Maybe playing with 3 different formations in one single match might be part of the problem Darrell my mate.
In amongst blaming the players rather than taking on the responsibility himself, which is now becoming boring, he inadvertently gave us a clue to what one of the major problems might be: "I played with three formations tonight." Who told you that was a good idea Darrell?
"If the players who are already playing out of position cant stick to a simple 3 formation game then what are they good for really?"
"I went 4-4-2 with two quick wingers to try to get on the front foot." You played 4 centre halves, 2 defensive midfielders and an attacking midfielder up front! One of those 'quick wingers' you've only ever played as a wing back or full back before, and that's where you put him later in the game, and the other you've never previously started. And you thought all that would put us on the front foot? You're as near to nuts as makes no difference. I'm going to bed before I read anything else you've said and I do myself a mischief.
He comes across better in the football heaven interview I've just watched to be fair. I think he's doing a pretty poor job but agree the players need to show more quality: https://x.com/footballheaven/status/1841229019787747659
"People keep telling me there is talent in the team. I understand where they are coming from. But I expected more at a club like Barnsley" The manager sounds like he's reviewing his stay at a weekend spa. If he wants to get personal, how about him observing that his team plays about as well as he dresses on matchdays?
He's a coward manager who's scared to death to send his team out to attack the opposition unless its really needed. It happened today for a brief few minutes after they scored, when he went 3 at the back, 2 up top and midfielders getting forward, and guess what, we scored. Within seconds we were back to a back 4, cotter as full back and one of the front 2 who had just scored a cracker hugging the touchline. Baffling manager making baffling decisions then blaming everyone and anyone when it doesn't work out
Tbf managers here really can’t win at times. Calls for him to be sacked at this stage are just ridiculous. Neill Collins stoically defended his players and never criticised them publicly - he was slated for not being straight. Now we have a manager who is openly critical, and he’s being slated for doing that. Neil Collins rigidly stuck to his guns, and was criticised for not making changes. DC makes changes and he’s slated for messing about too much. He made two subs tonight. Within minutes they had an assist and a goal. Where’s the credit for that? He’s right in a lot of what he says IMO. You can choose any formation in the world, once the players cross the line you expect them to do the basics. Week in week out they’re not. DC might be getting some things wrong. If he wasn’t he wouldn’t be a Division 3 manager. But im pretty sure he’s not telling them to give the ball away every 10 seconds, and defend like school kids.
Was thinking exactly the same regarding the regular criticism of Collins not having a 'Plan B'. I like that DC mixes it up a bit - makes me feel like he's still learning the squad, and hopefully we'll eventually hit on something that works. The football hasn't been pretty, but we're around where we hoped we'd be despite that, and I get the feeling we're still working out how to fit it all together..
Exactly. I wonder if some people who post on here have some kind of selective memory, because the same people will post completely contradictory stances, months, weeks and sometimes even days apart and act like it's totally normal. Wild. He needs to improve and also take his share of the blame for our poor performances. BUT, as you correctly put - he is trying to find a solution and be adaptable, which is what you would expect. AND, the players need to shoulder the blame by being crap, for huge parts of the season. We make so many basic errors, can you criticize Clarke for Cosgrove not being able to trap a ball for example? To be completely honest, I can't think of too many managers who would get more out of this group of players at present, especially in the pod we're fishing in.
I'm on my lovely hols in Santorini at the moment and thankfully missed the past two games and will miss another couple. Anyway imho....I'm probably in a minority on here who think that we are about a 10th finish kind of team.In that respect we are bang on where we are. The players flatter to decieve and and we have a lop sided squad that the coach is trying to shoehorn into a cohesive unit....at the moment we are not and we seem to have to play an outdated 5...3...2. I'm not sure the system helps but our recruitment has been shocking...from the games I've seen ...overall our passing has been terrible and we should have players, especially in midfield who can do that. In short its still early days but we need more from everyone.