No nonsense, Ronseal type of deal. Barnsley Away. 3rd May 2024 19.30pm

[Prufrock]

Unless you'd take the job anyway if they stayed down in which case you might as well have a go and see if you can get in the champ.

But then from the club's perspective, is a new manager going to make much difference now, and do they think there are people they could only get if they went up and so roll the dice and see?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Well played Wellens, got a nice butty out of it.

Barnsley are a curious club. Terrible summer of losing manager/key players, a kit so bad that many thought it was a spoof, thrown out of the FA Cup, various boardroom intrigues.

I sort of see why they flicked Collins, because if they'd slipped out of the playoffs - and given their form, that was a serious possibility - then the fans could have screamed about them being asleep at the wheel. However, they seem to have blithely assumed Klaus Froghammer or whatever he's called would be waved into Brexit Britain, which smacks of a lack of due diligence. And now it's all this.

As Pru says, they've got a puncher's chance - anyone has in the play-offs, and they have some good players especially going forward. But would any of us trade places?

[The_Gun]

I think that will be a resounding no, DSB.

The locals also seem extremely restless and there's talk that not many might show up on Friday.

[BWFC_Insane]

I think that will be a resounding no, DSB.

The locals also seem extremely restless and there's talk that not many might show up on Friday.

I’d be wary of a wounded beast feeling it has nothing to lose.

I still think that ultimately the result is on us and in our own hands. Turn up with the right attitude, intensity and focus and maintain it without going sloppy then we will think we the tie even if Barnsley make it awkward. Less than that and then I’d be fearful.

[Worthy4England]

I think you'd point to the wounded animal having nothing to lose, were we discussing it as I presented it's head on a spike, mate.

For me all bets are off, it's a cup game, they have decent players - they still finished 6th, alongside everything that went on, we absolutely should treat them as a genuine competitor, whilst doing the things you suggest.

[TANGODANCER]

Talk football. Talk Adeboyejo. Word is Vic may be fit to start. What say?

[The_Gun]

I think we can be very confident that our players will be taking Barnsley very seriously. They did after all knock us out at this stage last season, and revenge is typically a strong motivator. We may also have a 'wounded animal' mentality as much as them, given that we missed out on our primary target of automatic promotion and are now facing some doubts amongst the fanbase.

As a fan, I remain convinced that this is the best match-up we could have faced and am currently feeling pretty confident about us progressing. I don't buy the 'form going out of the window', 'playoffs are a lottery' received opinion bullshit. Barnsley are very unlikely to have transformed themselves into the solid defensive unit that some people seem to be fearing over the course of the past six days, and we're pretty good going forwards.

[The_Gun]

Talk football. Talk Adeboyejo. Word is Vic may be fit to start. What say?

Collins and Charles will start unless either has picked up an injury.

[BWFC_Insane]

Talk football. Talk Adeboyejo. Word is Vic may be fit to start. What say?

Collins and Charles will start unless either has picked up an injury.

If Adeboyejo is as fit as claimed there could be an argument for bringing Collins off the bench for the away leg. We’ve not really had any impact off the bench this season for a long while so might be nice to have some now.

Though I would say you are correct in that Collins and Charles will start as I just can’t see Vic being ready having not played in months.

[TANGODANCER]

Though I would say you are correct in that Collins and Charles will start as I just can’t see Vic being ready having not played in months.

Twas not I that said so, but the all knowing Bolton News....https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... ey-return/

[The_Gun]

Though I would say you are correct in that Collins and Charles will start as I just can’t see Vic being ready having not played in months.

Twas not I that said so, but the all knowing Bolton News....https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... ey-return/

"Ian Evatt says he will be in his thoughts for the squad"

Being fit enough to play some part is not the same as being fit enough to start. My guess is that he makes the bench, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him miss out altogether.

[Worthy4England]

Talk football. Talk Adeboyejo. Word is Vic may be fit to start. What say?

Collins and Charles will start unless either has picked up an injury.

If Adeboyejo is as fit as claimed there could be an argument for bringing Collins off the bench for the away leg. We’ve not really had any impact off the bench this season for a long while so might be nice to have some now.

Though I would say you are correct in that Collins and Charles will start as I just can’t see Vic being ready having not played in months.

Pretty sure if Dion's comeback was marked with a 25 minutes subs appearance, that it'll be no different for Vic...I'm not entirely sure if all had been 100% fit the last two months, whether Collins might not be a "starting spot" regardless...

[Mar]

Talk football. Talk Adeboyejo. Word is Vic may be fit to start. What say?

Collins and Charles will start unless either has picked up an injury.

If Adeboyejo is as fit as claimed there could be an argument for bringing Collins off the bench for the away leg. We’ve not really had any impact off the bench this season for a long while so might be nice to have some now.

I get what you're trying to say, the season does feel like that is the case, but i'd refer to the last 5 games where we've had 3 goals scored by subs (2 for Jerome and a pen for Morley).

[BWFC_Insane]

Talk football. Talk Adeboyejo. Word is Vic may be fit to start. What say?

Collins and Charles will start unless either has picked up an injury.

If Adeboyejo is as fit as claimed there could be an argument for bringing Collins off the bench for the away leg. We’ve not really had any impact off the bench this season for a long while so might be nice to have some now.

Though I would say you are correct in that Collins and Charles will start as I just can’t see Vic being ready having not played in months.

Pretty sure if Dion's comeback was marked with a 25 minutes subs appearance, that it'll be no different for Vic...I'm not entirely sure if all had been 100% fit the last two months, whether Collins might not be a "starting spot" regardless...

I suspect that Vic and Charles would have played mostly as Evatt told everyone ‘Aaron is a long term investment’.

For me Collins is easily the best ‘attacking player’ we’ve got. As in he can do a lot more than the rest. But the job of making it stick and holding it up is not necessarily his strength so I’d still be wary of labelling him a striker.

I think he and Charles could form a very good partnership but it would still limit how we play at times with no natural hold up and link type up there.

Equally it’s the most likely to hurt teams.

[Worthy4England]

I was actually wondering given recent form when not injured whether he might have tried Vic and Collins, just to see how it panned out.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I think it's AC/DC, at least for now. Dion looked much more like his old self at Posh. As noted, Vic is likely to be eased back in; maybe at Oakwell he gets the last 20 – Dion had spells of 10 and 24 minutes (plus injury time) before starting v Vale.

The internal (if not eternal) optimist also notes that Vic had the best conversion rate earlier in the season. Not sure if that was still the case by the time he got knacked but as defenders tire (and let's face it Barnsley rarely look water-tight) you can imagine a chance finding him between the sticks and suddenly it's a hero's return.

*EDIT dug into that stats and Vic is still third in the division on goals per shot:
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Screenshot 2024-05-02 at 17.54.56.png (247.81 KiB) Viewed 205 times

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...and we as a club are still top:
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Screenshot 2024-05-02 at 17.50.15.png (194.47 KiB) Viewed 205 times

[The_Gun]

The weather in bleakest South Yorkshire looks like it might be shite during the game tomorrow. Inclement conditions not typically in our favour of late…

[Worthy4England]

The weather in bleakest South Yorkshire looks like it might be shite during the game tomorrow. Inclement conditions not typically in our favour of late…

Hopefully our sunny and pleasant spring day this side of the hills drifts over there by tomorrow!

[officer_dibble]

Most goals per shots and still we are not happy at a lack of killer instinct. What an infuriating team!

[TANGODANCER]

Most goals per shots and still we are not happy at a lack of killer instinct. What an infuriating team!

Some of us are happy, eager and hopeful. It's the way to go brother.. COME ON YOU WHITES