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1-3 Swindon..

Ajose, Thomas x2

401 Travelling fans.

Is there a flag there? If not 3-1 Yorkshire racist scum .

Or banner which is what i meant.

Expectations have been raised hugely and it remains to be seen if we are about to be on the brink of a bright new dawn.

Probably the first time Cooper's ever been under selection pressure, too. Surely, even if things don't start well we have enough on the bench to change things.

Emphatic 1-4 win.

Let the hysteria begin!

2-2. Barnsley is twinned with Horlivka which is in Ukraine (at the moment).

Be happy with a draw here 1-1.

What a difference a week makes. Last week the team virtually picked itself. This week Cooper has some serious selection headaches. I'm sure it's a problem he or any manager worth his salt would relish though.

2-0 Rossi Branco, Ajose.

I've woken up, been out for a short run and now I'm sorely tempted to travel up to this.  Bit too soon to take the kids to an away game though.  They'll have to make do with Burton next week.

I don't do predictions, but watching Cooper get this lot to gel is going to be fascinating.

Recently read this article about the Egghead CJ de Mooi.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/11848151/Eggheads-panellist-I-think-I-killed-a-man.html (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/11848151/Eggheads-panellist-I-think-I-killed-a-man.html)

More shocking than the revelations that he claims to have killed a man, used to be a rentboy, and for some reason is releasing an autobiography, is that he's apparently a Yorkshireman, born in Barnsley.

(my 'absence of Shaw Rosso' fact of the day).

 :eek: You'd have thought he would have kept that to himself really wouldn't you?



Why would you own up to having been born in Barnsley?... :hmmm:

2-1 win hopefully, should be a decent game

I'll take a point

In the 4/5 attempts, I don't think we've beaten a Lee Johnson managed side.

Draw.

First game of the season for me and looking forward to it. Been a couple of times over the years to watch us at barnsley but not since feb 2003, 1-1 and would settle for the same today. The game in 2003 was also the day that one of the space shuttles caught fire on re-entry to the earth's atmosphere. I'm not saying this event was in any way connected with us playing at Oakwell but any astronaut looking at today's fixtures should be quite pleased with Nasa's decision to discontinue the programme.

Draw. 1-1

I'd forgotten that we hadn't played them for nearly a decade until last season.

Nothing less than a win please, if Shrewsbury can turn them over so can we. Question is do i set off for my first away game of the season?

Waiting for Barnsley to come good. Think we might lose 2-1

A little early for us to peak, so 1-1

I thought Johnson sounded subdued in his pre-match interviews, like he's not expecting much of his team.  Possibly due to the Shrewsbury defeat?  I just expected a little more fighting talk.  I have a feeling taking the game to them and maybe getting the early goal could work here.

What a week - fantastic - never a dull moment with Power around - can`t help but be impressed by the dealings recently - will it increase the gates at home - probably not - makes you wonder why he bothers - hey ho - run continues today 0-2 or possibly 0-1 got to be optimistic.

Think it was Costanza who pointed out that Johnson knows how to set up to play us.  Don't be fooled this is a difficult game, it's not easy to bung together a bunch of players and find a team.

Ex Town target Alfie Mawson probably nailed on to open the scoring. Hoping that the thought of linking up again with little bro means that Nathan T can last a bit longer than the last time he rushed back after an injury. I think we stand more chance controlling the game with Yasser back in the team supplemented by the graft of Traore and Louis T and the flair of Robert. So he could doubtless count himself unlucky but think spell back on the bench beckons for Anton Rodgers. Assuming that with Boo doubtful we somehow utilise Williams, Turnbull and Branco alongside Nathan T in the back 4. Barnsley need a win to kick start their season and I don't think we will get away with a sluggish first half again as we did against Crewe.Heart says 3-1 Town. Head says 1-1.

Pyjama's clear to play then

No Obika or BOO, though

What's up with Boo? I heard he was sick or something. Been sick quiet a while, has he caught Ebola.

Sure I heard something about tonsilitis

Picked up a dead leg at Crewe and hasn't recovered, I think.

Do kids still do that to each other - the old knee to the hip?

Oh yeah, I forgot he played against Crewe

TOWN v Barnsley: Vigouroux; Barry, Branco, Williams, Turnbull; Rodgers, Traore, Kasim; Ajose, Thomas, Robert

Subs: Belford, Brophy, Smith, Balmy, Thompson L, Ojamaa, Stewart J #STFC

Mmmmm!

Not as bad as a Chinese burn, though.   :(

Any idea why they were called Chinese?

