Barnsley Post Match

[Corky]

Maybe he is just trying to be positive in public?

I would hope, in private, that he wasn't impressed with that performance and knows we must improve and put in a 90-minute display.

[unreachable]

Continual changing of managers worked really well for the past 10 or so years, so I say sack him, bring someone else in, give them a few games, if we're not promoted by Christmas, sack him as well. And repeat. It's got to work soon.

So I take it you were in favour of Sousa being given more time then?

Sven has been here almost a year now, had money to spend and a pre-season but has not yet shaped a team good enough to be promoted. Poor tactics, poor team selection, poor choice of substitutes and unattractive lame football with lamentable movement.

I hope it improves but there is no evidence that it will.

[ScouseFox]

So I take it you were in favour of Sousa being given more time then?

Sven has been here almost a year now, had money to spend and a pre-season but has not yet shaped a team good enough to be promoted. Poor tactics, poor team selection, poor choice of substitutes and unattractive lame football with lamentable movement.

I hope it improves but there is no evidence that it will.

No, because Sousa never once showed anything that looked like we might do better than finish bottom.*

And he had divided the squad, lost control of players, fans and had no faith from the powers above him. There is no comparison between Sousa's start and Sven's.

*Bar one narrow victory over a Cardiff reserve team at home.

[unreachable]

No, because Sousa never once showed anything that looked like we might do better than finish bottom.*

And he had divided the squad, lost control of players, fans and had no faith from the powers above him. There is no comparison between Sousa's start and Sven's.

*Bar one narrow victory over a Cardiff reserve team at home.

So you are in favour of changing managers under certain circumstances then.

[ScouseFox]

So you are in favour of changing managers under certain circumstances then.

Yes, obviously.

[alli]

What a shambles,who says svens the man,hes the man for spending plenty of dosh and getting no results. when i read in the sunday mirror this morning that Martin Oniall was waiting in the sidelines ,i thought id died and gone to heaven ,get that turnip out now please.

[Guest Col city fan]

No, it got merged with about a dozen others actually. Keeping the place tidy seems to keep the place popular, not having every Tom, Dick and Harry starting a thread to air their own opinion when other threads exist they could easily have used is deemed the best for the forum.

Some people like to be the center of attention though.

Is that why I can't begin any more threads then?

Who decided that?

I have not been able to start a thread till this last one was conveniently 'merged' after Nick threw his toys out the pram

Democracy? Pah

[Freeman's Wharfer]

Nowhere near as bad as many are making out.

Yes it wasn't great, disappointing but not a shambles or a disgrace. I thought we actually started fairly well, we looked confident and were knocking it around nicely but then things started to change and Barnsley certainly had the better of the half. What changed? I'm not sure but I think it's a psychological thing. At the start they looked determined and confident, a couple of misplaced passes later and things are different. I don't think the defensive frailty of Mills helped matters either, he doesn't exactly inspire confidence when he's wearing the armband but getting bullied by Andy Gray.

And the point of people booing and shouting Ericsson out at half-time was what exactly?

I went today hoping we'd win. I thought we should beat Barnsley but I knew that it had the potential to be a tricky one. I was hoping that we'd play well. But I didn't expect any of that. It seemed to me a lot of people expected a win. If you turn up expecting to win then don't bother going because you'll just end up with disappointment and frustration.

It wasn't three points unfortunately but we went away with a point and as the old adage says: win your homes, draw your aways and you'll be ok. I know we haven't won both of our home matches but with time I think things will change.

I thought Beckford looked good and pretty lively. It's a shame that he didn't get a clear cut chance as such but he was always waiting to pounce on a mistake or a measured pass. I was also glad to see King get a goal, he should have started for me, hopefully he will against Brighton.

Pantsil, Mills, Gallagher were not anywhere near up to standard.

[marbelladave]

Nowhere near as bad as many are making out.

