Barnsley (H)

[Spider]

A few draws against the top teams in the next few weeks will do.

Bit more than ever, we need the fans to be our 12th man at home.

I fully understand that some folk just turn up and want to vent the minute a pass goes astray, but quite honestly it’s time supporters were just that - supporters.

There are blokes near me who can’t fucking wait for a bad pass or an attack to break down so they can stand up and start shouting and bawling like fucking experts. They’re usually fat cunts whose ankles would snap if they so much as looked at a football.

Fuck off

We need a stadium full of intimidation and nastiness aimed at the visitors. 
 

The reason we started panicking and hoofing it today was pressure from our own fans. Pathetic.

 

[Tonge moor green jacket]

59 minutes ago, Duck Egg said:

Agreed.  A top 2 side will win the homes and odd away game at their fellow chasers.  I have no confidence of us winning at Derby, Peterborough, Barnsley etc.  We're a good side but not top two material yet I don't think.

Won at Wycombe this year, and beaten Derby- not done that previously. 

Today's draw, with a team of defenders somewhat cobbled together is OK, particularly given Barnsley's away record.

We drew at Wigan the last time we played there, and we've beaten Blackpool too.

We may not need to win at these places, draws may well suffice.

I'm still not 100% convinced we will do it, but we have a squad capable of doing so.

[masi 51]

4 minutes ago, Cheese said:

Seeing as every player is being marked when the opposition press high, the only alternative is for Baxter to hoof every ball and hope for the best. Which is the opposite of the style that has got us to where we are.

Every player is not marked we have 5 if you include the wide players at the back...The opposition press with three tops

It is up to  our players to make space

Sheehan was getting it on the 18 yard line with a player tight to him, yet Baxter played the same ball four or five times which got us in trouble

Nobody did what Santos does today, and comes short for the ball

[Arrested development]

I thought Taylor did ok overall. Got done for pace once or twice. With Rico you can play high line because he's quick, Taylor isn't so your always going to be occasionally caught by one over the top.

[Mounts Kipper]

43 minutes ago, onefinfrandsen said:

Hope he isn’t going to be another shortire 

Heading that way but not that bad yet. 

[gonzo]

4 minutes ago, Spider said:

A few draws against the top teams in the next few weeks will do.

Bit more than ever, we need the fans to be our 12th man at home.

I fully understand that some folk just turn up and want to vent the minute a pass goes astray, but quite honestly it’s time supporters were just that - supporters.

There are blokes near me who can’t fucking wait for a bad pass or an attack to break down so they can stand up and start shouting and bawling like fucking experts. They’re usually fat cunts whose ankles would snap if they so much as looked at a football.

Fuck off

We need a stadium full of intimidation and nastiness aimed at the visitors. 
 

The reason we started panicking and hoofing it today was pressure from our own fans. Pathetic.

 

Blackpool had about 1k on other night and never shut up.

We are wank at home.

[gonzo]

10 minutes ago, Mounts Kipper said:

It isn’t it really isn’t, Johnstone I said wouldn’t cut it he had and I applaud him, the facts are Maghoma is bog average at best, soon as I see improvement in Maghoma ill call it. Today he got booked first attempt at a tackle … let his marker go who scored… hit the moon with a shot while no one near him on edge of box… his display today wasnt even average. Some folk utterly deluded. 

Hes been ok but he was crap today. 

Really poor decision making.

Got better a bit when BodCol came on.

[Lt. Aldo Raine]

https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/13063411/bolton-1-1-barnsley-league-one-highlights

[radcliffe white]

I must be the only person on here disappointed with todays result

plenty off huff & puff but nothing of note for the Barnsley keeper to deal with 

yes I take a point before but we offered fuck all in the final 3rd 

 

[barrycowdrill]

Overall a point was a fair result I’d say. Both goals against the run of play. Yes we had the territory and the possession for the most part but they worked Baxter more than we worked their man 

what I can’t get my head around is we are so process driven in terms of getting to the bye line and putting the ball across yet non of our front men take the gamble the ball is going to be there. 
 

no team at this level is coming here fighting fire with fire. It’s all about being solid, containing and grabbing something. So the times we get in to a position of putting the ball across are few and far between. When we do every other fucker has pulled back to the penalty spot. The strikers should be telling the wing backs exactly where they’re going to be but it seems at the minute they’re all on completely different wave lengths. 
 

we had 4 strikers on the bench today and there needs to be serious heat put on those front 2 because at the minute for whatever reason it/ they just aren’t working. Either individually or as a partnership 

Edited February 3, 2024 by barrycowdrill

[Lt. Aldo Raine]

1 minute ago, barrycowdrill said:

what I can’t get my head around is we are so process driven in terms of getting to the bye line and putting the ball across yet non of our front men take the gamble the ball is going to be there.  

