Tonight showed that we are still 6-7 players short of having a promotion chasing squad, in my view. Out of tonight's squad, there must be at least 5-6 who aren't ready to be main players in a League One promotion team. It got me thinking, what is our aim? If we are hoping to have a youthful squad that competes well and aims at mid-table, we might be OK. But the messages constantly coming out of Mansford's (Been quiet recently hasn't he?) mouth is that we are a huge club and promotion is our aim. If that's the case then we should have a much stronger squad. Hard to believe we were competing against the likes of Middlesbrough just 15 months ago. How far we've fallen since then. Of course when our four players are back we'll be much stronger, but really feel we still need a goalkeeper, right-back, left-back, right winger, left winger and two strikers. Ah well, at least if we start badly we can dip into the loan market. Oh wait, we already did that..
Inclined to agree with most of that Matthew, but Hourihane/Winnall/Williams/Davies returning would give the side a better look. Boro are a much better side than when we last played them in the league, and I think they'll go close again. But I do agree that four or five out there looked a bit short tonight. How bad is the Scottish League?
I know it was a friendly and the result doesn't matter, but it does matter that our squad has nowhere near enough bodies in it. When it comes to the rough and tumble of League One, we can't simply name seven (if we're lucky) kids on the bench. Our starting XI - when all fit - doesn't seem that bad, but we desperately need squad numbers.
No - a gut reaction. We've paid to see a game tonight and we're entitled to chew the fat on here about how it looked.
As an aside, is anyone else worried about Sam Winnall's ongoing fitness? Three months out last season and already strugglingwith his hammy this?
He's off to coventry...... http://bbs.barnsleyfc.org.uk/showthread.php?229929-If-anyone-wants-to-have-a-laugh
Why has Watkins been bad? He's been the most consistent.. never puts a pass wrong, makes some good runs and is always in the game
It was men vs boys and at times looked to be playing either 5-5-0 or 6-4-0 formation. We know we had four of our main guys missing and were playing a team that will be challenging for automatic promotion to the premiership next season. So why not give it a go? We looked nervous in a friendly.
Our three best players and number 1 goalie were all out injured, and we have a few more players to come in. Few young players in the team and LJ was experimenting a bit with Roberts, Phenix etc Also, Middlesborough could well get promoted this year - great team
Johnson has spoke a lot recently about the time frame of 3 transfer windows. Personally, I see this season being another transitional period for the club - anything from 10th - 4th as a finish.
Just like under Wilson, top 6 is the quoted target. And just like under Wilson, I will consider anything outside that as an underachievement. As suspected, the goalposts are already starting to move.. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Have we dipped into the loan market proper though? I thought they were youth loans which, on the outside looking in, seems good business
With the squad we have at the minute I'd imagine we will finish between 12th and 18th. We are very clearly 5/6 players away from a squad that can compete at the business end of the table. Thus isn't negativity on my part or based on a friendly I didn't attend. It's looking at a squad with no experience throughout the team no cover in any positions outside of central midfield and very poor striking options. If we start the season without the 5/6 additions that we need LJs target should be a season of stability as it would be unfair to expect anything else.
