Celtic after Barnes

[Sam Ovett]

Barnesy will score loads this year, so really hope he stays. He's clearly under-appreciated by many though which is a shame to see. Some of the abuse I've heard thrown at Barnes pitchside is disgraceful and they shouldn't call themselves fans.

 

[northernseagull]

But would you say he is a bad footballer? That's when I have issue.

If someone isnt his biggest fan then fine, but I just can't understand how anyone could watch him play, considering his age, and that he is asked to play out of position quite often, and claim he is bad. There's a big difference.

I don't think he is a 'bad' footballer, I believe he is tactically inept to the style we play and for this reason alone I don't think he is unsellable (especially at a £2m+ fee). Perhaps at Celtic he could thrive, Hooper was hardly setting the football league alight prior to going north of the border.

I do still feel a little resentment after his red card antics, I never got the impression that he was sorry for leaving us in the dirt with one available striker and the following performances hardly left a mark on the pitch...

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

Would you say he is technically good though? Just that part of his game, not his positioning/aggression/hold-up play etc, but his technical ability?

I wouldnt say that is his best quality, no. There are certainly a lot better players than him technically. However, he can strike a ball very well if that falls under some form of technical umbrella?

But then (and dont think for one moment im comparing the two) Andy Cole could barely trap a ball, but had very good positional sense and reading of attacking moves. That's where Barnes gets his goals from. Again, that's why he would score a lot (in my view) at Celtic. Right place, right time. It's a skill in itself.

 

[somerset]

What straws am I clutching? I just said I would like to know how many he scores when played as a striker. Not really sure what your point is.

Well, the fact that his biggest fan ( GUS) didn't put him up as a striker very often, says to me that he isn't a striker. When he has played there, because of injury/suspension etc, he sometimes gets on the end of one. But I would hazard a guess that if you gave Calderon half a dozen games up front, that he might pop in a couple. In my fookin humble opinion of course.

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

I don't think he is a 'bad' footballer, I believe he is tactically inept to the style we play and for this reason alone I don't think he is unsellable (especially at a £2m+ fee). Perhaps at Celtic he could thrive, Hooper was hardly setting the football league alight prior to going north of the border.

I do still feel a little resentment after his red card antics, I never got the impression that he was sorry for leaving us in the dirt with one available striker and the following performances hardly left a mark on the pitch...

That's fine. See I have no problem with that as an opinion (I know all opinions should be accepted etc), but it's when someone says he is 'useless' or 'shit'

Well, no. He's not, is he.

 

[GreersElbow]

£2m-£2.5m cheers, Celtic.

 

[Mellotron]

I don't think he is a 'bad' footballer, I believe he is tactically inept to the style we play and for this reason alone I don't think he is unsellable (especially at a £2m+ fee). Perhaps at Celtic he could thrive, Hooper was hardly setting the football league alight prior to going north of the border.

I do still feel a little resentment after his red card antics, I never got the impression that he was sorry for leaving us in the dirt with one available striker and the following performances hardly left a mark on the pitch...

See I find this bizarre - he was absolutely brilliant when he came back from his ban, probably our best player?!

 

[theonesmith]

I wouldnt say that is his best quality, no. There are certainly a lot better players than him technically. However, he can strike a ball very well if that falls under some form of technical umbrella?

But then (and dont think for one moment im comparing the two) Andy Cole could barely trap a ball, but had very good positional sense and reading of attacking moves. That's where Barnes gets his goals from. Again, that's why he would score a lot (in my view) at Celtic. Right place, right time. It's a skill in itself.

Fair enough, I completely agree with you. What makes it more galling for me is the standard of management and coaching we've had at the club recently, you'd expect to see improvement in that area of his game - these are things that should be coachable, whereas as you say, right place at the right time is something that many in football acknowledge is a skill that you either have or have not. Still, he is only young and has plenty of time to improve.

How much longer is his contract set to run?

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

Well, the fact that his biggest fan ( GUS) didn't put him up as a striker very often, says to me that he isn't a striker. .

Fair enough. So, by that, you would agree that his goal scoring record (considering he is not a striker) is VERY good?

