Flitcroft

Right then...I'm going to be grown-up enough to offer my humble apologies here...

I was one of the first to say that after Hill went, Flitcroft should follow. I, rather foolishly, tarred Flicker with the same brush, assuming that his ideas were the same as Hill's. However, after three games it is blatantly obvious that I was wrong.

The first thing he did was identify our defensive frailties and has changed the system to a Wigan-esque style, with three centre-halves and two wing-backs. This has made us far more solid and also quicker to attack. Our midfield has never been questioned anyway, but yesterday I thought they were awesome, and we also did something else new - we defended from the front, with Dagnall and Harewood frequently tracking back. Let's face it - not many teams have beaten Warnock at his own game this season, pressing and harrying the opposition into submission.

He obviously has the support of the players (Luke Steele was open on the matter) and, after hearing one or two interviews, has done things to motivate them, the goals-to-music video for Chris Dagnall being an example.

And what about Maroln Harewood? He looks a different player, revitalised and full of confidence; he now looks like he FEELS wanted; like a man who knows he is first choice now that Deadwood Davies has gone. I've already commented in previous posts about him but yesterday especially he put in more effort than Davies has all season. AND he can actually hold the ball up. AND he is aware that there are 10 other players on the pitch. AND he can bring other players into play (e.g. Dagnall's 2nd). Need I go on? Those that stayed behind a few minutes will have witnessed his display of chest-pumping to all sides of the ground. That's the passion we want to see.

So here we are; yes, the sceptics will moan that we've gone for the cheap option again but I have seen and heard enough in the last three games to believe that Flicker deserves a chance. If we carry on displaying that kind of passion and commitment we could well pull off the great escape.

i wonder if he will bring in those 2 who have been helping him the last 3 matches

I after agree with you 100% madrush thought same ideas as Hill and if we wanted to change it then Flicker would be a pointless option but how I have been proved wrong their he's changed formation and style of play aswell as bringing Kennedy back which seems a master stroke way he has been playing and after yesterday's performance and effort he deserves his chance, good luck Flicker. COYR

I was one of those saying Hignett, and I'll stand by that, but it should have happened 10 days ago instead of the board chasing people who hadn't even applied. Making the club look foolish. To then sack the temp manager after 2 wins would have made us a laughing stock. Still that said I wasn't convinced by Flitcroft, I thought there was too much Hill in him and his appointment would have meant more of the same, however he isn't playing the same way, which suggests to me he has his own ideas and he can motivate a team. You only had to look at Marlon, Daggers and even McNulty yesterday to see they were up for it. If he can get Mellis to look interested then we really will be on to something. So probably the only thing the board could have done in the circumstances but seemingly not a bad choice. There will be setbacks, we will still get beat a few, but get behind them and maybe we can fight our way out of trouble. Good luck Flicker COYR!!

I, like Madrush and others, thought Flicker should have gone when Hill did. However, the three games he's been in charge have seen a transformation in the players, culminating with the excellent win and performance yesterday. In the other two we were very unlucky at Peterborough and deserved the win against Burnley albeit against 10 men.
As Madrush said, Harewood has looked a much better player since Flicker took over, and it was great to see him getting the crowd going during and after the game. He clearly cares about getting us out of trouble, and so do the rest of the lads based on yesterday's performance. Dagnall is now finally off the mark so hopefully we'll be seeing more goals from him, he deserves them. If McNulty and Cranie can defend as consistently and solidly more often, we might even stop conceding as many as well.

These are a massive 5 months ahead of us, and we do have the capability to stay up. We aren't adrift (yet) and have a manager who clearly cares about the club and the fans more than Hill did, and a team that cares about the manager. Next weekend at Ipswich will be a big test against a revitalized team under Big Mick. I'll be there, and if we can match the performance and result of yesterday, we could be in for an exciting second half to the season.

Two wins don't make a season. I seriously have my doubts about Flitcrofts ability to keep Barnsley in the Championship. Too many cheap and cheerful appointments by the suits upstairs over the years have brought this situation upon themselves but still they don't see it. Thats why even out of work recognised names won't touch the club with a barge pole.. Its a poison chalice and does nothing to enhance the credibility of any managers Cv being at 'Thankless Barnsley' All that is left is to then appoint the inexperienced, the desperate, or those naive enough who think that they know what its like managing simply because they look after the local Sunday pub side, in the hope that somehow the club will survive. Flitcrofts appointment is like applying a couple of Elastoplasts to a soldier in Afghanistan who has had both his legs blown off after stepping on an IED and then telling him everything is going to be ok as he loses a pint of blood a minute.

We are where we are and I'd like to wish Flicker all the best in his new role. Also think the Board are right to urge 'all those who care about the club to show unity and get behind Flicker and the Reds'.

The win and the 3 points were massive but the nature of yesterday's performance was absolutely outstanding. If Flicker can get a few more performances like that out of the group then we might have a chance of staying up.
UTR.

Well Uboat. You make some possibly valid points - but your cynicism is tiresome. Let 's believe in fairy tales shall we? Let us look at the experienced and recognised names (who are out of work) Harry Bassett? Ronnie Moore. Sven Goran Eriksson. No thanks.

I think uboat lost is mortgage on betting on Leeds to win. After all he says he always backs against the reds.

As the author of the Article 'Flitcroft out' I feel I should probably comment.

Like Madrush, Jamestyke and barnsleymike, I felt Flicker would be continuing Hill's legacy, but here are the differences I now see.

Hill thought he was managing Man Utd. A Squad full of talented footballers, who can play possession football and have a gifted rotation squad to counter the opposition. As a result he kept making the same fundamental mistakes time and time again.

1) He placed too much faith in players not up to the task IE Wiseman. In Fairness, Wiseman on occasion did step up, work hard and play well. Hill saw this as improvement, whereas the rest of us knew that Wiseman could not replicate these performances every week. As a result he did not recruit defensively and this leads me to the next problem
2) The squad never settled. He changed the team and formation every week, so how on earth can the team adapt to things like defending/attacking set pieces or keeping the ball. When given a budget he recruited in midfield to address this. - Nonsense.

Flicker on the other hand, has played the same time for three consecutive games. When picking up results and playing well(ish) at the start of the season we also kept the same time week in week out.

Overall though we are still laboured with the massive problem of finance, and the task of staying up is monumental. But as long as we keep a stripped down hard working side it can be achieved.

PS. There is a midfielder available for free called Brian Howard. Is he worth signing as a backup?

PPS. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20994334 is an interview worth listening to. I outlines how uneven the playing field truly is for Barnsley.