The crap ! Maybe that's why we are only on 22pts !
At the beginning of the season i thought we needed 4 players.
1) A replacement for Brown - because I didn’t rate him - we got Frieser.
2) Another centre back - we got Helik.
3) Another striker - that had height and could hold the ball up. Although it sounds like we were after such a player, we failed to sign anyone.
4) A replacement for Mowatt - because I didn’t rate him - I thought our main problem was middle of midfield. We got James.
(We also added Brittain which was a brilliant signing)
Now I don’t know what’s happened since James joined the club - whether it’s his influence on the players or a slightly different way of playing now under Val - but Mowatt is now playing well and the midfield looks solid.
But as one fire is put out - another one has started - STRIKERS.
I reckon we have 3 strikers with great potential that will get better with time:
Simoes - who for some reason is out of favour - so something quite serious must have happened there.
Thomas - who with a bit more confidence will be a great player for us.
Victor - I can see this guy being special - a young player that will get better when he gets stronger and develops his upper body strength.
But what about the others?
Woodrow - what’s happened to Woodrow? OK, he’s great a penalties - but at the moment he’s bringing very little to the table.
He doesn’t hold the ball up and he’s lost his shooting boots.
Like all our players - Woodrow works his socks off. But he’s not the player he was. My theory is that he’s a fox in the box type of striker - he was at his best when Kieffer was at the club - but we don’t play that style of football now.
Maybe he will get back to his best if or when we bring in a striker similar to Kieffer.
Chaplin - again a fox in the box who has been brought up to play alongside a target man. He isn’t quick across the ground - but very quick in the box. I like Caplin as he’s a terrier type of player - but he doesn’t suit the pressing game because of his lack of speed.
Frieser - clearly knows how to play the pressing game but holds little threat at goal.
Schmidt - again another fox in the box that’s struggling with the pressing game.
Miller - young guy that we haven’t seen much of - but needs to stake a claim.
So all in all we have strikers with potential - but our other strikers are struggling to perform.
Whether a different type of striker will improve the situation - as James has done in midfield - then that has to be seen.
But currently the strike force is holding this team back.
Last edited by Young_Nudger; 11-12-2020 at 11:26 AM.
The crap ! Maybe that's why we are only on 22pts !
With the incredible number of chances and attempts at goal - if we had brought in one or two different types of strikers in the summer - then I strongly believe that by now we would have been at least top 10 - maybe top 6.
I think this Barnsley team is the most frustrating team I’ve ever watched.
Young talented players giving their all - creating a shed load of opportunities to score - but just failing with the last pass or strike at goal.
I believe the majority of reds fans are happy enough at the moment with the points tally and league position .
Realistically I don't believe we have the resources to improve the striking positions in January and if we did it would mean we've sold one of our top players which is not what I want to see this particular January window .
Neither do I believe the January window is the best part of the season to secure players better than we have in the forward positions .
Stay up comfortably enough this season , wait for the big bucks getting put in for Styles and let's see where we are after that would be my strategy .
All about opinions mind .
What might Styles end up being worth if he was playing in his natural position?
Much more I would think.
We shouldn’t have to sell anyone - if the owners are as wealthy as what they make out to be.
We have a solid side IMO - except for the forwards.
Struber said we needed more strikers - and as this season has progressed then this is becoming more and more obvious.
One or two more strikers in January and Barnsley could easily become the surprise team of the season in the Championship.
And yes ....... of course it’s all about opinions.
Without them we haven’t got a message board.