Celtic after Barnes

[FOOTSKI]

I like him. Always have.

Shame he's marmite to the fans.

 

[TSB]

Ash is staying. He's got far too much about him for us to let him go for a sub-par figure.

 

[Urchin]

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!

If he does go, I would like us to sign Vaz Te.

Scored a lot of goals in the championship before and is naturally a winger but used as a striker. Would fit in well next to Ulloa on the left where Barnes is currently played out of position. Would add a lot more cutting edge to our attacks.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

I think you're relatively small minded to assume I have no grasp of football based upon one personal point of view.

I don't rate Barnes, primarily because I don't believe he offers much to the style of football we play, secondly because his goal scoring record is hardly prolific and thirdly I believe its incorrect to base someones ability on determination.

As for Poyet, his footballing philosophy was spot on, shame his line ups at times were not reflecting of the tactics he tried to impose.

Of course you are entitled to your opinion.....

But given that Poyet, saw something in him, Garcia obviously does, also apparently Steve Bruce, Ian Holloway and Neil Lennon, maybe he does have something....

I actually think he's a good player, very intelligent and interestingly linked up well with Vicente who's played at the highest level. The main reason I rate him, is his willingness to 'do a job for the team' regardless of wherever he's played. His delivery from out wide is arguably better than any of our current wingers, defensively he is sound and when played in his natural position, more often than not he will score.

All of that said, his level is the championship and should we eventually progress, I don't think he will cut it (mainly from a pace perspective).

 

[Fitzcarraldo]

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....

Where would you say he played that season? He ALWAYS plays somewhere in our front three and I interpreted the position that he played the last two seasons as a second striker as opposed to a winger. Buckley/Lua Lua tended to be our only winger.

My main problem with him is how poor he is in front of goal. In the past two seasons we have been a team that has created a lot of chances but just haven't been able to score. In fact, until we signed Ulloa last season we looked like we had no cutting edge at all. We would win games, but not through the strength of our strikers. The second thing that I don't like about him is I don't believe he worries defenders. He doesn't have much pace, he isn't that strong in the air and he goes down easily. Which leads to another point - after he did trip the ref last year do you honestly believe that any ref in the country is going to give him the benefit of the doubt if he goes down trying to win a free kick or a penalty. Of course they aren't. He's blotted his copybook in their eyes.

Anyway, I think I've outed myself as a Barnes hater and whilst I am happy for him to stay for now as we need a second striker. If anyone bids for him and we have a replacement lined up I would be happy to see the back of him.

 

[Fitzcarraldo]

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

View attachment 46184

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.

Doesn't that show that he's getting worse? A shots-to-goal ratio that is going the wrong way despite the team around him improving?

 

[Doc Lynam]

Honestly can't see this happening.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

Where would you say he played that season? He ALWAYS plays somewhere in our front three and I interpreted the position that he played the last two seasons as a second striker as opposed to a winger. Buckley/Lua Lua tended to be our only winger.

My main problem with him is how poor he is in front of goal. In the past two seasons we have been a team that has created a lot of chances but just haven't been able to score. In fact, until we signed Ulloa last season we looked like we had no cutting edge at all. We would win games, but not through the strength of our strikers. The second thing that I don't like about him is I don't believe he worries defenders. He doesn't have much pace, he isn't that strong in the air and he goes down easily. Which leads to another point - after he did trip the ref last year do you honestly believe that any ref in the country is going to give him the benefit of the doubt if he goes down trying to win a free kick or a penalty. Of course they aren't. He's blotted his copybook in their eyes.

Anyway, I think I've outed myself as a Barnes hater and whilst I am happy for him to stay for now as we need a second striker. If anyone bids for him and we have a replacement lined up I would be happy to see the back of him.

You 'hate' players of the team you support?

He played more out wide last season than down the middle, so 11 goals is a good effort.

 

[Fitzcarraldo]

You 'hate' players of the team you support?

He played more out wide last season than down the middle, so 11 goals is a good effort.

Ok, not a hater, that is a bit strong. I just think we look a stronger team without him.

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

I wish we could sell the Barnes haters to Celtic instead.

Doubt we'd get much for them though.

 

[B.W.]

Celtic won't pay over the odds. We can't afford to sell (would leave us with 1 senior striker!). Can't see it happening either.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

Ok, not a hater, that is a bit strong. I just think we look a stronger team without him.

Fair enough.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

Celtic won't pay over the odds. We can't afford to sell (would leave us with 1 senior striker!). Can't see it happening either.

Why not? (Serious question). They paid £1.5m for Virgo....

If the Peterboro forward is worth £4.5m, what price Barnes £5.5m? £6.5m?

Celtic probably have funds burning a hole in their pocket Champions League, Gary Hooper cash.....

 

[Wilko]

I like Barnes as a player and he does seem to have a knack of being in the right place at the right time. However, I do not like his petulance, cheating, diving to try and win a free kick rather than play and his moaning. He HAS matured a little since his ban last season but I can see why he rubs some fans up the wrong way.

Would I want us to sell him? NO

 

[Jbanged]

Ash is staying. He's got far too much about him for us to let him go for a sub-par figure.

100% agree with this

 

[LamieRobertson]

With the premier league kicking off tomorrow one would have thought sky sport had enough drivel to fill column inches etc... yawn

 

[Meade's Ball]

It'd be a shame to bid our tempestuous badboy farewell. I think he's still growing as a player and i tend to see him improve year on year. If only we could get a dietitian to make him eat foods he doesn't wholly recognise and not starve himself for hours before kick-off thanks to that half-mad quirk, we could have an even more stable and effective player on our hands.

 

[somerset]

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

3.5 million.......that would be amazing.....my guess would be 750k

 

[Icy Gull]

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?

Yes I think he is technically good and improving all the time. He can control most balls with ease and he has vision in his passing which he does instinctively, his lay off for the goal on Saturday was inch perfect and split the defence. He panics in front of goal at times but maybe if he had a run as an out and out striker this would improve too.

I would be pretty upset if we sold him, even for a decent fee. I am a big Barnes fan and whenever I speak to a Barnes hater I know it's gonna be somebody who has a totally different view on football to me and 90% of the time I'm right.

 

[saafend_seagull]

He won't go for anymore than £1m seeing as he has 11 months on his contract left.