Dear Mick (yes this is a match report of sorts)

I know a lot of your kool-aid drinking fans on here complain that moaners come out during defeats, but tonight they're right to come out over a draw.

I have been pleasantly surprised by what you have done so far. But the momentum is fading and the win at home and draw away mantra is seriously questioned.

Bolton away on Saturday was a tidy performance but lacked the fight, momentum and tactical guile to get 3 points off a weaker team. Tonight we should have lost to a team that hasn't taken a point away from home and has shipped a lot of goals in the process.

We were nothing short of appalling tonight. The Sky window gives us a chance to showcase the team and the 'Mick' project, to get those 10,000 fans to start thinking about coming back. I had 5, yes FIVE texts from 'lapsed' blues (I've used this term before) mocking me for a still supporting Town so keenly and for attending games - "we are sh!t" "this is non league" "hoof hoof hoof" "you're sad" (you get the picture). It was a horror show on display.

You, Mick, need to start thinking about your position on the Ireland job. The club's position on this has been very sympathetic. But for example you employ a full time masseur to travel with the squad to focus on tweaks to condition players, this is one of many techniques you use to cover every base, to ensure we have the best chance of performing. But we have had 4 key players now mention the Ireland speculation. It must be in some small way be affecting the team. PUT IT TO BED, AND DO IT NOW.

We are potentially 5 points off relegation and 9 off the play-offs; but again that sums up the madness of this league. BUt you were brought in to fire this team up, to start to move us forward, and tonight we were out fought and out played. But also tactically exposed. The midfield sat so deep as we resorted to long ball in the second half. We are at home Mick. When are you going to start stamping out the long ball - we had players in space just whacking it forward and losing possession. over and over again. Train it out of them. Get a shape get a tempo. But at the very least get the fight back to close players down.

Please look at the right hand side. Hewitt - yes he made 2 or 3 mistakes, but he is a quality RIGHT BACK in the making. He needs a run of games. WHY ARE YOU PLAYING A CENTRE ABCK AT RIGHT BACK - it was so exposed tonight. Hoof hoof. poor poor. You persevere with Anderson but not with Hewitt. Anderson is rubbish. We've given the guy so many chances. Drop him. Taylor made one run and control that was better than what Anderson had provided for 80minutes. What has Anderson got - he's not quick, his crossing is mostly poor, he doesn't beat a man?! why stick with him.

Where is the pace and creativity in midfield? we're so pedestrian. Barnsley just did not feel threatened 2nd half. You took off our best player - maybe not on the night - but mcgoldrick is class, the reason he was not performing is he had no service, because we were sitting too deep and then hoofing it forward. You then put on Nouble - he is really poor most of the time (yes slightly better at Bolton but its relative), who just flapped around - never a penalty, and I think should have poked in that far post chance.

Jeeze Mick I could just go on and on and on. But really can you at least get them fighting in a game, can you not get them to try and give the fans a season that lasts beyond February. How low do we have to sink?

Kind Regards

Unstable Blue

4

luke hyam getting low rating tonight is not right he along with tommy smith was one of our better players and cresswell getting a red card is bad as mings will play at blackpool and maybe home v leicester

-5

This is not the first time that Barnsley have passed us off the pitch at Portman Road, at least this time we got a point. It has really highlighted our need for a gifted, creative midfielder and a real winger.

0

After a decent first half performance and a deserved lead, the second half was awful. It was obvious they would score, made us look like the Cambridge Utd of old, big long balls and not a lot happening. Anyone who thought Nouble should have had a pen needs to look again.
We should have been trying to build on the lead, not sit on it.
Onwards and upwards though, a surprise win at Blackpool is in the offing...

0

Very poor tonight.mick said Bolton was our worst of the season and this capped it,! Too many distractions I.e ROI. MON is 1/14 now to land it and hopefully mock will concentrate on U.S. again.Barnsley flooded the midfield second half and deserved a point at least. Mclaren did exactly the same at half time for derby and got a point.suprised mick doesn't see these tactical changes! Taylor looked good when he had the ball but that was about the only highlight.what a bad ad for sky itch and the championship

2

played like a team who though they were unreplaceable. changes need to be made and asses kicked. poor performance 1st half. should have stayed in dressing room 2nd half. how can fans get behind a team that doesn't care about the fans. how many would have turned up to watch the match if the tickets had been normal price? if the players want the fans behind them earn their support.

3

I thought that Barnsley looked a far better team than their league position would suggest, however I believe that Mick could have changed things to give us the edge.
I would leave the back four unchanged. They are a solid unit and a league apart from where we were 12 months ago. The front pairing I would also retain.
The problem is with the midfield. Both Skuse and Hyam are good players, but they are not a good central combination - particularly at home against a team in the bottom half of the table. We need creativity and the ability to deliver a pass. Perm one of them with either Tunnicliffe, Wordsworth or even Tabb in the centre to supply the front two. I feel that Anderson is underrated, his workrate is impressive but I believe Hewitt wide right would exhibit similar defensive qualities and at the same time be more capable of delivering a cross. I would suggest a midfield of, left to right, Tabb, Tunnicliffe, Skuse and Hewitt.
In conclusion, I don't think that we're a long way from being a useful team. We just need that final bit of tweaking to get there and I believe that Mick is the man to do it.

-2