Thought it'd be worth creating a thread where people can make their points about Saturday, without resorting to calling each other numpties (like most threads). My two-penneth: Before the game even started on Saturday I was expecting a loss, but being a Barnsley fan for over 20 years that's probably par for the course. The reason I was expecting us to lose fell into two main categories; the pace (and quality) of their forwards and our lack of options up front. When the game started we looked a like bit hesitant in our play, especially defensively. We seemed to be desperately looking for th right pass and almost trying to force it when even Barcelona would have hoofed it clear. This invited pressure from Huddersfield who looked the epitome of what we were trying to do - assured on the ball, passing was quick, crisp and accurate and their strikers were moving all over the place. Despite this early warning, we seemed to weather the storm and actually start to control the game. Our passing was inaccurate at times, and we didn't seem to be going anywhere - but neither were they. A nil-nil draw would have been a good result against a good Huddersfield side, so I was feeling quite content. Then out of the blue, my pre-game fear was realised - the pace of Church meant he got past Foster and put a decent cross in which any quality striker would gobble up - and Beckford duly did. After they got the lead Huddersfield knew what they had to do, sit back and let us pass it around them without anyone daring to drive at a man. Luckily Hill seemed to realise that the game was slipping away and brought on Mido and RNL. Mido especially lifted the crowd, and RNL made a very quick impact with his direct play. The tide appeared to be turning and it looked for a moment until we could get back into the game. However, it all quickly disipated in three perplexing moments. 1. Stones got down the right hand side, and instead of crossing first time into a dangerous area he turned back and gave the ball to Dawson. He then also turned back and lost the ball - the end result was Steele making an excellent save. Obviously, the crowd were nearly lost at this point. How do we turn dangerous attacks into ridiculous moments like that? Are we scared to cross? At this point, it made me think that we try to score goals that are too good and never consider that the opposition can make mistakes. If Stones had fired that ball into the danger zone it could easily have gone in off a defender, or the keeper could have dropped it in front of one of our on-rushing players. 2. Wiseman (who had a shaky game IMO) played a horrendous back-pass to Steele because he didn't want to give the ball away. Again, the crowd were nervous and we weren't playing our best. Despite this, we were forcing things that were likely to end up with us conceding another goal, when we already struggle to score even one. 3. Mellis doesn't shoot when 4 yards out. I still can't understand how he thought taking an extra touch would benefit him - as an example, Vaz Te would have lashed that in. We've got minutes to go, we need to equalise, and once again we're trying to score a clever goal instead of just lashing the ball into the back of the net. I think Mellis has probably learnt a lesson, but it cost us a point and a much needed lift. When I analyse the result, and the performance I come to the same conclusion. We played well below-par, but despite that we didn't give them many chances and we creating enough to get something from the game. We looked very short of confidence - especially Stones and Goldbourne. I rate both players, but they seemed to be a bit jaded at the moment and a rest wouldn't hurt. If Hill is telling players to not shoot, or to not cross the ball then I'm slightly worried, because I think we miss some very good opportunities to put it in the mixer and to see what happens. If the players are simply making the wrong decisions at vital times, then I'm more inclined to say that's football. It's much harder when you're out on the pitch, and players need to make mistakes (and be forgiven) in order to improve. I think if we could sign (permanently or season-long loan) an exciting striker to play up front with Davies we'd be a far better team and we'll stay up just fine. I honestly think our lack of presence in the final third is what is costing us at the moment - the ball just keeps coming back when we play it up-front. Anyway, I'll support Hillcroft because I think they're doing everthing to turn it around. I can still understand some of the things that are going on and until further notice I will continue to support whoever is in charge of Barnsley FC - that includes Hillcroft, The Don, Patrick Cryne and whoever else. Onwards and upwards, we're only a few players short of being a good team.
Very well stated JDB...........enjoyed reading the post and agree with you. I actually thought we would get something from game (pre-match thought anyway)......but half a chance for a striker like Beckford and we know where ball is going ie. in the net. Post more often........you make good sense and reading !!!
