To be honest, today was a huge surprise, a very unexpected and pleasant one, but a surprise, nevertheless. I expected Minority Report to be trying to explain why Fulham had beaten us so easily, but now I find myself with the problem of explaining why they didn’t. The surprises began early. Almost my last choice for captain at the club this season would have been Mike Bahre. He played the full 90 minutes just 3 times last season, and who needs a captain that does not lead by example. Neither was I a Bahre fan last season. There is no doubt that he has a good touch, but I felt that he was only effective if his marker got too close, and he fell for the drop of the shoulder that is Bahre’s standard response. I was not sure how he fitted into the systems we saw Stendel play last season, and I figured that Bahre would be just a bit part player this season at best. Clearly, I know nothing. Stendel says the system has not changed, but from my seat, it is subtly different, and that difference allows Bahre to fit in a little better. But would he play in a genuine 4-4-2 or a 4-3-3. I am not so sure. I say that the system was subtly different, and it was. It was a hybrid, a system that could not decide whether it was 4-4-2 or 4-3-3. In fairness, we played that way after Moores injury last season, but is that system, Bahre was definitely the player who linked the lines in a 4-3-3. Today, he spent more time closer to Woodrow and the system looked more like 4-4-2 on occasion. The press was different as well. Goalkeepers are reluctant to kick away possession these days. They prefer to pass the ball short and allow defenders to pass the ball forward and securing better possession. Our response was to try to mark all the keepers short passing options, putting those players under immediate pressure when they received the ball. Last season, our opponent’s goalkeeper was generally far happier to kick the ball from hand, so that would not have worked. Instead, last season the press was applied immediately possession was sacrificed in the opponents final third. We had more players in position to apply the press effectively. For example, wide players were not expected to track full backs. We had more confidence in our superiority, and that belief meant that many teams refused to even test our resilience to overloading against our full backs. Even so, the press cost us almost as many goals as it delivered, because once the press is broken there is more space beyond it. I worried before the season opener that a team that was able to play their wat through the press could destroy us. It is all change this season, or it was this afternoon anyway, and wingers were tracking back in more familiar fashion. I am going to have to change the notes about systems that I have already written if this continues. It was very warm out there today, and I was convinced that the work we put in during that first half would tell in the second. In fairness, Fulham did have more time and space during that second half, particularly just beyond the edge of our box, where our midfield could no longer apply the pressure they did in the first half, and personally, I would have been tempted to change our shape to give us an additional midfield player in that area when Fulham had the ball. Our captain stayed on the field for the full 90 minutes, but the final 20 were hard for him. He no longer had the energy to provide the link. Mallik Wilks went into the centre and Bahre replaced him on the left, but played far deeper. The team became a true 4-4-2 as a result, but that meant less work for our wide players as they retreated deeper to become two more compact fours in front of our keeper. As time ticked away, Stendel took the momentum out of the game by making his 3 substitutions, replacing all the front three. Fulham were 4-3-3 in possession and 4-5-1 out of possession. They were rushed out of their game in that first half, but they did not take advantage of tired players like they should have in the second. There was more room for them in the second half, but their shooting was abysmal throughout. Mitrovic was especially disappointing, contributing virtually nothing from the inside of Diaby’s pocket, but I also wonder why the threat of Knockaert was left languishing on the bench until 65 minutes. Do not get me wrong, here. Barnsley played very much better than I was expecting, but there were some big holes in our defensive shape from time to time, holes that Fulham ignored. I am grateful for the win, but at the same time, I understand only too well that early season brings results that defy explanation. I look forward to reading about the conformation of this result next week. I have just invented a new prize. It is the prize for being able to smile, even when you feel like weeping. It was bad enough that Cavare was asked to play left full back, but when Knockaert came on, things went from bad to worse for him. Stendel clearly wants pace across the back four. He also wants height as well. Neither Williams, nor Pinillos are either big enough, and neither are they quick enough. That meant that Cavare has to play there for now, but I will rest much easier when Cavare is replaced with a proper left back. He finds concentration almost impossible when he is on familiar ground, and today, it proved impossible. Rookie Watch I expected Collins to be first choice keeper this season, but he will have to be a good player if he is going to displace Radlinger. He was faultless in everything he did, and there were no alarms when the ball was at his feet, unlike with Davies. I could not recognise Toby Sibbick from the description applied by some on here in relation to his pre-season performances. Admittedly, he did not have a lot to do, but I cannot say I remember any obvious errors. Bambo Diaby is going to be a fan favourite. Unlike others, there were obvious errors in his performance, but he is strong and he is quick. He is our next big money sale. Mads Andersen also did well, but he did not have a specific marking job against their front 3. He was in the right place twice to clear the ball with our keeper beaten, and these two clearances caught the eye of those awarding the club MotM. Luke Thomas scored our goal from a narrow angle, through the keeper’s legs. His task was helped enormously when the Fulham left back fell over, and he never beat his man again. Hopefully, he will get better, and even if he does not, Jacob Brown is waiting. Mallik Wilks’ had a game that was very similar to Thomas. He never beat his full back either, but he was much more involved. Connor Chaplin and George Miller both made brief appearances from the substitute’s bench, Chaplin filling in down the right side. Neither played long enough for me to form any judgement upon them. Player of the Match My player of the match is Diaby. They are still looking for Mitrovic.