I've noticed that as well and it's infuriating

[Johnnyrotten]

1 hour ago, deeane Koontz said:

He's done plenty good work in recent times. And has improved a lot with his hold up and link up play which a blind mon could see.

Today he was poor.

He's had a couple of decent games recently I agree - Luton, Carlisle spring to mind, and a good goal v Cheltenham.  But when he's bad, which I'm sure you'll agree has been more often than not in the last 12 months, we are told he is part of a successful team and he does loads of unseen work. Its not enough IMO.

If he plays well, like v Luton/Carlisle, great, but if the ball's bouncing off him which it does a lot, I don't care what running he's doing (same as Kachunga), it doesn't make up for all the possession we lose when he gets involved.  Charles isn't much better in general play but he has a goals record to fall back on to justify his place.  I can't wait to see the impact Collins can have, clearly has quality.

[Ani]

My take on it all. Very strange game.

 

I thought we were ok first half other than the goal we were well on top IMO. Thought Charles and Vic both really worked hard, a couple of time Dion took on stupid shots. Dempsey worked his socks with a few good pull backs.

Their goal I thought was well worked, they 'dummied' a long throw , took it a bit shorter and caught us out.

Second half was 20 minutes of utter madness. Their press was a million times more effective than our balls from back. If all 3 midfield players are dropping deep there is no one to play the ball out to. Not sure how we did not concede. players seemed to be taking turns in gifting them possession. Sheehan and Maghoma guiltiest but the balls into them did not help.
 

The subs made a difference, the cross for the goal was brilliant. All of a sudden they were on back foot. Lost count of number of times we seemed to quite clear headers from corners with no one putting one on target and no one following them in. 
 

Thought draw was fair result but imagine they are kicking themselves as we were there for the taking. 

[jmjhb]

Thought Maghoma was off it today but he was excellent in the last league match against Carlisle, and he is our top scorer outside of the forwards.

[Spider]

3 minutes ago, radcliffe white said:

I must be the only person on here disappointed with todays result

plenty off huff & puff but nothing of note for the Barnsley keeper to deal with 

yes I take a point before but we offered fuck all in the final 3rd 

 

I’m always disappointed when we don’t win

But realistically, you have to accept that sometime the other team have a part to play.

They want to win too, or at least get a draw.

on balance, we just have to accept certain results for what they are.

[radcliffe white]

2 minutes ago, Spider said:

I’m always disappointed when we don’t win

But realistically, you have to accept that sometime the other team have a part to play.

They want to win too, or at least get a draw.

on balance, we just have to accept certain results for what they are.

Barnsley are a well drilled side but surely we knew this?

baxter kept us in it massive well done 

but for a side 2nd we created very little personally it was disappointing 

[Matt Lofthouse]

39 minutes ago, captainmed said:

Free hit? If only.

We’ve played 9 of the bottom 11 away from home.

Only Cambridge & Exeter left.

Got to win both those and our results against the bottom teams away from home with the exception of Reading have been excellent. 

The rest will be bloody tough. 

 

 

 

 

 

Free hit as in Pompey, derby, Barnsley, Oxford not playing. 

[Tonge moor green jacket]

15 minutes ago, radcliffe white said:

I must be the only person on here disappointed with todays result

plenty off huff & puff but nothing of note for the Barnsley keeper to deal with 

yes I take a point before but we offered fuck all in the final 3rd 

 

I don't think so. We all wanted a win, but can accept the result. Especially given we didn't really deserve a win. 

Probably more disappointing not to create more clear cut chances.

