Darrell Clarke - 10 Match Review

I would sack him. Today was a huge turning point for me, we are getting further away from even turning in a good performance, let alone a win with each passing week.

At this point there’s glaringly obvious changes that he hasn’t made, in terms of players starting, players being benched, and systems that need to be ditched - if he can’t see some of those at this point then I’m sorry, things will not improve.

For just one example, how must McCarthy feel that he can’t get in the squad over MDG. I hate making players whipping boys, and by no means am I saying McCarthy is great. But for the love of god MDG needs some time out of the team, and I’ve seen enough of McCarthy to know he has at least the ability to go through a whole game without making a mistake

 

For the 2nd season running we have been let down by poor recruitment with the head coach being top of that list

 

Agree with all of that. Don’t think Clarke’s pulled up any trees but the recruitment has been woeful. Honestly can’t see any plan behind who we’ve signed and why. Even if there’s a really clear instruction from the board/owners to play a certain style, why have we only got one left sided full back/wing back at the club who the manager clearly doesn’t rate? And on the flip side we’ve got eleventy seven central midfielders for 2-3 positions.

No width or pace throughout the team either, which I could cope with if we were compact and solid, but we’ve been absolutely dire defensively for well over a season and it doesn’t look like there’s been any attempt to address it, either through recruitment, systems, coaching etc. And we’ve brought a keeper in on loan who looks like a decent shot stopper but who doesn’t command his area or come for crosses. Dunno how many clean sheets we’ve kept in all comps over the last 50 games but would be amazed if it’s in double figures.

Would love to be a fly on the wall during recruitment discussions and I’m sure there’s some method to the madness but from the outside it just looks like they’re drawing names out of a hat.

Maybe it’s reflective of where our budget sits in today’s football pyramid, and we end up with bang average players cos we can only afford bang average players, but we should still be able to say ‘right, THIS is how we’re going to play’ and then actually try and do that.

 

Fortunately for DC you've highlighted the main issue we have as a Club - recruitment. It's the same recruitment team bringing in players and Head Coaches. Replace Clarke and there's no guarantee the new Head Coach will get a tune out of this squad. I'm not sold on the appointment of Mladen as Director of Football. His CV screams analyst and yet he has a remit to set a template for how the first team will play.

 

Does Clarke have a game plan. Since he's taken over have we dictated a game? Clueless

 

I thought keeper did ok today and did well puching away crosses tbh

 

"Telling it like it is" is increasingly starting to look like throwing the players under the bus.

 

He's been doing that for a while nothing worse to see.

 

Everyone knows a div at work with loads of big talk that can't do their own job.

 

What was the plan today? Couldn’t even work out if we were playing for a draw! We are painful to watch and have no clear style of play. Just hate watching us at the moment.

 

All started in the boardroom, how many more seasons do we have to give these jokers??

Clarke might not be good enough, no idea, but the tools he has at his disposal are absolutely not fit for the job. That is on those above him.

No improvement from last season but who would realistically expect that when the calibre of player is alot less.

 

Exactly. There is no plan. The worst I've seen for years

 

I honestly thought I had got too old to let football get to me much, but Hells Teeth!
Somebody seems to be doing their collective best to ruin the club I love, and with each ensuing inept performance it grates even more, each time I think we have set a new low the bar is lowered!
From the top, recruitment has been woeful regarding getting a balanced side together!
Manager wise I am really beginning to despair because this many games in we don't have an identity or style of play that we are aiming towards. We shouldn't be looking to get shut yet, but the tactics, bloody hell!.
When defending corners we don't even leave a man on the edge of our box , let alone the half way line, we don't attack with any real intent until we go behind and then we do look a bit better.
Up front he insists on playing Cosgrove despite evidence to the contrary that he will ever be a footballer and leaving Jalo who looks lively on the bench, and we hardly muster a worthwhile effort on target let alone apply consistent pressure!
The influence from the midfield is negligible ( although to be fair they are often trying to get on the end of a wild hopeful punt forwards) but Benson still can't get a start and Hourihane isn't even on the bench.
To compound it all the defence play like a bunch of strangers, consistently leaving multiple players unmarked.
These are really , really depressing times to be a Barnsley fan!

 

Bizarre tactic that, can't understand it at all

 

According to the voting posters on here – and I agree with them – Baz has been by far our best player this season.

Last season he was not far off being the comedy turn.

Now that might tell you that Baz has suddenly become a vastly different footballer.

Or it might tell you that practically everyone else is performing below par.

Probably due to playing in either a badly managed or poorly balanced team. Or both.

My own view is that the squad is so odd and inadequate in its composition that any coach would struggle with regard to what they could do.

But many of our players are consistently performing way below their own average. And there has to be a reason for this.

Baz has improved however. A bit.

 

I blame the recruitment at the start of the season everyone knew strikers were what we required at least 3.
We started with 3 poor 3rd division strikers I doubt very much they could get into a 4th division side and it will be a miracle if they score 10 goals between them.

 

I felt the same as you J... 1st away game of the season today and the last.