Bitterly disappointing performance and result. However, for me, I believe that's not a common occurence this campaign. Only in the 2018/19 season have we collected more points than this one and we still have four games to go. This has been a successful season and it's not finished yet. After what we all went through in 2021/22, we have made progress on and off the field. I can only speak for myself and I'm proud of everyone at the club, especially Michael Duff.
Thomas’ header at the back post was the miss of the game. He scores that we are waxing lyrical about a supers away performance where we kept one of the leagues form teams at arms length and provided a professional away performance. Football is about taking your chances. Miles the better team but the last 30 minutes, it all got a bit hectic and desperate. That being said I’ve seen far better teams in far better leagues do that when they needed to win.
It would have been disallowed as the ref had blown, but everything else you say is absolutely spot on.
Frustrating night but not a surprise. Look at it objectively, they’ve lost once at home all season & were on a run of 10 points from 12 with games against Plymouth & Wednesday included in that run. I thought they’d be knackered after playing with 10 men for so long on Saturday & been the home side would come at us & we’d pick them off. They settled for a point from the off & defended well. We still should’ve edged it but you can’t break every side down. If we don’t go up it won’t be the fault of the second half of the season. It’ll be the first half of the season where the players were still gelling & many of them weren’t anywhere near as fit as they are.
Keep those predictions coming Sam lad! Came across this thread from a year ago recently (just to see how far we've come in 12 months), in which you declare: 'Anybody thinking we’ll do okay next season needs to give their head a wobble! Double relegation nailed on. We are in free fall!' https://barnsleyfc.org.uk/posts/2939288/ You should've said you're a double relegationer! This season must feel like we've won the Champions League after your earlier prediction! Nailed on win in play offs now
Not a bad result in itself at the end of the day but as with much in life timing is everything. Just need to keep going now until the rotund one has warbled on automatic and then gear up for the play-offs if that's what it's to be.
Indeed! I wouldn't dare to suggest this applies to you, because I don't know you, but I suspect a percentage of the double relegationers, who predicted a downfall so severe that we would be non-league within a few years, are also now criticising those 'happy clappers' who are congratulating the club on a good season and turning things around. There is a sad irony in that. For those people, maybe only the Etihad on a fortnightly basis would really satisfy them as football fans.
I was one not happy when Duff first took the reigns. We were playing some utter garbage at points. Have to admit he has done a fantastic job though and happy that he has proved me wrong about headed towards league 2. That said, I still have some doubts about his ability to change a game if plan A isn't working, especially if we go behind. Our results show are proof of that. Luckily in this league, his plan A has been good enough to break most teams down. It was similar under Ishmael with his tactics, we ended up facing Swansea in the playoffs, one of the teams that had us worked out. They knew how to frustrate us and make it difficult for our game plan to work. Knowing this, give it until the Ipswich match and if we are 100% out of the auto picture which is the likely scenario, we need our coaching staff to work at the double analysing the oppositions previous matches and work out how best to change things if his first strategy isn't working. It's not good enough to stick to the same tactics and just make 4 or 5 subs if it isn't working. I think we will learn the hard way again if we do end up in the championship and his approach isn't more adaptable. Difference in quality is huge. Lets just see what happens now, like I said I never for 1 moment thought we would be in with a shout of bouncing straight back so can't be too harsh if we do. Just want to see a bit more variety when teams make it hard for us.
A good post mate. I dont think anyone particularly had an issue with you regarding Duff not being good enough or whatever, it was just how early it was. 3 games is nowhere near enough time. Fingers crossed we go up. If not I'm 99.99% sure we will next season
This is the worst Matchday thread so far, for over reactions, and there have been some bad ones already this season. Ok if we weren't in with a chance of the top two, then this would have looked like and felt like a good point and clean sheet. Its disappointing that our lack of quality is costing us now in the away matches, but let's not forget where we've come from (last season), and where we are now in the table. There's still everything to play for, but it sounds like some are dismissing us and throwing in the towel already. Which is unbelievable really.