Gabby'sThighs

Top performance against one of the challengers.  I think that was more like how Warne wants us to play, or how’s he’s described his type of football.  High press, win the ball early, move it quickly.  If we can do that consistently, we’ll be fine.
To be outside the top 6 on goal difference going into the last international break of the year is a nice place to be.  We’ve had a stuttering start and are in touch, others have yet to have a wobble.  I think now to the next break around February will be a key period.

A few comments from the Barnsley forum regards James Collins
Aye, proper dark arts. He made a fool of Mael and Williams all game.

He old manned us unfortunately.

Absolutely disgusting tackle on de Gevigney in the first 15 and our players just stood doing double teapots.

James Collins. Lucky not to be sent off in first 20mins. Flopped over in the box for the pen, scored from a millimeter out, led with his elbow for every aerial challenge. Yet got man of the match? 

If we could afford him he's exactly what we need(we cant).
Always a threat with goals and his dark arts are a massive part of his game.
One of those you hate to play against but would love in your team.

…………….that’s more like it! 😄

He warms up right in front of where I sit and even then he is so enthusiastic,  acknowledging the crowd, oohing and aaghing at the on-pitch action and seemingly loving life.  
I was lucky enough to see him play at FGR a few times a couple of seasons ago and he was such a raw talent. Last season's injury set him right back (😉) but you can see he is just pleased to be fit and involved.
Maybe our recruitment team isn't so bad after all? 

Good game today.
I'm so impressed by Kane Wilson, bags of tricks and a joy to watch. He's going to be a big player for us in the future....or will go for a big fee otherwise. 
Great to see Collins full of confidence and the players celebrating at/with the fans.
it's a shame Barks didn't score as he gets into great positions again and again. Hopefully it will click soon.
My only moan is that that Cashin would be on 5 goals for the season if only he could learn to head downwards. The guy can jump and get on crosses easy peasy but batters most over the bar. he kept one down against Wolves and that led to a goal.
fingers crossed for more of this form against Crewe on Tues.
 
p.s. anyone else made to feel old by seeing Andy Cole's boy playing for Barnsley?

Good game today.
I'm so impressed by Kane Wilson, bags of tricks and a joy to watch. He's going to be a big player for us in the future....or will go for a big fee otherwise. 
Great to see Collins full of confidence and the players celebrating at/with the fans.
it's a shame Barks didn't score as he gets into great positions again and again. Hopefully it will click soon.
My only moan is that that Cashin would be on 5 goals for the season if only he could learn to head downwards. The guy can jump and get on crosses easy peasy but batters most over the bar. he kept one down against Wolves and that led to a goal.
fingers crossed for more of this form against Crewe on Tues.
 
p.s. anyone else made to feel old by seeing Andy Cole's boy playing for Barnsley?

Good game today.
I'm so impressed by Kane Wilson, bags of tricks and a joy to watch. He's going to be a big player for us in the future....or will go for a big fee otherwise. 
Great to see Collins full of confidence and the players celebrating at/with the fans.
it's a shame Barks didn't score as he gets into great positions again and again. Hopefully it will click soon.
My only moan is that that Cashin would be on 5 goals for the season if only he could learn to head downwards. The guy can jump and get on crosses easy peasy but batters most over the bar. he kept one down against Wolves and that led to a goal.
fingers crossed for more of this form against Crewe on Tues.
 
p.s. anyone else made to feel old by seeing Andy Cole's boy playing for Barnsley?

The first half hour was pretty unremarkable really and it looked as though a dour nil nil was on the cards.
I thought the penalty was a pretty obvious push and always had faith in Collins to smash it. 
That really was the turning point. It gave Collins some confidence and he was a menace after that and the whole team seemed to react to Barnsley’s play acting by upping their own aggression.
It was great to see us winning 50:50s and imposing ourselves on the opposition.
Barnsley wilted under the pressure and Wilson’s introduction made us look more dangerous.
Sure, the goals were scrappy and I hope yesterday’s win doesn’t mean we play long balls every week but I thoroughly enjoyed my day out.
I thought Nelson and Cashin did an excellent job keeping Cole quiet.
Hope Barkhuisen managed to sleep last night. He played well and should remember that bit.
Isn’t it nice to reflect on a great performance?
 
