Pretty pleased overall. Good character shown when we went behind (though lucky we didn't go 3-0 down very quickly after their first) to keep going. Some very good passages of play where we kept the ball for prolonged periods and had some very good opportunities to spread play and overload the opposite flank. One of the most pleasing things for me was Mawson. I think we've finally got a captain. Never stopped talking to Roberts, spoke to Davies quite a bit and was holding the line ever so well. Some nice touches on the ball, very good header, seems calm... think we've got a very good signing there. Roberts too. A little more raw but I've rarely seen a Barnsley side win so much aerially against Millwall. My instinct is those two should be our first choice pairing and Nyatanga should be back up. Midfield was solid without being spectacular for the whole game. Crowley has undoubted ability. Reminded me of Butterfield how he shielded the ball. I do suspect he will get taken out a lot in this league. Brave to keep receiving the ball and I'd say he was by far our first creative outlet. The downsides... and there were plenty for our team that is a huge work in progress. Winnall isn't fit and he isnt a target men bless him. We need a striker to add to the squad for sure before the window closes. The fullbacks. Their no10 had a field day and we were very lucky on several occasions we didnt go 2-0 down before we equalised. Nyatanga (great he got the winner) had a very poor game as a full back. Not surprising having to play as left back after playing centre half for a few games. His positioning was more of a centre half when defending, and when receiving the ball he stayed wide and was static. He was badly at fault for the first goal not going to the man which allowed them to get an easy cross in and a lucky bobble to go in front. Composed on the ball though, but we need a left back if Smith isnt going to be the preferred option. Bree needs time. He had a torrid time against pace (something else we're badly lacking) but he didnt look fit so maybe he was carrying a knock. Wabara looked quite impressive when he came on and showed good mobility and got forward. We deserved to win, late in the game Watkins and Wilkinson had great chances to score which would have been flattering, but we were the better team. Referee had a very good game too. Hugely lacked width on the left and our pace on the break was pedestrian at times. But overall is was pretty decent and a deserved win. As for Millwall... I think they've problems this season. For long periods they looked like a team that lost 4-0 in their last home game and the view back home on the train was damning of the players and selection. The scoreboard has come down, huge amounts of sponsor boards are unsold and the stands were very empty. Aside from their no10 who was very sharp and had good pace and movement, they offered very very little... but still scored twice. I'm more positive than i was but I feel we're very short up front and at fullback and need some pace in the side. I said a while back 19th would do me. I'd take 13th after that showing. A season of patience, retaining the good players coming through and build again in the summer.
If we do get osullivan and another striker , we ain't too far off a decent team . May need a left back too as smith is still young and can't play every game
We should be aiming far higher than 13th, and LJ wouldn't last the season of we were going to finish 19th. If we get JoS our midfield would arguably be the best in the league. No way would I take 13th.
wow its a game of opinions i guess.... Nyatanga didn't fail to close down for their first goal, he went to tackle a player on the edge of the box leaving a free man behind him who crossed for their lad to bobble one home, as for Wabara i though he was the proverbial headless chicken. at least twice he went to head a ball one of our lads was already in position to head causing an injury to pearson in the process of one. He looked pacy however and tried to get forward, i wasn't convinced defensively he was on it last night, hard when you've only had one training session i guess Crowley will be a superstar when he grows up, quick feet and a quick brain but very right footed and not a left midfielder. undoubtedly we are still a work in progress but was pleasing to see the character of the team last night , Millwall were very poor apart from a 10 minute spell after they cored their first goal when suddenly they looked liked Real Madrid!
LJ in his interview suggests that we believe in these players and how we are recruiting, and stick with it. Good luck with that Lee