Barnsley V Port Vale, as I saw it.

For the last few home games, Danny has picked teams that are reactive to the threat posed by our opponents, rather than proactive to the skills possessed by our team. Today’s team was no exception. Vale were a tall, fit and physically strong outfit and he wanted to be sure that we could compete with them physically when they hit the ball high and long. The main plank of his strategy was picking a defensive line of four centre backs. In the first half, Vale were quite happy to play the ball forward through midfield, even though Barnsley had a slight advantage in that area. But in truth, the game was stagnating because our wingers were unable to make progress against the Vale full backs. Shortly before half time Lalkovic and Jennings swopped wings, and Lalkovic was able to show the Vale right back a clean pair of heels to arrive at the goal line. He looked up, and finding no-one to pass to, he was forced to hold on to the ball much longer than have should have. In the end, his only option was a jab across the face of goal that the Vale keeper turned in.

It was a laughable attempt at a stop, but it changed the Vale tactics. From the start of the second half, Vale missed midfield out. They simply hoofed the ball from back to front, and their big front guys competed for everything in the hope of winning free kicks from our back four. It is old school. It is a tactic from the 1960s, but aside from our second goal, when we took advantage of a vacant Vale midfield area, it worked. The question is, why did it work?

It worked because that is what our team structure had been set up to defend against. In other words, we got what we asked for. If you set up with two footballing full backs, that is, full backs who are able to retain possession once it is won back, then Vale would not have been able to exert the pressure that they did because there is more room to work the ball in midfield.

However, this scenario also relies on a level of fitness that our team simply does not have at the moment. Lalkovic does not have the match fitness to operate at his first half intensity for the whole of the match. As the game wore on, he tired, and rather than leaving Nyatanga exposed, he dropped deeper and became a second full back. In my opinion, this is why Danny withdrew him, rather than the ineffective Jennings. One of them had to go, because Hourihane had to be removed from the central midfield position, urgently.

Hourihane is a conundrum. He has produced the most goals and the most assists of any Barnsley player, but he is poor defensively. His effectiveness has been reduced since Williams’ injury, and the diamond became ineffective as a result. Many claim now that he is lazy, has been found out or is just not doing it. In my opinion, it is none of these things. It is simply that the mixture of pace, players and system that we were using when Hourihane was at his most effective suited his game much better, and gave him additional room that he could exploit with his explosive shooting and accurate passing. Hourihane is the same player, but the players around him have changed. This analysis emphasises the fact that football is a team game. I will say again exactly what I was ridiculed for saying when Hourihane was at the height of his powers. Hourihane cannot play centrally in a four man midfield. Nevertheless, a place must be found for him in the team. Even if that means we must reorganise our midfield again in order to accommodate him.

The players that I was frustrated with yesterday were Jennings and Hemmings, and for me it is time to blow the whistle on their Barnsley careers. Jennings swapped wings yesterday and Lalkovic immediately left Jennings marker for dead. It said much about the pace of Lalkovic, but it said even more about the ineffectiveness of Jennings. His only tactic is to play on the left and cut inside hoping to be able to shoot with his right. Not only is he predictable, but this tactic reduces the space available to his team mates and makes the angles unfavourable for passing the ball effectively. Chester is one thing, but professional league clubs are another. Hemmings is simply being asked to play several notches above his comfort level.

I cannot see a clear path forward for the team, and I think that the rest of this season promises only struggle as we come to terms with the changes of personnel that were forced upon us by our relegation, and the further changes that will be necessary when our remaining senior professionals reach the end of their contracts. The team is in transition, and transition is often painful, but it is pain that the fans must continue to stoically endure if we are to reach, and build upon stability.

 

That is, unless the fans feel they should be getting more entertainment for their hard-earned cash.

 

What an excellent read.

Enjoyed that analysis fella, much better than:

"So-and-so is s*it" that we usually see.

 

Agree with most of that. I do think though when he has a more settled team (ie Winall firing on all cylinders and a competent midfield with Pearson in for rest of season!) we will be ok.
Like you, I'm exasperated (sorry you stated frustrated!) with Jennings, because unlike Hemmings, he has it in him. I genuinely believe that Danny will not get the best out of him and he will move at the end of the season.

