Matchday megathread, Barnsley v Wrexham

Your health comes first I've only just dried off.

 

Biggest crowd of the day in league one to boot.

Maybe, just maybe this could be third time lucky at getting out of this division.

 

Yeah, probably agree. I was trying to be fair with him, but even now, I’m not sure what his natural position as a striker is.

We know Watters ideally plays in the box and can finish. But he doesn’t have that option, so he battles away and works his socks off, with the odd goal here and there. I’ll take that everyday from a player in a red shirt. Proper shift out in. Cosgrove doesn’t do that - and actually weakens the team when he comes on in my eyes.

As an aside, if Watters keeps his workrate up with some more goals, he’ll go down as one of the players of the season for me. Which is crazy considering the little he played last season.

 

A win is a win, especially at home, & the first of the new year, against a side somehow above us. I don’t rate Wrexham at all, & the 2nd half of the season will be telling for them, I expect them to slide down the table. They were crap at their place a few weeks ago.

Anyway we looked good value for the win in the first half, then admittedly I was travelling for the first part of the 2nd half so only managed to resume from 75 minutes onwards, & we were terrible, but we managed to hold on.

It’s clear to see we need a few new faces in, quality over quantity of course so we need to dispatch some dead wood. We all know who they are.

Hopefully successive home wins on Saturday, & that will be a perfect start to 2025.

 

Yes, you're right and it's becoming even more a priority as I get older. I can still get ecstatic about seeing us score a great goal seen on the screen, and there have been plenty of those this week. It's a pain having to jump to your feet to see what's going on, especially when people just stand up for no particular reason. I'm not blaming them for that - it's normal I suppose - but it's still annoying.

I might venture out for the next home game though. Maybe....

 

Honestly still think youre being harsh on Mael mate. Thought he was superb yet again. Was unreal against Peterborough too, and a good game against Bolton. Really starting to perform to a higher standard

 

A bit harsh on Pines today mate

 

I thought we were crap.

The decision making of certain individuals is shocking, we are at risk of becoming a bog standard league 1 team if we don't get out of this league soon. If/when we do get out we need a clear out of the crap we have bought.

 

I don't think so. I don't like blaming individuals but the rest of the team became as shaky as he was.

 

Earls composure and ability on the ball gives us an extra dimension especially when he comes out of defence with the ball .

 

I said I thought he played ok mate, I mean he needs Earl and Roberts with him because we definitely not good enough with McCarthy and Pine. Roberts/Earl/MDG for me in that order.

 

Spot on. Didn't he set the ball rolling for one of the goals?

 

I think Earl is absolute quality. If we go up I reckon he'll make the transition to the Championship without any problems.

 

Just back home in Headingley. Great day out. COYRs.

 

Need to start playing further up the pitch. Can't keep expecting Earl, McCarthy, Killip and MDG to stroke it about amongst themselves.

I'd love to do a training session with Connell, Phillips and Russell and fine them them or make em' do a forfeit every time the ball goes needlessly backwards.

It's not a hot coal it's a bag of wind.

 

Reminds me of Kitching.

 

He plays a bit deeper in general, but I definitely see the comparison.

 

Donny pines in the opposing box is a massive threat but he’s just as dangerous in his own sadly.

Honest toiler but he’s fifth choice at best for me now. McCarthy has shown his worth, I thought the back three was excellent first half.

 

Clarke addresses that in his post match interview. He knew Earl only maybe fifty mins in him and was played as a risk as he’s a better footballer - Pines is limited on the ball.

Can’t argue with the first half, selecting Earl was right. Hopefully we can get an hour from him Saturday.

 

Slow down…

We need to see how this month’s business goes first - and it will be interesting to see us on Saturday against a side we can’t hit on the break as they won’t come to play like Wrexham did.