Ashley Barnes should have been Man of the Match last night

[BensGrandad]

I thought that Barnes was poor in the first half, like most of our players, and anonymous in the 2nd half utill 68th minute when Croft went off and he moved into central attacking midfield then he was very good. At halftime I would have taken him off and brought on Dobbie but Gus had other ideas, which proved to be correct. Perhaps he is the answer to our attacking midfielder

 

[Herne Hill Seagull]

I thought Barnes did excellently almost every time he had the ball, but had it too little given how much attacking we were doing. Quite how Saltor got MOTM is utterly beyond me, his last couple of performances have been his worst since he joined by some distance.

Bridge was, as ever, fantastic. A quick word also for Dunk, who hasn't played for ages but slotted right in and I though played really well.

 

[greyseagull]

Did an interesting exercise last night and found that within the first 15mins, five of our attacks broke down with Barnes losing the ball and getting caught in possession.

 

[One Love]

Why does barnes have to be dropped for dobbie to come in? They were both accommodated by Barnes going into Croft's position when Dobbie came on.

I would really like Gus to give this a go.

 

[Pavilionaire]

IMO thats bollocks - CMS and Greer would struggle to get more than a 5 a piece. CMS left foot effort 2nd half woulda looked out of place on a sunday morning quite frankly.

I said 'pretty much'. And I don't see how Greer gets a 5 when Posh hardly had a shot all night and the captain spent half the match running up and down the field for every one of our 19 corners. That's job done in my book.

I think some people under-estimate how hard it is to break down a team who park the bus and have NO intention of risking a breakaway attack involving more than 4 players.

 

[Hungry Joe]

TBH, this thread is solely for the AB apreciation society.

Thank you for that insightlful contribution. By chance are 'we' also affiliated with the mysterious 'PC Brigade'? Just so as I know which hard-of-thinking pigeonhole to jump in.

 

[Ninja Elephant]

I would really like Gus to give this a go.

What, Barnes in central midfield?

To me it looks like Gus has seen how Sir Alex Ferguson developed Rooney's talent by playing him on the left to learn the game before moving him back into the centre when he felt he was ready to play there. Fergie is now doing this with Welbeck. It seems to me like Poyet is trying the same trick with Barnes, move him out left to get involved in the game and to hone his skills before eventually playing him as a central striker. Personally, I think Barnes will be a good centre forward. I think he is already a good centre forward, but that's where he should play. When he and CMS have been close together, we look dangerous. Tonight our goal came from Barnes in a central attacking position, making something of a poor ball from Bruno and forcing the ball into the box which we scored from. I think he's a good player being played in a position which doesn't get the best out of him from an attacking sense. He does a job for the team, but that's it. I think the natural shape of our team is sacrificed for it as well, but I really don't get it. Gus knows more about coaching than I do, and than the overwhelming majority of people on here, but at what point does he say enough is enough, we have the players good enough that we don't need to sacrifice Barnes, and let him play up top with CMS? It would do them BOTH the world of good.

 

[Hungry Joe]

What, Barnes in central midfield?

To me it looks like Gus has seen how Sir Alex Ferguson developed Rooney's talent by playing him on the left to learn the game before moving him back into the centre when he felt he was ready to play there. Fergie is now doing this with Welbeck. It seems to me like Poyet is trying the same trick with Barnes, move him out left to get involved in the game and to hone his skills before eventually playing him as a central striker. Personally, I think Barnes will be a good centre forward. I think he is already a good centre forward, but that's where he should play. When he and CMS have been close together, we look dangerous. Tonight our goal came from Barnes in a central attacking position, making something of a poor ball from Bruno and forcing the ball into the box which we scored from. I think he's a good player being played in a position which doesn't get the best out of him from an attacking sense. He does a job for the team, but that's it. I think the natural shape of our team is sacrificed for it as well, but I really don't get it. Gus knows more about coaching than I do, and than the overwhelming majority of people on here, but at what point does he say enough is enough, we have the players good enough that we don't need to sacrifice Barnes, and let him play up top with CMS? It would do them BOTH the world of good.

Excellent post.

 

[Questions]

When CMS gets a mate up front then we'll fire. No good getting an occasional midfielder/part time striker like Barnes as a partner.
When Gus gets some money Barnes will drift away although he was ok last night but ok is not good enough. Not to hit the top it isn't.

 

[Acker79]

I said 'pretty much'. And I don't see how Greer gets a 5 when Posh hardly had a shot all night and the captain spent half the match running up and down the field for every one of our 19 corners. That's job done in my book.

Because our build from the back seemed to falter when he was on the ball. Because several times in quick succession he attempted cross field passes to team mates that were over their heads and out of play. Because, the first half in particular, his attempts at passing the ball to Dunk seemed to barely reach Dunk (going so slowly that the forward progression was stopped as Dunk hung back or collected the slowly trundling ball), including at least one time when it was almost intercepted.

 

[00snook]

Superb effort from Ash. Constant menace and some of his first touches and control were sublime. Good vision too and made the goal. A performance like that by any other Brighton player would have several threads by now, but because it's Barnes there's just a couple of mentions in related posts by those few on here who seem to actually understand the game nowadays.

