10Feb

Barnsley embracing consistent inconsistency

by danwilliams1

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This season has undoubtedly been a difficult one in the world of Barnsley FC. It has, however, at the same time, been an unquestionable success.

The current Championship table sees the Tykes sat in 15th position, with 39 points from 29 games, and a tough home tie against high-flying and in-form Birmingham City at the weekend. When you take into account that when Keith Hill and David Flitcroft (or Hillcroft, as they are affectionately known) took over that their objective was to avoid relegation, we Reds fans seemingly have little to worry or even moan about, as Barnsley sit a full 15 points above Doncaster in the relegation zone.

However, we have developed a reputation as something of a Jekyll and Hyde team, a view that is emphasised by the fact that we haven’t drawn for a Championship-leading 21 games. Until this can be addressed, and the team can start grinding out boring 0-0 draws (we haven’t managed a clean sheet since a 2-0 victory over Doncaster on November 19), then we are unlikely to challenge further up the table.

But I’m not here to yearn for drab encounters, or even clean sheets. I enjoy games like our 4-3 win against Peterborough just a little too much for that, no matter how hard it might be on my fingernails. Instead, I’m here to plead with Barnsley fans to realise just how good we’ve got things this season under Hillcroft.

Thanks to some fantastic performances this season, including a 4-1 victory over Leeds United on New Year’s Eve and away wins at Reading and Leicester, Tykes fans have forgotten the hardships that our club have been through in the last few years. Since our return to the Championship in 2006, we have faced a perennial relegation battle, under Andy Richie, Simon Davey and Mark Robins.

This season, however, things are different. We’ve been on the verge of the playoffs at times, and as I mentioned earlier, we are more than clear of the relegation zone as things stand. If we put together a few wins again, as we have at times this season, then the distant dream of the playoffs might not seem as far away.

What we as Reds fans must remember though is that, our team this season is almost the very definition of a work in progress. Ricardo Vaz Te was given his chance by Keith Hill when no-one else wanted him, grabbed it with both hands, and then left when the pound signs of West Ham came calling. Unfortunately, the same applied to Danny Drinkwater, who Hill made a star of, before Leicester’s money snatched him from our grasp.

Hillcroft are building a team, made up predominantly of lower-league players, who in fairness are performing as well, and sometimes better than the established Championship squad members that we already have.

This is when we, as fans, should take a step back and admire the job that Hill and ‘Flicker’ are doing at our club. A number of times already this season, our fans have jumped on the back of the players, booing at the final whistle when we haven’t matched those heady heights and tremendous performances. It is important to remember that we are far from the finished article, but are more than heading in the right direction.

This should be seen as a season designated to progress. If we can ward off the attentions of Ken Bates and Leeds United, who seem to be sniffing around our manager, then we are building a team to be proud of at Oakwell, but have to realise that it can’t happen overnight, and that we will have a few poor results along the way.

However, it should only take turning a few of the disappointing defeats into draws, or ground-out victories, and the playoff dream may be very much alive.

For now, we should realise that we won’t win every game, especially as the team is still growing and the players are learning each other’s games… Until then, let’s celebrate the good times when they arrive, and approach the defeats with a sense of realism. For now, let’s embrace our consistent inconsistency.

Posted by Barnsley fan Dan Williams

Follow Dan on Twitter at @daninfrance