whitey1980

You cannot start games as poorly as we have done in the past few weeks and expect to win against any opposition.

To gift a simple set piece goal to a side in good form is criminal.....to do it week after week is just suicidal!!

The ease with which we opened up at the back was disgraceful.....at any level you have to make your opposition beat you - we just seem determined to beat ourselves at present.

That was (for all the huff and puff) an embarassement....unfortunately thats the third or fourth such embarrassment this season.

Injuries or not, that wasn't good enough - we were naive and wasteful in possession, and easier to hit on the counter than a pissed up drunk!!!!

With all the players under contract, the ball is firmly in the clubs court. They need to appoint the right man to engender the commitment of the players mentioned who are the hearbeat of the side.

As said plenty of times, players are fickle - and if the right man comes in, their attitude may change.

I suspect at present - even moreso than normal - their agents or representatives are looking at their options.

We desperately need a result today, backed by a passionate support, if we are to move forwards between now and the end of the season!!

Nobody in their right mind would consider Johnson to have thrown games.

The question is whether he has been working to the maximum efforts that he has demanded of his players in the last fortnight.

I strongly suspect the answer is no.

And does nobody else think it fishy that we threw away a comfy 2-0 lead against them in the JPT? And the performance at Oakwell the other week?

 

Don't even get me started on him releasing his mate Rachubka so he could punch one in his own goal against them last week.

 

They're all in on it. Benefit of the doubt.

That is my concern. Of course he hasn't been doing some of the bollocks suggested, but has he done his job properly and to the best of his considerable ability of late?

That is an entirely different question that nobody on this forum can honestly answer for sure, but I for one have my doubts.

I'd suggest in the two days since Wilson was sacked, Barnsley hadn't approached the club, been granted permission, interviewed LJ and the others on the shortlist and agreed terms. And then waited ten days to announce it.

 

There really has been some utter drivel on here today (more so than ever).

Nobody knows with certainty how this has all played out - but Lee Johnson does not deserve the benefit of the doubt.

Firstly, bollocks to the little fella, and I wish him nothing but failure at Barnsley and in the future. To leave is his right - to embarrass us as he did as a club employee last night - and behave as disengenuously as he has of late, is not.

Nobody asked him for all the hashtag nonsense, but he chose to put it out there as his persona. People (indeed myself) chose to believe in elements of it as he had a credibility as an individual, and an age that suggested he could commit the time, to lend some substance to hyperbole.....but here's the rub....

You can only do that once. Those fans, players and officials at Barnsley are aware of what they have bought into. He has not let us down as fans - its our choice to follow and believe in him - but he has let down his players. They deserve better than the message his actions have conveyed to them.

Yes recent performances have been poor - this in part explains why.

He has said to them that somebody else is a better bet - not just in the future, but right now!!

Whoever takes the job here must channel into that and instill a hurt into our performances that show him the opportunity to succeed now that he had passed up here. We have an opportunity that still exists, lets bury them in a few weeks - and drive on for that 6th spot!!

 

As opposed to the dogs abuse spouted by some at the end of the orient match?. LJ's demeanour during the post match interview on LW is telling. Sure he'd have been downbeat at the result but for me there was real hurt in his comments regarding the fans. Yet ever the PR man he is, still said good things about the fans.......but the majority deserved those words.

I wasn't there on Saturday to witness the frustration expressed by some of those present.

I was there at MK Dons where he came over to the fans, clearly apologising, asking for time, the opportunity to address the performance and saying 'I will sort it'.

He got a sympathetic hearing which would not have been received at almost any other club at any level.

Fans frustration will boil over, sometimes in a ridiculous manner - but some of the performances in the past few months have been unacceptable.

If he feels hurt by that reaction then he needs to remember the many occasions when he has been well received - and consider the lack of respect he has shown those fans by turning up to watch Barnsley this evening....If his current intentions are as they appear to be!!

Even as a huge Johnson fan, I am increasingly pissed off with the whole situation.

Repeated issuing of 'no comment' from both board and manager alike just leads to unsettled players who will be questioning the decision making of the club and manager alike.

If he wants to leave (which is his right), then go - and do it quickly. We can and will move on with difficulty if the situation demands it.