 

I think the ..playing to stop the opposition, instead of to our strengths... bit, is purely a league position thing.Its because we are near the bottom and scared of losing If we where near the top, we'd be on the front foot, and letting other teams worry about us...
But I feel needs must at the mo.. but things will change

 

Not a bad post. I think Lalkovic offers more hustle & bustle and fights harder to get past players, not just through pace. The replay of his goal showed as much tenacity as speed, something we don't see much from Jennings. Also we saw Hourihane scoring goals and more effective when he was allowed a free role as per early season. Now he seems to have to cover a flank and work backwards far more, not playing to his own strengths. I still think that Winnals work rate and channel work means we can play a more solid midfield rather than two out and out winger / mids. Lalkovic who can swap flanks across the 90 mins maybe.

My biggest worry when i saw team selection was that we were playing too many players out of position yet again. Something that is understandable when you have what you have in the squad available. But certainly isn't when we have started rebuilding and have a squad selected for their roles and positions.

 

So you think Wilson will produce that stability.
The way I see it is everyone is tied to a long term plan, and the only guy letting the plan down is Wilson. It is his team, his tactics , and they are just not working. They never have since he arrived. What exactly has he achieved since arriving? Nothing of note. We are going to be in this league a long time and if we get out of it then it will be downwards not upwards.

 

If you have read any of my stuff over the last 6 months, you will known that I feel that change was inevitable as a result of the financial loss last year, the £4m revenue reduction resulting from relegation and the effect of the FFP rules for this league that limits our spending on wages to 75% of our turnover. Because of these financial pressures, we were forced to let go of 17 players at the end of last season in the knowledge that their replacements would be fewer and would need to be on lower wages.

How likely is it that such a transition could be completed by any manager in one transfer window with a 100% success ratio, whilst retaining an interest in promotion and whilst playing entertaining football each week. I guess the answer to that question lies in the minds of individual fans and the level of their expectation before the start of the season. In my own case, I did not think that it would be anywhere near as bad as it has been, but then again, I did not known that we would have sustained the injuries that we have sustained, so I am willing to make allowances. Should we continue with Danny Wilson? In my view yes, because if the fans cannot be patient with Danny Wilson at the tiller with his past record at Oakwell, what chance has any other manager got of being allowed the time to recreate the foundations of a stable club.

 

I did actually agree with a lot of that, particularly re Hemmings, Jennings and Hourihane. However, I did not think the Port Vale players looked fit at all. The keeper had a backside he could balance a pint pot on, the sub who played for Trinidad whose name escapes me made Jennings look fit. I also thought Pope looked like he could do with a week or two detoxing.

 

And there lies the problem for me.

We are relying on his past record at the helm hoping that things come together this time round.

I reiterate what I stated in a post weeks ago.

If Wilson gets us promotion to the championship I will give £100 to any charity of Redfearn's Bar's choice.

He will tread water for another year or so until the penny finally drops that he is not the man to lead us forward.

Only my view which means F@c all in the grand scheme of things.

I hope I'm wrong but have a feeling that £100 will remain in my wallet

 

Great post & I agree with pretty much everything apart from selling Jennings.

I'd persist with him until the summer at least. Given what we've spent on him & the talent he possesses I think we should try & get him back to his best.

Hemmings is poor. I've given him the benefit of the doubt at times because of been played out wide but he looks dreadful as a striker too. People say we should play 4-4-2 but if that front two includes either Hemmings or Lita I'd much rather go with one up top.

 

Still beating this drum eh, why not replace the negativity and just get behind the team.

 

I fully expect that most of the professionals who's contracts are up at the end of the season will leave. We will go into the Summer wondering if they will re-sign on lower terms, or whether their pride will mean that they move on before signing somewhere else on lower terms, just like Dawson had to do. We will use the summer transfer widow trying to fill the gaps and cover the holes, but that will be the last year. We will have another poor season next season but provided the fans stay with us, after that, we will be able to start growing again. The majority of our players will be young and improving, and the lads from the academy will have another year on their backs and will be pushing hard for the first team.

However, none of this works if the fans do not stand by the club. If attendances fall away and interest declines, yours is a self fulfilling prophesy, because then the young players are sold and the money received is invested in playing players' wages and not in strengthening the team. You see, I believe that each and every one of us plays our part in the clubs success or failure. If you keep investing in the club in spite of your desire to do otherwise, you help to fund the club through the bad times. You help to convince Patrick Cryne that he is not investing his money in vain. After all, if all we wanted was continual success, we would not have sold our souls to Barnsley FC, now would we.

