Ashley Barnes isn't nearly good enough for us.

Mr Burns said:

I've waited nearly a year to say I told you so........ but I told you so.

What a waste of space.

Only surprise is, why anyone bothers to pass to him any more!!!

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Mowgli37 said:

Top bounce. Really pleased to see him doing well in the premier league, best of luck to him.

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Biscuit Barrel said:

13 goals in 3 Premier league seasons. A little bit surprised that one of the really big clubs have not come in for him yet.

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Mr Burns said:

And since Hust is counting, this is probably th third time you've mentioned this, even though you are fully aware I apologised for it, but fail to mention that.... so once again.....

WANKER!! Whilst I'm happy to and will continue to post in this thread all the time people who are not even at the game to watch him BOUNCE it, you El Pres have proved you are a complete waste of space, and dare I say it a bully in your debating. You change things to suit you as you have proved this morning, and can never respond when you are pulled up on things.

You have proved this morning(1st May), that once again you are a complete waste of space and time, and are not worthy of any response by anyone on this thread, or board, and I can't be bothered to respond to anything you say and I'll think I'll just cut and paste this to everyone of your repsonses, becuase you aint worth the effort.

(notice how I keep repeating that time and time El Pres.... there's your irony for ya)

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Biscuit Barrel said:

13 goals in 3 Premier league seasons. A little bit surprised that one of the really big clubs have not come in for him yet.

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Springal said:

Be interesting to see how many of our current squad will get 3 seasons in the Premier League and score that many goals ?

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Ⓩ-Ⓐ-Ⓜ-Ⓞ-Ⓡ-Ⓐ;8239872 said:

Does Mr Burns still post on here?

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Springal said:

Be interesting to see how many of our current squad will get 3 seasons in the Premier League and score that many goals ?

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darkwolf666 said:

13 goals in 3 seasons, So I make that an average of just over 4 a season, Murray has 5 already, so obviously we are fine...

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Mr Burns said:

Before you say, oh another thread about Barnes, than don't read or post in it.
Before you quote stats, don't. Stick to the stat filled PC Manager games

But I thought earlier in the season that Barnes was not up to wearing the stripes, and after watching him numerous times, yesterdays performance at Bournemouth proved to me that he is out of his depth, and is never going to be the half decent striker we hope he will become, unless he toughens up and grows a pair of bollocks.

Strikers, like central defenders need to be able to take a whack and dish one out, otherwise they won't make it in 99% of cases. Look at Al Abd. He aint performing like he is because of his skill. He wins the battle with most strikers in the first ten minutes of a game. Barnes yesterday was a complete waste of space and was very lucky not to leave the ground in an Ambulance. Just compare him to Murray. Nearly every time Murray goes up for a header, he wins it. Even when he completely missed a flick on yesterday, the defenders marking him flicked it on for him. They are so worried about Murray they make mistakes. When Barnes goes up for a header, its half hearted, going through the motions. He hardly ever wins any, and all you see from him is a cowardly pulling in of the shoulder and ducking his head out of the way. Its the same with tackles, he dangles a leg, and never makes a hard challenge. He must be a center half's dream too play against. When the Bournemouth center half's saw the team yesterday, they must have been pissing themselves laughing. Instead of having Murray who was going to be a danger all afternoon, they had to put up with Barnes, who's only danger to them was going to be getting a headache from all his whining. Refs are never going to give Barnes a 50/50 decision, because they can see the way he plays. He always looking to get out of the way and go down before the balls near him. BE honest, how many of think of Barnes, and see a picture in your mind of him sitting on his arse, arms out by his side with a look of disbelief on his face because he didn't get a free kick?

He was so lucky yesterday when he was on the receiving end of that second half crunching tackle, that his leg wasn't snapped in two. The first thing you teach a player, is never pull out of a tackle, or never just dangle your leg at a tackle, as you are a lot more in danger of getting seriously injured, then if you tackle hard yourself. When he got hit, I honestly though he'd broke his leg, and if he carries on like that it wont belong before a career ending injury comes along.

The boy is just too lightweight for pro football, and all the time he has a hole in his arse he wont make it. He'll find his level in the conference within a couple of years. Unless of course he learns to toughen up, but in most cases you cannot teach someone bottle, you either have bottle or you don't. You can get away with being and playing like a tart in some positions, but not as a striker. I think his only hope to go and do a bit of UFC training and learn to overcome his weakness and tartness, and learn how to take a whack.

In addition to his weak challenging at headers and that near leg breaking tackle, did you notice that when he an Murray& Barnes broke yesterday and Murray squared it, Barnes went hiding behind the defender. Murray squared it, and Barnes was nowhere. If he had done as he was meant to do and get in front of the defender, he would have either got a shot and probably scored, or got fouled and got a penalty. Either way he'd have got a whack, so that probably why he went and hid behind the defender, where he was nice and safe. The only way we would have scored there was an own goal, or if the defender fluffed it. But, no he'll wait for the unchallenged chances too add to his goal tally.

Now before people quote his stats, I think any other striker at the club could match these or better his goal tally given the game time and position Barnes has had this season. I even think if you got an old pro like John Byrne, he'd have easily matched Barnes tally, even without playing or training for 10 years. What I'm saying is, even through Barnes is the second highest scorer, any striker given Barnes' chances would easily match it. As a team we have been creating so much, we could have doubled our goal tally with the right striker this season.

You've just gotta take a look at the amount of chances Barnes as missed, most of which, I think is down to his bottle. I haven't looked, but I bet a lot of Barnes goals have been from unchallenged shots. No doubt he can strike a good shot when given time, and if football was a non contact sport, he'd be one of the best, but its not, and he's not.

I still see Murray just as much as a provider than a scorer if not more the provider, and I think the way the game turned at Bournemouth when he come on yesterday proves it. He'll chase things down, get stuck it and create chances of others, and cause defences problems, whereas Barnes isn't gong to cause any defence problems. I bet if you went back to yesterdays game, Barnes took a whack and threats from a defender early on, and after that he was shit scared of getting involved, and until he can learn to toughen up a bit, his only hope is to become a winger or he will fade away, and if he doesn't learn to toughen up then I hope he fades away sooner rather than later, because without a player like Murray in the side, he is a waste of space, and if I was a player of Murrays ability, and got dropped for Ashley Barnes yesterday, I'd tell Gus where to stick his new contract.... (although obviously in a nice way because of Gus' god like status, I wouldn't be rude too him at it!!)

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Mellotron said:

People are STILL quoting his goals tally. How can people still miss the point so spectacularly?!?!

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