Ashley Barnes isn't nearly good enough for us.

[BensGrandad]

Sandaza and Wood have been the embarrassing planks.

I think that is harsh on Wood as he hasa scored some important goals albeit some are penalties, which nobody else could do succesfully.

 

[DT Withdean]

Murray and Barnes covered for his awful touch, and without Murray, Wood (with great height) could never win 50:50 or even 90:10 balls played out from our defence to the opposing defensive lines. (Yesterday was very typical).

Sandaza, Elphick & Wood ... thanks for your efforts this year and you deserved your medals. But opponents at Championship level would identify them and have a field-day.

 

[El Presidente]

Wood.............plank.................snigger

 

[Acker79]

I think that is harsh on Wood as he hasa scored some important goals albeit some are penalties, which nobody else could do succesfully.

He has scored 4 of 5 penalties. Barnes scored 3 and scored on one follow up to make 4 goals from 5 penalties. I'd say barnes has been as successful on penalties as Wood (and wood only took them when Barnes wasn't on the pitch). To say nobody else could score penalties successfully is wrong.

 

[BensGrandad]

We have missed a few so much so that Gus has said one of his signings will be a specialist penalty taker. Hence the rumours of Johnny Jackson coming in the summer.

 

[Gangsta]

Before you say, oh another thread about Barnes, than don't read or post in it.
Before you quote stats, don't. Stick to the stat filled PC Manager games

But I thought earlier in the season that Barnes was not up to wearing the stripes, and after watching him numerous times, yesterdays performance at Bournemouth proved to me that he is out of his depth, and is never going to be the half decent striker we hope he will become, unless he toughens up and grows a pair of bollocks.

Strikers, like central defenders need to be able to take a whack and dish one out, otherwise they won't make it in 99% of cases. Look at Al Abd. He aint performing like he is because of his skill. He wins the battle with most strikers in the first ten minutes of a game. Barnes yesterday was a complete waste of space and was very lucky not to leave the ground in an Ambulance. Just compare him to Murray. Nearly every time Murray goes up for a header, he wins it. Even when he completely missed a flick on yesterday, the defenders marking him flicked it on for him. They are so worried about Murray they make mistakes. When Barnes goes up for a header, its half hearted, going through the motions. He hardly ever wins any, and all you see from him is a cowardly pulling in of the shoulder and ducking his head out of the way. Its the same with tackles, he dangles a leg, and never makes a hard challenge. He must be a center half's dream too play against. When the Bournemouth center half's saw the team yesterday, they must have been pissing themselves laughing. Instead of having Murray who was going to be a danger all afternoon, they had to put up with Barnes, who's only danger to them was going to be getting a headache from all his whining. Refs are never going to give Barnes a 50/50 decision, because they can see the way he plays. He always looking to get out of the way and go down before the balls near him. BE honest, how many of think of Barnes, and see a picture in your mind of him sitting on his arse, arms out by his side with a look of disbelief on his face because he didn't get a free kick?

He was so lucky yesterday when he was on the receiving end of that second half crunching tackle, that his leg wasn't snapped in two. The first thing you teach a player, is never pull out of a tackle, or never just dangle your leg at a tackle, as you are a lot more in danger of getting seriously injured, then if you tackle hard yourself. When he got hit, I honestly though he'd broke his leg, and if he carries on like that it wont belong before a career ending injury comes along.

The boy is just too lightweight for pro football, and all the time he has a hole in his arse he wont make it. He'll find his level in the conference within a couple of years. Unless of course he learns to toughen up, but in most cases you cannot teach someone bottle, you either have bottle or you don't. You can get away with being and playing like a tart in some positions, but not as a striker. I think his only hope to go and do a bit of UFC training and learn to overcome his weakness and tartness, and learn how to take a whack.

In addition to his weak challenging at headers and that near leg breaking tackle, did you notice that when he an Murray& Barnes broke yesterday and Murray squared it, Barnes went hiding behind the defender. Murray squared it, and Barnes was nowhere. If he had done as he was meant to do and get in front of the defender, he would have either got a shot and probably scored, or got fouled and got a penalty. Either way he'd have got a whack, so that probably why he went and hid behind the defender, where he was nice and safe. The only way we would have scored there was an own goal, or if the defender fluffed it. But, no he'll wait for the unchallenged chances too add to his goal tally.

Now before people quote his stats, I think any other striker at the club could match these or better his goal tally given the game time and position Barnes has had this season. I even think if you got an old pro like John Byrne, he'd have easily matched Barnes tally, even without playing or training for 10 years. What I'm saying is, even through Barnes is the second highest scorer, any striker given Barnes' chances would easily match it. As a team we have been creating so much, we could have doubled our goal tally with the right striker this season.