Nathan Thompson suffers a relapse of groin injury overnight

What's he been doing in his hotel room?

Will I need a plastic mac to protect me from your man goo?

So Nathan hadn't properly recovered again then.  He seems to be making a habit of this.  What if he had been picked to start and had broken down after five minutes again? 

Shitty one down already

YES!

gooooooooooooooooal.

sounds like keystone cop defending by Barnsley

And Shitty go 2 down...

bugger 1-1

Make that 2

Hodgetts doing a terrible job today. usually quite like his commentary. can't tell what's going on today.

Pox 1-0 down at Northampton...

He so excited to be back & to see his little brother again he's been using his bed as a trampoline

Slave traders have pulled one back vs Birmingham...

Bloody player audio commentary won't work!!

3-1

And it won't be Cotterill's fault...

He does seem quite injury prone generally.

Bugger 2-1  Barnsley. No closing him down by the sounds of it.

Crumbs.

FFS

That's my fault for coming on here.  I'll disappear again  :(

Time for a Pyjama party

351 town fans there according to @wiltspolfooty

He's coming on..

That's proper shite (said him on the sofa)

My gin and tonics on our balcony in Turkey aren't working :(

What ?!?

I demand to know why we aren't leading this game at a canter based on the players we have!!

Louis is back..

Maybe we should have got a centre back...

Any commentary anywhere chaps?

Seconded, Player is not working.  :crash:

Cooper out.

Jesus

Is he a defender?

Oh dear...

Need something special now!!

We've got away with it 3 times away this season. Not today- it's catching up with us.

4 - 1

Need something special now....cmon town!!!!

Does this mean we aren't going to win the league by christmas now ;)

Admire the optimism. Beyond special required now.

Shoddy, half paced, sloppy - Sam sums it up

This has been a really shoddy, half-paced, sloppy effort.

According to Moosehead  :no:

very strange scoreline...do Barnsley have any fans there?  :hmmm:

Do we do no defensive practice whatsoever during the week?

But this has been the problem for years

What?

8,227 in attendance* Sorry. The live blog had a different number.

Can't win them all.

Let's hope for a clean sheet in the next game.

Since Cooper was appointed as manager you mean

Well, yeah

The reality is, the team probably hasn't gelled yet. They need time and time training together.

But the defence hasn't changed at all and that's the problem

It could be an off day, and we are a couple light, its just a bt frustrating to conceed so many quite frequently.


Totally agree there.

Lee Johnson does us again.

It's all Jay's fault.

you did warn us

We're currently wasting one out wide...

Silver lining, Pox and Shitty also lost. 1-0 and 4-2 respectively.

I await the moaning Cotterill video.

It's almost funny how bipolar the TEF is. Almost.

Well that sounded piss poor. I'm sure we won't play like that every week though.

No, I don't think we will Flash. But maybe frequently enough to stop us doing anything this year.

Or do we think the defence will be fine with the re-introduction of BOO and NT?

Best to get those results and performances out of the way early.

I observed that we always performed poorer defensively last season when Nathan Thompson was absent. I felt that we fell apart after our captain was off injured in the second minute at Wembley.

We were piss poor, defensively, at Bury, Southend and Crewe but got away with it.

Today we didn't. Something has to be done but seeing this had been a recurring problem for ages I doubt Cooper/Williams know how to do it.

I can see no logical reason why or how we are going to improve defensively.

Time for a specific defence coach?

Trip to Barnsley got off to a bad start when I put my coat on for the first time in ages and found the train tickets and match tickets for the play-off final in one of the pockets.

We started off reasonably enough today, knocking it about but mainly in our own half without anyone really running at the opposition. We were gifted the lead and thought we had every chance to kick on from there. However our slow build-up play from the back kept letting Barnsley re-set, particularly after they took the lead, and they just became really difficult to break down. Second half in particular we just looked really sloppy and 3 of their goals came directly from us giving the ball away. Trying not to be too critical, new team etc and Cooper can't yet be anywhere near knowing his first XI. Think we'll eventually do ok this season once the new team gels but likely to be a few further painful displays on the way.

Ah that will be why we lost , the curse that keeps on giving

Defence wasn't really to blame for today. We were shit from front to back. Midfield non existent. No movement, pace or dynamism. They pressed us well and were well in charge after they equalised. Kasim and Rodgers were awful and gave the ball away continuously, Thomas and Ajose offered little option up top, Ojjamma looked decent when he came on but the game was up by then. It was a pathetic performance.

