Realistic/Negative Post

I couldn't disagree more. Last season after a disastrous start Paul heckingbottom came inland got us playing the best football we have seen at Oakwell. Since the great Norman hunter team

 

What are you disagreeing with? I haven't said we didn't play good football.

 

What was the main reason behind our change of fortunes?

 

I'm saying it's the best team we've had over thirty years

 

Then you're insane.

 

The whole things built around the ethos of teamwork. And in that respect it definitely is

 

Think you should be watching Donny Rovers then you might be talking sense.

 

Why, what have I said that doesn't make sense. The Alan Hansen reference is a poor one by the way.

 

I expect us to finish in the top ten as a minimum

 

It all might make sense, however it`s like drinkin darn pub wi a bloke who`s glass is half empty instead o one who`s half full, it`s too much negativity.

 

Last season? I assume that you're referring to the signings of Long, White and Hammill. Experienced ish players?

That certainly seemed to stop the rot, however we completed our season without 2 of those 3 pretty much.

For me, our 3 most consistent players in the final 3 months of the season were arguably our least experienced 3.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

The team at Wembley, including substitutes, has lost 7 players. It takes time to integrate that many changes, and some of the new players may never be right. That is just how football is. You mix things together and you hope for a good result, but you never know until you taste it. The club has continued with its youth policy. It is hard to see what alternative we have given our limited finances, but it means that we go into the season with very few players who know how to win at this level. We have saddled ourselves with 4-4-2, which could see us with limited time in possession at Championship level, which means run, run and more running without the ball. It means fewer chances for the forwards and those forwards need to take a larger proportion of their chances. The first 11 may be decent, but there is a lack of numbers and a lack of quality below first team level.

I loved my day at Wembley, and I thought that we were by far the better team on the day. But I am a realist at heart, a glass half empty man to the core. The guile and the real class in that team was provided by Fletcher, and sadly, he is unlikely to return. I may be wrong, but I do not see that the new team is as good as that one. Sorry, but that is what I think. Whether we stay up or not will be determined by our start. If we have a bad start, our position will quickly become irretrievable. The confidence of young players is fragile and difficult to restore and there are few older heads in the team who can motivate during the 90 minutes on the field.

However, I have watched my team for over 50 years, and if that has taught me anything, it has taught me that there is always another season and always another chance. The experience of playing in the Championship will do this set of young players a lot of good. If they do go down, they will all be 1 year older and they will have that experience to fall back on. They will be in a better position to fight for promotion back to the Championship and will have a better chance of staying there because of their experience this season. I think that Barnsley FC are playing the long game and that game involved the building of a team from solid foundations, which start from building from the bottom upwards. In that respect, it does not matter whether we stay up or not, so long as the club as a whole is stronger for the experience.

The fans can help by being patient, by playing the long game along with the club. They can stay off the backs of the players if results should go against us over a long period and they should refrain from asking for the coach to be sacked if the inevitable looks likely. Heckingbottom is learning as well, and he will be a far better coach for his experiences this year than he was after we won at Wembley. As always, patience is the key to long term success, well that and lots and lots of cash.

 

Like nyatanga

 

I think so pal and they all sit near me. I'd dread to see their missus

 

A good chef can turn average ingredients into a tasty dish...

...a poor chef can ruin good ingredients! Don't underestimate the manager's role in this and we have a good 'un !!! It's not so much about individuals as a team. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Trust in Hecky!!

 

I like the fact we have pace, players who will create chances and are excellent at all set pieces. Importantly we've got the potential for goals from many different places. Hourihane, Hammill, Watkins, Scowen, Moncur, Bradshaw, Winnall and even Mawson can all score goals. So we're not stuck with relying on one or two players to nick a goal. Far too often I've looked at a team sheet and wondered where goals would come from. Not now!

Edit: I don't think the importance of the above can be over estimated in this league. We need goal threats from various places on the pitch against better defenders.

We do lack a bit of strength in depth, especially at CB, but I'm glad we've not bought players in just because we need to. The policy of waiting for the right ones or using the loan market (which we now have a good reputation for bringing players on) will hopefully bring us success again.

 

Don't judge till we've played at least 5 matches.

Personally I think we'll surprise alot of people this season.

 

We have in place a transfer policy that suits the club, bringing in "experienced at this level" players (journeymen by and large) has done us no favours whatsoever in the past. Very much roller coaster season ahead I reckon, really impress one week...hammered the next. Can't wait.

 

What people always seem to omit when referring to that team is that the squad also contained schmeichel, bruce, pallister, ince, hughes, mcclair and cantona. Bryan Robson was also in that squad but didn't play much. Massive amounts of experience throughout the spine of the team and the squad in general which allowed the youngsters to flourish.

 

Paul Warhurst