 

I know a lot of others have already commented on the joy that Kane Wilson seems to bring to the occasion.
As a school teacher, he constantly reminds me of the kid in the playground who always wants the ball, always has a smile on his face and loves to make magic happen. It is as though he forgets he is performing in front of so many rams fans.
Cherish this player whilst we are fortunate enough to have him folks, he is one of a kind 🐏 

Good game today.
I'm so impressed by Kane Wilson, bags of tricks and a joy to watch. He's going to be a big player for us in the future....or will go for a big fee otherwise. 
Great to see Collins full of confidence and the players celebrating at/with the fans.
it's a shame Barks didn't score as he gets into great positions again and again. Hopefully it will click soon.
My only moan is that that Cashin would be on 5 goals for the season if only he could learn to head downwards. The guy can jump and get on crosses easy peasy but batters most over the bar. he kept one down against Wolves and that led to a goal.
fingers crossed for more of this form against Crewe on Tues.
 
p.s. anyone else made to feel old by seeing Andy Cole's boy playing for Barnsley?

Good game today.
I'm so impressed by Kane Wilson, bags of tricks and a joy to watch. He's going to be a big player for us in the future....or will go for a big fee otherwise. 
Great to see Collins full of confidence and the players celebrating at/with the fans.
it's a shame Barks didn't score as he gets into great positions again and again. Hopefully it will click soon.
My only moan is that that Cashin would be on 5 goals for the season if only he could learn to head downwards. The guy can jump and get on crosses easy peasy but batters most over the bar. he kept one down against Wolves and that led to a goal.
fingers crossed for more of this form against Crewe on Tues.
 
p.s. anyone else made to feel old by seeing Andy Cole's boy playing for Barnsley?

Good game today.
I'm so impressed by Kane Wilson, bags of tricks and a joy to watch. He's going to be a big player for us in the future....or will go for a big fee otherwise. 
Great to see Collins full of confidence and the players celebrating at/with the fans.
it's a shame Barks didn't score as he gets into great positions again and again. Hopefully it will click soon.
My only moan is that that Cashin would be on 5 goals for the season if only he could learn to head downwards. The guy can jump and get on crosses easy peasy but batters most over the bar. he kept one down against Wolves and that led to a goal.
fingers crossed for more of this form against Crewe on Tues.
 
p.s. anyone else made to feel old by seeing Andy Cole's boy playing for Barnsley?

Good game today.
I'm so impressed by Kane Wilson, bags of tricks and a joy to watch. He's going to be a big player for us in the future....or will go for a big fee otherwise. 
Great to see Collins full of confidence and the players celebrating at/with the fans.
it's a shame Barks didn't score as he gets into great positions again and again. Hopefully it will click soon.
My only moan is that that Cashin would be on 5 goals for the season if only he could learn to head downwards. The guy can jump and get on crosses easy peasy but batters most over the bar. he kept one down against Wolves and that led to a goal.
fingers crossed for more of this form against Crewe on Tues.
 
p.s. anyone else made to feel old by seeing Andy Cole's boy playing for Barnsley?

Barnsley should be docked a goal in every game that they wear that horrendous kit. 

PAUL WARNE - - - - YOUR FOOTBALL WAS GREAT!
It’s the best we’ve seen at Pride Park for some time. The Barnsley manager said that until the 3rd goal went in it was pretty even. I disagree. Apart from Wildsmith’s early save, they had hardly had a sniff - yet Derby were creating threats right through that first half. We weren’t dominant, but well in control.
Although it didn’t feel like it at times. James Collin’s yellow card was bought for a bus ticket. If their player hadn’t rolled around like someone had put a chainsaw through his stomach there wouldn’t have been a card. When Nelson was floored by a “stray elbow” - it wasn’t stray, it went exactly where it was meant to - there wasn’t even a free kick, and I felt that there would be yet another dodgy penalty decision against us, and that Barnsley would have the full 3 points in their swag bag.
But the decision went our way, and yes it was a clear shove in the back, leaving me thinking the ref was bound to try and even things up after we had scored. A few correct decisions would have evened things up our way, but then he’d look like a decent ref, so we can’t have that, can we? Cue their keeper being bundled into the net by his own defender - free kick to Barnsley, and so it continued.
Much of the success was down to Collins being in the area when the ball was played in there - who’d have thought it? He had a great game, and it was great that the fans were backing him from the start.
Our play was a great mix of closing down, proper football and playing it long, and we had a good tempo all along. And a tactical change in the second half saw Barkhuisen playing on the break and he broke free several times, including that miss! And I am sure that Barnsley simply hadn’t expected him to play the role and didn’t latch on to him. And it was great to here the fans backing him after that miss!
The second and third goals were almost identical, so had we found Barnsley’s soft underbelly and exploited it? If so, well done Mr Warne, you tactical genius! Along with him starting to play Wilson as a winger instead of a full back! And Sibley!!! An inch lower and that would have been a stunning goal. Only he would shoot from such an outrageous angle!
Did anyone have bad game? With 4 or 5 players up for MOM, I would say no, but shout outs to Cashin, Fozzy, NML and Wilson. Oh, and Collins!
The self-belief and authority with which we played today made me think of the Clough and Mackay teams from all those years ago. Long may it continue. Imagine where in the League we would be if we’d played like that more often, because it is what we have been capable of all along. Again - long may it continue!
And finally: in his RD interview Paul Warne told the players that he wanted maximum effort, with no-one pulling out of challenges because today we are remembering all those who gave their all for us. That statement alone deserved the win!

