Ashley Barnes isn't nearly good enough for us.

[Mr Burns]

Today he played well and missed one glaring chance and a couple of other presentable ones.

Hate to roll out the cliches but, well, he is still young. The qualities he's got are things that are hard to teach, whereas improving finishing is doable. That's why Gus rates him.

(maybe)

I don't think Gus does rate him does he?

After all he's been 3rd choice most of this year behind Murray & Wood, and Poyet tried hard to sign Hoskins, so if that had come off, he'd have been down to 4th choice after starting the season. Suggests to me he doesn't fill the manager with confidence

 

[Kazenga <3]

I'm undecided. Yes, Barnes has scored nearly 20 goals this year but I can't help but think that given the team he is playing in and the number of opportunities created that a lot of strikers in this league would have got just as many in his position. I don't think Barnes is that great a player with his back to goal yet- if he can improve on that and play consistently at the high standard he has shown he can perform to then he'll win me over.

 

[WeAreTheAlbion]

great player. today he made some really good decisions and got into some really good positions and at the beginning of the second half he was the one that shone for me and deserved to get a goal.

 

[tezz79]

Like I said, ease the lad in & he'll be fine but obviously we need better quality strikers now & hopefully that would help bring him on, I know it's been said many times but he's only young so maybe a loan spell could do him good.... Ya can't really argue with 20 goals

 

[Silent Bob]

I don't think Gus does rate him does he?

After all he's been 3rd choice most of this year behind Murray & Wood, and Poyet tried hard to sign Hoskins, so if that had come off, he'd have been down to 4th choice after starting the season. Suggests to me he doesn't fill the manager with confidence

I'm sure Gus knows Barnes is not the finished article. I don't think he's been behind Wood most of the time has he? At times it's been Wood, other times Barnes. Sometimes it's been three up top. In fact when Wood first signed Gus seemed to favour these two over Murray. Proof even Gus is wrong sometimes perhaps.

In any case he clearly likes Barnes.

Personally I think he's miles better than Wood. I'm not sure either of them will be regulars next season (if Wood is here) but I think Barnes will still have a big part to play.

 

[Mr Burns]

great player. today he made some really good decisions and got into some really good positions and at the beginning of the second half he was the one that shone for me and deserved to get a goal.

Should've gone to spec savers

 

[tezz79]

Should've gone to spec savers

Lol come on though mate surely he deserves some credit, even if he's not your fav player by a mile (& clearly he's not) he has helped do a job

 

[WeAreTheAlbion]

Should've gone to spec savers

 

[Husty]

he was disappointing. He looks a player with no confidence at the moment. Good movement, but no confidence in front of goal. Respect to him for stepping forward to take the penalty - and for reacting well. But today was not a performance to merit bumping this thread. We are going to get fewer chances in the championship.

finally some one with a brain who actually attends matches responds to the thread!!!!!!!!

 

[Acker79]

I don't think Gus does rate him does he?

After all he's been 3rd choice most of this year behind Murray & Wood, and Poyet tried hard to sign Hoskins, so if that had come off, he'd have been down to 4th choice after starting the season. Suggests to me he doesn't fill the manager with confidence

Since Wood has come to us on loan, Barnes and wood have started together 12 times (some of those are with murray), Wood has started ahead of Barnes 11 times, and Barnes has started ahead of Wood 7 times. Had we signed Hoskins, we may not have kept wood for the season, or signed him at all. Would he have played as much if he wasn't on loan? (A lot of the time we hear of managers being almost obligated to play loan signings).

Of course if you look at the numbers it seems to back up the whole third choice thing, by virtue of Barnes having fewer starts.

But, I would point out that it's only four games difference. I would also point out that Gus is not someone who seems to start with his number one/two in each position (outside of the back four). He changes the team depending on what he thinks will work best against a given opponent (he frequently talks about only signing players who will add something the squad doesn't already have), and also admits to being swayed by performance (he mentioned he kept 4-3-3 because barnes was performing so well he couldn't drop him, he mentioned wanting to give murray a break during march when Barnes was injured and wood had international duty, but murray was in too good form). I would point to Noone being on the bench a fair bit. I would point to Murray starting on the bench five times this season. I would point to Lualua starting on the bench in some key games (notably peterborough and charlton away), but no one is arguing that Gus sees lualua as 2nd/3rd choice behind bennett and/or sparrow (who were both picked ahead of him), or that Gus doesn't rate him.

