Honest assessment

Macindoe has been a great signing, indeed, a bargain but....

in my opinion he has not consistently been our best player. I don't think we've really had a best player, they have all played reasonably well. Devaney seems to be on the ball more more than Macca, but that's perhaps just down to the role they've been given.

 

Wouldn't say I am a devotee like you guys. Saw them first about 40 years ago and held a season for about six years of them. But I've also held season tickets for Leeds and Doncaster Rovers. Of late I'm more a Donny fan on the account my lads are big Donny fans. I refuse on principle to attend Leeds games, but I get to Oakwell when I can. I don't really get OTT over any team nowadays...
I'm entitled to my opinion, and I do have mild concerns. I never said Barnsley are a crap team. I said they don't always play the prettiest football, other times they can be sublime when Macca and Devaney are on song. I don't think they have the best players, but what some lack in ability they make up for in work rate.
I have seen teams play great high tempo football at the beginning of a season, rushing and harrying the opposing team. These teams usually surprise everyone and gain a top three place. This style of play can't last the whole season, its not possible. It's inevitable, particularly after Christmas, you are going to get injuries, tired players (body and mind) and I think you need as many points on the table asap whilst you are playing like you are. Your performances are not reflecting the points you've got. You should be a top three team now, but you are not.
At the end of the day, there's no hidden agenda on my part, I just say what I feel. I've seen too many false dawns in football to jump wholeheartedly on any bandwagon....but for what it's worth I will be dead chuffed to see Barnsley finish comfortably mid table.

 

I don't agree that any of the first 11 aren't good players, the problem is we need more of them, if a striker gets injured it brings Tommy Wright on, winger gets injured it McPharland... players who should probably be in league one. But the first team is more than capable of competing at this level. Last week on that actim index thing Paul Hayes was the best striker in the league, with Richards not too far behind him. And out of all the wingers in the league ours were both in the top 8. Bobby Hassell was in the team of the week last week, our keeper (fair enough made a big **** up yesterday to get sent off) has just been called up to Ireland squad. Outside the starting 11 you have a good case though, not a lot of talent there

I agree it would be better if we were turning these good performances into wins, but no Barnsley fans serisouly expect us to be doing better than we are, the way we're playing is showing most people that eventually we will be a great team, we just need a few tweaks here and there

 

You can almost hear the phrase already... "too good to go down."

Come on lads, you're doing us proud at the mo, let's get what we deserve.

 

and thats all down to the maestro called ritchie for christs sake shepard get him signed up on a long term contract,if for whatever reason it goes tits up the barnsley fans will never forgive you.I hope you don,t intend leaving it till the last minute like you did with mcphail thars a recipe for disaster!

 

Don't forget,thats YOUR honest assessment, I disagree with most of this post.There are much worse teams than Barnsley in this league, safety will be assured,just wait and see. (neer)

 

A win on Saturday

and we shall have exactly the same number of points as we had at the same stage last season.

 

Honest assessment of Doncaster Rovers

think Ryan has gone from broke this season and it is looking very much like a badly timed gamble. Rovers have one of the largest squads in League 1, and several players who have dropped down level that are probably on close to Championship wages. Your crowds are still hovering at last seasons disappointing levels, probably reflection of the results so far. With the new stadium 2 months away, the team is still under performing and the question is how much money is new new manager going to have available. I suspect very little. The managerial choice is an interesting one, O'Driscoll has worked on little or no budget, but had the benefit of one of the best strikers in the league scoring heavily each season. No such safety net at Donny, and the fickle but vocal minority that were quickly on Pennys back wont wait long before complaining they never got Keegan or another named manager.

I think you'll be in League 1 next year cos there are several sides (Forest, Bristol City, Tranmere, Carlisle) all capable of maintaining momentum. Something which Donny will lose out on if results are still poor, meaning the new 12,000 all seater may be half full come May.

Good luck tho, eh.