Interesting to see so many views on where Dack should play. IMO - getting this right is key to us getting promoted (may even be his best position is on the bench) It is likely that Dack will have lost an edge of pace, which may be an issue. I would try the false 9 again - and move Armstrong to wide forward. With the interchanging we often see - can't see this being an issue. My biggest issue is where do we play BB if Dack plays up front - as since lockdown he has been one of our most effective forwards - and prior to injury was starting to score again (didn't think I would ever write that sentence 😁). As good as it is that Dack is getting to fitness - more excited about Travis returning.

Gallagher isn't a wide forward - the manager has to take a lot of responsibility for not getting the best out of him. We are very predictable - why can't we switch at times to 442 and play Gallagher alongside Armstrong?

His decision making is poor at times. But to be fair to him this was a split second decision - but for the goal keepers head he would have scored.

A bit worrying - but I think Downing is probably our best bet for left back. He is no slower than Douglas - and has even better delivery.

Elliott scored a great goal - but thought overall it was an average performance from him.

And his wages were ? I am sure he would have blown a huge hole in our wage budget

Lacklustre

In a normal season would possibly agree with you - but with two injury prone centre halves and three games a week it would seem sensible to rotate

Yes - Hurst was really good. Imagine an England team with injury free Hurst and Shearer up front with Warhurst running the midfield (what could have been, but for injuries)

I often wonder how good he would have been without that first injury - he was genuinely quick prior to injury, but lost an edge of pace - obviously still a great player

With all the teams above us to play again - and with them all playing each other - 6 point recovery is easily achievable IF we can reverse our current fortunes playing teams above us in the table. At the moment my glass is half full - we are playing some excellent attacking football at times - and even when getting beaten we have played on the whole well (just let down by individual mistakes, either defensively or not taking chances). I am more confident of the impact Travis will make on his return than I am Dack. But even if Dack takes a while to become fully effective - there is no better player to have on the bench when you need to score against a packed defence.

To be honest - if he continues to improve (and let's be honest for all the hype he has had more than one average game) - there is no way he will be with us next season unless we are promoted (even then only on loan). While he is with us, we just have to enjoy the skills of a player that (at the moment) looks destined to be a top player. He is looking like the best loan we have had since Archibald.

There's a young lad in East Lancashire called Travis who might fit the bill 🤔 Regarding Lenihan - defensively he does ok - but for an ex-midfield player, his distribution can be woeful at times - mainly because he tries to be over ambitious (TM should be taking him to one side, at the end of the day he is no Tosin when it comes to distribution). It is often this that leads to goals or rash challenges as he tries to atone for his mistake. Interesting that Williams gets stick for the first goal - but nobody mentions Kaminski for being beaten at his near post. IMO you just have to recognise the forwards skill. I seem to remember Garner scoring a few goals like that (though my memory is hazy) was his goal against Liverpool in the FA Cup not similar?

Is the squad capable ? At the moment Lenihan is making mistakes which seem to being punished, Douglas has yet to show up, Johnson is up and down and Holtby has had a dip in form. Add to this one of our better players since lock down (Brereton) being injured, alongside Dack and Travis. This isn't to get TM off the hook - but do we overstate the strength of our squad - especially compared to the Norwichs of this world ?

At wish of upsetting some supporters - you have to give some credit to the owners - as at no point has he been forced into selling star players (something he omits to mention). They are giving him the opportunity and support to build a team - unlike most teams in this division - again something he omits to mention.

Watching last night Johnson spent part of the night operating in between Williams and Ayala. It was an interesting tactic that saw both full backs pushed right forward.

Funny thing re Armstrong - I actually thought his general play was a lot better than it has been all season. His control and runs off the ball were excellent - somewhat ironic that he left his shooting boots at home - and his decision making on when to shoot and when to pass was so poor. Having said that - the way they dropped off him - it was almost like they wanted him to shoot. Overall an opportunity lost - we looked the better team for large parts - but defensively (as a TEAM) you can often see how our current set up leaves us exposed at times. But it is that same formation - often with both full backs playing as wingers - that has seen us play some good attacking football. Possibly the rub of the green we had in our previous home matches counted against us. But for all the doom and gloom - (for me) only felt like we dropped a point - as it had draw written all over it.

Armstrong clean through ?

Will red card be actually better - is it a one match ban but only one yellow for totting up procedure (don't know asking the question ?) Remarkable performance - last year that would have been 4 or 5 - 1.

Trigger happy referee. No way a straight red - in truth should have been first yellow.

Buckley's biggest problem is the hype surrounding him. I think people's expectations are raised as a result. At the moment I would only put him as promising, possibly (strange as it may sound) the type of player that would do better at a higher level.

Shocking that the referee allowed it. I did wonder about the passing - as some of the misplaced passes were school boy errors.

TBH the penalty decision at the end evened up what should have been a 2nd yellow card for the tackle through the back of BB. Thought they deserved a draw overall - our season will be defined how we build on the "rub of the green" we have had in the last two matches. We need to ensure performances improve - as we can't keep relying on lady luck.

I am sure this is only due to the number of matches.

Bad performance or Barnsley played well - not sure. You have to give credit to Barnsley who looked good. Obvious need for TM to look at tactics when teams pressurise us. But good finishing and goal keeping saw us over the line.