All that is happening at the moment is unsettling in the extreme to fans and players.

They, and we, deserve better.

The success of Southampton has shifted the goalposts with regards to how clubs view the blueprint for future success IMHO.

Starting with input of Clive Woodward, intensifying under Corteze and now maturing with Les Reed and the backroom staff they have shown the benefits of forward planning and structure. The idea that the manager is not the most important man at the club is a sensible one when you consider the variable and fluctuating market for their services at present.

Southamptons 'black box' (or whatever they call it!) is continually monitoring managers, their styles of play, player development and recruitment right across Europe. If a player or manager goes - their replacement is already in the pipeline.

Ironically, Corteze himself was made expendable by the very system he fine tuned!!

It sounds like Brentford want a similar model and fair play to them. If Warburton decided he couldn't work within that system then thats his call.

The alternative is you improve to a level that somebody comes calling for your gaffer.....and you potentially have to start again. Being ahead of the curve has clearly served Brentford well - I suspect they will be fine!!

Oh and a final thing which actually predates LJ...... I have never seen a team take worse throw ins than Latics.

At one point yesterday we didn't have anybody willing to move within 20 yards of the poor bugger trying to take one in front of the main stand. Absolute pish and in keeping with the performance yesterday!!

The most frustrating aspect of the game yesterday was the pointless passing of the ball to no effect in a game in which we trailed.

The grand total of our slow and predictable attempts at rotating the origin of our attacks was to allow them to regain their shape and remove any attacking impetus.

The game was crying out for Mellis and Philliskirk to start linking the play between the lines yet the lack of movement or willingness to show for the ball was appalling at any level. Kelly was poor....but at least he wanted the ball!!!

We more than most teams set the tone for our performances early in games. If we start as poorly as we did yesterday we seldom recover. There was no tempo, rhythm or balance to our play at all!!

The goal was a shocker from our perspective. Elokobi has to clear his lines....doesn't..... We have to deal with the second ball....we don't......and we have to pick up the runner into the box....we barely looked like we knew he was even there!!!!!

A dire afternoon completely lacking in nous which is completely unacceptable for a team in our position. We must be better and show more desire and character than we did yesterday. The observations of all about our performances against the divisions poorest teams are spot on in the main!!

Did you not watch the second half of last night? I wouldn't fancy us against that for 2 games.

Just a note on Swindon.....

Their sole defensive tactic to a breaking runner was to bring down the player. It should have led to a red card after 30 minutes and given the volume of bookings he may not have been alone.

There were acres of space left in behind their full backs that on another day would have led to more than the many chances we created. We have been better in possession of the ball than we were last night and could easily have punished them more effectively. We would have done if Wilkinson would have stayed on the pitch!!

In addition they were indulgent and a little arrogant with the ball that led to them wasting many promising positions without a decent effort on goal.

They looked a decent outfit for sure.....but don't forget that by their managers estimation that was the best they had played all season for an hour.

......and just like us at Preston last year when we felt we produced a similar type of performance, they lost!!

FWIW their number 29- Branco. I haven't seen a player luckier to not get sent off at BP in many a year. He gets the red card he deserved after about 30 minutes, it would have been a whole different story.

As excellent as they were in possession, they were lazy and cynical defensively. The tone was set by whoever pulled down Winchester after 5 minutes and it continued from there. The only reason that the referee did not penalise Branco for the clear pull back on Forte was that he would have had to send him off.

Cracking result that we earned through sheer graft and determination against a side who passed the ball as well as I have seen at this level for some time. All the players and management deserve enormous credit!!

On to Saturday!!

To play Dieng in midfield at home is an idea which is overly negative IMHO. We have to take the initiative and attempt to dictate the play, because tough as they may be we are going to have to win at least 5 or 6 of the games against the top half sides at home if we are serious about the play offs.

The back 4 picks itself after the weekend but I wouldn't mind seeing a 4 - 3 - 3 with Murphy and Forte wide of Wilkinson with license to rotate and switch.

They would be in front of Winchester and Jones with Kelly sitting. I don't think he will go that way as we would be quite open, but at home all our best performances have come when we have seized the initiative and passed the ball well.

