Today enthused me again..

Ever heard of the space bar?

 

The what?

 

Yeah, it's in Star Wars and there's a group playing music in the background.

 

We haven't bought off the higher shelf though.

Anyway, this has been done to death.

 

Weve been buying players in the million pound bracket

 

We've been had then

 

12 months ago on here, in the midst of a run of 5 defeats and a draw, you posted on here saying those players weren't good enough. You said the 2015/16 team wouldn't get promoted. You might be right this time. We'll see.

And yes, the aim is to improve year on year, and it's been achieved recently.

2014/15 - League One - 11th.
2015/16 - League One - 6th - Promoted via playoffs.
2016/17 - Championship - 14th.

Can we do it this year? Yes. Will we? Dunno. Beauty of football. Beauty of life in general, the 'unknown'.

From 2014 where we were relegated with barely a squad left, to 2017 where we have a squad of 26 players, the vast, vast majority of which are young and hungry and tied down to a decent contract, a young and hungry manager from Barnsley, lots of money (relatively) in the bank, and much more.... yes, we've improved year on year.

Not sure what some expect. This is a great time to be a Red.

 

I do wish youd stop clouding the issues with facts

 

It was. We had a great team. But almost all that team has gone. You know the best way to tell we haven't got a great team anymore? Look at the results of 2017 and then look at the league table. Since the transfer window shut at the end of January we've played 28 games and won just 6. That, to me, is not a great time to be a red. Not saying it hasn't been worse, but it's difficult at the moment because we were so bloody good and we allowed it dissolve like it didn't matter nearly as much as the profit that could be made on the commodities that were our players.

What do I expect? Better than that.

 

2016 was a great time 2017 has been very poor so far. I'm optimistic that 2018 will be better.

As for what other expect I don't know.

I expect us to finish in the bottom 8 this season.
I expect it will take time for 4 or 5 of the squad to get comfortable playing at this level.
I expect the majority of the players we have brought in to prove not to be good enough this season.
I expect our lack of a goal scorer will hurt us at various points in the season.
I'm don't feel I am being negative this is just my opinion and was at the start of the season and I have seen nothing to change that yet.

I also believe we have a good chance of staying up. We are not the worse team in the league and seems to be a few poor teams who we have a good chance of finishing above.

 

You are entitled to your opinion and whilst it seems a gloomy outlook you have at present, it's good to see you posting more frequently again, and there are plenty on here it seems who wholeheartedly agree with your view of the club and the last year or so.

I happen to disagree.

It's been a great few years of steady improvement, on and off the pitch and it's an exciting time to be a Red. But now I'm repeating myself.

 

As Jay said it's not "great" is it? Could be worse, could be better - it was a lot better in December 2016 and January 2017. I said we wouldn't get promoted in 2015/16 under Johnno and I stand by that 10 billion per cent. I also thought Hecky had been left with too big a job - not that I didn't have faith in him but I thought he had too much ground to make up. I also thought we had blown it after the 2-2 draw with Colchester.

I don't think saying things are better than they were in 2014 is really much of a cause for celebration. Things could hardly have been much worse.

I can't be bothered explaining where I think the plan is flawed but ultimately it will lead to relegation and even if not, we will not progress while we are pursuing it.

 

Yes, I covered the game. Davies pulled off saves, one of their efforts bounced off the woodwork with us all at sea. We worked hard, we kept in the game and in the last half hour or so we just took them apart in a fashion that was never repeated again. Great result, but a total one-off.

We then lost 5 of the next 6 and this board was in uproar.

 

Just watched the goals again. The same players making the same mistakes.

Jackson diving abart like a headless chicken

 

T
That's how I remember it an even game then they collapsed after the first goal.

 

Hecky has always said the first goal is so so important. We haven't been able to get it in last few games, got to hope we can convert one of the few chances we are getting

 

I don't understand as a supporter of Barnsley FC, rather than sucking up to your employers, how you can possibly disagree.

 

I'm with Whitey on this. Great performances against Forest, Sunderland and Derby. Sure, there's been a blip in the last week or so, but has the 2015-16 season taught us nothing? We are a long, long way off "rock bottom". Narr then.

 

We were not great against either Forest or Sunderland. Our only great performance was against Ipswich. We have meandered between poor and average because at the minute that's what we are.