 

[Lewes' best seagull]

I don't think Gus does rate him does he?

After all he's been 3rd choice most of this year behind Murray & Wood, and Poyet tried hard to sign Hoskins, so if that had come off, he'd have been down to 4th choice after starting the season. Suggests to me he doesn't fill the manager with confidence

Gus would have wanted Wood to prove himself to earn a bid from us for next year, whereas Barnes has a contract for next year.

Also, all the third-choice argument does is back up Barnes' goal scoring record.

 

[mona]

I don't think Gus does rate him does he?

After all he's been 3rd choice most of this year behind Murray & Wood, and Poyet tried hard to sign Hoskins, so if that had come off, he'd have been down to 4th choice after starting the season. Suggests to me he doesn't fill the manager with confidence

Isn't it about time to put this thread to bed?
Anyway who gives a toss what you think. Or me.
If Ashley B wasn't rated by Gus he wouldn't have a contract. End of thread, please.

 

[bhaexpress]

Mr Burns is clearly backed into a corner and will not admit he's wrong (if indeed he is) so therefore it's high time this thread was closed off. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if he scores again next week but depending on who comes in I think he's likely to be a bench warmer next season.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

I was talking about today. But thats one of my piints, he scores a goal and everyone bums him up. People come on here without being at the game within second to bounce the thread, without seeing his game. To them hes great because he scores a goal, but in my view with a better than average league one striker playing, we would have won the last two games.

It could have been him. But his confidence looks shot at the moment.

 

[El Presidente]

I was talking about today. But thats one of my piints, he scores a goal and everyone bums him up. People come on here without being at the game within second to bounce the thread, without seeing his game. To them hes great because he scores a goal, but in my view with a better than average league one striker playing, we would have won the last two games.

Can you tell me who says he is 'great'?

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Maybe great was the wrong word. He was certainly better than average. Linked up well with the midfield. I don't remember him stinking the place out as you would put it.

As for Gus not rating him...

He bought him. He plays him. He has started a greater proportion of games than Craig Noone. Does Gus not rate him?

No-one is claiming he is the best striker on our books. No-one is claiming that he is the finished article. He can only prove himself in the league above.

You know, we would have been in the box seat to sign him if he was better than he already is. I really can't see why you dislike him so much. Maybe he didn't sign your autograph book or something? Perhaps he didn't wave.

 

[Jimmy's gonna get ya!]

In my opinion. An average league one striker. No more, no less.

 

[Finchley Seagull]

Should've gone to spec savers

Sorry you accuse me of being high and mighty and thinking my opinion is the only one that's right but then you make a comment like this when someone makes a valid point. Talk about hypocrisy.

 

[Finchley Seagull]

finally some one with a brain who actually attends matches responds to the thread!!!!!!!!

Yes because anyone who agrees with you must be right. Luckily Gus Poyet knows what he is talking about and signed Barnes and has played him regularly this season. Does he not have a brain either then?

 

[Finchley Seagull]

I'm undecided. Yes, Barnes has scored nearly 20 goals this year but I can't help but think that given the team he is playing in and the number of opportunities created that a lot of strikers in this league would have got just as many in his position. I don't think Barnes is that great a player with his back to goal yet- if he can improve on that and play consistently at the high standard he has shown he can perform to then he'll win me over.

What nobody has answered yet is who are these mythical strikers who would have scored hundreds of goals for us this season. Would they have cost the same as Barnes or are we talking about Premier League players? Good League One strikers like Lambert cost £1 million so what did people expect for £100,000? Barnes has had a good season, not spectacular but considering his age and that it is his first full season of first team football he has done well. Most people accept he is not perfect but then if he was, he wouldn't be playing for us. I genuinely do not understand the reaction of a few people (especially Mr Burns and Hustpierpoint Seagull) to his performances as he clearly is good enough to play for us.