Barnsley got Fleet Wood MDT

What a game. Good value for £14! Think I could have a new favourite in Cleary if he carries on playing like that!
And captain Connell leading the way with a great first pen!

 

Thoughts on some of the new/young/returning players

Shepherd is unrecognisable compared to the player that was here before the loan spells when he looked so raw. I haven't seen him properly tested yet, so I don't know how well he can defend, but he now looks calm, composed and assured like he's one of the older players in the squad, but he's still only 24.

Vickers has amazingly quick feet, Cleary is all speed and power, and Kelly can drive forward from midfield with the ball. All three give something different to what we already had and all three look like they have plenty to offer us this season.

Bland looks and plays like he's in his mid 20s. Very impressed.

Cooper should have done better with the corner that went in but made a couple of great penalty saves. The only two penalties he stood a chance of saving that would have beaten other keepers.

I've never before seen a left back take up the positions that Ogbeta takes up. He gets forward, but not up the wing, he abandons the left side completely and moves into central midfield. Don't know if he's any good yet as I'm not used to seeing a full back play that way.

Not sure about Watson yet. Quiet game for him at right back and then moved to centre half after Shepherd was withdrawn where he didn't look too comfortable and didn't do well at all for their second.

Barratt had a couple of good moments but a few shaky ones. Farrell had a tough job up front on his own, and chased about a lot, but struggled to get himself in a decent position. It's good to see young players get the chance, but I'm not sure either are ready yet. No problem with seeing Barratt on the bench though and being around the first team should help him progress.

 

I'm not at all convinced by Barratt. I don't think he's up to League One standard, at least not currently. I have to say I prefer De Gevigney or Earl at centre back, whatever deficiencies they might exhibit.

 

His crossing was great but in shooting positions he was awful. Most fell on his left foot though and I suspect his right is his strongest. Smashed his penalty in with it no bother.

 

Well done Barnsley.

 

And scored the winning pen!

 

I’m happy with Farrell

 

Got to be honest, I'd like to see us sign another centre half to partner Shepherd. Barratt doesn't look ready, while MDG and Earl have had so many chances but continue to make elementary and very costly mistakes. Both can play well at times but you know they're always a half turn away from a calamitous mistake and they've done it too many times. Eventually you have to concede that we can't keeping shooting ourselves in the foot like this and go a different way.

 

That’s how I see it. A solid league one centre half doesn’t cost the earth.

 

Pretty good summary, I would say. Vickers, Cleary and Kelly all look to be excellent acquisitions. I share your puzzlement re Ogbeta. I thought we signed him because we wanted a standard full-back, rather than a wing-back, but he seems to turn up all over the place. I think Barratt is definitely not ready as a regular centre-back.

 

I said it earlier in the thread, but Man City and Arsenal both play that way. One of the full backs is designated to push into the midfield to created an overload. Whether it’s wise that we are adopting this style of play remains to be seen, but i thought first half we looked really good.

 

Yep, Ogbeta seems a strange one. Not very disciplined as a full back in a back four. Can see teams with wide players causing him no end of bother. One plus is his pace I suppose.
Not seen anything in Barrett to explain why we gave him a new contract. Just not big enough for a L1 centre half and he’s hardly the quickest either. I’ll say it for the 1000th time….we need another centre half asap.

 

Hopefully just rusty then

 

Enjoyed that, even though there were periods we slipped into casual friendly mode.

Some good performances, best player for me though, Bland. Quality. Played it simple, crisp sharp well weighted passing, good body strength. Well played young lad. I think he’ll play at a much higher level than Connell.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed that game. If we had lost the shootout then it’s a different story but we were the better side & I enjoyed watching the youngsters play, especially Kelly, Cleary & Vickers.

It wouldn’t be a Barnsley home game if we didn’t give the opposition a cheap goal. That’s what we’ve all come to expect.

I thought Hourihane messed up in not taking Cleary off. He was absolutely knackered for the last 15 mins & his failure to track his man led to the late equaliser but ultimately we won the shootout & Clearly scored his pen so all is forgiven.

It’s a big positive that Cleary looks comfortable on either side. There’s now competition throughout the midfield & out wide. We just need a bit more depth at centre back & another striker.

I thought Watson played well. Didn’t do anything eye catching but did the basics well & both he & Ogbeta got the ball to the winger early which is what every winger wants.

I’ve seen a few reference Ogbeta going walkies. It’s a tactic sides who dominate the ball have used to create an ‘overload’. It definitely worked tonight & he played well. The big test will come over the coming weeks as sides will know we’re doing it & will be more prepared for it.

 

But is there a God?

 

What a strange game. I felt we played some really lovely and exciting football, yet we hardly had a shot at goal. Confusing really. But what a refreshing change it was to see some exciting players who can beat a man (Cleary, Vickers and Kelly). Bland was like a bloody Rolls Royce in midfield. Ogbeta played well and Watson was just solid, like an old school right back.

Their two experienced forwards caused us problems and we clearly lacked physicality in central defence. Barratt did ok in the circumstances but it’s clear central defence needs strengthening.

We also need centre forward too because, take out one of DKD and McGoldrick, and we look way off. Farrell might come good but I feel he needs to be drip fed opportunities rather than chucked in at the deep end.

Fleetwood did well and I thought they deserved to take it to penalties.

Overall, glad we won, albeit we could have made it easier for ourselves. And I really like what I see from the team and the way it’s going. It felt tonight like we were a couple of key players away from being play-off challengers.

 

I was very impressed with our play in midfield and on the wings. Kelly I really like his ability to change tempo and drive through midfield Is very valuable. Again we lacked any defensive cohesion and the quality upfront was poor.

Great to go to Oakwell again and feel entertained. It’s been a while.

 

Yeh, hes that cool he makes me sweat

 

Full backs linking up with wingers on both sides was great to see after so long,I can't remember the last time we played that formation.All in all another decent performence especially first half where we should have been at least 4-0 up.On to Saturday now onwards and upwards.