You've just gotta take a look at the amount of chances Barnes as missed, most of which, I think is down to his bottle. I haven't looked, but I bet a lot of Barnes goals have been from unchallenged shots. No doubt he can strike a good shot when given time, and if football was a non contact sport, he'd be one of the best, but its not, and he's not.

I still see Murray just as much as a provider than a scorer if not more the provider, and I think the way the game turned at Bournemouth when he come on yesterday proves it. He'll chase things down, get stuck it and create chances of others, and cause defences problems, whereas Barnes isn't gong to cause any defence problems. I bet if you went back to yesterdays game, Barnes took a whack and threats from a defender early on, and after that he was shit scared of getting involved, and until he can learn to toughen up a bit, his only hope is to become a winger or he will fade away, and if he doesn't learn to toughen up then I hope he fades away sooner rather than later, because without a player like Murray in the side, he is a waste of space, and if I was a player of Murrays ability, and got dropped for Ashley Barnes yesterday, I'd tell Gus where to stick his new contract.... (although obviously in a nice way because of Gus' god like status, I wouldn't be rude too him at it!!)

He's only a youngster - he's not the finished article yet but I think he's good enough. Imagine when you were his age - I bet you couldn't put together such evil, cynical posts as you can now!

 

[Acker79]

We have missed a few so much so that Gus has said one of his signings will be a specialist penalty taker. Hence the rumours of Johnny Jackson coming in the summer.

The team has missed a few. You painted it as if Wood is the only player in the squad capable of scoring, despite his recorded being practically identical to Barnes (Wood has scored 4 out of 5, barnes has scored 3 and followed one up, effectivly scorin 4 out of 5).

That is the first I've heard of any interest in Johnny Jackson. It's the first time I've even noticed his name, so the rumours aren't exactly widespread.

 

[BensGrandad]

That is the first I've heard of any interest in Johnny Jackson. It's the first time I've even noticed his name, so the rumours aren't exactly widespread.

You obviously spend your time trying to find fault in every post rather than read but failing to take note of ones you dont wish to argue with. It was suggested on here a number of times by people supposedly 'ITK'

If you use the search facility and type in Johnny Jackson you will see there was a thread on here about it in early March.

 

[GoldWithFalmer]

Johnny Jackson-may need to modify some aspects at the Amex-is there still time.be a good addition though

 

[mona]

He's only a youngster - he's not the finished article yet but I think he's good enough. Imagine when you were his age - I bet you couldn't put together such evil, cynical posts as you can now!

What makes you think that this fella has reached young Ashley's age? Likely to be another case of adolescent angst I suspect.

Oh!
I have an interesting recipe for shrimp creole.
This is a Louisiana dish with tomatoes and peppers. Hot chilli sauce brings it to life. It is important to reduce the sauce and the shrimps are really large Gulf of Mexico prawns. Best served with rice.

 

[mona]

When barbecuing a steak, it is essential to rub oil, salt and mustard powder into it.

 

[mona]

Did you know that Glenn Murray prefers pasta and green pesto to beans on toast. It's in today's Football League Paper.
That is interesting isn't it! Are we good enough for him? Is he good enough for us?
Isn't this a very interesting thread!

 

[Acker79]

You obviously spend your time trying to find fault in every post rather than read but failing to take note of ones you dont wish to argue with. It was suggested on here a number of times by people supposedly 'ITK'

If you use the search facility and type in Johnny Jackson you will see there was a thread on here about it in early March.

If by "faults" you mean "accidental and/or deliberate inaccuracies in arguments" and "in every post" you mean "posts in threads I'm contributing to" then yes, I do that. It's what happens when people are debating a topic.

There are so many things posted on here by people claiming to be in the know that turn out to be false I tend to not waste too much time with them unless they are repeatedly mentioned, not just here, but elsewhere too.


I took your advice and did a search, and you're right, the rumour did exist.

One person heard a rumour at the game, and I see reference to Bring Back Bryan Wade having mentioned it the week before. Two people, at least one with an unreliable source. Which I would still argue is not wide spread rumours, but the rumours did exist.

The others mentions of him found in the search were people suggesting him on their wish lists (and I think most of them were you). I also found this:

UPDATE: Johnnie Jackson confirmed on Twitter earlier today that he still has another year left on his contract, so isn't a free agent in July like people thought. He has also told several Charlton fans in recent weeks that he has no interest in signing for Brighton, partly due to the length of commute from his Essex home (the reason he says he left Notts County after one season). Whether the latter is true or not, the contract situation means he will command a fee, and I imagine we'd want something like £500k, so you may find better/cheaper options elsewhere...

Which contradicts the person who heard the rumour at the game that he had signed a pre-contract to join us.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Did you know that Glenn Murray prefers pasta and green pesto to beans on toast.

