Doncaster Rovers loanee Elliot Simoes on criticism from Barnsley FC boss

DONCASTER ROVERS loanee Elliot Simoes admits that his recent exile from the first-team picture at Barnsley represented the toughest time of his professional career - with his move to the Keepmoat Stadium having lifted his spirits.
Elliot Simoes. Picture: PA.Elliot Simoes. Picture: PA.
Elliot Simoes. Picture: PA.

The former FC United of Manchester player was frozen out under Reds head coach Valerien Ismael after featuring just twice under the Frenchman.

His final game arrived in the 3-0 loss at Cardiff City on November 3 when the Reds chief brought him off after forty minutes, with Ismael subsequently firing a broadside in the direction of the 21-year-old when he questioned his 'intensity' and seriousness.'

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Simoes - who trained with the Reds' under-23 squad - linked up with Rovers on loan for the rest of the season earlier this month, with Ismael having urged him to use his time at the Keepmoat Stadium to improve his mentality.

Simoes has taken the criticism on the chin, but acknowledges that it has been a difficult time in his young career.

He said: “One hundred per cent. You hear about things that will always happen in your career, but I did not think it was going to happen to me that early, as I was doing quite well and suddenly, I just went from playing and scoring this season to not being involved in the squad - literally in the space of a week.

“So in a mental way, it was quite hard for me and Doncaster really kind of got me back.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I felt like I was doing okay and had scored this season and was playing well. We were not doing the best in the league, but the Championship can change in a few days and we had faith we could change it.

"I felt I was doing well and my team-mates felt that. But then the manager had different plans.

“At that point, I felt like I was mentally low and down with football and those moments were really hard for me. The club knew and the players knew and my family also knew that.

But once I got the news I could go on loan, I got ready mentally again to get back into football and it made me quite happy.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

After switching to Rovers, Simoes is not seeking to turn a negative into a positive following his experiences at Barnsley, while also proving a point by showing that he possesses the qualities of a Championship player.

On criticism of his mentality, Simoes, contracted at Barnsley until June 2023, added: “I take it in. I don’t think I was the problem, I think I just wasn’t in his plans with the way he decided to play his football.

"He is the manager, so you just have to listen to it and cannot do anything. I did try my best when I was there, but it did not work and I had to go out and play some games.

“In Barnsley’s eyes - even though I have played a few games in the Championship, I still need to prove I can stay at that level or any higher. And that is my plan.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Simoes is the second Reds player to respond to criticism from Ismael, with Luke Thomas, who recently linked up with Ipswich Town for the rest of the season on loan, speaking about the situation this weekend following his move to East Anglia.

Last week, Ismael questioned Thomas’s attitude as being ‘not really professional’, something that the 21-year-old said that he disagreed with as he attempted to push for a move to Ipswich.

“There are two opinions and different sides to it,” Thomas said.

“I don’t agree with what he came out and said but if that’s the way he felt then I respect that. I have full respect for him and my team-mates and Barnsley but I was just desperate to get out and play games.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I lost a lot of confidence in the period of time since the start of the season and I was desperate to get out and play games. I maybe pushed the loan move a little more than I should have but I was just very eager to get out and play games.”

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.