Matthew Craig

[donnyguy]

Peter O’Rourke on X

Tottenham are considering recalling Matthew Craig from his loan at Barnsley in January and sending him elsewhere amid interest from a number of EFL clubs. #thfc #barnsleyfc

[jmt23]

Fingers well and truly crossed!

[The Dav]

Now that would be nice !

[keith79]

Does he get alot of playing time at barnsley ?

[glosterred]

Is yet another midfielder needed? Rather get the striker in first and worry about yet another midfielder, no matter how well he did last season, later

COYR

[steve@dcfd]

We have too many average midfielders Craig would walk straight in the first team.

[glosterred]

We have too many average midfielders Craig would walk straight in the first team.

He hasn’t at Barnsley why would you think on present form he would walk into ours?


COYR

[Thorney]

We have too many average midfielders Craig would walk straight in the first team.

He hasn’t at Barnsley why would you think on present form he would walk into ours?


COYR

Because he is better than our current crop of midfielders

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Looking from Craig's perspective, this will be a blow to his future progression. If Spurs view his time at Barnsley, a failure to adapt to their playing style, wouldn't they want to give him the chance at another League One club? I'm sure he will be desperate to prove he can perform at that level.

IF, we were to put our hat in the ring, I would guess we would be down their pecking order, as he's already been there, done that. Of course, if there's no other offers from League One, then yes, they'd want him to get more game time.

From our perspective, should we bring him in, it doesn't send a good message to the likes of Broadbent and Kelly, who McCann has bigged up about their ability, and that's even before considering Close and Westbrooke's future. IF it was as simple as the latter two being sacrificed for Craig on a permanent basis, I would probably snap your hand off BUT, it isn't and I'm not convinced the midfield is the root cause of our iffy home form, which is all we're lacking at the mo.

[Alan Southstand]

Do we want promotion or do we wait another year to see if all these players improve?

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Do we want promotion or do we wait another year to see if all these players improve?

As far as Craig is concerned, it won't be in our hands Alan. We will get promoted if we take more of our chances at home.

[glosterred]

We have too many average midfielders Craig would walk straight in the first team.

He hasn’t at Barnsley why would you think on present form he would walk into ours?


COYR

Because he is better than our current crop of midfielders

His current form doesn’t seem to back that up


COYR

[GazLaz]

We have too many average midfielders Craig would walk straight in the first team.

He hasn’t at Barnsley why would you think on present form he would walk into ours?


COYR

Because he is better than our current crop of midfielders

His current form doesn’t seem to back that up


COYR

Not really a form thing it’s an ability thing. He’s just not good enough currently to play for a top end L1 side but he is good enough to play for a top end L2 side.

[ncRover]

Can see him going somewhere like Stevenage or Cambridge.

[jmt23]

He improved our midfield when he was here,and it does look to have slumped back to being nondescript - what do they offer, what are they doing…

I like Clifto, he is a like for like replacement of Biggins for me, I am not sure about the others at all.

[Copps is Magic]

I thought Craig looked like an accomplished and mature defensive midfielder when he was here. He was instrumental in our incredible run of form. At 21, he's still got a lot of learning and experiences to have, but the talent and ability is undoubtedly there and anyone who questions that is talking shite.

[jmt23]

It clearly hasn’t worked at a higher level for him though- is that playing style or tougher competition that the higher level brings? I suspect Spurs will want to find that out, so wouldn’t expect him to drop back down.

[Alan Southstand]

Remind me what sort of contract he has at Spurs?

It could be they may want to cash in early, if they think he’s not meeting expectations?

[DonnyBazR0ver]

He's contracted to 2026.

https://hotspurhq.com/spurs-loan-watch-club-considering-recalling-midfielder-at-league-one-side-

[Thorney]

We have too many average midfielders Craig would walk straight in the first team.

He hasn’t at Barnsley why would you think on present form he would walk into ours?


COYR

Because he is better than our current crop of midfielders

His current form doesn’t seem to back that up


COYR

Not really a good statement though.
Form for a top end league 1 club doesnt mean that he wont find it at a club that suits his style in league 2.

TLT and Adelakun wasnt setting the leagues alight back in January when we brought them in.
Quality shines through when you find a club and style that makes you enjoy football, maybe he just hasnt enjoyed his time from being at barnsley

[drfchound]

Probably never got to grips with the language there. 
(Sorry tyke, only joking mate).

