An open apology to Ashley Barnes......

[BHABen]

First of all I just want to state that I have never booed this player...
However I have stated that this player was not good enough at this level. Mr Barnes if I could shake your hand I would. I watched you from row A at withdean get in countless goal scoring positions maybe taking 1 in 5 chances... Still your goals in the promotion seasons were vital. Yes last year you were our top goal scorer but perhaps my ambition got ahead of me.... I didn't think you were good enough at this level.
The 1st 3 months of this season I found myself doubting Gus for his blind faith in picking you week in week out. However the last few weeks you have stepped up to the plate. No one can doubt your goal ratio now you are in a central position. But today you were magnificent... I hope you heard your song today... I joined in... .
Mr Barnes you have shut me right up...I hope this continues....

P.S the above was a football opinion only, I had the pleasure of meeting Mr Barnes at my sons Xmas party last year..... Smashing fella

 

[marshy68]

fair play to you mate - barnes was mom today no doubt.

 

[BHABen]

fair play to you mate - barnes was mom today no doubt.

Agreed... Surprised he didn't get it

 

[The Modfather]

Fair play to you, lets hope some more of his critics follow suit

 

[Garret Bobby Ferguson]

It was amazing ball for the second goal. Real quality delivery.

 

[blueandwhitestripes]

Well said BHABen. Ashley is still young and his performance today was excellent. People should get off his back.

 

[Bob!]

It was amazing ball for the second goal. Real quality delivery.

The ball looks so much better when we have someone willing to put his head in where it might hurt!

 

[Double Hard Bastard]

I love you mr barnes

....and want to have your babies!

 

[Ali_rrr]

He's never been a wide player, always an attacker. Fair play to him though, he seems to of got his head together recently.

 

[sebtucknott]

I think with Dobbie signing, Hoskins being fit and now Ulloa, Barnes realised he needs to up his game. His effort seems a lot better now and seems to look for fouls less.

Also his all round game has improved a lot

 

[Simster]

I think with Dobbie signing, Hoskins being fit and now Ulloa, Barnes realised he needs to up his game. His effort seems a lot better now and seems to look for fouls less.

Also his all round game has improved a lot

Harsh - he's always given 100%. Where Barnes wins is that when he does get dropped, he seems to come back fully refreshed. Barnes is one of the best signings Gus has ever made and will ever make.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

...maybe taking 1 in 5 chances

I'm struggling to understand what people expect of our players.

Suarez has taken 129 shots this season and scored 16 (12%)
Van Persie 18/84 (21%)
Ba 13/89 (15%)
Michu 13/66 (20%)


How many strikers score with every other shot?

 

[JCL666]

I'm struggling to understand what people expect of our players.

Suarez has taken 129 shots this season and scored 16 (12%)
Van Persie 18/84 (21%)
Ba 13/89 (15%)
Michu 13/66 (20%)


How many strikers score with every other shot?

I've just looked at the espn stats and I'm not sure it's up to date, but for Barnes it's 7/41 (combining his stats from today with the others)... That's 17%

which is BETTER than Ba and Suarez!!! Note: THEY PLAY AS A STRIKER EVERY GAME!

He had two shots today. One was a goal, the other drew a great save from the keeper. Not bad.at.all.

 

[Acker79]

I'm struggling to understand what people expect of our players.

Suarez has taken 129 shots this season and scored 16 (12%)
Van Persie 18/84 (21%)
Ba 13/89 (15%)
Michu 13/66 (20%)


How many strikers score with every other shot?

I've been making that point for years. People still trot out '1 in 5' as a stick to beat him with. Often followed up with "yeah, but what about all the times he doesn't get a shot away?" ignoring all the times suarez, rooney, rvp, etc. don't manage to get shots away.


(figures from ssn/espnsoccernet - percentages may be a little out, sometimes goals are included as a shot, sometimes not. The second barnes column removed his penalties league only)

 

[KZNSeagull]

I don't get to watch very often but i thought he was excellent yesterday. Works extremely hard, unlucky with his first attempt on goal (which I see someone in the player ratings thread said was a howling miss!), took his goal well and if the knobber Beckham had made that cross for Ulloa's goal, some of here would have made a mess in their pants! Hard to drop him on that form and I can understand why Gus likes him. Cannot see Dobbie or Hoskins doing what he does for the team.

 

[Sergei's Celebration]

The cross for Ulloa's goal was exceptional, weighted perfectly, positioned perfectly and Ulloa scored it perfectly.

and well done to the OP for holding his hands up, takes a big man to admit that.

Nuff said.

 

[JBizzle]

The ball looks so much better when we have someone willing to put his head in where it might hurt!

Absolutely. It shows what we have been missing. Fantastic ball all the same though.

 

[SB005]

Well played OP,

Paying against arsenal and getting one goal and one assist is the best way to prove his worth to anybody!!!

Still think he will continue to improve even further year on year under Gus as well......

 

[£1.99]

Like Gus I recognized his ability long ago
I'm sorry Barnes. - Page 2

 

[fleet]

Barnes was quality yesterday