With plenty of forward runners to hit, the passing ability of that midfield 3 should come to the fore....... but for all that I suspect it will be the diamond again and I wouldn't be surprised to see Mellis for Dieng at the point with Forte and Wilkinson up top.

How do they set up? Have not caught any of them on television and missed the game down there.

The key to playing Dieng was that it allowed Wilson and Mills to push right out to McSheffrey and Madden.

They clearly look to make the pitch wide and with only Kelly sitting it would have made it tough for us to have not been stretched. As it was, we tucked in well, pressed to the ball wide and allowed them very little space in behind our back four.

Excellent away result and performance that was always likely to be decided by a moment of excellence or a mistake. Luckily for us Winchester provided the former. Great goal and a vital 3 points.

LJ got it spot on. His changes also allowed us to progress in the final 15 minutes as we opened the game up.

On to Tuesday.....

I feel an affinity with this side that I haven't felt for a number of years. I feel like every single one of them would run through a brick wall for us...

Great comment - As frustrating as poor performances they produce can be, I feel the same.

They and the manager deserve massive credit, because I suspect that feeling has not arisen by accident!!

Huge game that will either signal that a corner has been turned.....or will expose the failings that we all fear will leave us coming up short in a play-off push.

The division is crying out for somebody (most probably multiple sides) in that mid-table zone to put a run together....and it will happen sooner rather than later!

We need to make sure that's us!!

Was really impressed with them for 50 minutes tonight. Just shows the importance of a Done or dare we say it a Forte to a team at our level.

Fair play to them.

I don't think anybody who watched the verve and pace of our early season form could be anything but gutted at the last couple of months.

There are many specific factors as mentioned in this thread but 0 points from Yeovil, Crewe and Gillingham is quite simply not acceptable. It was the predictable stumble of Saturday that was so galling.

For all the negative thoughts though we are more than capable of taking 6 points from the next couple of games that would leave us comfortably in the top 10. Have the players got the character?

I think we miss Dieng's mobility at the back in truth.

Big George does seem like a top fella and had a good game last week.....but he certainly wouldn't be in my starting line up!!

Fair points Ryan - but not every team has a Liam Kelly to mop up, and not every team has a system that allows an essentially free role for a player.

He needs to develop a structure to his play to fit in with the shape of a side as both Paul Cook and LJ have ultimately dropped him despite the goals and assists you rightly mention.

Will be interesting to see what Grayson does with him and how he fits him into his side as he has always demanded a shape and discipline in his teams.

Good strike!

The interesting thing with Daniel Johnson is that despite his obvious talent and ability, two equally talented young managers have found him difficult to accomodate within their good but not exceptional sides.

I think the points about Kelly's absence causing the dip in form, and the shape of the side being affected with both him and DP in the team are opposed but equally valid.

What is for sure though is that the Preston move is huge for him. Mellis is a very talented footballer who has dropped in stature to the point that we can take him on loan very quickly.

I am not sure that DJ can afford a slow start at Deepdale and he needs to reflect on what in his game can improve. My perception of us with him in the team was that the pace of possession slowed and that we lost the speed of transition and penetration of for instance the Bradford performance. I don't think that was just on him - but he was part of the team in those performances.

Maybe with Kelly in behind him to free him from defensive responsibilities and loading him with the ball he could have thrived, but who knows?

I hope he does well and becomes the player he is capable of becoming as he comes across well. However I am not so sure he will until he becomes less of a luxury and starts to dictate the shape of the game at this level rather than fluttering within it.....Just hopefully not this season!!

Oh.....and THAT cross field pass to Winchester in the first half. Stunning!!

Its not just the excellence he displays on the field with Kelly - its his leadership and identity that he gives the team as well.

The transformation in the JPT game against Preston when he (and in fairness Poleon and Wilson) took the field was unbelievable. He clearly raises the level and intensity of those around him which is invaluable at any level.

It caught my eye in the euphoria of the Jones free kick that it was Kelly who grabbed 3 or 4 players by the scruff of the neck yesterday and was clearly organising and reminding others of responsibilities.

Quite simply the most important player we have had in many years.