Well halfway through the season and while none of us want to wallow in misery maybe time for a quick appraisal. Last season was seen as a blip by many of us. The combination of no crowds a manager with a plan that he exploited to the fullest and some astute January signings had pushed an average team into the play offs. Barely anyone thought this would be repeated but many of us, myself included, thought we had retained enough quality to be just outside the bottom 6. I guess the writing was on the wall when we failed to make any sort of replacement for our leader on the pitch Mowatt or the experience in the squad when Solbauer left. Of course we are not naive enough to think that this was an easy job especially with our focus on ‘the plan’ and development but failing to replace that experience and drive has cost us very dearly. Mowatt was the barometer of the team. Transitioned us from defence to attack and supplied a decent number of goals and assists. Solbauer offered younger players guidance and know how. Replacing Dike was clearly impossible though heavy questions marks came after the Obbi signing. Injury prone poor record and little desire to play for us and this looks a massive recruitment mistake alongside the talented but lightweight Iseya and the energetic and ineffectual Cole. Though let’s be honest prime time Ronaldo wouldn’t score many with this midfield ‘creating’ chances. The final nail in an already nailed in coffin was managerial replacement. We went from a charismatic man with a definite plan to well someone who wouldn’t inspire you to open a bag of maltesers. The replacement replacement looks marginally better though the ultra defensive football isn’t pretty to watch and we need wins not draws to make the season respectable as any hopes of staying up are long gone. So squad ratings (all completely subjective) Collins 8 A good solid season interspersed with some pretty amazing reflexes to keep scores down. Still fails to control his area but has easily been our best player just by being competent and knowing the basics of his job Helik 5 Always going to be hard to follow a stellar season but the decline of Helik has been fairly dramatic. Hesitant on the ground and no longer dominant in the air. Kitching 5 A trier and no one doubts his commitment but often dragged out of position and guilty of follow the man creating space behind him. Mads 6 His influence was keenest when he was injured. His returns has solidified the defence though it’s still fair to say he isn’t ideally set up for the Pass from the back game. Moon 5 Often looking quite cumbersome and not able to get into the pace of games but Jasper clearly has some ability. So one got the future at least. Styles 4 Callum has taken massive backwards steps this season and we have struggled to get the best out of him. Brittain 5 Failed to reach last seasons standards and just final ball/cross has somehow gotten worse. The reduction in quality from the 2 Callum’s is very concerning. Palmer 5 Another one who went from future prospect being developed by an astute manager into looking like someone flailing and out of their depth. Suffered more than most from our failure to replace Mowatt. He is desperate for someone with experience to guide him Gomes 6. At times looks bright with great close control at other times like a lost kid. Plays especially poorly when paired with Benson who just refuses to run. Benson 3 Came for big money and with a decent reputation but had been a complete failure. Lacks any drive or desire to match the skill he undoubtedly has. A waste of talent. Also don’t know who said he’s good at set pieces they lied. Woodrow 4.5. Out of sorts and out of form. Goal returns had been ok (any forward who can get near to 10 goals this year will have had a decent goal return) but he is snatching at chances, falls down too much and isn’t making the runs he’s capable of. On the other hand seems a team player who always puts in the work. Morris 6 A big miss and he offers us drive and physicality that had been non existent. Worries remain both about this fitness and his ability to add goals to his work effort but we are certainly worse without him. Cole 4 Plenty of pace and energy a a useful sub for 15-20 minutes when the opposition tire but goes missing when started. A low risk signing that might benefit us next year in L1 Iseya 5 Plenty of trickier and a decent finish but seems unaware of those around him and will be hard to make a partnership with on that basis. Feels like a luxury player in a struggling team. Big Vic 5 Had a good season by his own standards and I love his effort and attitude but just doesn’t have the ability at this level. Obbi 0 Strange signing. Injury prone throughout his career. A poor scoring record and little evidence to suggest he wants to be here. jordan Williams 6 when played in position with a straightforward role he is adequate but rarely above that unlike his namesake Ben 3 who just doesn’t have the quality. Sibbick 5 Looks naive and easily moved out of position. Would better employed in a sweeper role where it’s easier to hold position. Frieser 5 Looked quite good for a couple of weeks then returned to the norm. No one could ever knock his work effort but he should have gone in the summer not Chaplin Hondermarck 7 Obviously brought in for the u23s but looks the only player who can add pace and drive to our midfield. Walton 6 Done ok when asked. Oduor 4. Played out of position. Glimpses of talent but no consistency. Schopp 1. Dogged by injuries and losses to staff but zero tactical awareness and no ability to change tactics with in game subs. No ability to communicate with fans. A terrible decision. Poya 5 Hard to judge. Placed the emphasis on defence which has worked to a degree but de need to win games especially at home and we have seen little that suggest we can do that. The Board 0. That goes for the 80% and the 20% . Communication and relationship with the fan base has been dreadful resulting in the fall out over the closure of the West stand. Signings on and off the pitch have been a complete failure. Allowing pretty much all back room staff to leave was a dereliction of duty and made the HC job very difficult. The New CEO makes so many gaffes he could become a spokesperson for the tories. Morale and relationship between fans and owners is still an all time low. So all in all pretty bleak and can’t see us avoiding relegation it’s all about finishing above WRDC and beating Rotherhams points tally. Playing 3 forwards feels a luxury so personally I would add an extra creative midfielder but think we will carry on with more of the same. Onwards and Upwards.
I think ultra defensive is a bit Ott tbh , He’s working with what he’s got and the first thing he sees is that he can do something about defence . No one could make us into a half decent attacking side with the midfield we have or the uninspiring strikers we have . If he can get right what he can effect and shore up our defence then maybe the transfer window will be kind and then he only has the other bit to try and get right imo.
Interesting read which I think supports the old adage “When you buy third division players, you inevitably end up with a third division team”
Only positive I can think of is that I’ve not had to make that miserable walk up Oakwell Lane after the match this season, having made the decision not to walk down it beforehand.
Good report probably give sibbick more than a 4 hasnt done much wrong and at least he can find a red shirt with a pass unlike a few other defenders we have.
I do like Toby but his positional sense let’s him down. Think we could get more out of him by playing him as sweeper to take advantage of the passing. Difficult to play him and Kitching in a back 5 as both are so poor positionally .
Wish we signed 3rd division players who were on the up like old times. We now sign injury prone players who didnt want to play for us 6 months previous or players from burnleys under 23s whos most regular game time was on loan at league 2 grimsby.
Yeah possibly i still think he will have a good career and be a decent player in league one if that happens we will cash in on helik and anderson. Hard to belive he is still only 22.
Agreed with all of that. Toby is another one missing Solbauers influence but he’s certainly good enough for L1
Nothing wrong with buying 3rd division players or lower , for example Hourihane, Pinnock , Winnall , Roberts , Styles , Scowan, McDonald & Liam Lindsay etc, the list is endless , the trick is to buy the right ones
There's the problem we no longer do buy the right ones we used to by the best players from teams below us and pay the money to do so. Now we just play the scatter gun approach and hope.
I fully agree, but we can’t be lucky every time. I think the key to bringing in 3rd division players is having a decent and settled experienced team and adding 1 or 2 newbie’s so they can learn and improve. In our scheme, the players are thrown in together with nobody on the field to look to, the result is a case of sink or swim. At the moment, not many fans see too much swimming.
