From bottling Barnsley to battling Barnsley six months in at Oakwell

A very, Merry Christmas to every Red who celebrates! Michael Duff’s first six months in charge at Oakwell has certainly been a rollercoaster, but as the darkness arrives earlier in the day and the bitter crunch of winter cascades to the streets of South Yorkshire, the Tykes have certainly found some momentum and form.

Barnsley have not lost a league game since the Halloween period and currently boast one of the tightest defences in the country.

Michael Duff and his coaching staff have seemed to bring the best from certain individuals and we are seeing a competitive flare that was non-existent just eight months ago! ‘Duffy’ was also awarded the League One manager of the month award!

Early optimism shot down

In July, I wrote my thoughts regarding the upcoming season, and the general feeling was one of scepticism. Question mark signings such as Luca Connell, as well as a lack of creativity in pre-season fixtures left a lot to be desired for the fans. We travelled to Devon on matchday one to take on Plymouth Argyle, and Barnsley were schooled by the now league leaders. The returning coach ride back to Yorkshire was a depressing journey.

The optimism and hope of another successful League One campaign for our club felt like a distant dream. However, five months to the day since writing that article regarding the new season, Barnsley will have just taken on Accrington Stanley, and a win will leave the top three within reach.

Tensions between fans and board remain

However, tension between the fanbase and the board is still very palpable. Attendances are still low (We have not reached 10K fans at Oakwell in a while), and the home games are still as soulless as it was in October, where we failed to register a single league goal in 4 games. I do not feel the same excitement and optimism that was pungent during the Stendel era in the third division.

Perhaps this is due to the January transfer window? It feels like the trust and respect that comprises a healthy relationship has been blown out with the current board, due to the years of neglect and disarray from the previous group of people. The trust has never seemed to be apparent with the new regime, and it only feels like time will fix this. Results do not affect the general opinion and feel around the current board, but winning certainly repels the negative comments (at least until the next game in which we lose).

Duff the shining light

Michael Duff is our shining light, and if you ignore a sticky patch towards the end of October, he has been unanimously accepted into the ‘Tarn culture.’ His professional temperament, intelligent words to the press and confidence in his way of working, has certainly rubbed off on the Oakwell faithful. No matter what happens following the January window, Duff will be supported by the fans.

However, we must remember that things on the pitch are still positive, and a major factor into Barnsley’s upturn in form has been the impressive rise of certain individuals. Devante Cole has proved a talisman up front, and mixing his bags of natural ability and an improvement in his final third positioning, he has found himself on the scoresheet consistently since October. Herbie Kane has recovered from an injury earlier in the season, and is now the focal point of a battling Barnsley midfield. Nicky Cadden is improving every week, with his perfect positioning and desirable engine, mixed in with the best crossing ability in the league, he has shown what he can add to our side.

It does not feel like we have a ‘style of play.’ Michael Duff is not a manager from another land, who has perfected his ‘gegenpressing’ and looks to implement HIS philosophy into the English game. He is happy taking a backseat, giving the players whatever they need to win a game, and adapts well to the opposition.

It is different from the PMG era, who did make some very clever managerial appointments. But, if we must sacrifice ‘Stendel-ball,’ which is comparable to heavy metal music, for a hymn sheet that changes week to week to match the taste of the audience, with more longevity and security, I am willing to sacrifice that. The fans were sick of hearing words such as ‘philosophy, style of play, spreadsheets, remit, and situations.’ We just wanted someone more relatable, someone who every man in Barnsley could be. Michael Duff is not a name that screams glitz or glamour, but his footballing brain is as good as anybody in the league.

So, less than ten days until the window opens, and five months until the season ends, do you see Barnsley continuing this impressive run?