Weststander
Well-known member
Barnes was a top lad, well liked by his team-mates, who never gave anything less than 100%. Not just a good player, but a FAR more intelligent player than given credit for by many - excellent at winning free-kicks, and the only one truly on a wave-length with Vicente, who loved playing with him. Prepared to follow instructions to the letter and play absolutely anywhere for the team without complaint - despite his subsequent dip in scoring rates being used against him. Excellent defensively, in open play on the left, and aerially in our box.
Despite all that, some fans made themselves look a bit silly when he was here, in arguing that he was 'rubbish'.
That anyone STILL tries to argue that, after he's PROVEN them wrong over the course of two Premier League campaigns, just shows them to be completely stupid.
Great post.
I wonder if most of the back stabbers against Barnes were genuinely Withdean regulars. At a very young age, Barnes fitted in immediately. We may well NOT have been promoted without his vital goals, assists, hold up play, stamina and putting the foot in, in midfield when needed. In my opinion, those traits carries on into the Championship, but the goals lessened as Poyet placed him deeper in helping the midfield, leaving CMS and a long list of (poor) loanee centre forwards as the only true striker in any first 11.
The wind-ups about Barnes every few months reveal that very British trait of jealousy.
Dyche knows far more about football than the spiteful.