Has Flicker Turned In To Hill?

It`s fair to say the season hasn`t started too well for Barnsley football club. It is also true that it is only September and nothing is decided just over a month in to the season.

Most Barnsley fans were calling Flicker the clubs saviour and calling for the club to give him a five year contract following the great escape in May.

Most of these very same fans are now calling for his head only seven games in to the season.

Many I speak to are now saying that the Barnsley boss has turned in to his predecessor Keith Hill and that he should be sacked before it`s too late.

The comparisons to Hill`s tenure that fans are beginning to spout are we can`t defend, can`t score, too negative and pass sideways.

I do think Hill himself was given a raw deal by the Barnsley fans but that the club had no option but to sack him when they did. I believe Flitcroft could be a few games away from the getting the same type of treatment from the fans.

There are similarities between the latter end of Hill`s reign and the recent games that Flitcroft has been in charge of but is that really all down to the manager or do we have to look at the quality of the players that Barnsley can attract and the clubs that we are competing against in this league.

I do think Flitcroft has felt the pressure of getting results already this season. Because of that I do think he has been too negative in the last two away games and set his stall out to get a draw.

The amount of goals shipped is a worry but we have had injury problems to contend with and now that Cranie is back and Ramage has been recruited I see this area getting better.

Many fans are also saying he doesn`t know his best team and formation just like Hill. There have been a lot of changes to the team and formation but I believe in most cases this has just been down to injuries, players leaving, loss of form, suspensions, poor results and the opposition. All of these factors make it difficult to have a settled team.

One thing I would question is playing all three of Perkins, Dawson and Etuhu. Surely you only need two midfielders of that ilk especially at times when it has resulted in both Mellis and Cywka sat on the bench.

Another aspect of our play this season is that we haven`t had the same battle and drive and I believe it is because the players now think they are better than what they are and are Championship quality. Surely if anyone can get that fight and passion back in to them from last season then it is Flicker.

In my opinion he has earned a lot more than seven games in to the season before the knives come out and I think it is a sad reflection on the modern game that the majority of the fans that I speak to are wanting a managerial change.

Before the Forest game I looked at the next six fixtures and I couldn`t see us getting a single point from them. Is this s reflection on the manager? Most certainly not. This is just the type of challenge that Barnsley face in the Championship.

We were all guilty of getting our hopes up for this season following what happened last season but let`s be honest unless we get some serious investment then this area of the league is where we will always be fighting.

The Championship gets stronger and stronger every season with the type of clubs that end up in the division. If we are honest with ourselves within a few years there is a strong chance that Barnsley will be a League One club no matter who is manager unless the financial situation changes.

I do however believe in miracles and that we can continue to fight against the odds and that sacking the manager is not the answer. Flicker deserves the backing of the fans, he gets my backing, does he get yours?

If we beat Watford on Saturday then he will be a hero again and all this talk will disappear. If we lose no doubt the talk will be stronger than ever but I urge every Barnsley fan to think about what they really want before having digs at the manager on social networks and forums.