BFTG - Barnsley

[tee peg]

[The anger last night runs a whole lot deeper than the threat to our league position or the result - that was just the catalyst.

We support our local club (as opposed to some flashy Prem outfit) because it is OUR club.
We know we are never going to win much of note nor enjoy a truly electric atmosphere at the Madejski.
Yet it is still something we want to be part of, and be proud of. In fact, we pay significant sums to do so.

In this regard there will be anger when the players and management (who are paid handsomely btw) show absolute contempt for the basic values which we identify ourselves by - passion, determination, bravery, resilience, professionalism, composure... all clearly missing last night.

I just want a club which win or lose I can be proud of, and regardless of our league position in May, I cannot say that this season. Bad attitudes, scammers, lies, PR, cheating, and a spineless team devoid of passion, leadership or rapport with the fans.

At least under managers like Steve & Brian we had a modicum of class, and I will always hold that as dearly as their fantastic achievements in terms of the league positions they achieved.[/quote]

I think this sums it up nicely.

[under the tin]

Most frustrated? probably.

not sure if serious?

6th in the 2nd tier with 8 games to go, if we finish there it will be one of the highest finishes in the clubs history

That's the veneer that disguises what is possibly the most expensive wageroll in the club's history performing sporadically in what is a bang average league.

The sub-text is that we all know what is going to happen unless new money comes into the club.
Even if we win the play-offs, there will be little or no money to bolster the squad, and it will not survive in the Prem.
We don't win the play-offs, or don't make them, then the fire sale starts, cloth is cut with the inevitable consequences.

Being thereabouts at the top end of the champ should give impetus to build on that platform, but without new money, the club is in no position to do so.
That's frustrating.

[SPARTA]

BOOOOOing during the match, sarcastically olé'ing when we pass the ball, cheering a player leaving the pitch, chanting the name of a sub when he only ever performs in January when looking to leave.

Worst fans in the country.

The fans got the performance they deserved.

Agreed!

Good support wouldn't be so keen to jump on the players backs like our lot are! You back them louder than you usually do and you try and lift them - not break them!

All of them had a stinker last night, for many it was yet another stinker though, and Akpan and Gorkss have got to go! Hector more than deserves his chance, and Taylor should get a run in the side at Akpan's expense as soon as Guthrie is back. Roll on the summer when a lot of this dross is sold off and some young and hungry players get a go in the side!

McCarthy - 4 (worst performance of the season for him so far. Been terrible since the transfer window closed.. His kicking was laughable)

Gunter - 4 (also his worst game this season, in an otherwise impressive season)
Obita - 6
Gorkss - 2 (Pathetic. Lost count how many misplaced passes he made, slicing out for a corner, caught out of position too often)
Pearce - 5 (Loves to win his headers but he can't pass to save his life, and his awareness and decisions are terrible)

McCleary - 5 (approached the bench twice confused as to where he should be playing. Says everything about last night!)
Blackman - 2 (Didn't notice him. A complete passenger. Completely out of his depth at this level)
Akpan - 3 (Atrocious. Shouldn't be anywhere near the first-team. Needs all day to get the ball under control)
McAnuff - 5 (Tried hard, looked to go forward, offered nothing around the box. Central is not his position)
Drenthe - 4 (Awful deliveries, poor distribution, he crossed the ball at 100mph at one point. Offered nothing around the box)

Pog - 4 (Carthorse. Wins next to nothing in the air. Very underwhelming. Can't wait for him to go!)

Someone made a very good point on the radio on the way home as well. No passing around the box, no triangles, no one-twos...

[Pepe the Horseman]

[The anger last night runs a whole lot deeper than the threat to our league position or the result - that was just the catalyst.

We support our local club (as opposed to some flashy Prem outfit) because it is OUR club.
We know we are never going to win much of note nor enjoy a truly electric atmosphere at the Madejski.
Yet it is still something we want to be part of, and be proud of. In fact, we pay significant sums to do so.