Good post. I took my Huddesrfield supporting mate on Saturday and his persepctive was that we played all the football but they have strikers who can finish and we had none. He reckons we play oursleves into trouble and don't take enough gambles in the opposition half. Said we were 'soft'. We are desperate for a striker, a focal point of our attack and sometimes we maybe need to mix it up and just cross it in or take a shot. I'd certainly stick with Hillcroft as I think they will sort it out and we have plenty of time. We are fourth bottom and is we can string a couple of wins together the picture will be very different.
I thought I'd just copy what I wrote immediately after the game: A distinct lack of confidence...in front of goal. I sat there for 94 minutes today, and at no point did I ever really expect us to put the ball in the Huddersfield goal. Was it due to us misfiring? Was it due to a remarkable display by Alex Smithies in the Huddersfield goal? Was it due to Huddersfield having one of those pop up force fields on the goal-line? No. It was down to a sheer lack of confidence in and around the penalty area. The build up play, from back to front is fine and at some stages, it was a joy to watch. We passed the ball around well and in all honesty, no bias coming into play, I thought overall, we were marginally better than Huddersfield who I didn't think were anything special whatsoever. It was another defensive lapse that cost us, as Barnsley target as of last week Simon Church managed to get his cross from the left over far too easy and Jermaine Beckford rose to meet it, glancing the ball past a comitted Luke Steele. It was against the run of play. The Reds came out after the half time interval all guns blazing...well, loaded at least - the trigger finger never even came anywhere near the actual trigger. For 15 minutes, we penned Huddersfield in and played around them, but that was it. We needed a goal, but it never came and never really looked likely to come. Huddersfield came back into the game and if not for the heroics of Steele after some shabby play from Dawson, we'd have been 0-2 down. Steele came to the rescue again later on to deny Church from adding a goal to his assist for the afternoon. Hill threw on Jim O'Brien, Reuben Noble-Lazarus, and Mido - fresh from his exercise cycle seat on the bench. His first contribution was to scythe down Sean Scannell on the far right and side, and recieve a justifiable booking. The Reds pushed forward and they probably should have been level. Noble-Lazarus burst down the left and fired the ball across the box aiming for no one in particular, but Jim O'Brien suddenly found himself in acres, 8 yards out and all he had to do was meet the ball with his head, and it was a certain goal, unless Smithies were to pull off a miraculous save. O'Brien, decided to attempt to bring the bullet like cross down on his chest and in the process, mis-controlled allowing the ball to harmlessly trickle into the thankful gloves of Smithies. Huddersfield were now content to see the game out, and resorted to ping the diagonals to hold the ball up in the corners. The Reds tried to hit it long towards the big strong boys of Mido and Harewood. Sorry, did I say BIG, STRONG, boys? Apologies. Needless to say, it didn't work. Huddersfield picked off the long balls and looked comfortable sitting on the edge of the area, soaking up the attempts at pressure. As the game looked lost, the Reds were thrown a lifeline - 5 minutes injury time. In hindsight, it could've been 5 hours. It wouldn't have mattered. Marlon Harewood finally won a header on the edge of the box. The ball looped high into the air and dropped perfectly for the on rushing Jacob Mellis 10 yards out. He watched it come down exquisitely and all he had to do, was smack it. Eye on the ball - laces through it, surely a goal? No. Again, Mellis this time decided to bring the ball down for a touch before shooting...and again, miscontrolled. The confidence in and around the box, is as low as whale dung. We looked comfortable when on the ball, and worked it up the pitch as well as we could, but as soon as the 18 yard line comes into sight, it all falls to pieces. Harewood was good four years ago. He's a waste of time and money these days. Mido, despite his enthusiasm is some way of fitness. He looked knackered. My grandad is in better nick...he's also been dead 22 years. We sorely miss Craig Davies - he was bursting with confidence when he got injured, and we are dearly, dearly missing him. It's all well and good knocking the ball about and trying to play football the right way, but if we can't put the ball in the net... MOM: Luke Steele
Agreed, but we were doing this earlier in the season. I'm thinking about Cranie's cross ball for Mellis (and Mellis' cross ball for Dawson) - both resulting in fantastic goals. We also waste far too many short free kicks and corners. This is especially frustrating when (as per the Huddersfield match) we aren't creating much from open play. I can't see why this is anything other than the Manager's fault (as this is happening week in week out). It is up to him to correct this when he is giving out his instructions to the players...
