[BFC SITE] Humphrys: I feel a lot more free to express myself

Fixtures

• Barnsley Vs. Bolton Wanderers - Sat, Apr 12 2025, 15:00

Barnsley welcome Bolton Wanderers to Oakwell this Saturday in Sky Bet League One, with the Reds looking to bounce back and deliver a statement performance in the final weeks of the campaign.


In recent weeks, one player who has caught the eye is Stephen Humphrys, who has notched two goals in his last two appearances. The forward credits the upturn in form to a shift in his role under Interim Head Coach, Conor Hourihane.

“I feel like it’s been a long time coming,” Humphrys admitted. “There’s been a change in how Conor wants me to play. He’s given me a lot more freedom to drift into areas where I can be more dangerous - getting into one-on-one scenarios, coming deep, almost like a number 10 or a winger. That suits me a lot more than just staying up top, chasing balls in behind and winning flick-ons, which isn’t really my game.”

That sense of creative freedom has been crucial in unlocking the best version of Humphrys, who is now playing with renewed confidence and clarity in his role.

“I just feel a lot more free to express myself,” he continued. “I back myself one-vs-one against any player in this league. The way I’m playing now - it feels like how I was playing when I was at my best last season. It comes naturally to me.”

It’s clear that Humphrys is a player who thrives when given the chance to think and move fluidly, describing himself as a “nine hybrid” - someone who can pop up anywhere across the pitch, from dropping deep to starting attacks, to drifting wide and creating chances.

“I’ve never been that hold-up, back-to-goal number nine,” he said. “People look at my size and assume I’m that type of striker. But up until I was 16 or 17, I was only about five foot seven, so in my head, I still play like I’m that size. I’m more comfortable getting the ball in pockets or out wide, rather than battling with centre-halves.

“You’re not going to look at someone my size and expect a tricky winger,” he smiled. “But in the last few games, that’s exactly what I’ve been doing - beating my man, dropping into spaces, affecting the game in different areas.”

That freedom is something Humphrys says Hourihane has instilled in him since taking the reins.

“As long as we’re doing the defensive work, he gives us licence to express ourselves in attack,” he explained. “That’s been a huge boost for me.”

And the praise for the interim boss doesn’t stop there. Humphrys was quick to speak highly of the standards Hourihane has set, both in preparation and in the intensity of training.

“He’s been brilliant. The results haven’t quite shown just how good he’s been. The sessions have been top drawer - sharp, intense, competitive. There’s a saying that you don’t rise to the occasion, you fall to the level of your training. I feel like I’m playing at that high level we’ve been training at. I can’t speak highly enough of him.”

Looking ahead to Saturday’s fixture, Humphrys knows Bolton will be a strong test - but it’s one the team is up for.

“They’ve had a decent season, they’ve got good players, but we beat them last time and I thought we were the better team,” he said. “After our performance against Birmingham - playing for so long with ten men and still looking strong - we can take that grit and determination into the Bolton game. If we do, I think we’ll be all right.”

Tickets are still available for this weekend's clash.

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It looks like it is Connors influence on him then.Quite a few Birmingham fans picked him out on their bullitin boards as our stand out player.Theres obviously a decent player there listening to Wigan fans.I wouldn't be against offering him another deal only if the incoming coach wants him.
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It's almost as if he's not a striker. Wonder if that's ever been mentioned before.

Wouldn't mind hearing from all the other players we've been gaslit into believing are strikers.

I reckon if we bought some new goalposts there'd be a certain employee claiming we'd signed a striker.

 

Based on that interview in isolation the board should stick with Hourihane. No brainer for me. All this talk of new coaches is fine but they'll cost money. Hourihane has done nothing wrong for me so far. The results are crap but who's to say Clarke would have done better? Keep the cheap option of Hourihane now. If he's presided over utter kak after 10 months they can sack him then like they do every other coach. Also, who would trust Sormaz to get a good coach in?
Hourihane all day long....I've made my mind up so therefore I can't possibly be wrong

 

I don’t rate the lad, and we’ve big problems if we can’t find a younger, cheaper version out there.

However, it’s at least reassuring to read him admit that he isn’t a striker and therefore was played out of position for months. And I’m glad he’s enjoying his football and by all accounts, doing better recently.

But he’s not for me. The lack of effort he’s displayed for most of the season is not related to the role he’s selected to play.

 

That's the thing for me too. I get that it wasn't his game leading the line. I didn't need him to tell me, I knew that. And I appreciate he would find it difficult. But, because recruitment has been awful, because they have claimed to sign strikers when they haven't, we needed someone to do that job. He was the closest we had. He was asked to do a job but the application just wasn't there. There's a huge difference between trying your best but it not coming off as well as you'd hope and not giving your all. For Humphrys it was the latter.

 

I watched the video, and even by iFollow standards, it was weird.

I firstly encountered the jwt expired error, accompanied by the black and white pixelated screen, but this was remedied by a quick browser refresh. (I have reported this several time to iFollow Support, along with other error messages. They are very engaged via email, but nothing gets done).

I then noticed that the audio and video were way out of sync. I clicked pause, only for the video to stop, but the audio to continue endlessly. A quick browser refresh cured this, too.

 

I don't think we should be looking to extend his contract, he should be embarrassed at his lack of effort across a wide portion of the season irrespective of the position he was asked to play. Only trying in these last few matches is too little too late.

 

Wants a second year and thinks Conor could get job, so nowt like a bit of greasing is there, Conor knows with the Crynes after all.

 

Do you think it could be that Connors gave him a chance?He said last week that he'd had a long chat with him.
Under Clarke he seemed to be a bit part player.He scored goals at Wigan maybe he just needed the right coach to get the best out of him.

 

There might be some talent there just waiting to happen. And maybe Conor is getting the hang of it now with some players, and man-management.
He'll be taking them on a trip down the pit next.

 

He played 33 games for Clarke, the vast majority were starts. He wasn’t a bit part player.

I think in a wider role, in a front three or in behind a striker perhaps, you’ll get more from him. But he’s still going to be the same bloke who tries when he wants to. And I don’t like that. It’s why I loved Brown and before him, Potts. They weren’t technically the best, but they worked their backsides off. It’s why they’ve enjoyed their post-BFC careers exclusively in higher divisions than this one.

I’m labouring the point on Humphrys. Boring myself even. He needs releasing. There’s got to be better out there and much cheaper.

 

I'm not disputing your call just wondering if a different coach can get a better tune out of him.

 

I've been saying all season, that we've got some real potential in our squad. And players like Hump definitely do have it of course.
But not showing it more consistently, means little or nothing at the end of the day.
And for me its down to player laziness, rather than poor coaching.

 

I just saw "Ignored Member" on the header of this post in the listing of all the posts. When I checked, it was you. Not sure how that happened, as although I'm tempted at times, I don't mute people.

I'm not sure how long that's been in place, as I know I've seen your replies recently.

Anyway, I have rectified the situation now, and I apologize for taking away your First Amendment rights (temporarily).

 

What ??.
That all just went straight over my head lol.

 

Am I supposed to pretend that I haven’t seen him play wide plenty of times under Clarke?

Utter nonsense from Humphrys. The realisation’s hit that he needs a contract for next season.

 

Could we offer him his one year extension now, so we could get a fee in the summer? Risky business I guess if no one wants him, big wages, yeah, get shut.

 

One of the only players we have who can actually run at people and beat a man. I like him

 

Don't we have a one-year option on him to prevent that scenario? If clubs come sniffing - invoke it. If they don't, the ball is in our court whether to keep him on or not.