The biggest difference in yesterday's side from last year...

Was that we were bigger, stronger, and quicker - just the areas we needed to improve in and that Simon identified... so fair play and it bodes well.

Last year we lacked pace, were shrugged off the ball too easily and lacked height... Souza dominating in the air at the back was fantastic.

 

I hope so - fingers crossed!

 

Souza REALLY impressed me. Not just because of his aerial ability, but the fact that he wasn't scared to get stuck in. Tackles flying in all over the place.

Buy him!

 

+ he always looked to pass it out of defence, a major improvement from kay and reid

 

I was there yesterday, and although it was an easy pace for Barnsley and Rotherham and the advice when you go out there is not come back with an injury. It was a one pace work-out for the reds. Only 3 shots on goal all afternoon, pretty poor for a spectator on both sides. But the team looks bigger and stronger and that was the main thing that Davey wanted to improve on last season. I say again from the bottom of my heart, don't get to carried away with the new signings, they will improve as a unit, but all this talk of a top 6 club in the coming season, is all what it is TALK. It's going to be another hard season, and i think we will be hanging on for dear life come the end of the new campaign.

 

If we are hanging on..

why bother getting new players at various costs? Iwould hope that a mid table or above finish is what Messrs. Cryne, Davey and Shepherd are looking for.

 

I really hope we do sign Souza.

He's shown he's got the ability and he does seem to keep a calm head, rather than having a "hoof it anywhere" mentality.

Plus it will mean extra competition for the team and that's always healthy.

 

I'm in no way expecting us to be top-six material.

I realistically think 16th or 17th is our money.

 

RE: If we are hanging on..

I hope you are right , mid- table would be great, but Barnsley have come a long way in the past 3or 4 years. reaching the Championship was a massive bonus for us fans . Staying in this great league is going to be very difficult for a team like ours . Until we gradually over the coming seasons improve our squad , what Davey is trying to do now on a small budget when other teams in the league are spending loads and loads of money to try and improve their squads. Will be a big test for Davey and his back-room staff on their shrewdness in this years transfer market and like all true Barnsley fans i sincerley hope he as got it right for the new season ahead and we regain our status in this league. I don't and thousands of other Barnsley fans don't know that question either, but until the first dozen or so matches are played, we can't judge Davey's skill in the transfer market and of the teams pe-season games on a whole. Like i say staying in this leage and progressing further will be a great relief to us fans, we shall have open minds untill we are safe in this league once again.

 

So do I - based on his performance at Buxton and yesterday.

In fact, I'm a little surprised that Nudger has been quite negative about him. He may not be a commanding defender in the
likes of say, Darren Moore - but he's quick, he's got decent skill, his positional sense seems good, he gets in first with his
challenges and his distribution of the ball ain't bad either.

I realise that Buxton and Rov'rum aren't exactly the best of bench-marks to judge him against, but he can only perform
against what's put in front of him, and he looks good to me. The acid test will come from August 11th onwards though.
Mind you, I fear that if the Unsworth rumour turns out to be true and we sign him, then I think Souza probably won't be
joining us. Hope I'm wrong though.

 

Bigger, yes, but

stronger and fitter remains to be seen. There was very little to be seen yesterday in terms of football. There is a lot of work to do. The plus point for me was De Souza's second half performance when he moved to the LH side CH position. Having said that, that was the side were their goal came from.
My view for what it worth!!!!!!!!!!!!!