We all said we needed a new defence…

He’s 4th / 5th choice striker. We’re already subsidising the wages of Dallas & have Shaw on the books too. How much do you realistically expect us to be spending on strikers when we’ve been losing money like we have? You can’t have 8 strikers on the books & be contributing wages to all of them.

If Watters did leave on loan then that’s what would happen. No ones paying his full wages after how poor he’s been.

 

Don't forget also that Kane is on 9 bookings so will miss 2 games as soon as he gets one more.

 

Id expect that to increase too if/when Williams does go back to playing RWB

 

And aren't we the second highest goal scorers in the league?

 

Oh good.

Just checked and the ten yellow amnesty is after 37 league games - there’s no way he’ll go that long without another yellow.

 

He’s been the 3 rd choice striker till last couple of games and now if either of the first 3 get injured now he’ll feature heavily .. you happy with that ?

 

I must be imagining the 42 goals from the 15 other players that BBC has us down as scoring.

 

I’m pretty certain he isn’t 3rd choice after the last match & Collins comments.

No, not overly but we can’t carry a squad of 22 quality players & have strong cover in every position.

I’m not saying he’s going to develop into anything special but I do think if called upon in a better side (which is what I believe we are now) then Watters will do better than he has up to now.

If you look at the benches of the sides Heckingbttom & Stendel took up there was a big drop in quality.

 

Agree.

The critical point here over a striker - what proven striker is going to come and potentially play 4th choice for us in L1. Not going to happen. We’ve Watters/Marsh and others who will battle for 4th choice.

 

But don't forget we have super Josh Benson back running on grass. Just have to make sure that he doesn't trip over a stalk.

 

On balance/reflection I think you're right.

Midfield and up front on paper we are strong. And just need one or 2 to step up a bit more.

But the defence has been the main issue so far this season, and appears to have been addressed.

So, I was expecting a little more last night than what transpired, but ultimately, it hasn't as you say, been bad if truth be told

 

Note to self, irony is lost on the BBS.

 

I understand what your saying and maybe I’m being unrealistic but in my opinion I would gamble on a loan strikers wages .. but we may go thru injury free and continue to challenge for a top 2 and we ll all be happy

 

I wasn't too fussed about another striker watters and Cosgrove need to pull there finger out.
Wasn't styles biggest fan but with him going cover at lwb or center midfield would have been good.

 

Much rather have had midfield cover for Connell, obviously there’s one potential incoming to be announced, but relying on Russell to fill Connells boots when he’s out isn’t great.

 

On the striker front i think you're correct, we do have enough goals and cover to get us to the end of the season as long as both Cole and Mcatee stay fit, because Cosgrove/Shaw/Dallas/Watters have all been below average so far this season and we've just found out Jalo is out for a minimum of 6 weeks with a knee injury.

Midfield again we do have options with Kane, Connell, Phillips, Russell and Benson but one of those has a season ticket with the physio room which means if we lose another to injury or suspension we end up with the bare bones. Our midfield 3 is up there with the best in the league but we needed extra cover there and if we don't end up getting this player from MK Dons on loan i think we'll be found out.

Defence we've apparently upgraded two centre backs which hopefully pushed Williams out to his more natural and effective RWB position which can only been seen as a positive, the only issue is we don't have cover for Cadden now Styled has gone on loan which means either Earl has to be brought out of position into LWB or we have to play a right sided player there which in itself is a problem.

All in all it's not as bad as many (including me) were making out last night, if i was being picky i would've liked another centre mid in (which could still happen) and a left back.

 

Another one, you and @Archey, talking sense. Do you think it'll catch on?

 

I think anyone watching Barnsley this season would say that the biggest problem has been our defending - only being redeemed by some outstanding goalkeeping. Fix the defence and there is no reason to think that automatic promotion is beyond us. Assuming these new lads do the business and make us solid at the back (whilst freeing up Williams to get forward more), the only way is up.

Admin, can we have a new "happy clapper" emoji?

 

We desperately needed at least one centre half who could win that first ball when both fit and ready we seem to have two box ticked. I didn't get the clamour for another forward look it would have been nice but we've not struggled to score goals. The one I think we might regret is no cover for Connell not got anybody at the club who can do his job might bite us on the arse.

 

once you get below it’s hardly consistent is it, can hardly believe Watters is going to double his count so that’s 5 between him and Cosgrove, supposedly two prominent front men.
Hope I’m wrong but can’t see anything in either of them to indicate that they will come good.