If..

Flitcroft picks the likes of TK, Polly etc, and no place for the likes of Jennings, Hassell or RNL, AND we get dry loved by Hudds, do we want shut?
Or are we all overreacting?
After all, we all love him don't we?

 

Overreacting.

Will only still be 5 games into the season after Saturday.


Saying that though, we do look a bit **** at the min.

Itl be reyt u reds etc. etc.

 

"If" Good film that!

 

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but other than yourself I've not seen anyone bairning for rnl to start, I only see him as a bit-part player anyways.

 

Trouble is Andy none of these issues are clear cut. Plenty (not me) were calling for Steele to be dropped, RNL has only ever shown glimpses of what he can do, and to date Jennings' sole contribution in a red shirt has been to fall over the ball and get sent off. There's not even consensus that Bobby should start, although I think everyone agrees he should have been involved.

Personally I'm starting to wish Bobby had gone in the summer. Once again its becoming a sideshow which is undermining the management team, becoming devisive, and damaging our chances of success.

I disagree with Flicker's assessment of Hassell's worth to the side but at the end of the day he is the manager and it is his call to make. And if he didn't want to offer him a contract then the board shouldn't have, that's interference.

And from Bobby's point of view I feel genuinely sorry for him and to be honest can't understand why he loves the club because he gets treated very shabbily by us. And he deserves to be somewhere where a manager does think he offers value because he should finish his career playing week in week out like Foster is.

 

I don't think anyone was hoping that Steele would be replaced with someone with as little playing time over the last 8 years and over 40.

 

Get shut? Absolutely not. Even if Flitcroft had been crap last season, it's miles too early to even begin to contemplate dismissing him. But he wasn't crap, he was excellent. He steered Barnsley to a remarkable run of results with some truly excellent performances. I don't think I've ever seen such a highly motivated group of players before in a Barnsley shirt. I put that down to the guidance of David Flitcroft and the back room staff that he brought in.

If you don't sack crap managers so soon in to a new season, you certainly don't sack managers that have proved in the past to be very astute.

Discussing performances, team selection and other issues that surround the club means that you're interested and care about the welfare of Barnsley Football Club, it doesn't mean you want the manager sacked.

We're not playing as well as we were last season nor do the team appear to be as motivated or hard working, I think that's obvious to everyone, but highlighting that fact is not calling for the manager's head.

I think the squad is miles too big, but I see that as more of an issue at board level, rather than with the manager. I don't know a manager in the entire football league who wouldn't keep on signing players if their board allowed them to do so. Every manager thinks the next signing will be the one that makes the difference and are continually putting suggestions to their chairman or CEO. It's up to the board whether or not they pursue that player and sanction the signing.

Bobby Hassell is being discussed regularly, but no one is suggesting that if Bobby doesn't play the manager should go. Personally I think Flicker is misjudging Bobby's talents and he should be at least a regular on the bench, but if he doesn't rate him, that's fine. However, I don't think we should have re-signed him if we weren't going to play him and I believe having him train and play with the under 21s is disrespectful to a player who has given 9 years service to the club, but thinking that and wanting the manager sacked as a result are two entirely different things.

The loan signing of a 41 year old goalkeeper was always going to raise eyebrows. Particularly after the fiasco surrounding Luke Steele's contract offer when it was suggested he was too old. It was also stated at the time that Ben Alnwick was more than capable of taking over the number 1 spot should Luke move elsewhere. To then find out that Mike Pollitt is a close personal friend of our manager raises even more questions. But to ask these questions and to express an opinion on the matter does not equate to wanting the manager sacked.

IMHO there are a few weird things going on at the moment that are not necessarily in the club's best interests. I feel as a long time fan who has put thousands of pounds in to Barnsley football club I have a right to put forward an opinion on these (as should a newcomer, who bought his/her first ticket this season). That doesn't mean I should be listened to and/or agreed with, but I should be able to say what I think. This is an ideal forum to do that. But disagreeing with the club or the manager on individual issues does not mean I want anyone sacked.

I believe what is in the club's best interest is to keep David Flitcroft as manager. Even if the poor form continues I won't be calling for his head any time soon as I genuinely believe he is capable of turning things around, even if I don't agree with every decision he makes.

 

Completely agree with all of that Jay

 

No Whitey, not me anyway. Back in the day managers were given seasons to get things right. Illeyout, Hunter, Collins, Clarke the second time and Machin. Even Keith Hill had a season and a half to get it right. At the end of last season Flitcroft was the most universally liked manager since Wilson. I'm not happy with the start but it is just that, the start. I feel he has earned the right to a fair crack of the whip, not some knee jerk reaction. Let's see where we are after 10 games and we may have more of an idea where we are. Even if it is bad then he still deserves the time.

There's too much short term mentality in football and dare I say it in society in general these days... eee it were all green fields around here when I were a lad.

 

A1, spot on, on the money, nice one etc etc

 

Get shut after 5 games!!! Eye alreight!!!! Stop bin silly nar!! If we win just watch how things will seem so much different!!!

 

Excellent post Jay sums up my feelings. Flitcroft's a young manager and will make mistakes you'd hope those around him would be giving him useful advice.

 

What if he isn't seeking it or is ignoring it?

 

I fully expect Huddersfield to beat us on Saturday

and wouldnt be surprised if its by 2 or 3 goals. But it is the manner in which we play that is important, if there are signs that the high tempo, pressing game is returning, irrespective of personnel, I'd be happier than current. If its a hammering and heads are dropping, individuals that keep getting picked despite mistakes and results are hiding from the ball and the manager stands by them, I'm starting to think that history is repeating, managerial blindspot strikes again and I'll be chucking names into the mix........like Neil Warnock, for example.

 

Wouldn't matter what we did, we still have a vert tough run of games coming up.
Fact is we have league 1/2 players who aren't good enough to play in the Championship.
Dawson, JOB, Dagnall, Kennedy, Golbourne, Mcnulty all need getting shut of as they don't require the quality to help us progress.

 

'We'?

What's all this 'we' business?

 

My biggest issue in all this is Flicker seems to have his favourites and plays them regardless of formation or form. At the moment Kennedy and Dawson should be nowhere near the first team and he's got 5 or 6 wingers on the books so play 4-4-2. Yes it's a bit dated in modern football BUT if its used correctly like Cardiff did against Man City on Saturday it really is effective both attacking wise and defensively.

No we don't need to sack him as he's got a bright future but to progress he needs to ensure that it's not an 'old boys club' mentality.

 

Excellent post, Jay

And so early in the morning, too! I couldn't put together such a good post had I all day to work on it.

 

Cracking post Jay. Nice to witness a bit of common sense and footballing knowledge on this board for a change.

 

Exactly.