STEPHEN Humphrys finds modern football boring but is hoping to change that for Barnsley fans as he looks to be the main man in their attack.
The 27-year-old striker, who signed last month, netted a last-gasp winner for the Reds at Burton Albion, who had just equalised, in his third appearance for the club.
He told the Chronicle: “In the middle of a thunderstorm, in the 90th minute, in front of a sold out away end. It was very special.
“I have already got a goal without starting a game so I feel on top of the world.”
He added: “I think football is boring now. Everyone is trying to play like Pep Guardiola’s Man City.
“Creativity and flair players have been taken out of the game.
“It’s about systems and pressing and men behind the ball.
“But I think football is about moments.
“Fans don’t want to see 11 men behind the ball, they want to see the ball in the net as fast as they can so that’s what I am here for.”
Humphrys, a free agent after leaving Wigan, joined on deadline day in August after having options throughout the summer transfer window.
He said: “I spoke to a lot of clubs.
“I was pretty close to signing for a Championship club but it fell through due to technicalities higher up.
“I wanted to stay northern, to sign for a family-oriented club, coming from a great club in Wigan, and where the fans are a big part of it, and a team has a good chance of getting to the Championship.”
Humphrys was promoted out of League One in the 2021/22 with Wigan, who won the title, but only started 12 league games.
“I know what it takes.
“That season at Wigan, I scored a few goals and played my part but, I will make no secret of it, I want to be starting every week here. I want to be the main player.
“I want to be the one where my team-mates are looking to me to score the goals and create the big moments.
“I will take that responsibility. It’s who I am as a person.”
Humphrys is behind the rest of the squad in terms of fitness, having not had a pre-season, and is yet to start for the Reds.
“When I signed, the manager (Darrell Clarke) said it would be three or four weeks until I was even in the squad.
“Obviously I have played three games by the end of my third week.
“I am behind the other lads and have no issue with not starting right now.
“I have to play my way into the team.
“The chance I had (at Burton) when I was one v one with the goalkeeper, when I get sharper I will take that.”
The Burton win followed a 7–0 drubbing at Manchester United in the EFL Cup four days earlier.
Humphrys said: “It was great experience. But if you look at their budget, we probably aren’t even one per cent of that.
“It generated money for the club which helps. We had to sweep it under the carpet sharpish and put it right.”
