Minority Report 2019-20 v Brentford

It has to be said that Barnsley went into this season with some obvious weaknesses. We failed to replace our tall player up front (Kieffer Moore) and we failed to find a decent left full back. It was obvious to all that Paul Conway was fibbing when he told us that the summer transfer window had been a good one. Nevertheless, there is no point moping on about it because we cannot put it right until January. Until then, we have to pick up as many points as we can with the players we have. If that is obvious to me (someone without a clue about the game), why is it not obvious to our Chief Coach? He continues to ask his team to play the game in the same way as they played last season, when our players were generally better than those our opponents could muster, and when their understanding was better because they had not been thrown together over the previous summer transfer window. Look, I know he has had bad luck with injuries and I know the squad has some very obvious weaknesses, but the job of the coach is to devise ways of playing that covers your weaknesses and build upon your strengths. The job is no different when the players and the circumstances change, and the systems and methods of play need to be changed in order to make the best of what remains.


This week, we had the luxury of an early lead. We weren’t chasing the game. We could play how we wanted to. And yet we continued with the press, and we continued to put ourselves out of position in order to continue to press, when there was no point or need. That is not how a team in trouble traditionally plays the game, and there is a reason for that. In an open game, the team with the better players, the team with the better team work and understanding, generally wins. And yet we still wanted to keep the game open.


It was not until just before half time that I checked the Brentford system. By then, they had taken over control of the game, and I wanted to understand why. Once again, the opposition was playing 4-3-3 against our 4-4-2. That gives us a 2 on 1 against their centre forward, but it gives them a 3 on 2 in centre midfield. Of course, the centre forward has to be good in those circumstances, and the fact that he scored 3 times illustrates that he probably was, but it also means that we are outnumbered in the engine room. It is the area of the team that directs the game, and decides not only who wins, but also by how many, and let us be honest here. Brentford could have beaten us by 6. Indeed, I was thinking of making the woodwork my MotM.


In my last Minority Report, I was critical of Alex Mowatt for getting repeatedly pulled out of position. Many did not like it, because there is no doubt that Mowatt is our hardest working and most influential player. But once again today, he was continually badly caught out of position when our opponent won the ball back and pushed forward quickly. Perhaps I should not have picked on Mowatt, because if his coach did not want him to do that, all he has to say is keep our side of the ball. The fact that he continues to do it means the coach is happy with it. I am not happy, and I am especially not happy when ou midfield is out-numbered by 3 v 2.


I am absolutely sick of seeing our full backs too high. They are drawn forward in order to mark their wide opponent. When that happens, there is space behind the full back. When the ball is played there, no-one is near enough to stop the cross. You could blame our centre backs for not being nearer to the scorer, but one of them is naturally drawn to the near post, and the other does not have enough time to adjust his position. All three goals came from our left back position (why was that position occupied once again by a right sided player) and yet for all three goals, our left back was nowhere to be seen.


When a change was made in the full back position, surely it would have to be the ineffective Williams. But no it was Cavare, who in my opinion had been our best defender up to that point. But why? It turns out that Cavare was not getting far enough forward. Brown, a winger is a far better choice in that respect, and sure enough, our right back spent the rest of the game on the right wing as we went to a 2-1-7 system that virtually guaranteed chances for Brentford on the break. I was fairly unhappy when we had some shape, but compared to the final 20 minutes, I was delirious.


So what is the answer? The players will not change until January, and until then, we have no-one to compete for the long clearances out of defence. Until then, we will have no focus up front, no-one to hold the ball and distribute it again to a colleague in space, no-one to draw the attention of the central defenders giving more room to a colleague. That virtually rules out 4-3-3. But 4-4-2 is not working when matched against 4-3-3. It would have a better chance if our central midfield players held their positions, if they defended closer to the centre backs. Defensively, we would be better if our full backs were not asked to get so high in support of our attacks that they are ahead of the ball. However, if we did that, we would score even fewer goals because our wide players are just not able to win their personal duels against their markers, the opposition full backs, no matter who we try there.


This piece started out with the aim of holding the coach to account. It fails to do so because it cannot envisage a system that works any better.


Rookie Watch


Brad Collins was faultless. He made several good stops and used his height to take several crosses that got his team out of difficult situations (same as last game).


Toby Sibbick was exposed today and was far below his MotM performance against Leeds. He stuck to it, but looked less like the answer in midfield.


Aapo Halme was not one I saw much of. He was often the free player trying to pick up the Brentford midfield runner, but he did not stand out


Mads Andersen was often the marker, and given his man got 3 goals, you might expect me to be cruel, but I did not see it that way. The two in the middle were constantly having to change their shape in order to cover mistakes by their colleagues. I thought he was OK, which many will find surprising.


Luke Thomas took a knock towards the end of the first half and it seemed to take his confidence. He is small enough and quick enough for the greasy conditions to have favoured him, but he seemed unable to put the pain of the knock behind him.


Conor Chaplin looked quick in that first half, but he dropped out of the game after half time, and was rightly substituted. The game he is being asked to play at Barnsley does not suit him. He is being asked to play with other No10s, when he badly needs a No9.


Mallik Wilks was not seen until after 60 minutes. During the final 30 minutes, he began on the left side of midfield and took on his full back at every opportunity, which was exactly what we needed. As the game wore on, he became one of our 4 centre forwards, each denying the other space to work in, and he became anonymous as a result.


Patrick Schmidt was not seen until he joined the game at 63 minutes, and was not seen again.



Player of the Match


Brad Collins was less at fault than any other player.