The last time I came on here someone asked if I was depressed - JamDrop I believe? Not sure my post warranted a discussion of my mental health. Well out of order, but we move on. I had the audacity to suggest that Barnsley's pre-season had been shambolic and that the squad Danny had hastily assembled in the 2-3 weeks before the season started didn't look capable of challenging for a top 6 spot but might come good later in the season when they'd had time to gel. After 13 games we sit 2 points above relegation and have lost 5 home games already (including Crewe in the cup)... I really think some of the players are showing real promise but they lack experience and a physical presence. Surely Danny's experience of League 1 would tell him that a young, lightweight squad wouldn't be able to compete at this level. In patches the team look great but can't sustain that for 90 minutes; when they were leading last night they needed an old head to organise them and keep them solid. Unfortunately they played far too freely and left themselves too open at the back. The midfield has flair and undoubted talent but needs an older, more experienced head to keep them in check. You may not have liked him when he was at Oakwell, but Gary Jones was just that player for Notts County. When they went 2-3 up they set two solid banks, a back 4 and 5 across midfield and said come and try and break us down. Jones just sat in front of the back four. We couldn't. We had Digby, who I thought actually did okay on the whole, but he clearly hasn't got the experience to be able to organise his midfield and stop the likes of Williams, Houriane and Berry from bombing on too freely. We needed to protect that lead better but left the back four too exposed. And some of the defending was poor. Cranie allowed the cross to come into the box far too easily for the equaliser and Brown backed off and backed off until it was too late. Ramage is a welcome addition but we seem to be struggling in the full back positions and relying on the loan market isn't ideal. We now have Ramage, Dudgeon, Cole and Williams on loan and look short of options if you take them out of the equation. I really hope we don't slip into a real dogfight at the bottom because this inexperienced squad might not cope too well with the negativity that will surround them. And JamDrop - if you want to ask personal questions about my physical or mental health, please drop me a private message and I'll be happy to give you a run down of all my ailments rather than do so on a public forum...
Notts county were more industrious than us and seeming more appetite. At times we look very lethargic closing down and just generally strolling around. You make some good points that game was won, we gave it away. For me he needs em 60% fitter and a better strategy for all games. The midfield does not work well imho when defending. we have lots of loan players who are all good enough, to do what you have mentioned. Danny needs to sort it out and I believe he will.
The loan thing is interesting as 20 years ago we may well have signed some of these players now on loan. Because this is no longer possible it is virtually impossible to NOT bring loan players in, especially given how short our real recruitment window was this summer.