Yes it wasn't great, disappointing but not a shambles or a disgrace. I thought we actually started fairly well, we looked confident and were knocking it around nicely but then things started to change and Barnsley certainly had the better of the half. What changed? I'm not sure but I think it's a psychological thing. At the start they looked determined and confident, a couple of misplaced passes later and things are different. I don't think the defensive frailty of Mills helped matters either, he doesn't exactly inspire confidence when he's wearing the armband but getting bullied by Andy Gray.

And the point of people booing and shouting Ericsson out at half-time was what exactly?

I went today hoping we'd win. I thought we should beat Barnsley but I knew that it had the potential to be a tricky one. I was hoping that we'd play well. But I didn't expect any of that. It seemed to me a lot of people expected a win. If you turn up expecting to win then don't bother going because you'll just end up with disappointment and frustration.

It wasn't three points unfortunately but we went away with a point and as the old adage says: win your homes, draw your aways and you'll be ok. I know we haven't won both of our home matches but with time I think things will change.

I thought Beckford looked good and pretty lively. It's a shame that he didn't get a clear cut chance as such but he was always waiting to pounce on a mistake or a measured pass. I was also glad to see King get a goal, he should have started for me, hopefully he will against Brighton.

Pantsil, Mills, Gallagher were not anywhere near up to standard.

You may be trying to be realistic, but to me that view is hopelessly 'rose tinted'.

For a side who are spending a lot of money and whose stated aim is promotion this season, that was nowhere near good enough.

Against a very average Barnsley side, and with the players we had available, you are damn right I expected a win, in the end we barely deserved a point!

[Tielemans63]

The back four don't seem to have any real protection and are being exposed far too often. The full backs in particular don't have anyone doubling up and thus they're stuck between a rock and a hard place cuz if they do go forward then they have no cover leaving Bamba and Mills very vulnerable to counter attacks. There just needs to be a wee bit more organisation IMHO.

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

The back four don't seem to have any real protection and are being exposed far too often. The full backs in particular don't have anyone doubling up and thus they're stuck between a rock and a hard place cuz if they do go forward then they have no cover leaving Bamba and Mills very vulnerable to counter attacks. There just needs to be a wee bit more organisation IMHO.

The defence is a joke, why cant we deal with high balls? The centre backs get split far too much and crosses coming in make us vulnerable.

I know we cant be unbeatable at the back, but a bit of organising and working on basic things is all thats needed.

[BruinFox]

I am not sure why people are blaming Sven for the formation to be honest. It was clear as day to me that fault lies clearly in the fact that he didn't recruit a stronger midfield. To sum it up quickly Gallagher and Wellens were ghosts. When you have no midfield influence 442 or 433 really doesn't mean sh$t ..... These guys have to show up. It was clear to most of us at the game that Pansill was exposed because Gallagher was absent at one point he went to Millls after a Bollicking to defend just that point. Wellness could not pass yesterday and his supply from set pieces was Sunday league stuff that almost cost us the game but for Schmeichel.

Positives are : we are 2 players away from completing the jigsaw in midfield and if King can find his mojo we need one more. Beckford is the real deal and a bit of service will ensure he scores +15 goals. We have the best keeper in the division - fact.

[blueredswed]

You may be trying to be realistic, but to me that view is hopelessly 'rose tinted'.

For a side who are spending a lot of money and whose stated aim is promotion this season, that was nowhere near good enough.

Against a very average Barnsley side, and with the players we had available, you are damn right I expected a win, in the end we barely deserved a point!

Look at Manchester City now they are up there!!!!! Spending a lot Sven´s first spending and first match after perhaps some people here is moaning a lot instead for being realistic!

Give the team untill christmas when other teams get players (what the word of) calf...hamstring? We have a good player instead many tems don´t have that!

In Sven and Leicester I trust :scarf:

[Bert]

I think a lot of the disappointment in people yesterday was that we have a very good record against Barnsley, and it's a team we should be beating. We don't seem to have too much going for us at the minute either. The referee thought the game was all about him, a proper tosser.

How we didn't get a penalty I will never know.

