Positives on and off pitch for Barnsley FC

Whilst sat soaking up some winter sun by the pool whilst the UK is hit with snow and freezing temperatures I thought I would use my time waxing lyrically about the reds and some of the positives around the club at the moment.

Concentrate on a half at a time.

The old saying in football of “take each game at a time” has now been eclipsed by Michael Duff with his mantra of “win each half at a time”.

Only supporters are looking ahead to fixtures to come whether be games in hand or visits to Oakwell by those clubs currently sitting above the reds in the table.

The players are taking each 45 minutes in games at a time and making sure they win each half. By doing so, the victories will come and the table will take care of itself. That is exactly what has been happening during this 9 game unbeaten run.

Fans and club as one.

Whilst there is still a way to go for some supporters to truly be won over by the current board, so far this season there are plenty of examples of how the club and fans are coming together as one.

The atmosphere during the home game with Derby County and the way the club came together to accommodate supporters in the East Stand for the Portsmouth game show the club are hitting the right note with fans.

Communication has improved. The way the club supported the Athersley Reds appeal for scarf day against Derby and how they communicated the upcoming season ticket increase that previously would have caused uproar are positive examples of better communication.

Players coming into form at once.

No longer are the reds relying on 2 or 3 players to get them through games by scoring 7 or 8 out of 10 whilst the rest struggle for consistent form.

The likes of Cadden, Williams and Kitching are rightly getting plaudits not just Mads Andersen at the back.

Norwood and Cole have both for a number of weeks now been performing every game chasing opposition players down, causing panic and creating chances. When some fans were calling for Cole to be dropped when the goals dried up, his performances for the team justified his inclusion. Now the goals have started to come again for both strikers.

Herbie Kane has grown as the season has gone and his performances alongside Luca Connell have the pair fighting it out for player of the season.

Add Adam Phillips with his goals the midfield is particularly strong.

A special mention to Harry Isted who has come into the side and fitted it as if he has been at the club years. He goes about his job with ease and a calmness that settles the defence and those in the Ponty End behind him. He was superb in the air catching everything thrown at him in that second half against Derby, not once flapping at crosses.

Fortress Oakwell.

9 wins out of 10 at home has finally turned Oakwell into a fortress for the reds. Add the atmosphere improving recently hopefully we can all make a difference at Oakwell in the final few months of the season.

With tough games to come, hopefully fans don’t have a knee jerk reaction if those games don’t go to plan.

Surely it should be our visitors that need to worry coming to Barnsley and not the other way round?

In Duff we trust.