 

I would have been yesterday but have the flu , even offered my ticket for free if anyone was interested.

Its not beating a drum but giving an opinion.

Everyone is entitled to one.

Lets see where we are this time next year.

 

could not agree more....... well said red rain

The problem some folk have and im not knocking anyone for it, is.......because it all stems from passion and a love for the club but too many thought we would be up there pace setting and hopefully bouncing straight back in to the championship.

I for one never thought that would be the case. ive said on other threads we are are looking at at least another 2 seasons in this league, which will allow the young players to gain the experience needed to step up a level.

changing the manager isnt the answer because who ever is in charge will only have to sing off the same song sheet as Danny ...better the devil you know.
Yes danny is getting flack of certain fans but a new guy coming in will have the same orders ....just dont get relegated to league 2 ......simples

 

I'm amazed that people can think that long-winded and pompous posts such as the OP's are "good posts". I fully accept that Red Rain is entitled to his opinion, just as the rest of us are. But the 'corporate line' that RR's posts seem to follow make one wonder whether they are truly objective or simply club propaganda. The "you'll have to be patient" line is frankly pathetic. BFC's followers have been patient for 7 seasons now, during which the club's aimless forward strategy (that word!) has offered nothing to it's target audience.

PC badly needs to either sell on or get some co-ownership expertise that has a vision in regard to forward progress. Our club has a favourable position in regard to it's debt, or lack thereof. But constant cost-cutting and downgrading of the playing staff will see us as a prosperous club in the Conference, or below.

Cut the crap, I say.

 

A good review Red Rain.
Some of yesterdays selection was to stop the bleeding and also guard against Port Vales tactics, but I thought that was a good move. An experienced back 4 helped Lalkovic and Jennings to push on knowing the door was fairly well shut by that well organised back 4.
I like the move to 442, the way we played in the first half forced them to change their tactics for once, they had to double-up on Lalkovic he had less joy so switched flanks and that brought a goal. That brings me onto Jennings, I don't know if you saw but Danny had a right go at him late on, waving his arms and pointing what he should have done, he has real flashes of quality but also some right rubbish. The move to the right helped him, gave him another option to his usual left side one trick ponyness, and he looked effective until they started pushing us back. He should have been an outlet then to counter, he didn't do it or we could not find him.
I thing Jennings fitness is suffering from being in and out, this also applies to Hemmings, former strikers say they needed 5 or 6 consecutive games to find their match sharpness. Hemmimgs also missed pre-season, but I don't think we can afford to let him find his way in the 1st team just now. Maybe he would benefit from a month away somewhere because I think he is worth persisting with longer term. He is not a number 10, he's a goal scorer/finisher, get the ball to him in the box and he will score, I've seen it him. A move to 442 with crosses coming in will be perfect for him, not the widthless diamonds and 433 we have been playing. He is similar to Lita, we will only carry one of them into next season.
You are right Hourihane is a massive problem, is he that important that you build your system around him?
He looks a bit like an American Football Special team player, bring him on for free kicks, corners etc.
I think he might need a break, I think he has played every minute this season, he might need freshning up as he looks to be struggling, simple passes were going astray yesterday. He doesn't seem comfortable in a two man central midfield, in the first half they were running past him and positionally he was all at sea. Also when closing players down he stands far to far away and just gets passed round. He is either tired and pacing himself in games to conserve energy or is a lazy type of player, I'm not sure. We need to get him on the ball in the final 3rd of the pitch. I think he could be the number 10, playing behind Winnall, with two wide players and two central midfielders, Lalkovic plus either Kiwomya or Jennings wide, plus two of Pearson, Scowan, Digby, or Berry central, this could help Berry also bombing forward and getting in the box as the third striker?.
Two other points from yesterday, firstly the number of square balls into the centre of midfield that got cut out was criminal.
Waring had a really good game but for crosses he hides outside the back post so the cross has to get past 3 defenders and the keeper to get to him, get in the six yard box son.

 

Well Said Mr Orsenkaht !

 

I thought it was a good post, doesn't mean I agree with everything said and didn't look any less pompous than some responses !!

 

You pays your money and takes your choice!