I know no-one knows me, but please bear with me… January 1st – Peterborough 2 – 1 Barnsley. A new formation and a better performance to boot. Had a little more positivity coming out of this game that maybe – just maybe –if we got the right man in to galvanise the players, there was enough in the squad to battle our way to a few wins, a few scrappy draws and possibly stand a chance at steering clear of relegation. If not, though, I felt as though we had a squad well prepared for League One, with enough positive whispers of potential in the youth system to nurture them through to senior football. Maybe they would even benefit from us dropping down a division. Maybe that way they would be able to get the experience of senior football without being out of their depth and without being shipped out on loan. Then I realised that I was desperately searching for positive where, perhaps, there weren’t too many to be found. And then we found ourselves rejected, twice, rather publicly, in the search for the right man to lead us. To be honest, I found it a little bizarre when Flicker was offered temporary charge after Keith Hill was sacked. They came as a management team, they had worked together for years and, up to that point, I thought they were pretty much one and the same. Having said that, I always found myself taking more of a liking to Flicker. Maybe it was just because he spoke less, which meant that he enraged me less. More likely, though, it was because he was always on his feet on the sidelines, looking like a gave a toss. Even though he was caretaker manager, never knowing which game would be his last (but sure that one of them would be), his body language on the touchline looked like it was infectious to the players. Multiply that by two because of Micky Mellon, and then let’s not underestimate Martin Scott and his iPad. Anyway, I’ve gone off on a massive tangent. The point of this post was supposed to be this: After the 2-1 defeat at Peterborough, ending the day rock bottom with 21 points from 26 games, how many of us seriously thought we would have a prayer of reaching the magical 50 points? After all, 50 points always means safety, right? It seemed an absolute mile away, especially after the O’Driscoll and Butcher rejections. Yet here we are. 50 points with 3 games left. I am absolutely gutted about tonight, as I’m sure we all are. This was probably a must win game after a horrible defeat on Saturday. I hardly ever post on here because I live miles away and don’t get to as many games as I’d like to, so in some ways think my opinion is a little less valid. Nevertheless, I started to think a couple of weeks ago how massive the achievement of 50 points would be. Reaching that goal, coupled with my ever-increasing man crush on Flicker, is reason enough to share my thoughts with some people who might care. I also know this is going to sound a little bit like a eulogy for relegation but it’s not. We have three games left and I honestly think we’re capable of winning all three. We might not, we might not even need to, but we’re not down yet and I’ll be remaining hopeful and upbeat until it’s a mathematical certainty. Upbeat starting tomorrow, anyway. Nevertheless, Flicker and everyone who works for this club deserves credit for the way they have conducted themselves since the Blackburn defeat at Oakwell. To reach 50 points, given our position after 26 games, is a massive achievement and IF we go down, we’ve gone down fighting and relegation is owed only to the miraculous runs of form of the teams around us. Well done to everyone. Gutted about the draw, proud of the 50 points. Now let’s end the season on 59.
Great post mate, sums up my feelings exactly. I really do think we've had it now, but no-one can say we haven't given it our best, and I'm sure the lads will continue to do so.
Not only do you have a good outlook ... but youse'd be the best riter on this board. Ýou must be professional writer. What do you do that raised up your letter-writing skills so much?
Yes a brave effort, tonight maybe pivotal but with reasonable backing we can bounce back . 50 points with 3 games left and a good cup run is a fantastic effort only the fact that Posh,Tractor boys and Owls have produced promotion form keeps us in trouble . Theres still 9 points to play for however being realistic we need at least 5 points.
Cracking post Seybass, I think you echo what a lot of posters on here think. 59 point target - lets go for it.
great post, just need the players to respond no matter how downbeat, just get the horrid feeling the wendys wont try v peterborough
Good lad! I said we could go and win all 3. Who knows!!??? Going to go to bed now thinking about 9 points and feel better for it. U reds!!
Spot on, it couldn't be put any better! I didn't go tonight, although I could have but as soon as we equalized I was on the website looking if I could get a Huddersfield ticket. I reckon we can do it and I'm definitely off to the Hull game and hopefully to Huddersfield. I've not been to Oakwell as much as I would have liked to this season but if Flicker has done anything (which he certainly has - and a lot at that), he's brought belief back to our fans. IN FLICKER WE TRUST!
It's the internet, distance is not a factor. Hemsworth Tyke posts from the moon. Fair post though, that's pretty much what happened. Apart from not mentioning getting his blood twisted for 90 minutes by David Silva in Mannchester was the best thing that ever happened to Scott Wiseman and has been the making on him. I think we're down, to be honest but it's nice to see some peckers up.
Great post mate. At Christmas I would have bitten your hand off for fifty points at end of season, the fact it is not enough is is a testament to the championship this season and is a unique season as far as relegation and promotion and mid table safety are not yet settled for three quarters of the teams. But with fifty points the players and management have done wonders and if it proves to be not enough the effort and passion will not be a factor.
Bit snidey there Caskey..actually we've come back from dead and buried to having more PPG than you in 2013
