Playing against a physical team, with two giant centre halves

Think about that for a minute. When have any Barnsley team ever been able to play against that sort of team? Peterborough were quicker than us to the ball and generally out to rough us up, and it worked. We were soft all over the park, Josh Scowen being the only exception as usual. I am amazed that the left back actually got sent off, but he deserved it for fouls throughout the game. Then again, he wasn't alone. Yet again (and this really does keep happening) whenever we actually ran with the ball there was a more than even chance of being blocked, chopped down or obstructed - whatever it takes to stop us, they were doing it.

That is not to say we played exciting, running football - quite clearly we didn't do that. We played into their hands often enough by lofting high balls down the middle for our (ahem!) giant number nine. Just think how much joy Sam could have had with someone like Devante Cole doing his running, provided the ball was played along the ground of course.

Look, it's easy to criticise the manager, the team, the pitch - whatever. The fact is that we had some young lads out there today and they weren't really up to the challenge. They will be, but not today. Even when Pearson came on he couldn't inject any quality. He was just a mini-me version of Digby. Sideways, backwards, can't tackle. I think that would sum him up, but he's not our player and we will only see him at Oakwell once more.

I'm not going to go through the team one by one. It was a sub-standard performance, undoubtedly. Jack Cowgill had a nightmare ten minutes or so and was responsible for their goal, but he will learn from that. Afterwards he was solid enough with his headers and tackles. On the other hand Josh Scowen was a powerhouse....again! What a find Danny made there.

Finally, I will criticise one player, and he deserves it in spades. When he arrived he looked like he had the Premier League pedigree allied with League One experience. A good signing, and free. It's all gone wrong though. He can't dribble, he can't cross, and never shoots at goal. So, what actually IS the point of Milan Lalkovic? Answers on a postcard to the management. There must be something there, but will we ever see it? Like Kane Hemmings, I think he could leave in the summer. With a few others, obviously

 

I liked their big ******* number 22 Santos. Anyone who got near him going for the ball were more than aware they were being challenged. The little guy number 3 who got sent off was like a Dennis Wise full back type being an hard ******* who always got stuck in despite being as small as Scowen.

 

Yet Berry the man of theft match never gets a mention ...

 

Could have been him near the corner stand who gave John a gentle nudge near the end. He hit him like an express train to make sure both he and the ball went out. I shuddered watching it. We never have defenders like that

 

Yeah we've not had that kind of nasty ******* big defender since Darren Moore who'd kick you into the crowd and take a yellow just so you know he's there to put you off your game for fear of being hurt. Dunno how good he is for them in other games but Santos impressed today for sure.