I was referring to his concentration. I sit in the East Stand upper tier and can often look straight along the offside line. Cavare was repeatedly closer to the goal than the other 3 defenders, and that means that a forward can be beyond the other three who are confident the player will be flagged offside, but he won't because Cavare is playing him on-side. I have said in the past that Cavare is a superb specimen, but if he cannot concentrate, it is all for nought.
Always enjoy your match appraisals RR, thank u for that. I do agree Diaby was my mom too, reminds me in his uncompromising style of Darren Moore, a fan fav in the making. The coach (imho) was spot on today with his systems, although i thought we needed fresh legs a bit earlier.....but what do i know? Special mention for Wilkes, who gave Fulham problems today and must have been close to most fouled man on the pitch, he can also "draw a foul".....something we have lacked. Anyway thanks for the report RR, nice to have u back.
Thomas’s goal took a deflection that beat the keeper. But his calm execution was good to see. Fantastic result and well deserved
I thought the new centre halves complement each other well, on today's showing. "Good game, Mads" "Cheers Bambo. You too, mate."
Wilkes never beat his full back? He beat him that much Fulham brought a sub on and changed formation after half an hour, they then resorted to fouling him every time he got the ball
I think that one of the local London papers have got it spot on with their headline " Fulham humbled with opening day defeat at Barnsley." Nobody expected us to win, myself included. If we can cultivate a feeling of self confidence in our ability to win games against the better teams, we should be OK this season.
great gonna be you back red rain. as always...v thorough. agree with much but not all.....one player who stood out for me today was Cameron Mcgeehan. he bossed the game from midfield by winning tackles, nipping the ball breaking up play and playing simple short passes allowing us to break. also great credit to Daniel. he has glued together 10 new lads into the existing group and turned them into something which looks very cohesive. for all your comments about not going over the top on a managers influence I think this time we should. remarkable job by our man.
Pretty accurate summit up to me though as others have mentioned think Wilks did slightly better than you give him credit for. Onwards and upwards
Good read Red Rain. Articulate way of putting your observations across. I saw Cavare's performance slightly differently (from the Ponty End) , thought he was excellent, and was being the senior defender by constantly organising the back four. Welcome back.
Good read ,Red Rain. A reminder to keep our feet on the ground while many of us are still floating on air after that performance. Harsh on Cavare though - I think he adds things that don't fit neatly into your tactical analysis. And (as I've mentioned elsewhere) I like the greater maturity from a player who got sent off and cost us the game the last time we played Fulham down here.
An excellent read, thanks for taking the time. As I was watching the stream, I couldn't always see Cavare's positional failings, but it doesn't surprise me as he's a bit of a maverick, shall we say. However, I was very impressed with the way that he popped up in some very unorthodox positions when we were attacking, drifting well infield to support the central midfield. I can only assume that he has been given licence to do this, and that someone is always covering. Bahre as captain - I assumed it would be McGeehan or Mowatt, but as soon as I saw it was Bahre, like you I understood that Stendel is planning to build the team around him. I can't say I'm completely surprised, just because if you listen to interviews with Bahre, he's clearly a highly intelligent bloke, sounding more articulate in English than many English people I know! If only he could finish. Very exciting to think that we've still got Dougall, Brown, possibly Kieffer Moore to come into the team at some point. Plus the emerging Callum Styles.
During our Premier League season Yorkshire TV's magazine programme did a piece on Neil Redfearn. He was 32 in '97 but he still went out on the field with his dad every day and practiced shooting over and over and over again. That's why he scored so many goals. Bahre needs to do that.
Great read - thanks for posting. I thought Thomas and Wilks were brilliant yesterday. They were more than happy to run with the ball and maintained possession when they did. This for me is going to be key for us, especially against the better teams. In our relegation season, we would often work hard to win possession back but then give the ball away, almost immediately, then invite pressure back upon ourselves. Today we have 3 outlets - Thomas, Wilks and Bahre who all ensured that our transition between defence and attack was possession based and quick! The transition between defence and attack is also much quicker than in previous systems and the team look extremely well coached to offer options on the counter. That will cause teams lots of problems this season and I for one look forward to seeing it progress. I also thought the back four were class today.