For a non striker to finish our first season at the Amex with 11 goals is a fantastic effort. Seems he was lucky 11 times to bundle the ball in, but then, Calderon could have probably done that in Barnes's position....

 

[fruitnveg]

I love Barnes and would miss him immensley. Who else could pull off a stance like this with such grace?

Edit: I also swear there was a picture floating around somewhere of him mincing like a pro, but I couldn't find it

 

[moggy]

Barnes out, spurs forward in......would be well happy with that

 

[BattFink]

Wouldn't be happy to see him leave, he did seem to reform his ways at Elland road last season

£2m-£2.5m cheers, Celtic.

chuck in Virgil Van Dijk as well

 

[theonesmith]

Fair enough. So, by that, you would agree that his goal scoring record (considering he is not a striker) is VERY good?

For a non striker to finish our first season at the Amex with 11 goals is a fantastic effort. Seems he was lucky 11 times to bundle the ball in, but then, Calderon could have probably done that in Barnes's position....

He's just maddeningly inconsistent though isn't he? I've just watched the Newport County game extended highlights on the back of this discussion. His role in the build up and finishing of the first goal was excellent, top class. But then he gets a clear chance to volley the ball into the back of the net for a 2-0 lead and completely misses the ball! It's those blunders that occur too often for my liking with him, but as I've said - these things should be coachable.

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

He's just maddeningly inconsistent though isn't he? I've just watched the Newport County game extended highlights on the back of this discussion. His role in the build up and finishing of the first goal was excellent, top class. But then he gets a clear chance to volley the ball into the back of the net for a 2-0 lead and completely misses the ball! It's those blunders that occur too often for my liking with him, but as I've said - these things should be coachable.

I'd agree with that. I suppose in context of the Celtic move he would probably be in a situation where the occassional miss wouldnt matter too much as they WILL win the league this year regardless. He can almost have half a season of learning to be a centre forward again.

At the moment, for us, if he is put through on goal it's a little bit alien. too much time to think about it etc.

 

[Frutos]

According to SSN, they've bid for Teemu Pukki of Schalke.

 

[JCL - the new kid in town]

The last "striker" we sold to Celtic was for £2m and surely he's better than Virgo......

I would rather we didn't sell him but if he had to go can't we just loan him for the season and then he'd fill his boots up in scotland and get an overinflated value and then cash in

 

[somerset]

Fair enough. So, by that, you would agree that his goal scoring record (considering he is not a striker) is VERY good?

For a non striker to finish our first season at the Amex with 11 goals is a fantastic effort. Seems he was lucky 11 times to bundle the ball in, but then, Calderon could have probably done that in Barnes's position....

Nicely twisted,.... nope sorry,...average at best.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

Some actual facts (Source: http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/97737/ashley-barnes?cc=5739):



For comparison, Ulloa - including his 2 goals in 2 League games this year - has started 22, scored 12 with 0.5 goals/game and a shots to goals ratio of 2.9. Their shots on goal ratio is almost identical at 0.4. So Ulloa is no more accurate with his shots, but when they are on target, he is 33% more likely to score.

 

[glasfryn]

3.5m
and I am sure he will wave the knobheads on here that dislike him goodbye all the way to Scotland .............and the bank

 

[EricYoung59]

If he goes I assume we have a Doyle, Sharp or Becchio type lined up. We are short of strikers and even shorter of strikers who can finish. As for Barnes - young family going up to Scotland etc has to be a risk. Perhaps his agent is flushing out opportunities nearer to home.

He doesn't quite get the stick of Clark (not Paul, one signed from Newcastle - Ray) or Mick Ferguson but he has grown up in front of the Albion fans and done some stupid things. I'm sure he will mature and go on to be a decent player - although in truth needs to find a position - where Poyet played him was a bit unique!

So on balance probably a good move for all parties.

Key is who will get "stick" if and when Barnes goes? Title of a new thread? My bet will be either CMS or Andrews although if Kemy tries the impossible pass as opposed to the simpler pass like last Saturday he could well be a candidate!