Defensive Issues and the DKD Conundrum

If we didn’t know it already then, our 2 – 0 defeat at AFC Wimbledon highlighted our urgent need for a quality proven centre back.

I’d be happy with one, two would be nice but I do think that one new signing at the side of a fit again Roberts would be sufficient.

Shepherd to me looks like he could do with another loan away at a lower end League One club until January to see if he can cut it at this level as the evidence to date suggests that League Two may be his level which is still some achievement for the lad with where he came from.

Earl and De Gevigney are certainly more suited to playing in back three and we still shipped loads of goals with them playing in those roles. Neither are quite centre halves or quite full backs so the back three suits them whereas the traditional back four does not.

Make no mistake, Earl was awful on Saturday, but Shepherd was far worse and has been far worse all season. Yet the majority of fans are slagging Earl off and even blaming him for Shepherds’ mistakes.

Earl seems to be the current figure of hate now that De Gevigney is out. And I understand Barnsley fans wanting Shepherd to do well, I do too but let’s not pretend he is playing better than Earl or that it is Earl’s fault that Shepherd isn’t ready yet.

I think it goes back to last season when reports of how well he was playing for Bradford made most Barnsley clamor for him recalling and putting straight into the team without even seeing him play which shows what Muppets we are at times.

Almost as pressing an issue is where to play Keillor-Dunn in this system. I think he is wasted out wide and I think we would lose too much in terms of physicality and hold up play if he played as a lone striker in place of McGoldrick.

Personally, I would like Hourihane to be brave and play him as a number ten, behind McGoldrick with Vickers and Cleary as wingers.

I would drop Phillips alongside Connell in midfield. It is a much more attack-minded team and midfield, but I think it can work and even if it doesn’t then I think it is worth a try. It is also harsh on Yoganathan and Kelly but gives us strong options to change it from the bench if required.

Also, if we did this and played Bland at right back and Ogbeta at left back then both are comfortable stepping into midfield to create the extra body if required.

On to Rotherham tonight and it would be the perfect time to experiment in a lot of ways, but players will need a rest, so I do expect changes and the fringe players to get a run out.

Despite the negativity from Saturday, we must remember that it is only one defeat, and we are still very much a work in progress. We must not overreact just like we shouldn’t get carried away that we are promotion contenders on the back of a good start to the season.

COYR