Barnsley players I thought had a poor game tonight

None

Barnsley managers who didn't do very well tonight:
None. It wasn't the starting line-up I would have gone for, I said before the game it looked too attacking to me, but if you can't give it a go at home then when can you? Within 15 minutes we changed from a 4-4-2 to a midfield diamond which tightened it up in midfield but exposed the full backs. Better, but still not right. Changed it around again at half time and a couple more times with substitutions that kept on improving us and for my money were were the better team after the break. The best managers in the world will come up with a plan in training that doesn't work in the game, what makes them a cut above the rest is how they can change it for the better during the game. Every change Danny made tonight saw us get better.

Opponents who looked very good tonight:
One. Blackburn. They looked as good as anything I've seen in this division. Not surprising when you look at some of the players they've got and how much they cost. Some of our players got skinned a few times tonight, it happens, they were up against class. But for every time they were beaten they produced something else of note. We battled, we fought, we tried to play football, we did play some excellent football at times and showed some real quality.

I was proud of my team tonight and I haven't got a single thing to moan about. We won a point against a top quality side, not because they were off form, they weren't they were at their best, but because we gave them a hell of a lot to think about and they couldn't keep us out. Onwards and upwards, we're not going down.

 

Thank God for that. Reading some of the posts tonight I was beginning to think I had gone to a different game. Your analysis is bang on the money. Yes, there were some issues, but as you said we got better with every change (that's what having a proper manager does for you) and we competed, for the most part, with what i thought was a very good team playing well on the night. It is infinitely more positive then it was in early December and I for one really enjoyed tonight.

The one measure of the improvement for me was that I was out of my seat at points of excitement or anticipation during the game more tonight then in the last 10 games under Flitcroft combined. Earlier on in the season, there was a run of a number of games on the bounce when I never left my seat once - no goals, no attempts on goal, nothing to get excited about. It is different now, the improvement was there to see tonight, we keep seeing small incremental improvements with each passing game, small knockbacks here and there, but small steady improvement.

We may still struggle to stay up, we may still fail to do so, who knows. But we can have optimism that we are in good hands and things will get better. They already are.

 

A good thread to end the evening on.

 

Stop it now. You're talking too much sense. Again.

What you have written is pretty much what I heard from the commentary team too. Good post.

 

What was refreshing to see was the commitment and fight we showed although at times we struggled to compete against a classy Blackburn side we matched them in spirit and our forwards looked sharp. I thought we grew in confidence after Steele's heroics in keeping them out in those first twenty minutes and after that beautiful cross and shot. After that although still often second best we made a real fight of it.

There were a few square pegs in round holes but I think injuries forced that and we looked very weak in both full back positions and central midfield though this was addressed when Digby came on in a shrewd move by DW.

If we show that level of commitment in our remaining matches win or lose I will be happy.

 

Thought it was a good game tonight - enjoyed it. Just a little frustrating how much we have the ball away.

Roll on setdi - hopefully with a right back.

 

Is Andrai Jones still at the club? Anyone.

 

As I said in the other thread you started, I thought Dawson was poor. He is most games for me but too many allow themselves to be hoodwinked by his supposed "work rate". Running around like a bull on a rampage just isn't effective.

 

Sorry mate, can't agree. I understand if Blackburn players get passed Dawson & O'Brien - they're two pressers so when both are at it it makes it easy to get round 'em. When Digby came on and just sat it looked a lot better. But the number of misplaced passes, the lack of our full backs getting out to meet their players, the amount of times they were running from their own half to the edge of the area without a challenge in that first half says to me that we were poor.

Second half we looked better. Still not great (I only remember a chance after the penalty which was lucky IMHO) but it was better.

 

I agree. The ability to change things during a game is the test of a good manager. As for Blackburn, the only thing I ever agreed with Keith Hill about is that the obscene parachute payments shouldn't be allowed to be used for player transfers (Jordan Rhodes £8m). Their purpose is to cushion the blow of lost revenue in terms of wages, club running costs etc. But given the fact that the Premier League appears to be hell-bent on destroying English football to further its own interests then I guess we can look forward to increasing inequality in the game.

 

I came away from the match last night more convinced that we'll escape the drop than I did when we beat Blackpool. Blackburn played some excellent football in the first half. Yet, even when they were on top, we still created the better chances, in my opinion. The second half substitutions gave us a foothold in the game and allowed us to push forward. Nick Proschwitz had a good debut, which in turn took the pressure off Chris O'Grady, who I thought was superb. O'Grady was my MOTM, just shading it over Martin Cranie, who had Jordan Rhodes in his pocket all game.
We were second best for large parts of the game, but stuck in there. & got our rewards in the end. There has been a number of occasions in the recent past where we have capitulated in similar circumstances. Last night we didn't.

 

"there has been a number of occasions in the recent past where we have capitulated in similar circumstances. Last night we didn't."

This ..^^^^^^

 

I think what last night showed us is either Digby or Hassell need to start every game sat in front of the back 4. We need someone in there doing the simple stuff & not getting dragged out of position.

I think we got away with it against a poor Blackpool side & having Mellis in front if Dawson & O'Brien helped us out but any decent side will take advantage of it

 

THIS.

Unfair to pin the blame on Dawson. He'd still start in my midfield as long as Hassell or Digby are behind to organise and hold a position. O'Brien never been a central midfielder. Ever.

 

Yep, agree with that. Dawson certainly has his uses and there should always be a spot for that kind of mobility and effort. Doesn't appear suited to a holding midfield role requiring discipline, physical presence and the ability to pick a pass. Hoping Digby will make that position his own and the more games he plays, the errors will diminish.

As loveable as Jimbo is, with a fully fit Jennings, Shea (is he good? I can't work it out) and Mellis, I'm struggling to find a place for him. Certainly worked against Blackpool but I think playing a compact midfield five contributed to that.

 

I also think Blackpool being pretty poor and us scoring at perfect times helped too.

Disappointed that Jennings was man of the match the week before yet suddenly he's shifted from his proper position last night. If we're playing 3 in the middle then I'd like to see Jennings & Shea off O'Grady with this Nick lad off the bench if needed. Don't like seeing O'Grady shunted out wide which he was last night.

And agree RE Shea - he looks quick, seems to make good runs but I don't know what he actually does. Lots of time yet though.

 

My eyesight isn't what it was but I didn't actually see Digby make many errors. I recall him getting caught on the ball once but I put that down to him adjusting to the pace of the game. The good news is that he appears to have rediscovered his 'football intelligence' (FFS). Hope so because we definitely need more quality in the middle of the park.

 

There were a lot of positional switches last night. Being overrun in midfield was the contributory factor. Shea was effectively sacrificed to sit on their holding midfielder. Suspect O'Grady was forced to move wide to fill the gaps, although he naturally makes runs into the channels anyway so I'm not too concerned about that. The addition of Proschwitz certainly took the pressure off him and gave us a threat through the middle which we haven't had all season. It's a tricky one for Danny because I agree with you, I'd prefer a 4-5-1 but how can you leave Proschwitz out after that? We've been screaming for more goals and I reckon given the right service he'll get some.

Reckon Shea is a playground player. Some outstanding touches, bit of pace but he looks like he's playing a different game to everyone else. Will go missing for long spells and then suddenly get his foot in or go on a decent run. Remains to be seen but if it's a attacking midfielder, in the hole with a bit of guile Danny is looking for, there's a scruffy footballing genius warming the bench. Alas, I fear Paddy's days are numbered.

 

On the way home we were saying that Shea looks real class. We were also saying that Nick looks a natural goalscorer and that, as much as we love him, O'Grady just isn't. Opinions eh?