Observer Pre Season Report....

Are you feeling optimistic for the upcoming season?

Ish. With a new striker and a settled starting line up who knows?

Are you happy with the summer signings?

So far. Pre-season is all about reaching fitness levels, not results. I'll reserve judgment until October-ish, but have a good whinge where necessary along the way.

Happy with the gaffer?

Roll on October-ish and we'll see.

Players to watch:

A fit Da Silva, a fit Hume, a correctly used Leon, Macken (looks fitter and leaner).

Likely boo-boys:

The first misplaced pass by one of the new lads and.........................................cue time honoured tradition.

Predicted finish:

In May sometime.


Who'll go up?

Those that get promoted.

Who'll go down?

Those that have been *****.

 

99%?

Blimey, still got your doubts then?

 

Are you feeling optimistic for the upcoming season?
Not at all, unless he buys 3 more players we are going to struggle.

Are you happy with the summer signings?
It's too early to call but I am pleased with the addition of Hume a real worker and will score some goals, however Moore is negative signing in my opinion he has looked really slow in friendlies and of course he is not match fit or back to his sharpest I can still see him being a liability at times. Other two we will after wait and see.

Happy with the gaffer?
Doing a good job so cant complain too much about him performance or result wise but I just feel he isnt the man to tek us back to where we want to be as a force in this leauge.

Players to watch: John Macken and Rob Kozluk

Boo Boy: Kayode Odebadbuy (whatever he does I will find a way to boo him )

Predicted Finish: 22nd

Who'll go down?
Us Pikeys Dee Dahs

 

Are you feeling optimistic for the upcoming season?
Not too optomistic at the moment but trying to be. Think the League will be really hard this season and we will have another difficult time ahead.

Are you happy with the summer signings?
Think Moore will be a good signing if he keeps his fitness and is able to lead - hopefully we will not give as many goals away through set pieces and corners. Hume is a great signing if he gets fit and stays fit. Unsure about the others. They are not proven at this level.
Happy with the gaffer?
Yes. I think we should stick with him but he will definitely be under pressure to deliver this season

Players to watch:
Muller and Da Silva

Likely boo-boys:
Donny, Wednesday and Sheff Utd fans, John Ryan, Neil Warnock and sadly Odejayi if he doesn't start scoring
Predicted finish:
18th
Who'll go up?
Palace, Birmingham, Derby (not necessarily in that order)

Who'll go down?
Blackpool, Preston Donny Rovers (fingers crossed) Wednesday will escape again as they always do

 

Are you feeling optimistic for the upcoming season?

Not especially. With another forward and some cover in the centre of midfield I'd be reasonably confident of staying up...which would be a success. As it stands I suspect we're in for a long hard season.

Are you happy with the summer signings?

Hume - Yes. We'll wait and see whether the price tag is inflated but he looks like a talented player. Moore - Not convinced. Reckon his best days are behind him now, wouldn't be surprised if we are reverting back to Foster, Souza due to Moore's fitness/lack of. Two foreign lads - Absolutely no idea.

Happy with the gaffer?

In general, yes. I think overall he gets the best out of his players. There are the obvious exceptions such as Johnson etc. The one thing I respect above everything else is that he likes to play football and brings in players who have some technique. Still plenty to learn but we could do a lot worse.

Players to watch:

Hume. Anderson when he's back. Maybe the younger lads... Butterfield, Adam. Hope they can get a couple of games under their belt.

Likely boo-boys:

The ref.

Predicted finish:

20th - Hopefully

Who'll go up?

Reading, Bristol City, Brum.

Who'll go down?

Donny, Wendies, Blunts. ....we can dream.

 

Are you feeling optimistic for the upcoming season?
Nope. The squad has increased in size again as we can't offload our dead-weight and we may have added to that number with the uninspiring signings thus far. "Box office signings" and "considerable funds for transfers" have yet to make an appearance.

Are you happy with the summer signings?
The foreigner gambles continue. Colace, if rumours are to be believed, isn't up to the necessary standard and El Haimour has looked impressive but lightweight. Moore improves the squad if he is to be used as a squad player but I don't believe he will add anything to the first team. I'm less enamoured with Hume than many other Barnsley fans. I was never that impressed with him at Leicester and I don't think he's likely to get into double-figures with goals this season. 1.2mn is twice his real value in my opinion.

Happy with the gaffer?
Doing a steady job but comes across as arrogant and over-confident. His freezing out of players, particularly the ones he has signed only weeks earlier, is a definite cause for concern

Players to watch: John Macken, Heinz Muller and Anderson De Silva

Boo Boy: Odejayi will get the stick at the start of the season, closely followed by miserable Brian "wantaway" Howard.

Predicted Finish: 20th-22nd

Who'll go up?
Birmingham, QPR, Sheff Utd

Who'll go down?
Blackpool, Doncaster, Barnsley/Southampton