Jan will not bring us any miracles. Churning manager will destabilise and lose continuity. Destroying players by telling them they're not good enough is self-defeating and won't make them any better. Gegenpress at this level, with what we have, is not working, zonal marking is not working, bombing up the pitch everytime we get the ball is not working. So, here's a thought, why don't we tweak the system? It doesn't have to be boring, just more considered and solid and adjustable. Start with sorting defensive play, then midfield options and then attacking tactics. I think these players could be competitive in the right combination of tactics, system and personnel. DS and coaches are quite capable of turning this around. Cliche, I know, but back to basics first then see where it leads. It does mean that something fundamental has to change because once the fans turn it's never pretty.
Totally agree but we need a few experienced players. I'd liked to see us try a 3-5-2 (5-3-2), Sibbick at sweeper. New CM and a proper number 9 to help Cauley out.
Agree re target man - someone who will keep opposition CBs occupied and put it about a bit. A fit Dougall will help.
Must agree about change of tactics. Pressing game is fine if you have the players. We haven't! So back to the drawing board during the international break and get back to a more 'tradtional' and defensive less cavalier approach which clearly isn't working. Today's mauling at Preston needs drastic action on behalf of all at Oakwell including the board . Their 'sweet shop if you have the cash policy' is killing the team off and the support.
As much as i loved Stendels football last year, his passion and commitment he has to change the style of play as it wont work with this squad in this league everbody knows that. Stendel needs to acknowledge it and change or its time to go or what happened against Derby and today will just keep happening. I wont accept that we keep on losing by playing the same system week after week like we did under Hecky. Its not fair on these young players or us supporters. The only way for the new board to prove that they are here for more than making money by buying cheap and selling for a small profit is to bring in some out of contract players now, bring in experienced players in January and if Stendel doesnt learn then bring in a tough British Manager who knows what this league is about and get them scrapping to stay up. We cant give up in October but what ever happens we can not turn on these players as this lot are different to previous years they do try they are just being hung out to dry at present.
We had one, we sold him, which was OK, if we brought one in. We didn't. By the time we sign one in January we will be already down. Next 3 games Swansea (home), WBA (away), Huddersfield (away). We could be 10 points adrift by then. Sorry to sound so negative, but this is the worst Barnsley team we have started a Championship season with ever & that includes under Flicker & Machin. I'd like anyone to put a case to rubbish me.
It's not about rubbishing anybody. We haven't got the results but we have had some reasonable performances. We have also had some dire ones. All these players seem to want to wear the shirt, they're keen, energetic and talented. They are not yet educated, experienced or focussed enough to play the press consistently. This must, by now, be recognised by those who matter. The key now is how we respond. If there is obstinancy in sticking to exactly the same approach then I'll keep my fingers crossed. However, if we tweak it to cover weaknesses and avoid the need for the target man we haven't got then we have a chance. I see our attacking strength in pace but we haven't been creative enough from midfield to cash in on it. I don't see any obvious defensive strength and this will need work to resolve - the weakness is an understanding and execution of roles and responsibilities in a zonal marking system. The system we play is complicated, requires full concentration and high workrates from everyone. We can make it simpler and more economic. Will we?
we are light years behind the rest. Not a few tweaks away but a long way behind. Other than against Fulham we have not played well for more than 20 minutes in a game and for the remaining 70 minutes have been rubbish.
fair enough. Which games would you say that over the 90 minutes we were the better side and were unlucky to lose/ not win?
"Other than against Fulham we have not played well for more than 20 minutes in a game and for the remaining 70 minutes have been rubbish." - this is the statement I disagree with. We have not been rubbish for 70 minutes in any game we've played this season.
We could try something radical, like create a defence whose main job is to err defend, strengthen it with maybe a sweeper or defensive midfielder add a couple of creative .....well you get the picture, try being a proper football team!p for at least a bit.
did you go to Carlisle? Did you go to Birmingham? did you go yesterday. We were rubbish on all 3 occasions for the full 90 minutes.
3-5-2 the only way for me and defend a little deeper do we stop getting caught loosing the ball with defence high up the field. Radlinger/collins Bambo-mads-halme Thomas and brown left and right wing backs Dougall-Mowatt - Mcgeehan (playing in front of these 2) Woodrow & Wilks up tops I know a few are injured but I think this set up would work to our strengths. 3 big centre halves at back. Young energetic lwb/rwb. Enforcer in front of defence allowing Mowatt to create and Mcgeehan to push on press the ball. Woodrow and Wilks side by side up tops would be a handful.
I agree, we should change the system! Unfortunatly, we wont. The team play the system they do because the owners have specified it and found a Head Coach who had experiance to implement it. They said this when appointing DS. They wanted to theam to play the "Gengenpress" and decided to tool the coaching staff/recruitment around it so if/when another gaffer comes in they are not having to start from scratch. Problem is, barring Liverpool/Klopp and to a lesser extent Huddersfield/Wagner, have any other teams had success playing this style within the English leagues? You can say it worked for us last year, but was the teams success down to the system or did we go up dispite the system?
