build up to get the ball forward and there seems to be very few rushes of blood to the head previously demonstrated by our former captain.  It's actually nice to see the ball on the pitch and not in the stands!

Ilic has been magnificent in the Barnsley goal and the save he pulled off against Brighton at Oakwell is a measure of the quality of the player.

Handyside has been a calming influence as captain and whilst it's obvious that Ireland, Gallimore and himself aren't blessed with pace, they at least have a system to deal with quick players as shown when Knight came to Oakwell with Brighton.

Gallimore has been the pick of the new players for me.  He is a thinker on the ball and has a great left foot and footballing brain.  Simply a steal by Thordarson and he reminds me of a certain Neil Thompson.

Barnsley fans probably didn't know what to expect from the opening game against Colchester Utd.  However, it was three points taken and an opportunity to build on them.  The football was refreshing and seeing a rejuvenated Dean Gorre was another pleasant surprise.  In fact Gorre has looked a different player this term and is simply enjoying his free role in the team.  Perhaps other managers never knew how to handle the player, but it is obvious to me that he is the type of player similar to Ronnie Glavin and the Barnsley coach has given Gorre a role that he once enjoyed as a player.  The results are clearly evident as Gorre is the Reds leading scorer with four goals in five matches.

August has been a great start and whilst it's still early days the signs are good.  A disappointing end to the month was the last minute equaliser by Notts County at Oakwell, but hopefully the team will have learned from that game and will take things forward to Saltergate on Saturday.

Up the Reds!

If someone had told any Barnsley fan that their team would be placed second in the league at the end of the opening month of the season, they'd think they were mental.

Mental then they are, as the Reds sit close to the top of the table for the first time in a very long time.  Indeed, you have to go back to the 1996 promotion season for Barnsley's last best start to a campaign.

It is far to say that Gudjon Thordarson and his coaching staff have performed miracles so far this term , not only in terms of where the Reds are in the league, but how they have achieved it and with very limited resources to boot.  A return to the passing game as been like a breath of fresh air, even if the team sometimes seem to lack that cutting edge in front of goal.

Barnsley may not have the biggest squad in the league anymore and they certainly don't have an abundance of talent at the manager's disposal - what is apparent though, is that there is a determination, desire and hunger amongst this team that hasn't been witnessed for a long time.

It's a pleasure watching the team play again this season and the excitement is back in the bellies of Barnsley fans before matches these days.  How welcoming is that?

We have to heap huge praise on the newcomers at the club who are playing without contracts, yet continue to demonstrate their allegiance to the cause.  Not to
mention some of the older squad members who are playing without contracts.

New signings Illic, Ireland, Gallimore and Handyside have been superb in Barnsley's new defence and the loss of Chris Morgan has not surfaced as perhaps was expected.

No longer does the ball simply get booted out of play under pressure by the Reds defence. They now look to play a patient