Carl Dickinson

showed just how ordinary he is on Saturday without the chest thumping.

Glad we didn`t go down that route.

 

Looked like he'd put a couple of stone on to me. He'd lost his edge and wasn't the same player at all.

 

I agree. However, he was still a damn sight better than any of his predecessors in our Championship teams since 2006.

 

We have had a lot of makeshift left backs though since being in the Championship.

 

dickinson was never as good as shotton while they were both there but dickinson pumped his fists a lot and was more of a favourite witht the fans 4 that reason, even though imo shotton was a far better footballer

 

He was still better than any of his predecessors, whether actual or make shift left backs, in my opinion. Also, I, for one, liked the passion his game had. He obviously still has feeling for our fans, after seeing his attitude both at the start and end of the game on Saturday. For the life in me, I cannot understand why having passion is treat in such a scornful, derogatory manner. He's a character and the game needs more of them.
Just my view, mate.

 

Its more the fact that at the time people wanted to sign the passion and not for what he could do on a football field. In my opinion, whilst good attacking and putting in some telling balls, they couldn`t see his defensive frailties like many left backs we have had.

Cant recall the last left back that was actually good defensively.

 

That's fair. Although, in the last two games, I believe both McNulty & McEverley have put in sound performances defensively.

 

Agree with the McEverley one, although weren`t put under much pressure since we were mainly on the front foot.

McNulty I thought was very nervy and made a few mistakes first half in the Leicester game was more impressed with him at centre half on Saturday.

 

Cant recall the last left back that was actually good defensively.[/QUOTE]

Chris Barker comes to mind.

 

After reading all the abuse McNulty had taken on here, I was wary when I went down to the Leicester game (my first of the season). After a nervy start, he settled down extremely well. Especially when taking into account he was up against the fleet-footed Paul Gallagher. However, Leicester never posed a threat down our left hand side and he deserves to be given a great deal of credit for that.
For me, the defence has looked very solid these past two games and I'd prefer to put it down to our players' performances, rather than claim it was down to (for example) our opponents having an off day, either collectively or individually.

 

Yes we have defend well and I`m not trying to decry McEverley`s performance, I think he has come in for a lot of stick on here some warranted most not, even during the disaster of the Southampton game he got lambasted yet was being run at 2 on 1 most of the first half because Haynes wasn`t tracking back and helping out therefore McNulty was being drawn out wide leaving gaps in the centre.

That said I fear for him and us when anyone attacks him with pace.

Did McNulty get that much abuse I thought it was McEveley?

 

Well, at the time I had a damn sight more serious problems to deal with than worrying about how well the team was playing. However, I do recall McNulty receiving abuse along the lines of "not good enough", "not fit enough", etc.. In fact, there wasn't many (if any) of our players who appeared to warrant praise. As I had not seen him play, I didn't feel as if I could pass an opinion at the time. Now I've seen him play, I think he seems a decent player, certainly good enough to play in the Championship. In my opinion, too many seemed to pre-judge the players based on the club they'd been playing for and the level they'd come from, rather than how they performed for Barnsley.

 

Dont think anyone was immune from criticism for that first home game they all got it and it carried on for the Boro game although that was a slightly better performance against a better team.

Some go too far on here and dont know when to let up, but after seeing those 2 performances it was worrying to say the least especially after you expect the players to come out and put it right at the next opportunity. Now they have finally done that and shown us what they are capable of and a relief it was too. Benchmark set now onwards and upwards and turn these draws into wins.

Hope your daughter is still on the mend by the way.

 

Didnt realise he'd played until the end of the game when he came over to the Ponty End

 

It's people like you who show just how good this BBS can be. You're able to put forward your own point of view in a constructive manner, whilst acknowledging others may not share your opinion. At the same time, this is done without the need to descend into personal abuse.
Thank you for enquiring after Laura, mate. She's now returned to college, although she's not quite fit enough to be there full time yet. Progress is slow, but steady.

 

Aye it makes a change now and then to actually talk football because jibberish is my first language.

Glad progress is being made and long may it continue.

 

Oh, I'm quite fluent in it, mate!!

 

I think JayMac is a decent stopper, just watch his next game, I'll bet you a fiver he wins all his defensive headers.

 

Shotton was indeed better than Dicko, but Dicko ALWAYS gave 100 o/o effort and a lot of fans appreciated that, plus he always seemed to appreciate the crowd. Looks like he's lost his fire to me. Nice to see him come over again at the end, good luck to him.