in Flitcrofts defence

During the summer DF showed loyalty to the players who served him well last season.I don't think anyone begrudged those players in getting new contracts after what they achieved in the second half of the season.Onto this season and we made a terrible start leaking goals left right and centre and losing game after game.Flitcroft then did what any other manager would do,he went out to give the squad a lift by bringing a few quality loanees in.Now all the players he signed haven't been warmly welcomed but like Jay posted the other day we're slowly but surely improving.I think all the loanees have contributed to this turn around in confidence and upturn in results.If he wouldn't have changed things around the players he was playing (including the young uns) would have been slaughtered.

 

The defence was **** because it didn't contain the retained defenders, though. Hassell, McNulty, Cranie.

Kind of kills your argument, mate. Sorry.

 

"We're slowly but surely improving".

4 points worse off than after the same number of games last season.

We've managed to scramble a few draws lately against vastly worse opposition than we faced in the first few games of this season. Several of those games were there for the taking.

Improving? I can't see it mate.

 

He didnt show any loyalty to Foster, Steele, Hassell or Marlon Harewood

 

Sadly this is exactly how I see it too.

 

The improvement comparison is versus the start of this season, not the epic last third of last season?

I know a vast majority believe we should be playing our football like that epic last third, but do these people really believe we can sustain that level of energy and drive through a full season? That's what Flicker wants to avoid; he wants to build a club capable of holding a sustainable position in the Championship.

I'm still backing the Management team we've got.....no doubt about it.

That said, I think the fact we stayed up on last day of the season, add into this that Flicker then took quite a few weeks to sign his own contract and future, BFC ended up at least 2 months behind most other championship clubs (in terms of planning and recruiting). Maybe that's why we ended up re-signing players that have now proved they ain't hood enough?

I think we are starting to to see a more settled team and structure in this last month or so.......we've had the tough start and we've also recently played games that we deserved to win, but didn't (various reasons).

I'm confident we ease our way up the table.

 

Me three and the facts don't support it though the coulda woulda shoulda might do. We dam only deal with the points on the board and the football we have witnessed.

 

Re-signed players who have proved they're not up to it? Who?

McNulty? Hassell? Cywka? Steele? Etuhu?

Harsh if that's what you're saying.

Not exactly had much game time. About 10 starts between them.

Unless you're referring to the other one we retained, Kennedy? And then I'd agree. Played every game since Flicker took charge. And he has proven to be pish.

 

At the moment Whitey, we are "poles apart" on our opinions......that's what makes a good debate lad!

McNulty - not good enough now, never been good enough at Championship level, despite a POTY award
Hassell - awesome service to BFC and still a great member of the squad, but not good enough for consistent Championship games
Etuhu - had numerous chances this season and way below par, versus heroics of last season
Cwyska - tell me whenever has he had a good game, when he starts? I ain't seen it and he's an impact player at best
Steele - injured

Kennedy - I'm in full agreement with you, pish.......steaming pish

Butland, Pedersen, M'Voto, McCourt - all improved us in one way or another

Fox, Jennings, Ramage - jury out on these boys

What yer think to this ?

 

I think McNulty would be a better option than Kennedy.

Hassell would still get in my side.

Etuhu looked the part last season in a 5 man midfield. Not looked great this term, but had few chances.

Cywka has hardly had any starts to be fair to him, but he's a great impact player.

Steele unfairly scapegoated early on this season. Butland won't be here post-January, but he is quality. As is Luke on his day. I think Butland has had a fairly settled defence ahead of him. Luke didn't have that. He had a gash M'Voto and TK early doors.

Kennedy is a squad player at best. Decent in a three, but the last defender I'd pick from the options available.

Pedersen and McCourt have been great signings. M'Voto will get better, I'm glad we signed him.

Fox, Jennings and Ramage are a waste of a wage. We've players here already that can perform their roles, cheaper.

 

The 'at the same stage last season' argument is the worst one going. It proves absolutely nothing.

 

I have not been on here since this morning. I log in and find poster after poster giving Flicker a hard time. I think, what could have happened. Has the team lost again? Has he sold our best player? Has he signed someone that the board think is useless? I read down the posts and find nothing that enlightens me and I wonder what the cause of the diatribe might be.

Is it because Digby has scored in an under 19 international game? That is, a game between kids, none of whom are in their club's first teams, and posters see this as evidence that Digby should be in the Barnsley first team? Because, if that is the reason for the furore, I think that you should have watched Digby in the under 21 team as I did against Sheffield United last week. It might have convinced you that Digby is not yet ready for first team football, especially when the team is struggling for confidence and does not have the spare capacity to support a rookie.

As for Flicker, can those who urged the board to get him signed up as permanent manager immediately after the Huddersfield game stand by their judgement that day, give him some time and stop pretending that you never wanted him and you always thought he was rubbish. Does that include everyone?

 

And non of which are good enough.
Foster without a club, Not good enough for us at champ level
Marlon Harewood, Not good enough. Don't think he started much for Bristol. Not good enough.
Steele, Not good enough
Hassell far from good enough. At the end of the year who evers the manager. Thanks Bobby but not for us now.

And while your on it, Dagnall. Should have gone. Not good enough.

 

Sorry thats more rubbish from you rubbishing our youth.

Diggers was back to somewhere near his best at times. On the ball. Great passing and running with the ball.

 

Diggers might have looked poor in recent 'development games' because he's low on confidence - he's probably low on confidence because Flicker isn't inspiring any in him. ?

Same probably goes for RNL.

 

The players we got rid of undoubtedly aren't as good as the ones we recruited. No one at championship level was knocking down their doors. The clear out didn't go far enough McNulty should never have got another contract ditto Kennedy, Dagnall should have been shipped out and Dawson. Younger players should have been promoted to fit the gaps. The question remains if we have better players why are we making no progress?

 

Were they not the same players who put us in that position

 

Foster has retired.

Harewood served us well.

Steele is good enough. Seen nothing from Butland to suggest he's light years ahead of him.

Hassell doesn't play so I find it impossible to say he's not good enough. He was plenty good enough when he rescued Flicker last season, though. Leaping like a salmon at the far post. And then earning us vital draws away from home.

Dagnall scored the last time he got a game. Scored 10 last season, 7 assists. Wouldn't exactly dismiss him as not good enough.



It's all well and good fostering this 'Flicker saved us' theory. But it was the players in the main that did it. And those you've just dismissed as not good enough were all key to it. And lo and behold, they aren't playing now, and look where we are....


Jeez there's some right wingnuts on here.

 

By that logic Andy, old mate, it's the current players who in the main take responsibility for our current position.
For what it's worth, it's my opinion David Flitcroft takes the credit & responsibility for saving us last season and for our current situation. It goes with the territory of being a manager in any field. The buck stops with you.

 

Aye, it does. I just find it harsh to dismiss the talents/efforts of the players mentioned.

I'll always remember that 4 months of football, that drama. And I give great credit to those who played a part, especially David Flitcroft. Even if he departs/fails this season, I'll always think of him as 'that' man.

I don't think back to our FA Cup run of 2008 and think well of Davey, though. Which says a lot.