NO - not a WU - our forward play was foooking rubbish

...... as per ..... we will have the usual suspects being overjoyed because we won - but Jeez - that was POOR!!!

And it was poor for just one reason - Bradshaw CANNOT play the single striker role.
He's not a bad player but his style of play is suitable for playing alongside a target man.

So why why why does Hecky keep playing Bradshaw on his own up front?
We have to play 451.
I hate the 'make do and mend' - but that's what we have to do here - only option up front now is Hedges who has a bit of height about him.

This absence of a proper target man is severely affecting all the teams play.
We have a fantastic goalkeeper, defence and midfield - but it all goes pear shaped when we boot it up to Bradshaw who looks about 5'2" tall when stood next to central defenders.

The only time we look like scoring is when the opposition has the ball - that is to say - we only look like scoring when there is a quick break away.

In normal play we look ***** - and it's because the wingers haven't a target to hit so there's chance of a heading goal - and the midfielders haven't got a target man to hit that can hold the ball up so other midfielders can get forward and score.
It's bad ....... really bad ...... and it will only get better until we are able to limp over the January transfer line and sign at least one good target man.

Change it Hecky.

 

Bradshaw was superb yer girl.

 

Bradshaw had an excellent game today and was deservedly the MOM. Always puts a shift in and works hard for the team.

 

I'm not saying he is a bad player - but just take note of how many times the play breaks down when it's crossed or lumped upfield to Bradshaw.
It's not working !!!
Birmingham were there for the taking.
And so was Hull etc etc.
We have just ONE weak spot in this side ...... and that weak spot is - we DO NOT have a proper target man at the club !!!

 

Man of the match performance from Bradshaw today.

 

Thought this was a Hemsworth post.

 

Jeez !!!
Not his fault - because of the role he is asked to play - but worst display in Barnsley team came from Bradshaw.
All the rest of the team played really well.
As for Yiadom ....... this guy is just Premeirship class and it's so easy to see.

 

Happy clapper

 

The guy works his socks off.
That dosent mean he is effective in that role.

 

We've just scored 7 goals in the last week.

Only 1 was scored by a striker, the other 6 coming from different positions.

I don't see sharing out the goals as a problem and I don't think football is as simple as hitting a big front man with long balls and crosses.

I'm not bothered who scores really, as long as someone does.

 

The play is persistently breaking down when it's moved forward to Bradshaw.
He just hasn't got the height or strength to offer an aerial threat - or get hold of the ball and wait for others to join the attack.
We have a brilliant midfield and we are not seeing anything like the best of them because of the absence of a proper target man.

 

we've just scored 6 goals in two games , Bradshaw has 9 in 15 games . Looking back to last season not many strikers won the ball in the air against Roberts (he just can't pass the ball) Our recruitment policy excludes an experienced 6'4" capable holding striker ,so does our current budget . The way its looking is we won't 'limp' into January we'll go in firing on all systems , its how we get through January and beyond without losing a few that's the question

 

The reason we play 1 up front is because we don't have the players to play 4 across midfield, not that we don't have the players for 2 up front.

Bradshaw had a great game. Got on the score sheet again. We played to his strengths for the goal, but obviously that was the only time we did. The problem isn't with Bradshaw, it's with the service he receives.

 

I've read some utter **** on here over the years.

This goes above and beyond on the idiot scale though.

 

Jeez! I thought he played really well and deserved his award. Agree on Yiadom.

 

You're having an absolute nightmare.

 

I agree with what you're saying about the long stuff and him not being suited to it, but it's not really a feature of every single game he plays.

We certainly didn't play that way for all of today's game, and besides that, which team is successful in never having attacks break down?

 

We won.be happy.

 

Imho if the type of long ball stuff that we are playing results in the forward having to compete against the centre half to win a header then that's the wrong type of long ball game. We're far more suited to a long ball over the top or down the flank as opposed to a mindless hoof.

 

Let's get this straight - Bradshaw is a good player - and he always gives 100%.
However - he just isn't tall enough or strong enough to play as a target man.
And because of this - the vast majority of Barnsleys forward play is breaking down.
Playing the system that we do - if we had a proper target man the VALUE and impact of the wingers and midfielders would greatly increase.
Plus of course - if we had a proper target man and Hecky decided to go 442 then that's when you would see Bradshaw really shine as a fox in the box type of player that he is.