Ashley Barnes - what would you have done?

[B.W.]

Do what the club has done. It seems that most agree, which is good to see.

Side note - the club have played a blinder so far in this window with their handling of the bids for Bridcutt, Buckley and Barnes. Thank goodness we have Tony and co at the helm.

 

[keaton]

I really really don't understand this sudden infatuation with Barnes. Is it because he's leaving that people are now seeign him as the best player in our squad? with Obika on-board and CMS on the way back, he's arguably going to be 4th choice striker (you could argue that Obika was brought in as a response to his imminent departure).

If he isn't likely to get a game as a striker, then there's the option to use him either withdrawn of wide; but with players returning from injury and perhaps conway returning he's not first choice ahead of Buckley (when fit), Lua Lua, Orlandi, March, Lopez in the wide berth, or Orlandi, Agustein, Crofts, even JFC in the middle.

He's a member of our squad (and a valuable part of it) but I can't see how cashing in on him to avoid him walking away on a free has generated the amount of wailing and gnashing of teeth as we've seen on here.

This is directed at you explicitly [MENTION=307]Biscuit[/MENTION] but I just don't get it.

The club made the correct decision, and I feel they will use the income wisely to make our squad better then it was before. And when we play Burnley - just stick Adam el Abd on him for 10 minutes - he'll wind him up nicely.

I'd say Barnes and Orlandi would be the best players to play off Ulloa if Conway doesn't come back. I'd pick Barnes wide over Lopez, Buckley or Agustein any day.

I don't imagine Barnes is on the same wages as Agustein and we've him on a two year deal haven't we. I think i'd be put out if I was valued less than him

 

[Arkwright]

Business is business, Ashley and his agent obviously had great belief in his ability and put him in the shop window and Burnley snapped him up.

Sad to see him go as he will only get better as a player but at least we got some value out of him. Glad to see the Albion have learned a lesson from the Murray transfer.

 

[Biscuit]

I really really don't understand this sudden infatuation with Barnes. Is it because he's leaving that people are now seeign him as the best player in our squad? with Obika on-board and CMS on the way back, he's arguably going to be 4th choice striker (you could argue that Obika was brought in as a response to his imminent departure).

If he isn't likely to get a game as a striker, then there's the option to use him either withdrawn of wide; but with players returning from injury and perhaps conway returning he's not first choice ahead of Buckley (when fit), Lua Lua, Orlandi, March, Lopez in the wide berth, or Orlandi, Agustein, Crofts, even JFC in the middle.

He's a member of our squad (and a valuable part of it) but I can't see how cashing in on him to avoid him walking away on a free has generated the amount of wailing and gnashing of teeth as we've seen on here.

This is directed at you explicitly [MENTION=307]Biscuit[/MENTION] but I just don't get it.

The club made the correct decision, and I feel they will use the income wisely to make our squad better then it was before. And when we play Burnley - just stick Adam el Abd on him for 10 minutes - he'll wind him up nicely.

Well I think this forum has always had an infatuation with Barnes! I've never known a player to split public opinion amongst his own supporters. So I wouldn't say it was sudden.

I personally think he's a good player, who'll be missed by the team, not just because of his striking qualities - as you say we have many of those players coming back from injury - but for his all-round support. When a free kick comes in, it's often Barnes with the defensive header. When a player is launching a counter, it's often Barnes that takes the hit. He's great for our squad, and we'll miss him, but yes we can cope without him. What has got me is his leaving to a team that are highly likely to make the play offs. I think that's massively short sighted. I'd rather keep an excellent team player for six months than allow him to be a hit for promotion rival. How big is that £750k going to look if he scores the goal that sends us out of the Play Offs or scores the goal that sends Burnley up, or worse still - both.

 

[severnside gull]

Love the "weighting" on the questions......no bias:no leading

Glsd to see the majority got the "right" answer

 

[B.W.]

Answer is #3, but with a cap on how much we would cough up. I believe there would have been a figure acceptable to both club and player if there'd been a little more discussion.

How can you make the assumption that there hasn't been enough discussion!? Ridiculous.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

Well I think this forum has always had an infatuation with Barnes! I've never known a player to split public opinion amongst his own supporters. So I wouldn't say it was sudden.

I personally think he's a good player, who'll be missed by the team, not just because of his striking qualities - as you say we have many of those players coming back from injury - but for his all-round support. When a free kick comes in, it's often Barnes with the defensive header. When a player is launching a counter, it's often Barnes that takes the hit. He's great for our squad, and we'll miss him, but yes we can cope without him. What has got me is his leaving to a team that are highly likely to make the play offs. I think that's massively short sighted. I'd rather keep an excellent team player for six months than allow him to be a hit for promotion rival. How big is that £750k going to look if he scores the goal that sends us out of the Play Offs or scores the goal that sends Burnley up, or worse still - both.

We can all play 'what if'.. What if they player we bring in with the money we get for Ash scores the winner at Wembley that takes us to the Premier League. See, i've done one.

 

[Albion_Dave]

No choice but to cash in. Once the new contract is rejected the club has no option but to sell for the highest price.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

I personally think he's a good player, who'll be missed by the team, not just because of his striking qualities - as you say we have many of those players coming back from injury - but for his all-round support. When a free kick comes in, it's often Barnes with the defensive header. When a player is launching a counter, it's often Barnes that takes the hit. He's great for our squad, and we'll miss him, but yes we can cope without him.

