I shall be cheering them on tomorrow and will arrive at Oakwell optimistic, as always, that we'll play well and win. No point going if you've no hope. I'm extremely confident in Hill, despite acknowledging some very strange decisions, player obsessions, and his rants about money. Given time, he could gradually build a team/squad to eventually hold its own in mid-table. I do think that particularly his recent complaints over money have been as a result of purse-strings being tightened even further due to the possible takeover, and his frustration at not being therefore to bring a striker in are understandable. I don't think he envisaged quite how much of a financial disadvantage he'd have in the division. It's nearly always the same people moaning on here. There are some of you who are normally positive who are worried and feeling negative, and I totally understand that. You make constructive points. However, those that for example have a go at Hill for not signing a striker... Do you not hear what he says? He has listed TWENTY-FIVE striker targets, I imagine all of which he thought he had some chance of signing, and none of them have come off. Pretty demoralising I'd imagine. I know I'd find it hard to stomach. I do believe that he is too negative in the press, but I believe there is reasoning behind it. I think he tries to get everyone (fans, media) talking about him and his comments, rather than concentrating on the players and putting more pressure on them. Keith comes across to me as an intelligent chap, certainly compared to your average football manager. I think some of our fans take him the wrong way and don't understand what he's trying to do. Is he perfect? No. If he was, would he manager of Barnsley? No. But I've got more faith in him than most managers I've seen us under. Why? Because I've seen he is capable of coaching players from nothing to brilliant - showing he can instil confidence in players. He has over a season and a bit got players to play his passing style. Not perfectly, but we're improving at it. Unfortunately, we've been derailed recently through not having a goalscorer and someone to effectively lead the line. Anyway, just wanted to redress the balance on here somewhat.
I'm also behind him And truly believe in what he's trying to achieve at our club. If, by holding such views, this means I lack the vision and understanding of the current issues shown by others, so be it. I've never claimed to have the same level of footballing knowledge as my peers. Nor can I provide an answer to every question posed, or have a solution to every problem raised. Anyone who holds an alternative viewpoint has every right to give their opinions & voice their concerns, just as I'm entitled to express mine. However, I'm not going to resort to making derogatory comments towards others who fail to share my beliefs of the manager and club
Excellent post JT, you have summed up how I and probably many more fans feel about Keith and the job he is doing.
Totally agree with the above posts, eveey time he has had his first team available Barnsley have been a competative side , last year pre Christmas and early this season showed what he is capable of, just needs that but of look with injuries and next few signings and on the pitch.
Journo - good post and I agree with your sentiments. From my point, the negativity is the one thing that disappoints me, as Keith has the opportunity week-in-week-out with the media to get his message across, so he should take this opportunity to create positivity. As i've posted before, he has been unlucky with injuries and I wait to see when McNulty, JOB, Silva and Mido settle into team.....points tally will increase.
Agree with most of that. I think he's basically a good manager. I think that he'd be an even better manager if he let flicker do the press interviews from time to time. Anyway, COYR!
I don't think that's the case. I think the only thing out of it's depth at this level is his budget so keeping us up is an achievement. I can see what he is trying to do and I believe that given time and hopefully a bit more money he will achieve things. With us or with another team I think he'll prove just what a good manager he is.
I will be there supporting them as always. However I reckon we will lose again today. That probably makes me the devil but never mind I will be backing them anyway.
I've said before this week in my opinion with all thats going on at the moment, survival is the be all and end all this season, and i hate myself for having to say that, so survival means its paramount the defence is strengthened or at the very least organised a hell of a lot better than at present. Forget signing strikers get some big ugly defenders in, that wouldn't cost as much as a striker and we can't lose any more fans can we? After saying all that Idon't expect for a second there will be any change of direction and we will sink in to oblivion but at least it will happen with the "best Management team" we've had in years, my arse.
Whoever is this manager, or whoever the players are come 3 o`clock MY team is art on the pitch with my backing.