, Hammill was an instant hit with the Reds fans scoring on the last day of the 08/09 season at home park in a 2-1 victory over Plymouth Argyle. The season after, 09/10 Hammill signed permanently at Oakwell, and had a good season, at the age of just 21 scored 4 and set up 5, along with also winning the 2009 goal of the year award for his screamer against Derby County in a move that we have seen so many times from Hammill. Cutting in from the left and bending a beauty into the corner was uniquely his trademark. However it was 2010/11 when Hammill became arguably the best player in the division at the time, and if anything that is an understatement. Scoring an impressive 8 goals and bagging 6 assists in half a season, along with stellar solo performances, most notably on that night at Oakwell where Leeds United were torn apart by Hammill's brilliance, he assisted 3 and scored 1 as we were victorious 5-2. Performances like these were bound to attract Premiership interest, and Hammill left for Wolves in January 2011, marking the end of his first era. It was just like the stars had aligned perfectly when Hammill made a return to Oakwell with Barnsley languishing at the bottom of England's third tier and on a run of 8 defeats in a row, Hammill scored and assisted in a 2-1 JPT victory over York City, the game many regard as the start of the comeback trail. What followed after this game was more than a mere fairytale and Hammill inspired the Reds to Wembley in both league and cup, with 3 goals and 3 assists in the JPT amongst which was a beauty against Oxford United at Wembley. In the league and play-offs Hammill was a different beast, scoring a Maradona-esque goal agaisnt Millwall at Oakwell in a game that lifted the Reds to within touching distance of the top 6, and eventually The Reds made the play-offs after a do or die fixture against Wigan Athletic. Scoring the opener in both legs against Walsall, Hammill stepped onto the turf at Wembley knowing full well that if he could repeat his heroics against Oxford he would confirm his place as legend. He did just that and more. Cutting in from 35 yards out on the left and unleashing a rocket into the top right stanchion, scoring what is in my opinion the greatest ever Barnsley goal, incredible. Despite two pretty average seasons after the Reds had returned to the Championship, Hammill will forever be remembered as an all-time Barnsley great, my favourite Barnsley player of all-time, no doubt whatsoever about that. 'Adam Hammill Is A Red, Is A Red, Is A Red, Adam Hammill Is A Red, He Hates Leeds Scum!'.
ST: Cauley Woodrow
Victorious with 56% of the vote, Cauley Woodrow is the striker in this side beating off Sam Winnall and Daniel Bogdanovic, both of whom probably didn't have the best chance of winning due to the way they left Grove Street. Anyway, onto Woodrow. Arriving from Fulham for a reported £700K, Woodrow made the perfect start to life at Barnsley, bagging in his 2nd league game for the club in a crucial away game with a sell-out Barnsley crowd at Accrington Stanley. Since then Woodrow has just gone from strength to strength always seeming to pop up with a vital goal, scoring 7 match-winners in 2018/2019 alone, more match-winning goals than any other Red since Craig Hignett in 1999/2000. Not simply popping up with winners, but also with crucial equalisers, like against Doncaster Rovers and Blackpool at Oakwell. With an end of season total of 16 goals as The Reds achieved promotion at the first time of asking to the 2nd tier, for the first time since the rebranding of the Championship, the Reds would have probably been a far cry from the top two if it was not for Woodrow's goals, and contributions. Impressively bagging a goal every 154 minutes, Woodrow's 18/19 we can only hope will be followed up by an even better 19/20! 'Nah, na na na nah, na na na nah, na na nah, na na nah ... Cauley Woodrowwwwwww!'.
This post marks the end of the XI, but don't fret more #OTPE11 themed content will be coming soon!
Read Best XI: Defence
Read Best XI: Midfield
What do you think? All feedback is appreciated, if you want to feed something back to me or merely want a chat about BFC you can find me on twitter, my handle is @TomOTPE.
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