Agree entirely with this assesment of Barnes' worth to the team. Very important player outside of core striking duties. Somebody is going to have to pick up that slack.

What has got me is his leaving to a team that are highly likely to make the play offs. I think that's massively short sighted. I'd rather keep an excellent team player for six months than allow him to be a hit for promotion rival. How big is that £750k going to look if he scores the goal that sends us out of the Play Offs or scores the goal that sends Burnley up, or worse still - both.

this is all pure conjecture, though. It could all come to pass of course. Equally, his yet to be revealed replacement might score 14 goals before May and send us up.

 

[chucky1973]

cashed in. Good deal for the club.

My only concern now is what will people talk about.

 

[keaton]

Do what the club has done. It seems that most agree, which is good to see.

Side note - the club have played a blinder so far in this window with their handling of the bids for Bridcutt, Buckley and Barnes. Thank goodness we have Tony and co at the helm.

I know you're a big fan of the board but i'm not sure how you can get that excited.
We have three good young players.
We've let the one go who's played a big part in our season so far, in our weakest position for a smallish sum.
We've kept hold of two players who've done very little all season and might not come back from injury or be settled. There's no guarantee their value won't decrease as well.
Villa turned down £20m odd for Benteke, and their fans were happy. I'm not sure many are now.

 

[chucky1973]

I know you're a big fan of the board but i'm not sure how you can get that excited.
We have three good young players.
We've let the one go who's played a big part in our season so far, in our weakest position for a smallish sum.
We've kept hold of two players who've done very little all season and might not come back from injury or be settled. There's no guarantee their value won't decrease as well.
Villa turned down £20m odd for Benteke, and their fans were happy. I'm not sure many are now.

Compared to £0 in the summer, its fairly substantial.

 

[dwayne]

I think we are very strict with our wage structure. Educated guess I would say Barnes would have, at the most, been asking for another 250k a year and I think he would have been worth that.

 

[MattBackHome]

Would have done exactly what the club has done, with a very heavy heart.

 

[Biscuit]

Agree entirely with this assesment of Barnes' worth to the team. Very important player outside of core striking duties. Somebody is going to have to pick up that slack.



this is all pure conjecture, though. It could all come to pass of course. Equally, his yet to be revealed replacement might score 14 goals before May and send us up.

Yep, I totally agree. It's conjecture. Barnes may pick up an injury that rules him out for a few months and his replacement may fire us up. But we can never predict it so why risk it? Why sell a solid, fit, goalscoring team player like Barnes to a promotion rival? I just don't think it's the right decision.

 

[Goldston Wrap]

There's a lot of differing opinions on what the club should have done with Ashley Barnes.

What would you have done?

Exactly what we've done. Thank him very is loyal service and hard work, then cash in on him while we still can.
He's a good Championship player, but if we have ambitions to play in the Premiere League is Ash the kind of player that will cut it there?

 

[B.W.]

I know you're a big fan of the board but i'm not sure how you can get that excited.
We have three good young players.
We've let the one go who's played a big part in our season so far, in our weakest position for a smallish sum.
We've kept hold of two players who've done very little all season and might not come back from injury or be settled. There's no guarantee their value won't decrease as well.
Villa turned down £20m odd for Benteke, and their fans were happy. I'm not sure many are now.

Do you think we should have kept Barnes, and got nowt in the summer. If so, this shows your naivety regarding club finances.
Do you think we should have accepted Sunderlands derisory offer for Bridcutt? If so, this shows your naivety regarding club finances.
Do you think we should have accepted Sunderlands offer for Buckley? This is the only one where we had a tough call to make IMHO, but I think the board made the right decision and reinforced the message to Gus and co, i.e. don't take the p1ss. We don't need to sell.

 

[keaton]

Compared to £0 in the summer, its fairly substantial.

I can see that argument but i'd way it against the fact that at the moment we are reliant Ulloa (had a few injuries this year, still coming back from one) and two strikers coming back from long-term injury who have to be integrated into the team. Even if we sign someone else, they'll need to get match fit and used to playing with us, and I don't hold much hope they'd be a vast improvement. There's not a lot of strikers unwanted by their club and we've not got a great record of signing strikers.
Reading signed Jason Roberts two windows ago gambling they'd go up,I think we should have made the easier gamble.

 

[beorhthelm]

i'd have sorted this in the summer. bonkers to be selling a key first team player in the January window. those saying he wont be missed may be overlooking how many games he's played, clearly a large hole to be filled.

 

[keaton]

Do you think we should have kept Barnes, and got nowt in the summer. If so, this shows your naivety regarding club finances.
Do you think we should have accepted Sunderlands derisory offer for Bridcutt? If so, this shows your naivety regarding club finances.
Do you think we should have accepted Sunderlands offer for Buckley? This is the only one where we had a tough call to make IMHO, but I think the board made the right decision and reinforced the message to Gus and co, i.e. don't take the p1ss. We don't need to sell.

I don't know much the Bridcutt offer was for, and i'm pretty sure you don't. I do know that if he doesn't start performing this season like he did the last two due to injury, loss of form or him wanting out he'll be worth less far less in the summer.