Good game today.
I'm so impressed by Kane Wilson, bags of tricks and a joy to watch. He's going to be a big player for us in the future....or will go for a big fee otherwise. 
Great to see Collins full of confidence and the players celebrating at/with the fans.
it's a shame Barks didn't score as he gets into great positions again and again. Hopefully it will click soon.
My only moan is that that Cashin would be on 5 goals for the season if only he could learn to head downwards. The guy can jump and get on crosses easy peasy but batters most over the bar. he kept one down against Wolves and that led to a goal.
fingers crossed for more of this form against Crewe on Tues.
 
p.s. anyone else made to feel old by seeing Andy Cole's boy playing for Barnsley?

Good game today.
I'm so impressed by Kane Wilson, bags of tricks and a joy to watch. He's going to be a big player for us in the future....or will go for a big fee otherwise. 
Great to see Collins full of confidence and the players celebrating at/with the fans.
it's a shame Barks didn't score as he gets into great positions again and again. Hopefully it will click soon.
My only moan is that that Cashin would be on 5 goals for the season if only he could learn to head downwards. The guy can jump and get on crosses easy peasy but batters most over the bar. he kept one down against Wolves and that led to a goal.
fingers crossed for more of this form against Crewe on Tues.
 
p.s. anyone else made to feel old by seeing Andy Cole's boy playing for Barnsley?

Good game today.
I'm so impressed by Kane Wilson, bags of tricks and a joy to watch. He's going to be a big player for us in the future....or will go for a big fee otherwise. 
Great to see Collins full of confidence and the players celebrating at/with the fans.
it's a shame Barks didn't score as he gets into great positions again and again. Hopefully it will click soon.
My only moan is that that Cashin would be on 5 goals for the season if only he could learn to head downwards. The guy can jump and get on crosses easy peasy but batters most over the bar. he kept one down against Wolves and that led to a goal.
fingers crossed for more of this form against Crewe on Tues.
 
p.s. anyone else made to feel old by seeing Andy Cole's boy playing for Barnsley?

Since I moved down to the front,  we've won 4/4 at Pride Park. 
I like to think my "Go, Mendez" and "Brilliant, Mendez" is helping in some small way. 😉 

I was well impressed with these lads. Cox & Robinson look like future first-teamers.  Thompson, Gill, Gough, McAndrew all were great too.

I was well impressed with these lads. Cox & Robinson look like future first-teamers.  Thompson, Gill, Gough, McAndrew all were great too.

I was well impressed with these lads. Cox & Robinson look like future first-teamers.  Thompson, Gill, Gough, McAndrew all were great too.

I was well impressed with these lads. Cox & Robinson look like future first-teamers.  Thompson, Gill, Gough, McAndrew all were great too.

I am not one to post on here but watching our youngsters this week has given me fresh optimism. Let's just hope that these lads are given  opportunities to grow and progress at the club and do not feel they have to move to get that chance.
 

A day of surprises. More changes than I expected, especially considering the EFL rules for selection for the Trophy.

Brown never really got into the game. He's a better player than he showed last night but got no decent ball

Wilson took 25 minutes to get the better of their left back but was brilliant after that

Collo started poorly, his first 4 involvements were committing 2 fouls and being caught offside twice. After that he played well and got the hattrick. Also Barks' MOTM. Not mine though.

Young Weston replaced Brown at HT and was a revelation. All action, getting stuck in, an assist and a goal.

My favourite player on the day was Fapetu. You wouldn't think he was making his senior debut. That cheeky 50 yard attempt shows he has great vision to go with his skill and work rate. Gets stuck into the oppo as well. We might see him and Weston on the bench in one or both of the next 2 games.