To say, prior to the season starting, that I was sceptical about our promotion credentials would be a massive understatement. I thought we were miles off. That scepticism remained until mid December. Results were good, but, just a few good performances aside, I thought we looked at best uninspiring and at worst dreadful. Results by far exceeded performances. I was resigned to the wheels coming off and mid table obscurity. That hasn't happened. From the Portsmouth game onwards we've played the best teams this division has to offer and consistently at least matched them and more often bettered them. Performances may have even exceeded the great results. We're looking like the real deal. Doesn't mean we'll do it, but we now look capable. The manager has done an excellent job in molding a team.
We really seem to have gelled these last few matches. I was at the Peterborough match on boxing day, and it was as enjoyable an afternoon's football as I'd seen at Oakwell in a very long time. Probably since the Leeds game before the wheels came off in 2017.
Stendel always said it would take a few months to get us playing the way he wanted. It’s looking like we might be getting there now. Though i am sure that we will have a dip somewhere. I went to the Wycombe game and we were poor but since then we seem to have completely turned the corner. We totally outplayed Pompey and every match since then we have looked a very good side. Let’s just hope it continues.
Think in the Championship we put together a great L1 team nothing I’ve aeem this has made me change my mind on that.
I think we had shown what we can do earlier in the season BUT that was when we had our best team our and were on top form. Right now we have added consistency into the style and execution. The younger players now have actually strengthened our squad as they have gained games and experience especially Brown and Williams. McGeehan is now delivering on his potential and seems to now be fully fit and over the injury. Players seem to know their roles. The thing I'm most impressed with is that Stendel develops his game plan and line ups and invariably it works, the squad contributes and whoever steps in does their job. I think strengthening our out and out attack with another striker and perhaps a natural wide player or two and back up for Davies can only help if its the right players.
The longer they play together and the more experience they get, the better they'll become. The current side already looks streets ahead of last season's farce. Obviously the quality of the opposition has a lot to do with it, but I reckon if we do go up the current side would just about survive.
Rewind back to the summers who’d have thought we’d be raving about a middle 2 of Mowatt and Mcgeehan? In my eyes shows he has the ability to get the best out of players which is really important. Were at that point in the season where we can really push on the only thing that can derail us now is if we sell key players in the transfer window. Fingers crossed we retain the squad and add a few more and go for the title. Good work Daniel & co really pleased with the style & approach
Agreed on the league 1 team last season but I think it’s improving significantly. A couple of good additions in Dougall and Woodrow some other players who are improving significantly like McGeehan and Mowatt and possibly Thiam though he needs more consistency. I think if we can continue and get promotion this season - and that’s a if not by any means a certainty we have at least the basis of a decent bottom half championship side I remember last time we built a good league 1 side it struggled for a season and a half in that league before becoming a good championship side. This time we tried to do in in the championship failed as it was the same level of players signed and now a league lower and decent coach and the players are improving and getting a lot more confidence. I think even now I would back us against the likes of Bolton Ipswich Rotherham etc but not against the mid table or higher teams. Let’s just enjoy some wins and good football this season and see where we end up
I think without significant investment it will be a long hard struggle. Not one i especially look forward to if I am to be honest. Other than at centre half I cannot say I think we have tbe quality to bridge the gap. Mowatt possibly but pace counts more in the championship.
I would like to think that if we went up, then at least some investment would be forthcoming. Otherwise, it's a case of Einstein's definition of insanity.
If promoted additions is a must but the strength is in keeping the majority and strongest players from this squad togetber, what is coming through now is players who have significantly improved or improving due to being settled, are comfortable and confident with their team mates and have bought in to the managers ideas. It has taken some players longer than others to get there but they have and will get even better. In the championship the teams that recruit heavily in the summer generally take longer to adjust and those that don't get off to a better start. Take the last two seasons we had in the Championship for example. Also the better teams really stand out in the second half of the season as they are in the swing of it and the quality shines through which is what's happening to us now as it did in the last promotion we had, its also demonstrated by how tough it was for us last season, we were unsettled, too many new players and not playing with a settled team or way of playing and the other championship teams seemed to just get stronger after Christmas. My money is on us gaining automatic promotion quite comfortably.
It’s difficult to judge due to discrepancies in league standard, but I think this team now is better than the one that was relegated.
I thought we had a good squad for league one when we were relegated but a few who I thought would excell haven't moncur I thought he would tear this league up talented lad hasn't worked. Hedges injured alot but when has featured been annoynamus. And a few have done better than expected. Pinnock never got a look in at start of last season when he did got 2 motm performances and then broke his toe, never got a look in under jose. Now our standout defender. Mowatt. I totally wrote him off he didn't impress Oxford fans on loan last season either I take it all back been a revelation. Mcgeehan. Again never got a look in went to scunny been good since dougalls injury. Others have picked up form recently thiam,cavare especially hopefully we can bring a Potts replacement in and push on for a top 2 spot which look within our reach now.
It certainly looks like the blueprint works best in League One. This won't have escaped the owners, who may think a yo-yo club between tiers 2 and 3 is preferable for their level of investment/business model. The sort of players we unearth can excel in the 3rd tier and raise their stock with a promotion, before being sold for a big profit in the 2nd tier. The weakened team with raw replacements gets relegated. Rinse and repeat.
Knock off the running costs and they'd maybe make 1 to 2 million profit a year. Split between two or three multi millionaire/billionaires what would be the point in it for them? I don't for a minute think they're here for altruistic purposes but neither do I believe they're here to make pocket change yo-yoing between this league and the Championship.
There's always that shadow of doubt when it's such a young, unestablished squad. Consistency is key in the League, with one or 2 experienced quality players we could compete higher up.