In this regard there will be anger when the players and management (who are paid handsomely btw) show absolute contempt for the basic values which we identify ourselves by - passion, determination, bravery, resilience, professionalism, composure... all clearly missing last night.

I just want a club which win or lose I can be proud of, and regardless of our league position in May, I cannot say that this season. Bad attitudes, scammers, lies, PR, cheating, and a spineless team devoid of passion, leadership or rapport with the fans.

At least under managers like Steve & Brian we had a modicum of class, and I will always hold that as dearly as their fantastic achievements in terms of the league positions they achieved.

I think this sums it up nicely.

Plenty of gutless and passionless displays under Coppell and McDermott. I'm not defending Adkins, cos last night was utter garbage, but it annoys me when people just completely ignore some of the shit we saw under previous managers. Last season was awful. Mainly because we weren't good enough, but there were plenty of games when the players weren't putting it in. Same as Coppell's first season with us, and second half of his last season with us.

[Elmer Park]

BOOOOOing during the match, sarcastically olé'ing when we pass the ball, cheering a player leaving the pitch, chanting the name of a sub when he only ever performs in January when looking to leave.

Worst fans in the country.

The fans got the performance they deserved.

I think that there are quite a few sets of fans who would have reacted considerably worse if their teams served up the sort of dross we had to endure last night especially on top of other recent home performances. Booing the team never helps and we're not the best fans for lifting our team when things aren't going well but even the best fans in the country would have struggled to have tried to lift a team that were offering them so little encouragement last night.

[melonhead]

awful game
defence seemed like strangers, very slow to react to everything, unable to pass, make clearances, tackle etc
but tbf it wasnt just them, from front to back we were totally out of it, like we'd been drugged.

crow'd didnt help, but you cant blame them for getting on their backs after that awfulness really.

disappointed again with the way we set up,(that lightweight midfield was never going to work)
and the changes made by nigel, though i was happier with his interview afterwards.


mcarthy-5 his slow throw led to the pressure on gunter which led to the poor back pass. kicking was poor.
had no chance with the other goals though
pearce - 6 good in the air, did ok
gorkss- 4 poor start, poor middle, poor end, but getting on his back and laughing at him is never going to help
gunter- 4 worst game of the season, wtf happened- he was close to being my POS before that. couldnt get anything right
Obita - 7 M.O.M decent delivery, only player to come out with any real positives
akpan - 5 half decent first half, bad second half. over run in the middle though and the manager did nowt to sort that out
mcanuff- 6 wasted in the middle, good assist for the pen with a lovely through ball. worked hard as usual.
blackman-5 played well early on, held it up well, some nice touches. unlucky to go off. would like to see him partner alf.
Drenthe - 4 his recent revival went out the window as he got more and more frantic trying to get into the game. didn't do anything for the first twenty minutes, set piece delivery poor. at least he kept going.missed sitter
Mcleary - 4 1 nice run, but very quiet, and head went down too easy
POG 4- won nothing in the air. totally failed to hold the ball up, or bring in other players. pen was nicely played for though tbf

ALF - got no service, but seemed more able to win balls in the air than pog, and hold it up better too, that but still quite poor, and his head went down very easy, and was moaning at other players as soon as he came on
kanu- looked strong when he came on, but was battling against the lethargy in the whole team and failed to really make a n impact




.

[Hoop Blah]

Obvioulsy last nigth was a truely shocking performance, and a low point of the post-Rodgers years in terms of effort, application, confidence and the quality of the players on the pitch.

It's a long time since we had such a weak and unbalanced 11 on the pitch.

I can understand the boo-ing and the seat slamming, although it does always grate on me, but there must be an element of the fans (who are generally pretty patient IMO) contributing to the horrible home form this season. What part that plays I'm not sure yet really, but it must be a factor.