Yet he wants to head back up North? What a strange fellow.

 

[mona]

Johnny Jackson did well at Colchester so here is a hint for him - Essex boy like. The Essex estuaries produce superb oysters. But hey lets get a bit American and batter them with a touch of chilli and fry them. Magnifico I say.

 

[mona]

OK Calde is from Vizcaya (I think) but here is a touch of Andalucia with bulls' cojones.
Make sure the cojones are well pan fried and then add a strong, heady Andalucian wine.
Sort out any striker problems I think.

 

[Mr Burns]

How does that prove your point?

Mr Burns, I am not an unreasonable man. If you put forward a point, and give me reasonable evidence, I will weigh up all available information to come to an informed decision. However, if you just spout biased opinion, you will receive the reaction that you have. Please, give me some evidence to support your view! Stats are one form, highlights, match incidents are another. I have been watching Brighton all season, been to a few away games- so I should be able to recall the masses of incidents that I'm sure have occurred where he has evidenced the point that he is not good enough for us..

I've think I've put quite a few on here since the start of the thread.

Colchester, first few minutes, Bennet running through, Barnes keeps in line with Bennet instead of pushing on the last defender. Result Bennet has to play Barnes wide which Barnes then balloons into the crowd from attempted cross. Whereas Barnes had pushed on the last defender, Bennett would have had much more chance of playing him in on goal, but it didnt really matter as if you watch the last two games, Barnes has been one on one with keeper and missed. Colchester - towards the away end, Barnes is in poor first touch, chance gone. Huddersfield - in on keeper, poor first touch keeper saves. Colchester, chance falls to his feet, instead on taking the shot, needs two or three touches - chance gone. Its a shame I've just deleted the Colchester game from my sky box on Friday, as there was 4 incidnets I could have timed and given you as my evidence in that one game alone.

 

[Mr Burns]

I think he's had a good season actually and surpassed expectations (even if that is at least partly down to the fact he has been carried, lets say we swapped over Hoskins and him, would Barnes have got hoskins return in a team that went down?) But whilst the same boring people keep telling me I'm wrong for thinking he has downsides, I'll keep on arguing.

You wont get a reply to that one.

But that is the point I am trying to make, and that is a great example. I think if Barnes was in a team like Bristol Rovers he'd be lucky to get half a dozen goals. But because he can afford to waste handfuls of clear cut chances for everyone he scroes playing for the best team in the league, he gets away with it, and people are blinded by his goal tally.

But anyway, this thread will fade and die soon, as I have no doubt Barnes will be 4th choice at best next season, if the rumours starting to do the rounds are true. If he struggles to start in place of Wood as a striker this season, then next season he'll be lucky to get a place on the bench for the ressies if the strikers we are going for sign...

 

[Mr Burns]

Oh hello. Well if you're taking over as the spokesperson for the anti-Barnes brigade, and are going around retorting to selectively picked posts, perhaps you'd care to do Mr Burns a favour? See below.

My point being, please will you guys start actually giving evidence, rather than spouting tedious, biased, opinion. We've shown/ told you what he has done well, show/tell us what he has down to make him "not good enough for us".

There you go, answered both your posts for you so you dont feel left out.

Bit late to be fair, to start asking for evidence now. Considering we have only one away game left, don't you think its a bit unfair to ask for examples now?

I've given what I can off the top of my head in teh past two games. If only you said this before I deleted the COlchester game. I saw it in person, and with the magic of Sky Plus, could have given you your evidence based on one game, with exact timings to boot. So to ask for "evidence" now with one game left, suggests you knew it was there, but didn't want to see/hear it.

If you asked for it a few weeks ago you'd have had it, but as the season it all but over, dont you think its a bit late now??

Or is that why you have waited since January to ask for "evidence"?

 

[Mr Burns]

Very harsh on Mr Burns there Questions. I think his kind wishes towards Paul Samrah were his personal Everest

And since Hust is counting, this is probably th third time you've mentioned this, even though you are fully aware I apologised for it, but fail to mention that.... so once again.....

WANKER!! Whilst I'm happy to and will continue to post in this thread all the time people who are not even at the game to watch him BOUNCE it, you El Pres have proved you are a complete waste of space, and dare I say it a bully in your debating. You change things to suit you as you have proved this morning, and can never respond when you are pulled up on things.

You have proved this morning(1st May), that once again you are a complete waste of space and time, and are not worthy of any response by anyone on this thread, or board, and I can't be bothered to respond to anything you say and I'll think I'll just cut and paste this to everyone of your repsonses, becuase you aint worth the effort.

(notice how I keep repeating that time and time El Pres.... there's your irony for ya)