Normally I'm an optimist

But this weekend I have nothing but sadness with regards to my club. Sadness that such a young squad is haemorrhaging confidence & self belief. Sadness that the joy of winning our first automatic promotion for 22 years is now a distant memory. Sadness that the promotion euphoria which resulted in the best season ticket sales for nearly twenty years has quickly dissipated, leaving behind nothing but frustration and anger. Sadness that our successful Head Coach repeatedly asked for experienced players this Summer, but the club did not bring any in. Sadness that committed long term fans have now decided to withdraw their support, some for away trips, others for selective home games. Sadness that our Head Coach & his staff appear to have lost their bubbly, infectious, positive demeanour.
I wish I had the answer to all this, but I don't. Others seem to believe we need to adopt a different style of play, or alternative formation. Yet more have the the belief we ought to drop particular players they don't like or rate. We've now got fans demanding we sack the Head Coach to improve matters. Some believe it doesn't matter what we do, as we're going to be relegated anyway. Who am I to say anyone is wrong with their conclusions when I'm incapable of of providing alternative assessments?
I honestly don't know how we get out of this slump, improve things on and off the pitch. I DO know I still back our Head Coach and his staff 100% & I believe they can do a job for us. Also, I'll continue watching my team as long as health & finance allows.
I apologise for this rambling, pointless tome. But I simply wanted to feel better by getting things off my chest. Sadly, it hasn't worked.

 

Sorry but YOU can't say stuff like that, its like somebody turning the lighthouse off when you are powering towards the cliffs

 

Don't apologise Kev, in my opinion you're simply articulating the opinions and thoughts of the majority of Barnsley fans.

 

Yikes! This really is time to worry!

More seriously, there are always serial moaners like misself who chime up when things go wrong, but when the more positive among us are beginning to worry and express disillusionment then the club is listing off course (although many of us are not sure of the course those up on the bridge are pursuing!)

 

Agreed. I'm normally upbeat and defensive of the club, but things are awful, and it's possibly going to continue until January, if not for the rest of the season.

 

I refuse to let Barnsley fc spoil my weekend anymore. I think as I've grown older I've realised it's really only a game and there's far more important things to worry about.

 

You've got the right attitude. Sadly, I'm still as immature & pathetic as I was decades ago. I'm the ultimate Drama Queen.

 

Fully agree with your 100% backing of Stendel & Co. They clearly have a very in depth knowledge of how the game of football works. But it was a big ask for them to get a bunch of young, enthusiastic but ultimately inexperienced lads to subscribe to this style of play.

 

I used to post, jokingly, that all decisions made by the club are designed to annoy as many fans as possible. I wish I hadn't done that now. They appear to have taken my posts on board.

 

Quite rightly a lot of us share your concerns Lil. It's a horrible time for everyone who supports our beloved
Reds. The Board must surely be aware of the growing unrest and it will be interesting to hear and hopefully
see what they are prepared to do to arrest our slump at some point going forward.

 

I feel it. It’s heartbreaking to think we have got ourselves here. It’s also sad that us fans who usually have 20 different things to criticise when there are only 19 are pointing to the same common denominator of lack of experience / quality that’s driving this depression.

 

The sad part for me this time around struggling in this league is the lads on the pitch and in the squad (with the exception of maybe only 1 or 2) are genuine grafters, I can’t actually fault the effort, as poor as we were against Derby, not being able to complete 10 yard passes, bumping into each other, going for the same ball, nobody going for the Ball, I actually thought we kept going and trying right to the end. It’s been like that nearly every game. It’s just they are not quite good enough and not experienced enough and haven’t played together enough. I cringe when they get booed as I dont think they actually deserve that, they’re trying, I really believe they are - It’s just not enough. We’ve been set up to fail and I just think it needn’t have been like this, we could have given ourselves more if a chance.

 

I feel your pain. The problem is that there was a time many years ago, when it all seemed more important, that being beaten 5-1 would have been embarrassing to me. Yesterday, I felt meh!. Just closed down the BBC sport app and did something else. If the owners don't care, why should I.

It seems to me that, through tragic miserable necessity, a huge clanger has been dropped selling the club to these people. They don't care for the town or the fans. Whether we are successful in a sporting sense appears to be of little significance to them. I fear for the future because when people en masse realise that it all seems pointless, no-one will care any more.

 

People who boo these players don't understand football. In fact, they probably don't understand much at all.

 

Your post sums up my feelings too BigLil. I'm going round a sad - angry - frustrated loop over and over again.....

 

When you are worried and disillusioned then its definitely time to be concerned.

 

This thread probably sums up most of the issues we as fans are frustrated about, For me the way forward is not to change the manager, he is dealt a poor hand and is trying to get them to the required standard.
The responsibility lies utterley 100% with the owners and their reasons for wanting buy a football club.
Profit...nowt else
Sell sell sell, get a few million in, replace with kids, get relegated, get promoted, sell sell sell, repeat ad nausium
They could not give a toss about our club or town or people or our history.
Seen some negative posts around Daniel, but any replacement would have to work with the very same players

So what can we as fans do?

Nowt as regards the ownership

What we COULD do though is to show Daniel that we appreciate what he brings to the club, so much passion and dynamism...don't lose it!
Don't forget in 2016 we were bottom of the league in December with some great players in the team.
The appearance of Hammill sparked that fantastic run to promotion, perhaps we might get a similar player in next January.

Success and failure are fine lines in this tough league so hopefully things will turn out alright, I can only hope

By the way, apologies for anyone I upset yesterday, I was a bit sharp with some replies which I regret, just having an irate moment (or several,and I am tee-total!)

 

There’s some logic in what you say but surely the players have to be good to make money on .
At this moment in time non of our players will fetch much more than we’ve payed out for so I’m sure owners will be concerned .
Yes profit is probably what they set out for but to do that a team has to have some success with certain players shining .
I think that what your saying is the board will dismantle or intentionally weaken a side for any profit ?
Well there’s no gain in that whatsoever , there’s no shop window and there’s no goods to sell .
I’m sure the long term success will be to build s team whilst selling the odd players each season to sustain it .
Lessons will be learned I’m sure but as the owners have said it’s a long term investment and there’ll be ups and downs .
I’m sure the owners will address it and not have hissy fits and tantrums like us fans including me .

 

Great words Kev, I'm seriously thinking about cutting my away travel down due to recent results. Not missed this season.

 

I completely agree with Kev. I'm pretty much resigned to the lottery of play offs, myself..
Still... I wouldn't mind another Wembley trip..