I know its been done before not really wanting to compare players just a few points that strike the diffeence between then and now. Striking options going into the final 2016 we had four strikers winnall- a 20+ striker in league one. watkins- a winger come striker was in double figures from playing the wing and as striker. Fletcher- brought in on loan in jan another good striker option. Ivan Toney also brpught in in jan he was raw but still another good option to have. Stendels options. Kieffer- great option 20+ striker at this level. Woodrow- another good striker. Victor- very raw not ready to be playing week in week out. Jacob brown- never shown anything to suggest he is a striker at this level done okay on the wing. We really should have strenghtend in January like we did in 2016 stendel has been let down. Also in 2016 we scraped into the play offs scunny result at bramall lane the deciding factoe we had those games where we didn't play so well but the one thing that team had was a massive threat from set plays conors free kick away at port vale, george Williams header, isgroves Wembley goal mawson and robo always a threat. This team has scored some lovely goals one touch football one has just got the goal of the month but we never look a danger from set plays sadly.
I think the starting 11, when fit this season is as strong & in many cases stronger than the 2016 team. Problem is that the cover is all kids with very little experience. Some have done excellently over the season, but we have lacked attacking options since Kieffer's injury & the departure of Potts & Moncur. I can see why both of them were sold, but Green was the only replacement, and he looks a little green at the moment. It has been an excellent season & DS has had us playing some very attractive football. I think a couple of older heads in January might have been a good move, just as cover.
I think this seasons 11 is as good but you have to include Potts in that who was sold, dougall who has had long spells out injured so as Woodrow and kieffer moore. Like you say a strong 11 but the back up especially upfront isn't great. Last time we brought in 2 premier league youngsters to back up our striker options Toney and Fletcher this time nothing. We have had to play young ben Williams at left back in his 1st senior season and play Jacob brown in a position he has never played before. I think if we go up stendel has done a great job with what he has had to work with.
I think there’s similarities in that we were running out of options off the bench. I remember going to Sheff Utd in April & us drawing 0-0 & we looked dead on our feet & I thought the season was over as I couldn’t see how we could change it as Watkins had got crocked & aside from Toney & Chapman we didn’t have a lot of options. It was lads like Tuton, McCourt & Khan who were regulars on the bench. I just hope we can find a second wind like that team did. Maybe we got lucky that Wigan were already up but that game certainly got us going again & we were outstanding in the play offs
Yeah we did look poor at bramhall lane although we should have nicked it with Fletcher having a good header chalked off. I just think we have lost our only natural holding midfielder in dougall and our biggest goal threat in kieffer and the options on the bench in this team aren't as good as the team in 2014. That team strengthen in January this team has been weakened.
I think we got more points from the start of the calendar year than anyone though, even wigan. Summat like 53, so thoroughly deserved to be in there.
It was the momentum we got that season that saw us get promoted. Sadly I almost think we peaked too soon this year and now are lack of strength in depth is coming back to haunt us after a couple of long term injuries. Our subs usually weaken the team not enhance it.
Its only my opinion like, but Davies and Cavare (and possibly Mowatt) are the only ones of our current staring XI that would get in the 2016 team.
It's all opinions, but there's not a shred of doubt in my mind that if the 2019 team were to play the 2016 team they would be utterly outclassed. That is not to say the current team do not have their own attributes, but they are nowhere near the class of 2016. Had the 2016 season had another month or two to run we would have gone up as Champions. That that team was dismantled on the cheap (and I know we've gone over all the reasons for that) is the reason we are striving to get out of this league via the playoffs again.
All opinions mine is this team wouldn't be outclassed and are better defensively and play some very nice football. But the 2016 team had the better squad more options to cover injurys and always a massive threat from set plays. I don't think we would have gone up championship if we had a few more months playing. We 1st got into the play offs in early march after beating Walsall away and in the end only got in on goal difference. Like django says we looked dead on our feet at bramhall lane, we lost at home to relegated chesterfield, were poor against peterbourgh but scored a late g Williams header from a SET PIECE, we drew at home to relegated Colchester and then went and hammered the champions.
I think what you can say is that if the 2016 team had gelled at the start of that season instead of waiting til Christmas we'd have won the league by a street. That is the most dominant Barnsley team I have ever seen.
The 2016 team had goals in the team from many players and from free kicks / corners etc . The 2019 team are hard working and hard pressing team but with less flair and match winners in the team
Absolutely, the definding factor was cryne signing hammill which forced Johnson to play 442. Before that we had the players but the style of play let is down.