[mushRTID]

If it’s not worked out at a higher level, surely the time to test the water with a solid bid.

[Reg of the Rovers]

Our midfield has to be the priority, we're weak there, inexplicably so given the numbers we have - but, Close has checked out long ago, Tuesday night he didn't make more that a two yard pass backwards or sidesways and he's knocked off the ball way too easily, Westbrook looked lost but admittedly he's just coming back in, Broadbent still can't find the consistency we need, Kelly is ok but plays like a Sunday league player - picks it up and runs but can give it away and end up in trouble, Sbarra is lightweight and again inconsistent. I like Clifton, he's  busy and aggressive - but not a baller particularly. Bailey is our ray of sunshine but can't do it on his own. Craig would be huge to sort this out.

Even out wide we're looking a bit lacklustre. Moly seems to have lost some confidence, Gibson is a one good game / two bad games player, Yeboah is a joke, Hurst has looked decent to me but can't seem to get a good run consistently in a position. Overlapping wide men worked on Tuesday, Emmanuel was excellent and dynamic going forward and Fleming decent too. A Haks type player again would be a game-changer - goals and assists is what we're lacking!

Keeper-wise I think TSL is decent - if we don't have cash to splash I'd focus on a quality quality midfielder and decent wide-player.

Yeboah can go back, rip up Close's contract, Sbarra out on loan - free up more cash to invest in quality.

[tyke1962]

Craig looked the type of player that needed a good run of games to establish himself in our midfield and that hasn't happened .

As ever over here the new HC starts the season looking to fit the pieces together whilst trying to  attain decent results .

Our continued league one status coupled with almost 11 months of dreadful home form leaves the Oakwell faithful with very little patience and keeping faith with a young player trying to find his feet isn't likely to keep you in a job at Oakwell for too long .

Craig is at the wrong club and given our struggles it's at the wrong time and it's probably best he moves to a club in January where he can best develop .

[Alan Southstand]

If it’s not worked out at a higher level, surely the time to test the water with a solid bid.

We did something similar when we got Whiteman and that didn’t turn out too bad!

[bpoolrover]

If a player like craig became available it would be stupid not to try and get him, he has already proved himself as more than good enough

[roversdude]

Think there are some blinkered views on here Craig was pants his first few games and then found a rhythm.
Quite like Sbarra and Clifton - still think we are missing the end of season Biggins and even more surprised we gave Close and Westbrook new contracts

[ncRover]

Think there are some blinkered views on here Craig was pants his first few games and then found a rhythm.
Quite like Sbarra and Clifton - still think we are missing the end of season Biggins and even more surprised we gave Close and Westbrook new contracts

While Craig was great I think we’ve forgotten that he got hauled off when we were losing in the Barrow comeback game. And was completely anonymous in the Crewe semi final 2nd leg.

If we’ve got the 2nd best defence in the league (xG) and the ‘most touches in the opposition box’ is the midfield really a problem?

[Campsall rover]

Think there are some blinkered views on here Craig was pants his first few games and then found a rhythm.
Quite like Sbarra and Clifton - still think we are missing the end of season Biggins and even more surprised we gave Close and Westbrook new contracts

While Craig was great I think we’ve forgotten that he got hauled off when we were losing in the Barrow comeback game. And was completely anonymous in the Crewe semi final 2nd leg.

If we’ve got the 2nd best defence in the league (xG) and the ‘most touches in the opposition box’ is the midfield really a problem?

He was outstanding in the away leg at Crewe
Who played well in the 2nd leg please?

[silent majority]

Think there are some blinkered views on here Craig was pants his first few games and then found a rhythm.
Quite like Sbarra and Clifton - still think we are missing the end of season Biggins and even more surprised we gave Close and Westbrook new contracts

While Craig was great I think we’ve forgotten that he got hauled off when we were losing in the Barrow comeback game. And was completely anonymous in the Crewe semi final 2nd leg.

If we’ve got the 2nd best defence in the league (xG) and the ‘most touches in the opposition box’ is the midfield really a problem?

I think he had a lot of pain killer injections just to be able to pull on his boots that day. No surprise he was less than at his best.