In terms of selection, I think it shows that despite the hype our youngsters probably aren't quite ready, certainly not ready to partner Akpan in the middle of the park and so Adkins had to shuffle the pack. I think he shuffled it too much to be honest, but he was hindered by our pretty poor options for central midfield which would've been addresses had it not been for the ownership issues.

Saturday had better be a massive improvement or things are going to a lot worse in terms of the fans reaction.

[melonhead]

BOOOOOing during the match, sarcastically olé'ing when we pass the ball, cheering a player leaving the pitch, chanting the name of a sub when he only ever performs in January when looking to leave.

Worst fans in the country.

The fans got the performance they deserved.

]


agreed on all that^^^

Twats next to me, spent whole game slagging off all the players. pretty much from the first minute

pog went down under a challenge and they were creaming themselves hoping he was injured
chanting for hector to come on after gorkss dodgy first touch
demanding he came on for the POG again later on


then spent the rest of the time calling out the prem scores to teh rest of the stand.like i give a oxf*rd.





what i will say is that if ever there was a game where the behaviour could be justified, this one was pretty close to it.
but it'll never help.

no wonder their heads went down and they gave up

[PieEater]

Bendy I would halve your ratings. We were a team of disinterest strangers.

Pearce gives the impression of doing OK but 95% of the unchallenged headers he wins go straight back to the opposition, and he manages to turn the slightest pressure (3 on 1) into a soft throw in. He may think that's playing safe but to me it just says he knows he is so poor with the ball at his feet, and then a nothing ball turns into a pressured attack.

Only Obita and Gunts looked vaguely competent for most of the game.

[melonhead]

gunts was awful

[Ian Royal]

McDermott was sacked for losing to teams such as Aston Villa and Wigan. Adkins has a better squad at his disposal, and yet is losing to teams such as Barnsley, Sheffield Wednesday, Bournemouth (and only scraping a draw against Yeovil).

Every side has to deal with injuries, a good manager is adaptable and works around them but as his record when coming from behind shows Adkins is the least adaptable manager I've ever seen. He seems too proud of his 'style of play' (which is shit) to try and change it. He's got to go.

Outstanding point.

Nigel didn't have the players available to play 'his style' last night. How did we play 5 wingers on the pitch and show no width? When teams put 10 men behind the ball the solution is to stretch them wide and overlap - which happens to be one of our biggest strengths!!

I can just imagine his team talk before the game, docile and politely asking them to be 'patient and control possession of the football'... As a result we came out and strolled around as if we were 3-0 up, showing no urgency to go forward.

There were times we could have taken a quick gamble up the line and tried to get behind their defense early, but instead we turned backwards into trouble. As a result we allowed a team which looked at rock bottom and absolute gash for the first 15 minutes to grow into the game and end with the confidence of promotion contenders!

Say what you like about circumstances, but Nigel Adkins has no tactical ability, no motivational skills, and bottles the big decisions!

Its not an outstanding point because brian got sacked for being 19th and losing to the tea s around him as well as the ones above. Adkins is sixth and losing to the shit but doing moderately well against the teams around him.

[Wycombe Royal]

I have no problem with booing, but only the final whistle. Whilst a game is going on the players need us behind them no matter how badly things are going on the pitch. At least we can say that we did our part to help them. After the final whilst we can voice our displeasure, the game is over at that point and it therefore cannot affect the result.

I thought the treatment of Gorkss last night was disgraceful, as was the sarcastic cheering of passes in the second half. It is counter productive.

[melonhead]

^^^^^


if anything is going to stop me renewing my season ticket

it wont be the football on show, itll be the dickhead fans

[soggy biscuit]

If I was having a hard time at work and the response was people around me to start loudly criticising me, telling me I was no good, telling me to go home as I was useless then it would have a negative effect on me and I would struggle to up my performance. If those around me kept encouraging me, making me feel I was good enough and just had to persevere then it would make it much easier for me to start improving.