 

[ianofcleveleys]

17 minutes ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

I've noticed that as well and it's infuriating

Similar, Dempsey in particular found some great bits of space, pulled it back well, across the corridor of six yard box, to nobody as neither Vic or Dion are inclined to gamble and attack the box. 

[Casino]

First half was fine, their goal doesnt happen with santos playing

2nd was a bit wycombesque as we couldnt get out

Fixed it by giving us a chance of winning a long goal kick

Fantastic cross by collins and great work by the shit left back

All in all, decent day 

[BOWTUN BAKED]

15 minutes ago, radcliffe white said:

I must be the only person on here disappointed with todays result

plenty off huff & puff but nothing of note for the Barnsley keeper to deal with 

yes I take a point before but we offered fuck all in the final 3rd 

 

Yep, they dragged us down to their level & style of play, then beat us on experience. 

Totally out done with the control of the game.

[radcliffe white]

1 minute ago, BOWTUN BAKED said:

Yep, they dragged us down to their level & style of play, then beat us on experience. 

Totally out done with the control of the game.

And I bet this will be the same at derby away for example so predictable 

[Johnnyrotten]

53 minutes ago, auckland_bwfc said:

It's how it goes,  person makes decision on player, then utilises all blips and mistakes to reinforce their belief. Like gonzo mentions above. People make their mind up, good n bad. And won't be budged on it. 

I never thought thommo would make a player....then I'd never thought he'd have a shot on target...then I never thought he'd score a goal.....then I.never thought he'd score a goal with his right foot....then I'd never thought there'd be a day I didn't wanna see starting eleven with him not in it....glad I've been proved wrong on all these points.

Sometimes we should just cut them some slack. I don't see many of any players giving less than 100% most of the time. We're not doing to bad are we.....

Agreed, Tomo was someone I didn't rate either.  Proved us both wrong, he's come on in leaps and bounds.  I also didn't think Sheehan would ever be our best/most consistent midfielder, seemed too lightweight but definitely isn't.  I didn't think Dempsey was upto much for a while, he's really showing why we bought him.  

Then there are players that look the business from minute one and have rarely disappointed - Toal, Baxter, Forrester.  And some I thought looked good signings initially but ultimately weren't good enough eg Kachunga, Shoretire.

Its all opinions, Vic didn't look good last season and has just marginally improved this season, same as Williams IMO.  If others rate them and fall back on them being part of a team that's doing well, no problem, just not for me.  I think a club of our size in L1 can have better up front and that we'd still be doing well with this squad if for eg Bod had started the games Vic has started.

[Lostock Whites]

A draw is always going to entail 2 different sets of opinions, either point gained or 2 points dropped.

Given the circumstances that we could have been down by 3 goals after a calamitous 10 minutes in the 2nd half, and Barnsley's solid away from, I'm personally happy with the point.

The frustration is that aside from that horrendous 10 minutes, we were in control of the entire game and Barnsley didn't do anything.

Even though we dominated possession, they pressed us hard from goals kicks as they knew that's where we're vulnerable.

We simply have to get better in those positions, playing accurate but direct balls in behind the press and breaking through 

Also, there was a considerable difference to our attack with the introduction of JDB & Collins. Particularly because of JDBs ability to let the ball stick and bring others into it.

Neither Charles or Vic were anywhere close to doing it all game, the ball constantly bounced off them.

 

 

Edited February 3, 2024 by Lostock Whites

[Tonge moor green jacket]

20 minutes ago, radcliffe white said:

Barnsley are a well drilled side but surely we knew this?

baxter kept us in it massive well done 

but for a side 2nd we created very little personally it was disappointing 

This is arguably the main concern.

Given the problems at the centre of defence, I can understand one or two difficulties there.

We didn't have GT in midfield, and didn't have his presence. 

With that in mind and knowing how teams are pressing us, Evatt should be aware that Sheehan won't dominate in the way he usually does, but the play is the same.

Brighton similarly play out from the back and are better technically and frequently cope with opponents' press. They don't change- but they also recently they came a cropper (Luton iirc).

It's that balance between sticking to what we do and for the most part what works, and being able to adapt when it isn't working. 

There is still room for improvement there- whether it is an alternative formation/personnel, or whether its a case of players themselves "finding a solution" as Evatt describes it from time to time.