Also, shame on Barnsley FC not offering a children's ticket, 17 quid for a 9 year old is well out of order.

Right now we seem to have some decent individuals, but it is a bit difficult to see a team in them, which is why I thought today would be tricky. You can't just bung individuals together and hope.   I didn't go today, bur read that Jordan Turnbull played left back, somehow Cooper has to find a team and style which suits them with what we've got. I'm sure having 2 more natural full backs can only help.

I think Kasim and Rodgers may be for the chop against Burton.

The other problem is where to play Williams. He's essentialy a CB, but we've got to play Branco and Turnbull there so, like today, he was shoehorned into LB.

So, when BOO is fit next weekend where does Cooper play him? He isn't good enough to take a midfield slot from the specialists we now have there.

Cooper has some tough selection problems ahead to sort out a team that functions.

Well  it's a squad game.. I think you're right and maybe it takes a beating to be able to make the changes needed without pissing off people.

Give it time I think we'll come good. Thought we'd lose today, and think Barnsley will be up there towards end of the season. Lee Johnson always fucking does us. Remaining optimistic still.

Agree with you, if you must play Williams then play him in midfield and an actual left back at left back. 

Rogers and Kasim were both very poor today.  I would have started Louis and gone with the same formation we had after half time at Crewe with Robert at the tip of a narrow midfield 4 again - Williams, Traore, Louis and Robert.  This was what I would have done prior to kick off and what I think we should have done now.

Both Ajose and Thomas tried to make runs but when your midfiled only wants to go sideways or backwards or simply to just give it away then they were never going to get into the game.

Ojama did look good though.

Barnsley were awful themselves which made the day even worse because we weren't outplayed by a better team we just did everything wrong.  One thing Barnsley were good at was finding touch, prolifically so.

It would have brave to chuck Louis straight in without earning it, not ability wise mind. Got a feeling you may see that midfield on Saturday though.

Was Robert injured or was it a tactical switch.

Couldn't tell you, I was hoping someone who listened could say.  Didn't seem to be injured, if it were tactical I'd have hoped either Kasim or Rogers would have been the man to make way though.

Thought the back four looked reasonably solid today funnily enough, it was more a lack of support from midfield that was the issue. Aftet the first 20 where we were very good, barnsley won every second ball and always seened to break straight onto our defence. Also, they seemed to have a lot of time on the ball to make a pass/cross/shot. Although their second was an excellent strike, he had so much time and noone closing him down. All 4 goals could have been easily avoided.

Kasim/rodgers were poor, if BOO and n.thompson are back id be tempted to put williams in as a defensive midfielder with louis, traore and robert in front if we go for the narrow midfield 4, as williams is good on the ball and has a bit of height that could benefit in midfield.

We got in behind them quite a bit today which some good passes and good runs from ajose/thomas etc but never had that clinical touch unlike at Crewe.

Agree with Audrey that it's more irritating to lose that game as barnsley were pretty poor and I'm dissapointed we didn't win that gane especially with how we started in first 25. Fucking shit atmosphere there again, 70odd minutes before their first chant - worse than us!!

That is shocking.

So is our prices of upto 27 quid for league one!

Agree. But £17 for a 9-year-old is actually worse.

Tbf we still have 5 injured players and a load of new signings to gel. It will take time. Not forgetting Louis and Ajose aren't fully match fit yet either due to lack of games.

It was our fully fit midfield that was the biggest problem though.

I think it will just go down as a bad day at the office after a few weeks, a very very bad day.

Like I said Louis T isn't match fit. I'm not so sure Kasim is with it mentally either. Not sure he really wants to be here at present. Rodgers will blow hot and cold every few games. I think I'd like to see Louis, Williams and Traore in the midfield once we have a fully fit squad.

Didn't think I'd ever say this, but I can't help but wonder if it would have been better if someone had come in for Kasim during the transfer window.

Barry looked behind the defensive line for the first (from highlights) and gets dominanted for their third - not blaming him and that stuff will come but it makes it harder for others. Obviously others have mentioned the lack of midfield pressure on the ball.

Need to sort out fullback positions, seem to look a shambles whoever plays there.

Hopefully we'll never see Kasim, Rogers, and Traore in the same midfield again.

Cooper's certainly got a lot of thinking to do, trying to fit this team together. We've got such quick, dynamic players up top now. Persisting with the same slow, pedestrian passing no longer looks like it plays to our strengths.