[panky and our gang]

How on earth does anyone think we are going to get promoted if we cannot beat Barnsley ? I don't care if that sounds disrespectful , who ever does get promoted will get all six points off them . They are the kind of teams you NEED to beat because your not going to get much off the top teams . Ok we beat Southampton but we are not going to get that lucky again all season . I have had my ups and downs as a city supporter over the years but have never felt such a sense of anti climax as I do now .I had a feeling Erickson was not up to it last season when he tinkered with the goal keepers and in my opinion that cost us a play off place . Ah well back to the drawing board . :unsure:

[sphericalfox]

How on earth does anyone think we are going to get promoted if we cannot beat Barnsley ? I don't care if that sounds disrespectful , who ever does get promoted will get all six points off them . They are the kind of teams you NEED to beat because your not going to get much off the top teams . Ok we beat Southampton but we are not going to get that lucky again all season . I have had my ups and downs as a city supporter over the years but have never felt such a sense of anti climax as I do now .I had a feeling Erickson was not up to it last season when he tinkered with the goal keepers and in my opinion that cost us a play off place . Ah well back to the drawing board . :unsure:

Are we talking about the same Barnsley who beat Reading and drew with Forrest? Their home record isn't great, but they're not the easy push overs, simple 3pts that you are imagining. None of the matches last season were easy 3 pointers (unless you count Portsmouth vs....oh nevermind), and this season will be exactly the same. Expectations are a very difficult beast to suppress, realism is the best medicine for this.

[accessory]

Are we talking about the same Barnsley who beat Reading and drew with Forrest? Their home record isn't great, but they're not the easy push overs, simple 3pts that you are imagining. None of the matches last season were easy 3 pointers (unless you count Portsmouth vs....oh nevermind), and this season will be exactly the same. Expectations are a very difficult beast to suppress, realism is the best medicine for this.

Reading were (and are) still suffering from the hangover of their win against us. Forest, as I've argued elsewhere, aren't expecting promotion this season and their manager is already unhappy at his lack of transfer funds. They will not be the force they were under Billy Davies.

All clubs, even big ones, have to earn the right to play football in this league. Unfortunately the message has yet to get through to certain members of the team (hi Richie, Gally and Darius) who seem to think their presence alone will guarantee a victory. It doesn't, as we saw all too often last season. We need to be more competitive, physically and mentally, at places like Oakwell and the City Ground. Otherwise we won't have a hope gaining any reward at some of the more difficult away grounds like Cardiff and Upton Park.

[Blue Maniac]

super post... very well written and thought provoking. The use of educated terminology is another real plus point.

Of most interest was reading your views on the game....

Apologies. How about this:

Schmeichel won us a point. Beckford had no support. Mills is still shite. Should have lost about 4-1. Good result considering how we played and how determined Barnsley were not to be beaten again on their own patch.

It's not time to panic. The league table means nothing until at least 12 games in.

Also: I'm getting tired of having to be in the same place as all the morons who insist on shouting abusive nonsense at the players, letting off smoke bombs and apparently (although I didn't see it) throwing drinks at kids. Set of absolute wankers. I hate Leicester fans.

[Guest Col city fan]

Apologies. How about this:

Schmeichel won us a point. Beckford had no support. Mills is still shite. Should have lost about 4-1. Good result considering how we played and how determined Barnsley were not to be beaten again on their own patch.

It's not time to panic. The league table means nothing until at least 12 games in.

Also: I'm getting tired of having to be in the same place as all the morons who insist on shouting abusive nonsense at the players, letting off smoke bombs and apparently

(although I didn't see it) throwing drinks at kids. Set of absolute wankers. I hate Leicester fans.

That's better! not sure about the 'hating Leicester fans' part though...

We ain't all like that

[Lambert09]

At least there was some karma served for Forest. Now for us to get some referee luck ha

[Blue Maniac]

That's better! not sure about the 'hating Leicester fans' part though...

