Barnsley Post Match

[Master 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.

Twaddle. All of it.

[MC Prussian]

http://thisisfutbol....-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.

Some people really love to hate us this season.

Yeah, we're buying promotion. Right.

Is there a School Of Tabloid Journalism in the UK? Seems like they're all coming out of there, brainwashed, creating "colourful" comparisons as their trademark.

It's still poo, mind you.

[CountesthorpeFox]

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.

If you didn't know the score and someone read this out to you, what score would you guess at? I'd say at least 2-0 Barnsley.

[accessory]

Just seen some highlights on East Midlands Today.

WTF was Vassell doing raising his hands to a Barnsley player?. He was lucky to get away with a yellow card - just like he was in the Southampton game. A player of his experience should really know better. How much longer can Sven turn a blind eye to this lack of discipline?

[accessory]

Part 2 of the This is Futbol report

A freak accident involving the ineffective Paul Gallagher towards the end of the first half meant that he did not return for the second half (much to the relief of the travelling fans); his replacement Andy King introduced a new formation (the diamond 4-4-2 which beat Southampton last week) and a new impetus which lent itself to an exciting second half low in quality but high in endeavour. Eriksson’s enforced change was justified within the first minute after good work by Beckford left King a yard out with an opportunity he couldn’t miss, tucking away his first of the season. The game was finally on.

Barnsley, meanwhile, were rattled by the early goal and were fortunate not to fall behind after several penalty shouts were waved away by the consistently inconsistent referee David Webb; Darius Vassell in particular could count himself unlucky not to have a penalty awarded after a clumsy tackle just inside the area. Although Leicester pushed for a second they never really looked like breaking a dogged and determined Barnsley side who were constantly dangerous on the counter when the visitors’ attacks inevitably broke down. Still, it was a much improved Leicester performance in the second half which belied the obvious question – why was this previously winning formation changed in the first place?

Despite the improvement, Leicester could count themselves fortunate to escape Oakwell with a point. All credit must go to Kasper Schmeichel for two exceptional saves after an incisive Tykes break-away; the first a fine close range save from Danny Haynes before, diving the wrong way, he palmed away the ball after it was returned with interest from 10 yards. At the other end Luke Steele was rarely troubled except for a few poorly hit corners lofted straight into his hands. Five minutes of added time threatened to break the stalemate but the teams had settled for a draw at this point and the game petered out.

Both teams could claim this to be an opportunity missed. For Leicester, much of it was of their own making; poor squad selection and a lack of tactical nous meant they were fighting a losing battle from the start. Barnsley, however, will rue the flagrancy of their strikers when they were on top during the first half and will rightly feel that the promotion favourites were there for the taking. Although neither team will feel the pinch of a relegation battle, if either wants to avoid mid-table obscurity then improvements must be made.

Barnsley desperately need a striker to put away the chances they make, and, although they were well manouevered by the impressive Perkins, their dominance needs to be better rewarded; that is the difference between a good and a great team at this level. Leicester fans will be hoping that Sven takes a long, hard look at the team he played today and realise that much of the problem lies in his own choices.

New captain Matt Mills needs a break to clear his head and remember that he is a talented defender and not the train wreck he has become, whilst the sooner Andy King is returned to the starting line-up the better. Sean St.Ledger and Lee Peltier will feel themselves unlucky not to be starters next week, especially after impressive Carling Cup outings at Bury and the poor performances of Mills and Pantsil.

Either way, something has to give. If Sven isn’t careful, it could be his job.

[STEVIE B]

Part 2 of the This is Futbol report

The journalist obviously likes the fact we got our face smacked with a cold,wet fish by unfashionable Barnsley,but he's not far off the truth, IMO.

[jonthefox]

sorry to bump this up again, but my youngest lad wanted to show you his (short) vid of the day.

[Stig the Lawnmower]

Good Lad!