At a glance tonight's game consists solely of one unfancied Northern team playing another.
However, if we lose and other results don't go our way as they have done the last few weeks, we could end the night bottom of the table. This would also mean a 5th home loss in 6, 8 losses in our last 12, and no win for 9 games. Unenviable stats.
We need to win. We saw on Saturday that with our new loan signings we are capable of putting even the best teams under the cosh, and that needs to happen from the first whistle tonight, no unnecessary sideways passing when there's space to move forward, no dawdling in defence and no hesitating when there is a chance to shoot or put a cross in.
We are, according to the BBC, fielding an unchanged side and that worries me a little. Everyone could see that Noble-Lazarus and Buszaky did more in 20 minutes than Done and Dawson managed in the entire game. Wiseman, shocking at centre-back, looked a decent right-back when moved there near the end. I'll give Hill the benefit of the doubt this time as he is manager and not me, but I fear that if we start slowly (like on Saturday and so many other games this season) then one of Wiseman/McNulty/Golbourne will make a stupid error and we will be behind, especially seeing as Burnley have the most potent goalscorer in the division. And we don't do winning from behind under Hill.
So in summary, this is a huge game. I desperately want Hill and this bunch of players to do well, but we need to stop the rot and 3 points tonight will go a hell of a long way. 1 would not be a disaster, but if we're to survive the drop this season we need to start winning again at Oakwell. Come on you Reds
Big, big game tonight
posted on 27/11/12
So it turned out to be just one point from tonight's game. Was away and couldn't get to the match but from the commentary it sounded like a fair result and given that we allowed another free header early on to gift Burnley the early lead, the Reds deserve credit for getting back into the game against a very in form side.
Setting aside the disappointment of not winning, performance-wise we can take encouragement from Saturday's last 25 mins and tonight in terms of going forward and carrying a bit more threat.
The other positive is that, the Ipswich result apart, results generally went in our favour which keeps us 20th and buys us a bit of time while the new players get match fit and the team clicks, which hopefully it will. UTR
posted on 27/11/12
I was there and I can't disagree with any of your comments Ilkley.
After we conceded another goal from a corner we dominated possession and deserved the equaliser which arrived in superb fashion via a Golbourne cross onto Tudgay's head. There were few clear chances after that for either side, other than Danny Ing's hitting the post for Burnley and a few decent shots from range from Buszaky and Davies.
There were signs of improvement again, and we looked confident on the ball. However, there's two things that still need addressing:
1. McNulty needs to stop thinking he's a modern day Beckenbaur, the amount of times he dribbles out of defence and loses it or attempts a failed Hollywood pass is ridiculous.
2. For all our confidence in possession, we again didn't look bothered when on the edge of the Burnley box. So many times there were chances to swing a ball in or have a shot and instead we just played it back into midfield/defense. It's safe to say that this is getting very, very annoying now and I would even go so far as to say it is costing us points.
Other than that, a decent point against, as you say, a team who'd won 5 of the last 8. But please, somebody tell the players they are allowed to shoot.
posted on 28/11/12
Totally agree JamesTyke.
McNulty is presumably picked (often ahead of Foster) for his ability to distribute, if he is unable to do so it needs resolving. This doesn't mean he needs to be dropped, but the likes of Mellis, Greening and Busaky need to perhaps drop deeper for him.
Also, in terms of shooting we had 6 players who can all hit it from distance! Start doing so and who knows, gaps open up, they'll be rebounds to latch on to.
Give this team time.
posted on 28/11/12
Where does this idea come from, that McNulty is a ball playing centre-half?? Do I watch a different game? He can't pass a ball 10 yards. He's a liability.