That is genuinely as good as I've ever seen us. And yes, I saw us smash Tottenham when they had Sol Campbell and Klinsmann in their team. I've seen us beat Man Utd and Liverpool, utterly destroy Chelsea and Man City numerous times (Top 6? We beat them more often than we lose to them). I was there for every game during the Clarke and Hunter years, and then the Wilson years, and we were fantastic. But tonight we were fantastic too. The gap between haves and have nots has grown considerably since then. We used to be part of a collective in this division that could afford to be there but didn't overspend. It made up half of the division. Now, we play a team 12 places below us and they have at least five players who cost more than our entire squad, often more than we've spent in transfer fees in our entire history, and their wages are more than our annual turnover. And we blow them apart. We leave them on their hands and knees huffing and puffing when the final whistle blows. Tonight was fk*cing amazing. All the effort those players have given this season and they still managed to put in a performance like that. I'd urge everyone to watch the match again and just watch Mowatt. Mowatt has played better than he did tonight. There were performances tonight better than Mowatt's. But just look at how much ground he covers. Look at the dedication and effort. He did that for us. Thank you. And then watch Morris and Brittain and Palmer and think to yourself, Christ, we've got some good players.
It's been a fantastic season and tonight was brilliant but I've just got one question for you, have you been having a tipple or two?
Like you @Jay, bursting with pride after that. Astonishing effort. Just wondering though - does it change your perspective on potentially watching a Reds side in the Prem next season, if they carry it all the way through? Like you I hate everything it stands for, but the more I see of this side and the sheer ******** they've got, the more I'm fascinated to see whether they could bloody the nose of sides even bigger than those we've faced this season.
Very good response to Sunday’s showing today. Also showed why our goal difference isn't as good as the rest of the top 7. That was as dominant a 1-0 win you’ll see. Should’ve been 3 or 4
I think that post is over the top Jay. It felt, at the end of the first half, that the performance was symptomatic of us desperately trying to get over the line. The second half was much better and anything other than a win would have been a travesty. Having said that, I agree with your comments about Mowatt. Tbh I don’t think he’s playing brilliantly at the moment but his energy, workmate and commitment is off the scale. He was still working his nuts off and covering yards as we went into injury time. Immense.
For what it’s worth, I totally agree. Huge huge performance. When it mattered. That’s the sign of greatness. said it for months now - GOING UP.
There are still people who won't be satisfied. It isn't total football, on a budget of 13p, and so it's just nowhere near good enough.
We won cos Dike scored a goal that only special players can score. Otherwise it'd have been 0-0. Alcohol fuelled hyperbole. Been there myself. It was an even first half and we hammered em second half. They have a somewhat depleted squad. They are a dog's bollock hair off the relegation struggle. Despite that, we were as good as I've ever seen us. Because we beat Huddersfield. It might be more useful to be have us all consume the same concoction that gets us to believe such tosh. What is it? Tonight winning was all, and you're never comfortable just 1-0 up. We were better than them by a mile by the end. As good as we've ever been? Err... review in the morning....
Aw, what’s he in about now? Lovely bloke, Jay. Just too many words, sometimes. Will read tomorrow.x where’s boss man?
I guess context is all. It's as well as I've seen a Reds side play, relative to the significance of the game, since St. Andrews in 2000. I think it's reasonable to attach extra value to the performance based on the fact it almost sees us into the playoffs, and bouncing back from a shocking performance on Saturday.
Still torn over it all to be honest. Got genuine admiration for the players that are representing our club. For me they've put professional back in to a so called profession that very often isn't. I can't speak highly enough of any of them. And, to my detriment, the rest of the club. I've called them out many times in the past, but over the last 12 months they've acted superbly. I still don't trust them, but credit where it's due, they've conducted themselves in a manner worthy of praise. And it's not worthy of praise because the team is doing well, they've done the right thing at every turn, even if we were bottom of the league they'd be worthy of praise. Although I accept that maybe my perspective has been altered because we're doing so well. Dyson, who helped produce the West Stand Bogs fanzine, credits me with the phrase Love Barnsley Hate Football. Or whatever TF it is. I don't remember the actual phrase or ever remember saying it. If I did, that's still how I feel now.
Sorry, disagree. The pressure was immense on the team tonight and they controlled the match impeccably. It is games like that and performances like this, which get you promoted.
We won cos we scored more goals than the opposition? Think you're on to a winner mate, you should inform the authorities of your findings. You're a regular Sir Isaac Newton.
The performance against Brentford away last season, when everything was up for grabs and when we held our own and eventually won a far bigger prize than owt that was up for grabs tonight and when we weren't playing an injury affected team half safe from relegation, was far greater than anything that happened tonight.
That first half was deliberate. This Gaffer plays with the mind of the opposition and they can't figure out what we're doing. Then he just makes the changes and puts the throttle down when he knows they're vulnerable. Everyone shouts 'Where is Plan B'. Well you just saw it and it set us up for as comfortable a win as we've had this season. Performance level wasn't even close to Noriwch at home in the cup or Brentford away though - folk are getting giddy and it's great to see!