Not sure about that, playing that way means the opposition want to press us otherwise we will just pick passes off at will. With them pressing it means ajose/thomas etc will have space in behind which worked today at times. We definitely need to speed things up when in the final third

Maybe you're right. It looked horribly disjointed yesterday though. Doesn't seem the best use of our assets, to have so much threat up front, only for 90% of the play to be between GK and defenders, and to rely on Branco picking passes over the top from centre-half.

I think it's going to be a test of the possession philosophy, trying to fit in this many attackers. Based on Crewe and Barnsley, we're going to lose a lot of our control of the midfield, which our domination of has previously been a key part of the way we play.

Still very early days though.

That thought had crossed my mind as well. If he carries on under performing though, Cooper's just got to be brave enough to drop him - and to be fair I think he will if the need arises.

Power playing 'Transfer Window Poker' where he gets players in right on, or even after the deadline clearly brings it's rewards. One obvious downside though is the fact that Cooper now has a brand new squad of players in the middle of September and is having to figure out what his best XI is and the best formation(s) and to get them all gelling as a cohesive unit. You would normally be looking to do this in mid-July against the likes of Supermarine and Petersfield.

So if you could figure all of that out by next Saturday Mark, that will be lovely thanks  ;)

Edit: meant to quote Joteddy there - without it, that first paragraph makes no sense  ::)

Excellent post IMO.

A downside of Powers canny dealings is that we start the season late...there is enough quality to improve I'm sure of it.

Burton will not be easy next week...if we can stay top tennis has I reckon we could have a good season.

I have heard that they did, and we turned it down.  This could be the reason for the strop and poor performances of late..

A midfield 3 of Kasim, Rodgers and Traore is very samey. The reason why the build up is so slow and ponderous.


If we need, and we do, a midfielder spoiler it has to be Traore. Rodgers seems to attempt the difficult too often - obviously trying to impress - Kasim has lost/been caught in possession a lot in games this season that it appears his concentration isn't there.

If, as has been said by a few who went yesterday, the actual defence weren't too bad, then the finger has to be pointed at the midfield screener(s).

I thought Barry had a good game yesterday,got some good tackles in but got sold a couple of times by Traore who has an annoying habit of playing short balls to a teammate who then gets clattered. The midfield was indeed ponderous and there seemed no urgency. I expected it to improve a bit when Louis came on but not a lot changed. Crap refereeing again which saw Louis get almost cut in half for a yellow and a few moments later, Louis himself get a yellow for a slight tug at a Barnsley player.

Cooper said earlier in the season when there were bids for byrne etc. floating around that he would prefer the transfer window to finish first day of the season. You can understand why for precisely the reasons OST has said.

The only reason it doesn't is because it gives the elite clubs the chance to buy themselves out of a poor start.

How the ref equated those two challenges is beyond me.

This is a pretty good summing up from a Barnsley fan

'I struggle to see how passing and moving about at a slow pace in areas that just don't have any effect on the game can be seen as playing tidy football, it's just time wasting. If you're going to " play the game in the right way" then it needs to be done at pace with plenty of attacking content and players that can also play with the ball their feet beating men and isolating players in dangerous areas, think Messi, Carzola, Robben, Silva, otherwise it just looks like they're running the clock down. pass and move football only looks good to me if its played at the right tempo and I very rarely see that at this level, it's mostly negative possession against banks of 5&4 with no real quality to break them down which nearly always results in a turn over of possession.'

he's got a point. though I'd add even Spain and Barcelona send me to sleep for large periods of their games.

The key point is 'at this level of football'...

The need to change your game to suit the opposition and go toe to toe in midfield is sadly lacking at times, thus, the defence becomes over run.

Except where you can afford to put a team that competent in all departments and then you play in a specific way regardless of the opposition as the three promoted teams did last year.

Maybe two ways, one for home and one for away.

Lot of over analysing here. Give it a couple of weeks, everyone will be up to speed and MC will know his best team.

Yep. We'll click before long and go on a good run. Said run will come to a halt at some point with a poor performance, and then we'll see the good old 'we've been found out' line being rolled out.

Like to think the same. Not unduly concerned as yet due to such an unsettled start and just keeping where we are in the Division is good at this point. A push on after Christmas is much more preferable to me as by then the squad will have settled down hopefully.

We have 2 home games coming up, 1 against decent(ish) opposition that will be hard to break down, the other against this division's bum boys.

Very much looking forward to seeing the new players (and Louis) and seeing for myself if the future is as bright as we all hope.

dont think you should just brush aside a 4-1 defeat