One thing I’ve noticed

There seems to be a decent correlation of those still defending Collins and those fans who haven’t been to the games. That isn’t universal, there are some who were there that still back him of course, and presumably some who watched on a stream (or not at all) who don’t. But there does seem to be a correlation there.

Is it that they aren’t there in person on to witness the dreariness? Does it not look as bad on screen as it does live maybe?

Are those of us in the ground getting overly influenced by the increasing toxicity at Oakwell to mould our view?

This isn’t a ‘better fan’ post by the way, I’m not asserting you need to be there to have a view or that mine is more valid than anyone else’s. Just pointing out the common bond that both sides of the fence seem to share in a lot of cases.

 

Good post..My relative watched on ifollow and was txting me saying we're playing good football and should be miles in front..im replying are ya sure your on the right channel...

 

I think these last 3 home games plus the second half against Bolton have changed a lot of opinions. I still think he has done well to get us in the play-offs positions, but our home form has been largely dire. My concern is the constant errors in our defensive play, first thing that goes wrong and you can see horror on their faces and the panic set in, especially at home. I thought signing Josh Earl was the key to maintaining our promotion push and in his first. 2 or 3 games that seemed to be the case. Sadly our defending has never been as bad as it now.Not blaming him individually, but collectively it has got worse.
I still think we’ll comfortably make the play-offs, but by the end of the season the points tally won’t look like it. Our match winning players such as Cole, Caine, Phillips and Macatee, were ineffective yesterday and some of them for a good while now especially Cole. Going to be interesting on Monday to see what ( if any) the response is. I don’t believe it’s a lack of effort, it’s a lack of ideas, nouse and confidence.

 

Not a lot of people know that

 

Well they are my thoughts.

 

I feel a song coming on,...........

You talk like Marlene Dietrich etc

 

Go to games and yes it's dire, just don't see many alternatives at this stage of the season and that's why I'm still just in the back him camp.
I'll keep banging the formation drum though, IMO it's an on field decsion taken out of the managers hands, not having alternatives is criminal, it is what is though and if it is the case, I could be way off but if that's the directive then no wonder it's the same same without the ability to change things up.

 

I go to home games and watch away games on iFollow. I’m not waxing lyrical about Collins but I’m not asking for him to be sacked either. Both would be way over the top in my opinion.

I said yesterday that there’s not been many home games this season that I remember fondly and thought we’ve played really well. Port Vale being the obvious one. However we have managed to grind out results, which is a good trait to have by the way. Away there has been many more better performances and clearly results.

Clearly if we went up, they wouldn’t sack him. If we don’t make the playoffs, they would sack him. If we get in the playoffs and don’t go up, that’s where the decision has to be made. I personally don’t think they’d sack him for that but he would need to hit the ground running next season otherwise fans would turn very quickly.

 

I think a lot of fans who go regularly have their favourites & players they dislike & once they’ve made their minds up that’s it.

Kane was our best player in the first half of the season & I was coming on here to read how bad he apparently was all because they’d got the munk on over an interview he’d given.

I’m not saying Jordan Williams was good at centre back but their were games when he played well & would start attacks & his pace would save us but it didn’t matter how he played he would still get slated on here.

Cole seems to get stick no matter what he does where as McAtee can be dreadful like yesterday & get his name sang after he goes off. That was truly bizarre. He played crap & spent most of the game berating team mates. I’d have had him off at half time.

The last home game when we drew 0-0 we created loads of chances & got in good areas but the final ball was lacking & I came on here to read posts saying we created nothing.

Neutral’s are often the best judges. They don’t have any pre-conceived ideas or favourites.

 

I don't think they'll sack him whatever happens.
They'll give him another year.
Our only hope is he's so embarrassed, he'll walk.
Don't hold your breath.

 

I honestly think some of our supporters love McAtee because he seems like ‘one of the lads’ who they could have a pint with and he has his socks pulled down like McBurnie used to, bet he loves the darts and a pint. Whereas Cole they see as the antichrist.

 

Before the Cheltenham game 2 weeks back I'd only been to 3 home games, treble that away - two of those home games were the early season losses vs Posh and Blackpool, where we were absolutely cack, but since then I figured we must've got a bit better as results had generally picked up - despite what some have been saying about us being poor at home still.

Been to the Cheltenham and Cambridge games where we've failed to score against two relegation threatened teams with a combined goal difference of over -40, and I now see what many people have been saying about how turgid our play is at home. Thought about getting a season ticket, those two games have put me off completely. Will stick to away games.

 

I think we've just become really, really predictable. Managers & players from different clubs do talk to each other, I can assure you. It will be pretty common knowledge that we're incredibly pedestrian getting the ball forward and if we change it up to go long-ball, we don't have the personnel or the system to make that work. Breaking quickly is not something any side we're playing has to worry about. They know they've got plenty of time to get men back behind the ball while our back line s-l-o-w-l-y pass it around between them. Our build-up is too laboured, no zip on the passes (why bother watering the pitch?!?) and little options being made in front for a positive ball through.
They'll also be aware that our CBs have at least one big mistake in them per game, so that even a bit of pressing & being on their toes will give their strikers a gilt-edged chance.
I also think a change of formation is needed, especially at home. No idea what that is, but that's why Collins is paid the big bucks...

Anyway, on the plus side, we've only got to endure two (possibly three) more of those Oakwell $hitshows before season's end. Silver linings....

 

You could well be right. If we were to finish 7th or lower from the position we are in/have been in, that would be embarrassing though.

 

Then I hope we lose every game from now to the end of the season because I cannot watch his dress for another season regardless of which division we are in.

 

We could and SHOULD have been miles in front and then it would have been a different game altogether. This team seems to have a problem with conceding an early goal then struggling to get through the heavy traffic. 1-0 or 2-0 at half time and we go on to beat weaker teams 3 or 4-0. That own goal was just ridiculous and seemed to knock the stuffing out of us.

 

Brilliantly summed up great post

 

Watching football on TV I'd very different to actually being there. Harder to identify the players, you miss half of what individual players are doing off the ball etc etc.

 

While I agree with your point about fans who go regularly having favourites @Django , this is based on watching them for more minutes. Cole really didn't do much yesterday , every time he did have an opportunity to score he just threw himself on the floor at it. Very frustrating ! I think fans like Macatee because he puts the graft in, you can see he wants the win. Not saying that others don't btw, just his is more visual.

 

2 things for me:

1) Collins admitted in his interview yesterday, that we didn’t play much differently to what have in the past - just couldn’t score and gave away 2 cheap goals. He’s probably right - we’ve not really played brilliant stuff all year, but have managed to score, which has meant 3 points. What does this mean? Either that’s how Collins wants to play, or has to play with the players he has.

2) We can’t keep renewing managers every season. It just ruins us. We have to give a manager time to build, fine tune the squad and get the players he needs. Collins (upto recent games) had outperformed Duff with points on the board. And he’s done that with a poorer squad, with a brand new defence and best midfielder out injured. It doesn’t forgive recent results, but does mean he’s got something. And for me, the players are just as much to blame in all of this too. We just need to stick together, get through the rough patch and see how we do in the Play-Offs. For me, he has to stay as manager, we can’t change again. Players want that continuity too.