What does PW see in George Hirst? He's absolute garbage & probably the one thing all MM postees agree on.
Waste of a squad place, send him back alongside Josefzoon & Blackman

Hirst won every header Warne started with the players again expecting a winger to an a forward role.why didn't he start Hurst ffs

Agree regarding our loan signings. Not made us better at all for the considerable outlay in wages we will be covering.

Recruitment team to up their game?

When you look at a list of Mattock, Robertson, S MacDonald, A MacDonald, Jones, Crooks Sadlier and Ogbene not available for selection for one reason or another it is devastating. That is 8 out of 22 outfield players not available and some of them very important players for us. Add to that that some of the players who were pressed into action tonight weren't really fit to play, apparently at least one named on the bench was never really an option, and that the players havent trained together for a week and a half, and it was a decent effort on our part. The tactics were very basic - get it forward quickly and see what happens - but we almost got something from it. With the games coming at the rate they are at the moment, this is a really challenging time for us and not really one we could have done very much to avoid (assuming that Covid hasnt found it's way in through anyone's negligence).

Where as I agree we had a go it is not good enough you just have to change things at this point in time it looks very depressing.

I'd be sounding Paul Cook out if he's interested in becoming our manager. Warney said in the tizer a few weeks ago if he feels he can't keep us up he'd resign. It's getting to that point. Can't understand why Smith didn't start last night. Our problem is how do we play 2 up front & not get overrun in midfield? 4 at the back is our natural game but we haven't got a natural left back fit. That will have to be addressed ASAP in the January transfer window. We need 3 in midfield so only way we can play 2 up front is to play one wide player which without Ogbene we haven't got one good enough. All needs sorting again ASAP. Needs players moving on not good enough like Vassell. Blackman & Flo sent back to their parent clubs.

Just going to add I didn't think Barnsley were that good especially in defence but we didn't have what it took to take advantage of that. Championship this season doesn't seem up to the standard of last time we were in it so if we can sort squad out move on whose not good enough & strengthen were needed we aren't a lost cause.

-- Edited by gwru on Wednesday 30th of December 2020 09:50:12 AM

As we haven't trained for over a week and we have eight players out, i suppose the defeat was to be expected. The manner of the defeat is what irks people i believe. Barnsley play the high press, we then go long because we just don't have the quality to play it through them.Many on here have said so many times (myself included) that the quality is just not there and we have to rely on set pieces ( another one last night).

What i do find unacceptable from last night was the space given for their two goals. That is basic defending and nothing to do with quality. Ok, the goals were taken well but if you give decent championship players that sort of freedom they will punish you. Smith made a difference when he came on and put a bit of panic in their defence. However, i think they comfortably managed the game out. Ladapo and Vassell's first touch is not good enough and when they got into decent positions last night their first touch takes them too wide and the angle is not good to find the net. Look at Ladapo's first touch for his chance last night to see what i am on about.

We are now in the relegation zone but with games in hand. Getting out of it will be difficult imo, even if we get a new manager or new signings. There is not a lot between a lot of teams in this league but most sides have that bit of quality (that word again) that just gives them the edge over us. I cannot see us splashing the cash to get that bit extra in so i am afraid it could well be more of the same, graft,teamwork, set pieces and more of the long ball to ease the pressure(which it doesn't). Happy new year everybody.

didnt watch the game last night, I am enjoying the time off so didn't want to get depressed watching another frustrating nearly game. All those players out is killing us, but three of them have been sicknotes since the day they were signed, a club like ours cannot afford to carry players with known injury records. Agree the 3 loans need to go back, shame about hirst but for me it is as much how we play rather than him. In the first week of January we need a left back, no excuses we have full time recruitment team they should have laid out the ground work ready for a quick signing. I think we need another striker, I would bring in two and get Vass out of the club as well to free a wage. One striker would be a major signing someone that could also work in league 1 the other would be from non-league or abroad and more of a gamble, mainly because we cannot afford two big signings but also if it comes off we could make a good sell on, how many times have Peterborough pulled that one.
I would also get a seasoned midfielder that can sit deep in the middle and maybe at the end of their career but bring a touch of calmness and gamesmanship