I was pleased with the three points last night, but the game was a poor spectacle. Primarily because of the contribution of Wycombe. There is an old adage in boxing which says that if your opponent wants to fight then 'box 'em', if they want to box then fight 'em. It is a philosophy straight out of Sun Tzu's "Art of War". We are a better footballing side than Wycombe and capable of 'passing them to death', but we got dragged into playing the same game of 'hoof ball' as them. The only consolation was that we still manged a win by playing their style. I expected Ismael to be more astute, but then again perhaps he was confident we could beat them at their own game, which he did and may have proved me wrong.
We weren't good last night but did enough to win. It wasn't pretty but we'd take it for three points.
not disappointed in the slightest. 3 points against a team who came to spoil. win ugly is far far better than being pretty and losing. as we were against Bournemouth maybe.
I have to say, I think we should have been home and hosed by half time. We were much better than them in that first half and missed a couple of big chances (Woodrow and Chaplin I think). Second half we scrapped.
I thought he was astute in playing in a different way to beat a different opponent. We’ve criticised lots of managers for not having a plan B but to me he learned from the Cardiff game and changed the style to beat Birmingham and Wycombe, both the type of side we don’t often beat.
I’m not disappointed. Quite pleased actually. Won ugly, went ahead first, responded well to their equaliser. We absolutely need that in our locker
We did get it down and play but over ran the ball at times and were wasteful in the final third. I made it about 3 or 4 clear cut chances we squandered. On another night we'd have won 5 or 6-1.
My concern is that our new found method of moving the ball forward at pace is turning into a rushed hit and hope strategy. I have watched more games live recently and have been struck by wayward passing, poor first touch and punt-ball. Whilst I'll take a win, like most others, please, let's not see this style becoming the morphed Barnsley DNA. We can still get the ball forward earlier but let's play football to do it.
I do think, that under Stendel or Struber, we would have lost last night. They never really had a solid Plan B. Last night, we had a Plan C - wasn’t pretty, was long-ball at times, but got us 3 points. To do well in any league, you have to sometimes win ugly.
First ten minutes we did pass them off the park and created a couple of good opportunities. Brittain dithered on the ball when he should have put his boot through it and either crossed it or shot sooner. Styles' goal was well worked. The second half we tried to play but Thomas and Brittain couldn't beat the first man or passes went astray. Then the referee intervened blowing the whistle instead of playing advantages. I'm so glad we didn't lose last night.
Went to Wycombe season before last, lost 1-0. If I remember correctly they let us play in front of them, then dispossessed us and bypassed all our team with balls over the top for quick lads to chase. We just couldn’t get to grips with it and never really looked like getting an equaliser. As much as Tuesday seemed a bit anti football, and not particularly enjoyable, We avoided the same scenario by being more direct.
We would have lost that game last season. Horrible last night but 3 points in the right direction, let's get over 50 in February and watch de dars slowly sink into league 1
I'll take winning and not playing well, over playing well and not winning every day of the week. Over the last few years we've done the latter far too much. It's the mark of a good side when we can win without being anywhere near our best.
If we'd have played pretty football and drawn or lost that game then people on here would also be moaning!! Big Val can't win! Take the three points and move on! Wycombe came to spoil the party and while I'm not keen on their style, I won't knock them for it. Lowest budget in the division, lack of quality etc, it's going to be a real tough challenge for them to finish fourth bottom. IMO they don't have anywhere near enough quality to stay up and will likely finish bottom. They are never going to play an open expansive game at this level or they will get picked off easily.
