Ashley Barnes

[One Teddy Maybank]

Every team needs a scapegoat it seems. Its a shame really, 21 year old strikers that score at a rate of 1 in 3 are rare.

Spot on.......... I find the criticism of arguably one of our better players last year quite tedious.

Ashley Barnes is playing a valuable role for the team and whilst his first touch is admittedly not always the best, his workrate is very good, defensively his game came on a bundle last year and that is on top of his contribution with the goals.

 

[clippedgull]

He falls over a lot and wins potentially valuable free kicks. I think Gus likes that a lot!

 

[brightonrock]

Find it strange that we're all allowed to slate any other player apart from 'BARNES' on here.

Maybe because slating him for scoring penalties is a f***ing retarded argument. A penalty still counts as a goal last time I checked. He had ONE saved last season, and stuck unsavable ones past Speroni and one of the best penalty savers in the world, Pepe Reina. But sure, he missed ONE, so he's shit.

 

[dingodan]

Find it strange that we're all allowed to slate any other player apart from 'BARNES' on here.

You can slate any player you want, but usually a slating is reserved for players who have earned it.

Ash is quality. At least Gus can see it.

 

[brakespear]

Maybe because slating him for scoring penalties is a f***ing retarded argument. A penalty still counts as a goal last time I checked. He had ONE saved last season, and stuck unsavable ones past Speroni and one of the best penalty savers in the world, Pepe Reina. But sure, he missed ONE, so he's shit.

Spot on

 

[dingodan]

0:50 & 1:06

quality.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

And how many other times did he find the top corner?

f*** me, keep digging! Is there a law now on WHERE a penalty should be scored?

AB is a class act, a real team player, and getting better all the time. Can see him having a really good season.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

Find it strange that we're all allowed to slate any other player apart from 'BARNES' on here.

And I find it strange you're slating last season's top scorer.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Find it strange that we're all allowed to slate any other player apart from 'BARNES' on here.

You're allowed to slate whoever you like, but don't be surprised that a lot of other people think it very foolish to criticise one of our better players. which says more about you than them.

 

[The Wookiee]

Test

 

[R. Slicker]

Look at you lot all bristling and spiky. Waiting to attack anyone who dares to go against the crowd.
I know last season it suddenly became un pc to criticise Ashley in any way, some even went as far to say that he was one of our best players. (blimey)
Watching all last season, I'm afraid, in my opinion, ashley doesn't quite make the the grade. He would be a decent squad player but too many attacks and passing moves break down when they get to him because he either doesn't release it quick enough or passes to an opponent. There is also his temperament, that will get him in trouble a few times.
Yes he has put away a few goals, which is a bonus but I hope Gus can find someone who complements CMS.

By the way, yes, I think a penalty should be easy for a professional footballer. A free shot from 12 yards.

 

[Sam Ovett]

"How many of those are penalties?"

Christ. THEY'RE STILL GOALS.

 

[Silent Bob]

Penalties are still goals, obviously, don't think anyone would say they're not. That would be crazy. It's good to have a good penalty taker in the team, it shouldn't be taken for granted, we found that out the season before last, but penalties, while they are goals, I can't prove they're not, they're not necessarily representative of how good a striker you are. They are representative of how good you at taking penalties.

Ashley Barnes has kind of become the new Wayne Henderson, you can't really talk about him in any reasonable way (on NSC) because everyone has picked a side and any kind of statement is a declaration of war by one side against the other.

 

[Sam Ovett]

Ashley Barnes is one of our best players, in my opinion.

Did anyone notice how Vicente always looked to where Barnesy was? With Gus and Vicente thinking he's a good player, I'm sure he is. Next season I can see him only improving further with the way we play.

It's unnecessary to slag him off the way people do. He's class.

 

[Mackenzie]

Look at you lot all bristling and spiky. Waiting to attack anyone who dares to go against the crowd.
I know last season it suddenly became un pc to criticise Ashley in any way, some even went as far to say that he was one of our best players. (blimey)
Watching all last season, I'm afraid, in my opinion, ashley doesn't quite make the the grade. He would be a decent squad player but too many attacks and passing moves break down when they get to him because he either doesn't release it quick enough or passes to an opponent. There is also his temperament, that will get him in trouble a few times.
Yes he has put away a few goals, which is a bonus but I hope Gus can find someone who complements CMS.

By the way, yes, I think a penalty should be easy for a professional footballer. A free shot from 12 yards.

Nobody is beyond criticism, but some of the shit that lad got last year was appalling. There is a certain element just waiting to jump on his back for any small mistake, and I think that is why people try and defend him just as robustly. Its about fairness.

 

[El Presidente]

And I find it strange you're slating last season's top scorer.

I don't. Having read all his comments on a variety of threads, he is a genuine contender for NSC's most retarded.

 

[chucky1973]

i like him and happy for him to be involved, but he does f***ing frustrate me when he falls over....ALL THE BLOODY TIME at the slightest touch.....normally when in good positions. Other that. i like him.

 

[Silk]

Look at you lot all bristling and spiky. Waiting to attack anyone who dares to go against the crowd.
I know last season it suddenly became un pc to criticise Ashley in any way, some even went as far to say that he was one of our best players. (blimey)
Watching all last season, I'm afraid, in my opinion, ashley doesn't quite make the the grade. He would be a decent squad player but too many attacks and passing moves break down when they get to him because he either doesn't release it quick enough or passes to an opponent. There is also his temperament, that will get him in trouble a few times.
Yes he has put away a few goals, which is a bonus but I hope Gus can find someone who complements CMS.

By the way, yes, I think a penalty should be easy for a professional footballer. A free shot from 12 yards.

And possibly the most high pressure situation for a player.

 

[severnside gull]

I have been saying since he signed that Ash is potentially a million pound player and I've seen nothing but reinforcement for that view in his performances. Depending who we buy he might start less often but he will continue to improve

 

[El Presidente]

Look at you lot all bristling and spiky. Waiting to attack anyone who dares to go against the crowd.
I know last season it suddenly became un pc to criticise Ashley in any way, some even went as far to say that he was one of our best players. (blimey)
Watching all last season, I'm afraid, in my opinion, ashley doesn't quite make the the grade. He would be a decent squad player but too many attacks and passing moves break down when they get to him because he either doesn't release it quick enough or passes to an opponent. There is also his temperament, that will get him in trouble a few times.
Yes he has put away a few goals, which is a bonus but I hope Gus can find someone who complements CMS.

By the way, yes, I think a penalty should be easy for a professional footballer. A free shot from 12 yards.

Your comments are considered and reasonably balanced, and as such carry some credence.

In 2010/11 we missed 7 or 8 penalties. England missed two out of five in the Euros, I think they are easy to score on paper, less so when on the pitch.

As for Barnes, he is a Marmite player, Gus likes him because he carries out instructions given and has a habit of scoring goals. Do I think we should build the team round him? No. Do I think he is a very useful player to have in the squad? Yes, because of his versatility and goal record. Would I be upset if he was replaced by a better player? No.

Looking at your criticisms one by one I would respond:

1: Releasing too slow and poor pass completion. Valid point, but also true of practically all in the squad.
2: Temperament. Valid, but also true of Greer, El Abd and one or two others.
3: Poor complement to CMS. Valid, I personally think Murray would have been ideal, but Gus calls the shots, and Barnes' goalscoring record last season far exceeded that of the Maryport mardarse.