We often wax lyrical about the lads as human beings in these editions of Grove Street, and it’s hard for us not to: this is genuinely the most incredible bunch that we’ve had the pleasure of working with – which is, of course, no disrespect to those who have come before.
Cohesion and team spirit is a big part of the success we have enjoyed this term and, even though his partner in crime, Luke Thomas departed on loan, Herbie still relishes the upbeat and positive atmosphere in the dressing room.
“Me and him get on well,” he smiled. “It was good to have him around and I’m glad that he’s gone out and playing and doing well, but there’s other people in the team who I get one with so I’ll just continue to come in and do my job.
“I’m still getting weird videos off him, but he’s a good lad and I’m glad he’s out there playing. He told me he’s doing well.
“I’ve got good teammates and they’re doing well at the moment. The players who are playing are going to be buzzing and confident, but when I’m not playing, I’m unhappy and my confidence isn’t as high as theirs. I get on well with the lads, enjoy being in the dressing room and hopefully my time will come.
“I think it’s easier for bigger personalities on the pitch – it doesn’t matter if you’re shy and quiet off the pitch, but I think you need a big personality on the pitch, it definitely helps.”
Herbie arrived at Barnsley with a reputation as a goal scoring midfielder from his loan spells with Doncaster Rovers and Hull – even scoring at Oakwell with Donny during our League One promotion campaign.
He has come close on a number of occasions so far for the Reds with efforts from set-pieces and was also denied a spectacular goal at Forest by a flying Brice Samba.
You sense that he’s close to getting off the mark for the Reds, but the Bristolian feels he needs to get in more advanced positions for this to happen.
“When I came, I said I liked to score goals,” affirmed Herbie. “It’s quite difficult in the way that we play because we don’t get the ball as much as we can, but I think I need to take more shots and believe that I’m going to score more. It’s hard because I haven’t played many minutes, but hopefully the goal will come.
“Alex and Cal scored a few long range shots so, especially in the midfield because we don’t really get into the box much – we’re kind of around the outside of it – then I think I’m going to have to shoot more often from long distance and hopefully one would go in.
“I don’t think the gaffer would criticise me for having a go because if you don’t shoot, you don’t score. Obviously, you’ve got to have a shot and hopefully it’ll nestle in.
“I like to score all kinds of goals, not just long range shots. I like to get in the box, score headers, arrive as the ball is coming on the edge. Just the way we play, it’ll be more of a long strike kind of goal or something like that, so I need to work on getting in positions to do that and hopefully I will soon.”
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