Fair play to our fans yesterday

I've previously been critical of our fans being quick to get on the teams back when things aren't going our way. I've often thought it's part of the reason why in recent years, we've often gone another goal down when we are already behind, because there's nothing trying to lift the players, and they've often looked nervous when going a goal behind.

But I thought the atmosphere yesterday was fantastic. The Oakwell faithful got behind the lads after the first goal, and whilst there were a few mumbling when tbe second went in, and some boo's at half time, the atmosphere in the main was pretty lively and positive, particularly after the equaliser.

It sounds clichéd, but we can be the 12th man this season if we get behind the team.

 

One of the main reasons why things feel a bit different so far this year. Dunno if you heard the Radio Sheffield interview but he talked about the fans staykng with them at 2-0 down.

 

Agreed, it felt like a new belief instilled in the players has rubbed off, still the odd few cap ends about, will always be the case.

The entertainment factor on offer is great 15 goals including Reading last season and we've scored 10, the manner of the last 2 performances speaks volumes, 3 pts next week v Bolton will give us great momentum and put a real marker down at Oakwell.

 

For me and I don't think I'm alone. I like players to work hard I criticised Humphrys last season for strolling around going through the motions. Not one lad yesterday could be accused of that or v Plymouth and fitness levels are much better it's good to see.

 

It is a potential advantage we have in this league over around 3/4 of the rest of the teams given our comparative size. If we can get Oakwell rocking it could help squeeze those extra 10 points or so.

I think this happened second half of season under Duff and it was massive for us in the Flitcroft great escape season. Given Hourihane’s relationship with the fans, one of the major ingredients is there to help it happen this season. It would be great for Oakwell to become a fortress again. Sorting that defence out would also help like …

 

I think Hourihane is the reason. That 2016 season epitomised the club, and Cryne even pretty much said Hourihane was his golden boy. It's what we needed and Conor has brought some of that 2016 spirit back.

Having said that, Conor's managerial inexperience could cause us to lose our next 5!

 

Well we need it ,as we have played 12 men in both fixtures so far ,in fact 10 v 12 last week.
Be good to see us compete 11 v 11 soon.
Shocking ref in both games.

 

I remember attending a fans' meeting at which Patrick Cryne said: "I love Conor Hourihane".

 

The last Barnsley game before Patrick passed away was a defeat at Aston Villa. And Conor scored for them.

 

Yeah very true

 

I think compared to other teams in the league, our Stadium is one of the most sparsely populated ones. The other clubs with a ground the size of ours tend to have a bigger following, whereas the smaller clubs have smaller stadiums so is often closer to capacity.

Which makes it doubly important for us to make some noise. Oakwell was only half full yesterday, and I think the average last season was only 52% capacity, so the fans play a bigger part in the atmosphere here than they probably would at Rotherham for example where their gate is roughly 75% of their capacity.

 

Despite his lack of games, his understanding is second to none, called the subs at the right time in both games, delivered a rocket at HT yesterday by all accounts, got the players fitter, more committed and playing as a unit for the first time since Duff, I'm failing to see what part of him would cost us to lose our next 5?

An attempt to use last seasons 10 games as any sort of comparison would be an unfair assessment, thankfully we've shipped out a good chunk of those not wanting to put a shift in.

 

The bigger the crowd the greater the support, and the more of a potential boost to the team - the club should seriously consider permanently lowering ticket prices as an investment in getting the team promoted and the extra revenues if would bring to be back in the Championship.

 

Nah not having a dig at CH at all. I'm just being careful not to get too carried away. Been a tarn fan too long to let myself get too blindsided by 2 wins. He's the best man manager we've had since Stendel, and has given the club the lift it desperately needed. I just want to wait and see how it goes when things go against his planning. The Roberts and Shep problem was dealt with, whereas last season that would've hamstrung us for a month. The signs are there, I just hope it's sustained and the usual BFC problems don't haunt him.

 

You say half full. But our available home capacity is 16k tops. There may come a time in the future to split the North stand imo. I reckon the cost would not be out of the realms of possibility, if needed.
Crowd yesterday were great btw. As you say.

 

What did he get wrong yesterday? I can’t remember a controversial incident in the game

 

Fancy Russel before yogi

 

Leicester do know it’s not a charity match for Wednesday don’t they?

 

And he said it more than once if I recall correctly.

 

I think the boo's were for the usual **** ref