We ain't all like that

No, I know we're not. There's plenty of normals among us, the ones who get up my nose are those who insist they're 'propoh Lestoh fans' while at the same time booing the team off at half time, abusing other fans for not standing up and causing trouble or singing their stupid, uninspired, unintelligent, non-rhyming songs.

"We're the leeeeeeeft side..." Don't care.

[CountesthorpeFox]

How on earth does anyone think we are going to get promoted if we cannot beat Barnsley ? I don't care if that sounds disrespectful , who ever does get promoted will get all six points off them . They are the kind of teams you NEED to beat because your not going to get much off the top teams . Ok we beat Southampton but we are not going to get that lucky again all season . I have had my ups and downs as a city supporter over the years but have never felt such a sense of anti climax as I do now .I had a feeling Erickson was not up to it last season when he tinkered with the goal keepers and in my opinion that cost us a play off place . Ah well back to the drawing board . :unsure:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/8402548.stm

And they won the league at an absolute canter. The season is never about one game.

[Babylon]

I have had my ups and downs as a city supporter over the years but have never felt such a sense of anti climax as I do now.

I think that says more about you and your expectations that it does about the team.

[Dan]

I am not sure why people are blaming Sven for the formation to be honest. It was clear as day to me that fault lies clearly in the fact that he didn't recruit a stronger midfield.

There's your answer.

Sven's had all summer to get his own team in. There's definitely wingers available, there's also stronger midfielders as you state available, Sven's had all summer, he's had all the money he could want, he's got absolutely no excuse for not getting these players in.

[Happy Fox]

http://thisisfutbol.com/2011/09/blogs/what-to-do-with-a-problem-like-leicester-barnsley-1-1-leicester?

Battlefield analogies work to describe some situations brilliantly but others with less aplomb; a riot scenario works well, a christening less so. The general idea, really, is to describe an air of horrified confusion as everyone looks blindly, desperate for hope, leadership and a way out.

Now, I’m not going to compare Leicester’s first-half performance to a war-zone, despite Matt Mills possessing the positional sense of a shell-shock victim. However, there was the ever-present sense that the freshly-assembled squad was labouring around with absolutely no idea as to what they were meant to be doing, tirelessly pursued by a hard-working and very capable Barnsley side. Arms were waved, tirades aimed, looks of exasperation swapped as a pathetic first half display was met with ringing boos from the travelling faithful as the culprits trudged down the tunnel.

Much of the blame for this must lie with the manager Sven Goran-Eriksson. Neither player nor fan seems to know which formation Leicester started the game with; guesses ranged from 4-5-1 to 4-1-4-1 to 4-3-3 (a bloke in the toilet also loudly insisted it was a diamond 4-4-2). Either way, the team played as if they had been handed blindfolds and bells and told to do the rest.

In comparison, Keith Hill set his Barnsley team out in a straight, no nonsense 4-4-2 formation, and, thanks to the precise and industrious work of the lightning-haired Richie Perkins and his midfield partner Danny Drinkwater, they should perhaps have taken a bigger advantage into the break after Jacob Butterfield’s opening header. Andy Grey in particular was wasteful, flashing a glaring header wide of the post when it seemed easier to score.

Barnsley’s task was made easier by a lacklustre defensive display by the away team, with Mills and Pantsil in particular allowing the red attackers to cut swathes through the Leicester back-line. The Foxes’ defenders were hardly helped by a midfield that was neither far enough back to indulge in defensive duties nor forward enough to take part in attacks. Were it not for the impressively switched-on Sol Bamba things could have been a lot worse for the visitors.

The big Ivorian’s day was not made easier by the perennially uncertain record signing Matt Mills, whose inability to head, run, tackle or position himself correctly once again made him a constant liability at the back. It was very cruel of Reading to sell Leicester the constantly confused Matthew Mills rather than the Matt Mills who was the best defender in the Championship last season. Barnsley meanwhile comfortably saw the half out with little to trouble their back-line apart from a few long-range efforts from new Foxes’ striker Jermaine Beckford.