With almost half the season gone there's been a definite improvement at Oakwell. Hill is now concentrating on the football side of things instead of alienating supporters and it reflects in the recent upturn in results.
At the beginning of the season we were second favourites for relegation with the bookies, now we're eleventh. All the squad are playing for Barnsley and Hill, unlike last season when we were carrying such as Colace and Arismendi. Hill has also tactically adjusted to the Championship as shown at the start of the second half when substituting Wiseman for Drinkwater allowing Perkins to strengthen midfield and later Haynes for Ranger whose pace caused problems for a high playing back four. Last season substitutions were usually made with ten minutes to play.
Although many supporters are now talking of a play off place I would be happy with a top half position, which has not been achieved the previous five seasons and an improved attendance.
Half-Way There
posted on 8/12/11
Aha, the submarine attendance monitor is back !
I too am happy with the progress the squad have made, so much so that we now have 14/15 players that can be interchanged so much that we can still be an
effective unit whatever eleven start the games.
I will be happy to finish where we are, flirting with the
play offs, and if the so called Massive clubs above us
dip out, let's see how it go's.
The next 4 games after the Ipswich game will show us how far we have come under Hillcroft, anything over 6 pts will be good.
I doubt many players will be leaving in the Jan
window,apart from maybe Butts, whose value will have
raised recently with his goals, and U21 call up, surely a case for some cash add ons, in fact the value of many
players in the squad will have been raised from the
start of the season due to our improvement.
Another bonus to the teams climb, is the potential to attract a new club owner, to relieve the burden from.
PC, although the ship seems to be running OK, I'm not
rocking the boat.
I hope the Ipswich game doesn't see our players freeze
before the tv cameras, as they did Pompey, let's hope they keep
the charabanc rolling, hang on Reds fans it's going to be a good ride.
Cmon you Reddzzz
posted on 8/12/11
Top 12 would be a brilliant achievement. We wont finish top 6, we're not a top 6 squad. Great progress from the team and full praise to Hill et al. However, we were on 29 points after 20 games last season, so we're about on par. Great opportunity on Saturday to make it 6 from 7
posted on 8/12/11
mcooling, several times recently our results have taken a nose dive after Christmas. Last season we only won six games after Christmas and lost eleven.
posted on 8/12/11
Hopefully we will learn from that. From hills latest musings, he's either looking to do business in January, or trying to prevent (butters?) from leaving..onwards and upwards
posted on 9/12/11
I don't think Butterfield will leave. He's not ready anyway; I really don't know what all the fuss is about. He's not THAT good; he's a decent player, learning his trade. Yes, he has some great moments, but he gets lost too often (like Tuedsay where, apart from the shot for VazTe's second, he was very poor), a fact recognised by Hill who subbed him. If he wants to end up in a struggling Premier League side's reserve team like Hammill, then good luck to him...personally I think he should believe in what Hillcroft are trying to achieve and stay at least another season.
I heard an interview with Luke Steel recently talking about the disruptive nature of players leaving, and how he is settled and 'committed' to BFC. I wish everyone was as loyal.
We'll see in January how good Hill is - he talks the talk, and I actually do think he's got the bottle to tell clubs sniffing for a cheap bargain where to go...
posted on 9/12/11
Managers have little or no say when it comes to selling players...
Anyhow, that was Hill's remit when appointed...create saleable assets...With our "support" it's the only way we can survive.
The trick will be replacing players and so far Hill's record in the market is very good.
posted on 10/12/11
Sadly what Spart says is true, if someone comes along with the right money, players will be sold, it's a reality I'm afraid.
The point about Hill's intake is valid also though. In spite of the torrent of doubt and abuse he got after 3 games, now we've played 20, someone tell me a player on our books that Hill brought in that doesn't look capable at this level....
posted on 10/12/11
Fair point Spart, although I was alluding to the fact that Hill seems to have more balls (metaphorically speaking...) than previous managers, and is likely to stand up to PC and put forward a case for not selling...yet.
Richie; with the exception of Addison (which may just be down to fitness), I concur that Hill's signings have proved shrewd. The jury's out on Ranger at the moment (that was a horrible miss of Odejayi proportions), but let's give him time to settle in before the KKK set about him.
posted on 10/12/11
Addison isn't on our books, ditto Ranger. I doubt very much we are paying much of Ranger's wages and any of Addisons'. I think Ranger will turn out to be very good, yes his miss was bad, but he did look a handful on tues and did a few good things. Addison can go back as soon as he wants for me, I'd rather we had Doyle in midfield when needed.
The players I meant were those we signed as BFC players. Done, Perkins, Davies, McNulty, Wiseman, Edwards. All from the lower leagues and all have stepped up to the mark. Vaz Te on a free could turn out to be the luckiest of the lot, if his form continues and we can get him on a longer contract.
posted on 10/12/11
Ranger will go on to be a top player. He's just out match fitness and confidence. I fear he'll not recapture much of that in this loan spell. I'm hoping we can extend it, come Jan. Don't understand thinking behind keeping Addison and releasing Doyle..but hey