Thought Winnall and Armstrong were fantastic yesterday

I'm watching a different match

Other than Jacksons 2 moments of falling asleep - I thought Winnall was our weakest player
The header into their keepers hands in the second half was typical
Not saying he's a bad player but I think he needs an old fashioned centre forward at the side of him

I don't think he is nearly as good as Marley
So I can't understand why Hecky chooses Winnall over Marley

Marley is a real handful for defenders

 

Marley is a real handful. But he's nowhere near as prolific a goalscorer.

 

Agree with that.

 

Winnall is the biggest mystery in modern day football. Looks nothing like a goalscorer, misses sitters almost every week, looks poor in the air, seemingly little effort at times, in fact he looks like somebody who has won a competition to get his place in the squad but by god somehow that bloke knows how to put the ball in the back of the net every other game. If you took his goals away he would look like a very poor player but of course you can't take those goals away can you and thank Christ that you can't.

He's a bit like a goalkeeper who looks like he can't dive, can't kick or catch but has never let a goal in either. As much as you want to criticise him you kind of can't because he does what he's paid to do very well

 

Thought he won more than his fair share yesterday against both their centre halves, including the Neanderthal one. Created a number of openings, worked well with AA, won a penno and shed more than a drop of claret for the cause. Shame about the penalty miss but if CH had been playing he wouldn't have taken it.

Builds on his imo excellent performance last week. Drinking in the pub with Brentford fans after the game, they said our number 9 had given their back four as much trouble as anyone they've played against this season.

 

Agree with most of that, Fiona.
As for missing the penalty, I've seen some of the best players in the world miss them, as well as some quality Barnsley goalscorers (Hignett, Redfearn, Clarke, Joicey, Doyle, Banks, Hourihane, Barnard and the best of them all, Glavin to name just a few), so I'm quite happy for Sam to continue taking them provided he wants to.

 

I have a lot of time for Sam. Yesterday I thought he worked hard without looking particularly incisive himself. However, he won the penalty on his own and, but for the keeper saving his pen with his foot, would have had another goal on his tally.

 

Yeah it was certainly a poor penalty but I think every single footballer has hit a poor penalty in the past whether that is in a game or a training session

 

I thought Reading's penalty last month was even worse, but we were unfortunate that when Davies saved it, the ball deflected straight back to their player and he scored with the rebound.
For me, Winnall yesterday showed why he's such a good footballer and his value to the team and club.

 

I think I'm watching a different Winnall to some. For me his all round game is better this season & in the last 2 home games his link up play has been a lot better

 

I thought he was magnificent, one of the best games I've seen him play. Making him captain seemed to motivate him even more than usual.

 

Last season and the 1st two months of this one I would have agreed with some of the comments about how he's playing because other than goalscoring he offered very little else, however since he's come back into the team, he's been the best I've ever seen him.

 

Sam has been fantastic recently and his all round game has improved. He's also winning a lot more headers than he ever did. Surely even his harshest critic can see that.

 

I think he's always put in a great shift and wins plenty of headers to say he's not the tallest and certainly not a target man. But I agree with others completely that his effort has been top notch since coming on against Villa, probably because of the competition he's up against in terms of other strikers in our squad, which is a very positive thing

 

Headers has never never been his strong point and he should have done better with that chance. But in recent weeks there looks to have been a vast improvement in that area. Thought he might have been dizzy/concussed so i'm surprised he took the penalty. Was also surprised how quickly he got up from the challenge to make sure he got hold of the ball to take it. Surely we had a designated penalty taker in place and as the captain Sam had the say anyway so no need to rush for the ball like it was life and death.

 

I have to echo a lot of the comments on here... Sam has been a real asset to the team since he came on against Villa. His touch, link up play, heading ability, and dare I say, pace (a brilliant first touch turn in midfield and sprint and shot on target vs Bristol springs to mind) have all improved markedly. It does seem as if the healthy competition for places has helped him to push onto where he is now, an all-out championship level no.9. Not bad for a L2 player we got on the cheap from Scunny. And let's not forget he's on a little scoring spree too. Villa, Fulham, Brentford (should have been Bristol too, but I'm not complaining).

Long may this improvement continue. Top lad is our Sam.

 

agree : hes a better footballer than the "head in the bag" crew will ever give him credit for.People forget that serious hamstring injury t`other season has taken what edge in pace he had.Cant sprint like he could be can keep the pace up over a distance.
Sam will know he has a point to rpove that he can and is a championship player

 

agree : hes a better footballer than the "head in the bag" crew will ever give him credit for.People forget that serious hamstring injury t`other season has taken what edge in pace he had.Cant sprint like he could be can keep the pace up over a distance.
Sam will know he has a point to rpove that he can and is a championship player