Matchday mega thread,Barnsley v Exeter City

He was impressive going forward, first half especially. I think he tired after an hour.

Connell had a mare, but he never stopped grafting.

 

Good win. We are somehow still 7th, although I feel we are a fair bit away from mounting a promotion challenge.

 

That through ball for DKD's 1-on-1 was genuinely world class.

 

I didn’t understand the negativity to Pines before the game. People seemed to take to him before his injury, and then the more he didn’t play, the worse he got. Weird!

 

Excellent, hard fought 3 points that in the end. We were cack first half and looked like our goal was to just keep possession and hope an opening appeared, whilst somehow being very open to simple goal kicks and launches from their defence.

Second half, Clarke must have had a word and switched things because we were miles more direct and looked to counter quickly, typified by our second goal. Sat back a bit too much for my liking after that and Exeter spurned a couple of good chances, but that bit of luck we've been sorely missing was with us today. Nwakali different gravy, O'Keefe won plenty of headers on the wing and Mael/Pines were solid second half. All makes the stupidly long journey even better.

 

Are you playing Luca alongside Kelechi then? Two holding midfielders? Connell is not an 8. Today being another example.

As the one holding midfielder he’s as good as there is at this level, and I fancy he’d thrive a level up too. But further up the pitch, his pace (or lack of) kills him as he’s not got the ability / technique to compensate. It’s why he kept turning back inside or dropping deep first half today, trying Hollywood balls.

Duff had him perfectly. Just sit 10 yards above the back three and destroy. You aren’t Beckham. Just keep it simple. Protect and give confidence to the defence, allow the front players to do their thing knowing you’re covering.

Granted, a few times he’s landed on things from 25 yards and scored bangers. He’s also capable of a great pass. But it’s not his game. It’s not his strength. He’s a destroyer, disrupter and very good at it. It’s a bonus that he can offer the odd worldie shot / pass.

This idea that he’s some kind of playmaker is mental. You can see it in him too. Tries too much, takes all the set pieces, constantly out of position. He’s not that guy. Just as Darren Sheridan wasn’t.

Adam Phillips and Jon Russell are 8’s, attacking midfielders. They do their best work in the final third and further back they are often a detriment to the team. We’ve all seen it, surely?

I would suggest Nwakali deserves to start now. And we don’t need two holding players. So surely you play two actual 8’s further up? Russell and Phillips.

Not saying I’m right by the way. Just debating!

 

Composure is everything. Phillips has similar, but I think Jon is something else. He has lots of weaknesses, I would never suggest otherwise. But having a 6’4” roaming midfielder like that, great feet, can pick out any pass AND chips in with goals… he’s to be cherished. Not to be criticised because he can’t defend. He’s not a defensive player.

 

Wigan are obviously picking up speed - won away at Bolton today

 

It's not really about stats. It's about quality and the enormous gulf between them. The stats are just a convenient way to demonstrate that.

 

Well done in the 3 points today and a much better performance second half, where the press was very good for most of the half and so was our passing.
I really don't care who misses out but Nwalki just has to start....and I stated at half time.....build a team around him.
I think we have done well today with our absent players...well done the coach but please, please start with Nwalki....it really is a no brainer.

 

Respect to the tarn faithful who spent a fair whack for an early start and long day, even with our poor form.

 

He'd be better going with Nwakali

 

And him

 

Oh I see

 

Am I the only one who didn’t think there was much in it first half? We weren’t good but I thought we matched them & a draw at half time would have been a fair score.

The commentator talked as if we were clearly second best which I didn’t agree with.

Well done to Nwakali for his man of the match display & well done a player I’ve often criticised in De Gevigney who I thought had one of his best games & really stepped up in Roberts & Earl’s absence.

Thought the defence did fairly well. They looked a bit nervous early on which I suppose was to be expected but grew into the game. McCarthy has his limitations but he’s very comfortable in possession & had no issues stepping into midfield.

 

I thought we were just very frustrating rather than being absolutely awful. Clarke wasn't impressed, but I thought we were immensely better than we were against Stockport or Lincoln.

 

I wouldn’t actually play the shape we do whilst we haven’t got proper centre forwards.

I’d have kelechi and Connell as a two, old fashioned one go, one stay style - with Phillo and (even though I’m not a huge fan) DKD supporting Humphrys.

When Watters is fit to start, and/or someone else comes in - then maybe more as you say.

I’d said them as a three as it is clear we won’t change the shape at this point.

However poorly he’s perceived to play, Connell is completely tireless, puts a proper shift in and leads by example - and I think if you had Kelechi on his own deeper, with more defensive responsibility, I think you might take a little away from his game as his quality and accuracy of passing is outstanding - though he needs company for shorter passes I think.

Regardless, it’s a nice problem to have.

If Nwakali doesn’t start then I will start to have issues with Clarke. He’s arguably been motm on every appearance. And that’s before we saw how he takes chances from twenty yards.

 

Can’t fault your opinion.

I think Clarke has to upset someone, clearly. I reckon he will leave Phillips out. He was sent off. It’s easier to justify.

 

I think Phillips divides opinion about as much as any player I can remember. Before he started scoring goals after he joined us, I said to my lad that Phillips “has never been a footballer”. Then he started scoring, and my lad took great pleasure in shoving my words back down my throat! But I have always felt that he is a bit of an oddity, in that he tends to disappear for long periods in a way that you really can’t afford a midfielder to do. Hopefully he’ll rediscover his shooting boots, because goal-scoring midfielders are worth their weight in gold. To answer your question, I would definitely not play him in front of the three who started today. Only my opinion of course.

 

Not to me it doesn’t. But it’s about opinions isn’t it?