My take on it all...... the good, the bad and the ugly! KEEP THE FAITH!!!!

Andy Ritchie was well liked by the fans, his team played attractive attacking football. He will always be remembered for gaining promotion back to the Championship. But unfortunately on our return to the championship, he failed to get results many of our performances deserved. Similar situation to Doncaster Rovers this season, but they stuck with their man a have now turned things around.

The problem is when you sack a manager the fans will have big expectations for their replacement. I assume I am speaking for us all when I say we hoped AR would be replaced by an experienced manager e.g. Joe Royle (think he was mentioned at the time). Although the board talked a good game, they suprised us all by appointing the man we least expected Simon Davey (the then - Academy manager). I would be very suprised to hear if their was a single Barnsley fan who was pleased with his appointment at the time. How could the board get it so wrong! Taking a risk by replacing one inexperienced manager with another, it just didn't make sense????

I think we were all bitter and twisted for the next few games, and even more suprised by the signings this unheard of Simon Davey fella had brought in. Still we kept going down to Oakwell to watch the lads, the football was a free flowing and performances were inconsistent but we had started picking up results. We went on a great run and the moans and groans were starting to quiet down and we survived the drop. A great feat by anyones reckoning.
Even still their we no "Simon Davey's Red & white Army" he had done well, but we all credited the players and not the man. Strange really when you consider his achievements? I still wasn't convinced, just put it down to luck.

In his next season many of the old players left and new blood came in. We were all a little sceptical as the players being signed were all unknowns from foreign shores and had no experience playing in england let alone speaking the language. We started the season brightly, but we relied to heavily on loan players i.e. De Silva, Nyatanga & Macken. We were hit hard during the Christmas/January period with key players injured and loanee's recalled by there parent clubs our results in the league took a nose dive.
Another disctraction was the FA Cup, with many players missing I never expected us to get far in the competition. With so many injuries and players cup tied the fringe players got us though the early stages, then players saw an opportunity and raised their. It was an amazing achievement to make it to Semi-finals I only wonder if we could have made it a stage further with fully fit squad available (e.g. Muller, Nyatanga, De Silva & Macken).
Following our cup exit we had a turn of results and ensured survival in the Championship for a further season.
For some reason the fans still were not taken by manager Simon Davey, even though he had taken us to FA semi-final at Wembley and secured another season in the Championship. I can't say why, he was starinfg to win me over
but I still was not fully convinced.

This season, I have seen a big change in football fans attitutudes thoughtout the country. Expectations have always been set high, but for some reason this season fans expectations have risen (x1000) and their patience decreased (x1,000,000). I couldn't believe how hostile the atmosphere was towards our own players at my first home game this season (vs Derby). Fans we slating Darren Moore to high heaven, and it wasn't just a select few. The big man was boo-ed and jeered every time he touched the ball.......... it was embarrasing! even more ironic was the fact that Mooro got cheer from Derby fans when his name was read out. He had been player of the season previous year and many Derby fans I spoke to were sad to see him leave.
Their is no doubting we had a very poor start to the season. This was down to several things, as follows:
- The undroppable Howard wanted out and did not play anything like he can.
- Foster, Muller & Anderson were unavailable but due back shortly from long term injuries.
- Colace move was delayed due to paperwork problems.
- New players Moore, Hume, El Haimour etc all taking time to gel and adapt.
- Rigters signed on loan but was not match fit.

I felt early season we were relying to much on the long term injured players coming back and making an immediate impact, and I felt we should have brought in a few short term loanee's to help fill the void in midfield (e.g. Darron Gibson or Darren Potter). But overall I felt performaces were in consistent. We would play excellent one week, keeping possession, passing well etc. Then the following game we would look like a team of strangers lumping the ball high in the air, completely clueless. Saturday's game vs Blackpool was a good example, we had a good first half but as soon as they scored in the second we paniced and fell apart. I honestly do think we will be ok this season. I feel predict that teams for the drop are Forrest, Southampton and Charlton. We have three games in hand on most teams around us. But the home game vs Forrest is now vital.

I was dissapointed on Saturday, very dissapointed to be honest. Many fans near me reckoned it was worst we had played including my old man...... but come, it wasn't that bad! Dodgy conditions, bit of bad luck, and another poor referee. It was better than some recent performances. I thought Hammill was superb, the defence and midfield did ok, but yet again it was the forwards that lacked bite. I would also say that we came up against a keeper in top form, he made three great saves from Hammill and one from JCR that on any other day would probably have gone in. I note that both Ruchubka and Hammill were selected in News of the Worlds team of the week.

Is Simon Davey the man for the Job? even now I'm still not sure. But I reckon board will back him until the end of the season so lets get behind the lads. I know I am 100% even if they start game well, or play well as long as we get result!!! Under SD we have been to jeckyl and hyde as our last 6 matches prove (PL6. W2. D2. L2.). We have 10x games remaining, including three six pointers. I predict we will beat the drop and take 14pts from a possible 30 ending the season on 54pts. Finishing just above drop zone with Forest, Saints & Charlton going down.


Palace (H) - 3pts
Derby (A) - Loss
Forrest (H) - 3pts
Sheff Utd (A) - 1pt
Watford (A) - Loss
Swansea (H) - 3pts
Reading (A) - Loss
Coventry (A) - Loss
Wolves (H) - 3pts (with title in the bag, Wolves drop their guard)
Plymouth (A) - 1pt

PL.10
W.x4
D.x2
L.x4





GET BEHIND EM!!!

COME ON YOU REDS

 

"Andy Ritchie was well liked by the fans, his team played attractive attacking football"

Should've kept him then, a'la Donny Rovers/O'Driscoll.</p>

tum te tum....
</p>

 

I felt board made correct decision at the time i.e. sack AR change needed.

Many Donny fans felt the same about O'Driscoll before Chrismas. As they looked doomed. But credit where credits due, he's turned it around.

Fact is AR was sacked, and we will never know if he could or would have turned things around. But most agreed at the time that change was needed. Including me! But I anticipated AR would be replaced by experienced manager and not youth coach as was the case.

 

How dare you, bacon sandwich, head tennis.

Sorry, Dirk, just covering for Coachman, he seems to have gone awol.

 

Interesting, don't agree with all of it, but your main point is right - GET BEHIND THE LADS!! nt

 

Funny how certain rumours are fact, yet others are untrue.