Darrell Clarke has made significant adjustments to his Barnsley lineup during his first 11 league matches as he learns about his players and the best ways to utilize them. Injuries and varying performance levels have led him to alter both personnel and formations. Even captain Luca Connell, one of only three players to feature in every League One match so far, has played in different midfield positions.
As his team prepares to face Charlton Athletic at home on Tuesday, Clarke emphasizes that this isn’t his preferred approach. “I always aim for consistency,” he states. “There have been times in my career when the team and formation remained the same because we found our rhythm and were performing well consistently.
“Achieving that rhythm and form is the challenge. I’m still getting to know the players, and I don’t understand why people expect instant results. I’d prefer to stabilize things and establish a good rhythm. However, if I see the team struggling while I’m watching from the sidelines, you can be sure I’ll make changes.”
In a 46-game season, it’s sometimes necessary to take players out of action when their injuries aren’t immediately apparent, especially since Clarke is cautious about discussing such issues before matches.
“We have a very good medical team that provides me with the risk assessment, weighing risk against reward,” he explains. “Keep in mind that even a minor pull or strain can lead to a four- to six-week injury.
The players who step in need to seize their opportunities; otherwise, the depth of the squad isn’t strong enough, and we may have to look at moving those players on.”
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