Apparently he is ace at fishing too

 

[One Love]

What, Barnes in central midfield?

To me it looks like Gus has seen how Sir Alex Ferguson developed Rooney's talent by playing him on the left to learn the game before moving him back into the centre when he felt he was ready to play there. Fergie is now doing this with Welbeck. It seems to me like Poyet is trying the same trick with Barnes, move him out left to get involved in the game and to hone his skills before eventually playing him as a central striker. Personally, I think Barnes will be a good centre forward. I think he is already a good centre forward, but that's where he should play. When he and CMS have been close together, we look dangerous. Tonight our goal came from Barnes in a central attacking position, making something of a poor ball from Bruno and forcing the ball into the box which we scored from. I think he's a good player being played in a position which doesn't get the best out of him from an attacking sense. He does a job for the team, but that's it. I think the natural shape of our team is sacrificed for it as well, but I really don't get it. Gus knows more about coaching than I do, and than the overwhelming majority of people on here, but at what point does he say enough is enough, we have the players good enough that we don't need to sacrifice Barnes, and let him play up top with CMS? It would do them BOTH the world of good.

I'm not even gonna get involved with the comparisons with Man U. Suffice to say I don't agree with you.

Anyhow are you honestly saying that if given an option of someone playing up front with CMS you would prefer Barnes to Dobbie?

 

[One Love]

To me it looks like Gus has seen how Sir Alex Ferguson developed Rooney's talent by playing him on the left to learn the game before moving him back into the centre when he felt he was ready to play there. Fergie is now doing this with Welbeck.

Sorry decided I can't let this go.

Where have you heard these little nuggets?

I thought Rooney was played out wide to accommodate Christiano Ronaldo playing centre forward and Welbeck is having to do the same to accommodate Rooney in that position. Having to develop Rooney's talent by playing him out wide!!!!

 

[Ninja Elephant]

I'm not even gonna get involved with the comparisons with Man U. Suffice to say I don't agree with you.

Anyhow are you honestly saying that if given an option of someone playing up front with CMS you would prefer Barnes to Dobbie?

I was comparing the situation rather than the players and to be fair, you knew what I was referring to and that was the point.

If I had to choose, I would pick Dobbie to play off CMS and Orlandi to play properly on the left. If Poyet insists on playing Orlandi infield with a striker deployed on our left, then Barnes would be my pick.

Sorry decided I can't let this go.

Where have you heard these little nuggets?

I thought Rooney was played out wide to accommodate Christiano Ronaldo playing centre forward and Welbeck is having to do the same to accommodate Rooney in that position. Having to develop Rooney's talent by playing him out wide!!!!

What makes you think they aren't my own thoughts? Do I really come across as someone incapable of independent thought? Whether you agree or not.

That's your interpretation and I can see the logic. I remember an interview Fergie once gave saying Rooney was being played out left to teach him defensive repsonsibilty, and I remember Dean Wilkins' stating his belief (when he was youth team manager) that young players should play a variety of positions to better understand the game. I think it was Tommy Elphick he was referring to when he said that he played him up front to improve his understanding of how strikers play, and therefore how Elphick needed to play to combat that. You might think it's a load of rubbish, bit I see some sense in that.

 

[One Love]

I was comparing the situation rather than the players and to be fair, you knew what I was referring to and that was the point.

If I had to choose, I would pick Dobbie to play off CMS and Orlandi to play properly on the left. If Poyet insists on playing Orlandi infield with a striker deployed on our left, then Barnes would be my pick.



What makes you think they aren't my own thoughts? Do I really come across as someone incapable of independent thought? Whether you agree or not.

That's your interpretation and I can see the logic. I remember an interview Fergie once gave saying Rooney was being played out left to teach him defensive repsonsibilty, and I remember Dean Wilkins' stating his belief (when he was youth team manager) that young players should play a variety of positions to better understand the game. I think it was Tommy Elphick he was referring to when he said that he played him up front to improve his understanding of how strikers play, and therefore how Elphick needed to play to combat that. You might think it's a load of rubbish, bit I see some sense in that.

No problem, I just thought that the way you posted it, it wasn't just your opinion but fact.

 

[Fair port]

Dobbie in for Barnes on Saturday for me. Dobbie has done well in his last 2 sub apps and lets face it, he hit the back of the net when it looked like no one else would.

I agree Dobbie in for Barnes we will be more balanced and potentially more effective in the final third. I thought Dunk played well last night but Barnes does not do enough in the final third, most of his passes are sideways or backwards and his first touch is limited and that's being kind

 

[Thunder Bolt]

I agree Dobbie in for Barnes we will be more balanced and potentially more effective in the final third. I thought Dunk played well last night but Barnes does not do enough in the final third, most of his passes are sideways or backwards and his first touch is limited and that's being kind

Despite the fact that he held the ball up well and helped Dobbie score the winner?

 

[Ninja Elephant]

No problem, I just thought that the way you posted it, it wasn't just your opinion but fact.

Admittedly, the two get blurred in my mind at times...