It may be a different environment, different circumstances etc but the human spirit is the same no matter where it is.

Just a shame that a lot of our supporters are so unbelievably thick they don't understand that.

Additional - The place was so quiet last night at times that i could hear the players shouting to each other. That means that there is a fair chance some players will catch some of the stuff being shouted at them. including the comments shouted by the annoying d**k with the comedy yokel accent behind constantly bellowing abuse at McAnuff, then moaning a few seconds later when he doesn't live up to said yokels expectations.

[Hoop Blah]

^^^^^


if anything is going to stop me renewing my season ticket

it wont be the football on show, itll be the dickhead fans

A rare agreed with brendy!

My biggest gripe is the singing for Le Fondre whenever a forward makes a hash of something. It wouldn't be half as bad if Le Fondre wasn't such a passenger for a lot of his appearances or one of the main culprits for missing chances.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Agreed. The worst one being earlier in the season after Sharp missed a pen. Idiots. And the 'oooooooooooohhhhhhhhh' (sp) when Gorkks had the ball just after he passed it for a corner was fcuking stupid. Stuff like that must do wonders for the players' confidence.

[Royal Ginger]

I don't boo (except when the ref gets it really wrong or an oppo player dives etc), but I think it's a visceral reaction born of frustration, rather than a calculated effort to be a c*nt. I get the frustration, if we had Barnsley's squad I wouldn't mind so much, but two thirds of our squad SHOULD have the ability to threaten team of the year.

[Agent Balti]

^^^^^


if anything is going to stop me renewing my season ticket

it wont be the football on show, itll be the dickhead fans

I'll certainly be moving my seat next season. There's a dick near me (Y24) that actively has a little clique that he likes to be the leader of. Blackman is his choice victim. He leads them in sarcastically cheering when his name is read out, let alone when the game is in progress. Can't stand his smug little face. OK, Blackman isn't pulling up any trees and was a bad buy, but that kind of attitude from this little group gets on my tits.

[Pepe the Horseman]

I genuinely wanted to punch the kid behind me in the face last night. Annoying little cunt. If you're reading this, and you think it might be you, then it probably is. Shut the fcuk up.

[BR2]

Here we go again-it's the fans' fault blah, blah, go and support somebody else,we have the worst fans in the country, yawn, yawn.
Well done Nigel for not attributing any of the performance to whatever the fans say or do and well done (for once) saying it how it was.

Brian used to move Jobi into midfield and now Nigel does it and it upsets the balance of the side massively.
Most clubs play a certain way and if a player is unavailable you bring in a player used to playing in that position ,e.g Kelly for Gunter, Feds for Alex, Hector for Pearce but Nigel was not brave enough to bring in Taylor in centre midfield.
What future does this boy have when we are at home to the bottom club and the manager juggles the side around so that he doesn't have to play him?

Jobi s not a central midfilder-he can dwell on the ball out wide and it might not matter too much but in the engine room it does especially with Akpan there who is clearly under instruction to just pass the ball square (the one exception being at Birmingham with a rare forward pass to Gunter).

This season one of our best players has been McCleary who is a right-winger so play him there where he has been quite successful and if he really has to play the very disappointing Blackman or equally disappointing and equally very left-sided Kanu then play them on the left where (in theory) they can go outside the full back and put crosses in which are away from the keeper.
IMHO this trend of goind right on the left and left on the right very rarely works and especially at our level where we don't have a Messi or Bale.

For me the worst aspect last night was the gutless attempt at competing in the air and in 50/50s-so many of our players are soft and coming back to Blackman and Kanu they are even softer than Gunter which is saying something.

I am still in the camp that feels Nigel has to some extent had to work with his hands tied behind his back but effort and determination are the very least that we should expect in every game and last night we showed neither.
Danny Williams where are you?
Michael Hector -get prepared to play on Saturday.
Kanu and Blackman-the loan window is not yet closed so please go somewhere else so that we can bring in two triers.