If there's one thing i've learnt as a barnsley fan over many years, its that every season we'll lose a few games to spoiling horrible sides like that Stevenage one. Its an unfortunate consequence of playing the style of football most of us want to see.
I think a short answer would probably be "application". I felt a different ref (im in no way blaming him btw) may have been wafting yellow cards in the first half. This also played into Stevenage 's hands with their physical approach, from here we should have took note and used the same game intelligence. We definitely had better footballers than our hosts but this is what happens when you don't match up their aggression especially second half.
There's only 1 coach who has the ultimate authority telling them what to do. It works for every other club it can work here.
Our defence has been massively weakened and any cover ****** off out on loan. Our midfield is no better, we simply faked it to the fans by conning everyone with hourihane and up front we've swapped a couple of players around and still ended up with Cosgrove and Watters playing far too big a role than they ever should.
Fk me. Last week we were badgered by how good we were and definitely getting promotion and now we've been conned, lied to and are the worse team since sliced bread. This fan base is brilliant
I still don't feel we've properly addressed our left flank yet. We started out yesterday with 3 right footed centre-backs. Cotter, I assume was right wing back. Was Earl left wing back? If so it's not his best position. I know he played occasionally at Port Vale as a left back but it's expecting too much of the lad to bomb down the wing and get crosses in. Last season we knew Nicky Cadden was leaving and we knew that we really didn't have cover for him. Gent is clearly not rated by Clarke which means, not only have we not replaced Cadden but we don't have a back up left wing back. Yet we insist on playing with wing backs.
Begs the question why Clarke wouldn’t have wanted him. If our recruitment process is the same the head coach would be presented with the options and him given the option of choosing his ideal one from the ones highlighted.
Hes played his best games for us at wing back has Earl, done well there this season. Its only when he moved to centre back we conceded 3 - and im not saying they're his fault either. But he's been absolutely solid for us at lwb.
I’m still a bit baffled by the Cotter for Watters substitution at half time when it’s 0-0 , Clarke didn’t address that in his post match interview . He said he wanted more control of the ball than in the first half so he puts Watters on at half time
Solid but pretty much zero attacking threat, which when you are playing with wingbacks they are a critical part of our attacking/creativity.
I would agree that we have a talented league 1 set of players. Of course it’s only my opinion but I would a lot of our players would get in most sides in this division. Easy to say after the game yesterday but our defending is so soft. We seem to have a habit of either gifting opposition goals or allowing incredibly easy chances. We have a good number of coaches, any of them defensive coaches?
Poor, abject performance. Then again, I saw similar displays on occasions from the teams managed by Allan Clarke (first time around), Norman Hunter, Danny Wilson (first time around), Dave Bassett, Andy Ritchie, Paul Heckingbottom, Daniel Stendal, Valerien Ismael, Michael Duff & Neil Collins.
Yep, after seeing Barnsley 0 Rochdale 3, in front of the cameras, as a 9 year old, I learned that it doesn’t matter how good a team we have, they’re always capable of playing like chumps for an afternoon.
Philips would,he'd get goals and assists and with better players around him,he goes missing then can suddenly turn up,I hope we keep him along time.
The defence definitely needs improvement but please bear in mind they have only played together about 5 times and Pines is still coming up to full fitness and is still getting used to the English game