Barnsley Q&A

1. Barnsley are one of the favourites to go down again this season, do you think your time in the Championship is all but over now?

I believe that Barnsley have enough to stay in the Championship. We have some quality players at the club. In recent times the financial status of the club has hit the team’s    league performance hard but things are looking better both on and off the field than they were 7 or 8 years ago. 

2. Barnsley is currently bottom of the Championship, how unhappy are you with the start the club has made this season?

The performance in the second half at Sheffield Wednesday warranted a win but I’d have taken a draw before the game. You don’t expect to lose your home games, especially against sides that are not really considered promotion contenders and to lose 2-0 and 3-0 is very disappointing. It has only been 3 games but we don’t want to wait any longer before securing our first win.

3. Is it about time that Simon Davey got the sack from Barnsley?

I don’t believe that’s the answer. Davey has brought in a very good squad and when they turn it on, they can play some attractive football. You don’t mastermind victories over Chelsea and Liverpool if you don’t know what you’re doing. It’s the players that play the game and no manager sets out to lose games. We’ve had way too many managers at Barnsley recently and a lot of it is down to pressure from fans to set the division alight which hasn’t happened since Dave Bassett took us to the Play-Off final in 2000.

4. Former Foxes striker Iain Hume has made his comeback to first team football, how pleased are you with the return of the Striker?

It’s very pleasing to see Iain Hume back on the pitch. He still needs some match sharpness but it was a life threatening injury he sustained so you understand how important it is to give him the chance to get back up to speed.

5. Barnsley has only six defenders to choose from this season, how worried are you that Barnsley doesn’t have many options in defence?

We have let a couple of defenders go but not brought any in and it does limit us. Rob Kozluk’s suspension forced the inclusion of young Luke Potter who has barely played 5 games for the club. We could probably do with another left back. The goal against column doesn’t make good reading at the minute.

6. Who would you say is Barnsley’s key player at the minute?

Our key player at the minute is probably Anderson De Silva. He has the ability to put his foot on the ball, slow things down and switch play or find a killer pass. Unfortunately he’s not done it much this season yet.

7. Also who is the upcoming talent in the Barnsley side?

Youngster Jacob Butterfield is stepping in Brian Howard’s boots at long last. He has been thrown in at the deep end with Colace being injured and has played every game so far in the middle of midfield, scoring at Sheffield Wednesday. With a few more games to his name he could make a first team regular.

8. Who do you think Simon Davey will play up front for Barnsley on Saturday?

He’s changed it around in every game so far so it could be any two from Hume, Odejayi, Macken and Bogdanovic but I’d say he may give Macken and Hume a chance together and bring Hume off when he gets tired

9. Do you think Barnsley need to bring in more player’s to Oakwell before the transfer window closes?

As I say we need a left sided defender but we’re waiting on international clearance for a couple of midfielders which should freshen up the squad a bit.

10. Finally the all important match prediction?

I don’t like doing this but the one time I did it I said 2-2 with Sheffield Wednesday and I was spot on. The Wednesday fans obviously had their comments to make about my prediction but they always think they’ll beat us! For this Saturday I’ll reluctantly go for a 1-1 draw. Although they’ve just come back, Leicester isn’t exactly new to the Championship. They know what they’re doing so we are by no means expected to go there and get anything but I think we might sneak a point. Whether it will be enough to temporarily appease the ‘Davey haters’ I’m not sure.

 

Thanks to Andy Goodwin from VitalBarnsley who answered the 10 questions.