By Red Army
July 9 2020

Barnsley’s relegation was virtually sealed with failure to win at relegation rivals Luton Town.

The ex-reds contingent was bound to haunt the reds as former red James Bree’s forward run helped create an Elliot Lee shot that struck the post only for Luke Berry to score the rebound.

Despite the reds having log spells of dominance in the first half and lots of shots if not many clear cut chances, they just couldn’t find to score until sub Halme netted late in the game.

Again I feel Struber got his team selection wrong and left his substitutions too late and also wasted bringing on Styles at left back.

Whilst Halme did indeed score it was from a corner and the substitutions at the end were out of desperation rather than any clear tactical plan.

At this moment in time, even though I didn’t like him in that position earlier in the season, I think Halme should be starting in midfield to free Mowatt up. A lack of other defensive midfield options means he is the only option at the moment.

He would then also be a threat from corners all game. He has been brought on up front a few times now and in general play struggles to make an impact so despite scoring the other day the manager got lucky. Yes Woodrow and Chaplin were poor but in general they are the only two players we have who might nick you goal. Taking them both off for a centre half and a lad who rarely gets near touching the ball was a desperate move that did pay off but the manager was lucky it did.

What frustrates me most about Struber is how many players are continually played out of position to shoe horn them in to the system he chooses to play. Rarely are players played where they are comfortable in the midfield and forward areas and usually one of the defenders.

I feel sorry for Jordan Williams who was playing well at right back earlier in the season and here he is asked to play as a left sided centre back and then left back when we have a centre back and left backs galore on the bench.

 You could say Mowatt is always in midfield but when he is asked to operate at the base of the diamond he is completely wasted.

Jacob Brown possibly doesn’t even have a position in fairness to the manager. Many think he is a right winger but I certainly don’t. You certainly can’t say he’s a striker. I like the lad for his work rate and running off the ball but he more often than not lets himself down with a bad touch, poor attempted dribble or bad pass. And don’t get me on about his shooting. The power he gets behind 99 per cent off his shots is truly pathetic.

Bahre and Ritzmaier have both had chance after chance and failed to produce. Ritzmaier did see a lot more of the ball than usual in the first half and many have said that he put a few good balls in. That is true, but the bad balls certainly outweighed the good balls. He then almost completely disappeared in the second half when we went gung-ho and it looked like Mowatt was in midfield on his own.

Neither should even be considered for the bench for the rest of the season they have been that bad in a reds shirt. I’d rather see some of the academy players get a chance or those that have returned from their loans.

It is mission impossible now anyway and I can guarantee that they can be no worse than those two clowns.

And what Clarke Odour has done wrong is more baffling than his team selections. For me he has been one of our better players when he has played yet seems well down the pecking order at the minute.

For the Wigan game I’d like the manager to try a system he never uses 4-2-3-1 I think will get the best out of the players we have. I could be wrong but if I was manager I would have worked out the best system for the players we have by now which this manager hasn’t.

My team for Wigan would be Walton in goal, J Williams at right back, Odour left back, Sollbauer and Andersen centre backs. Halme in midfield with Mowatt. Styles at number ten. Simoes and Chaplin wide with Woodrow up top.

Yes I would still pick Woodrow and Chaplin as they are the only ones likely to score other than Halme of course from corners. Brown needs dropping at this moment in time.

Reds Ratings v Luton:

Walton              8

Sollbauer          7

Andersen          7

J Williams         6

Ludewig            6

Ritzmaier           6

Mowatt             8

Bahre                6

Woodrow          5

Brown               5

Chaplin             5

I have now accepted that our destination is League One but one thing you can say about Barnsley is that we have always been capable of pulling off results that we aren’t expected to get.

COYR