The Ashley Barnes thread for the Reading game.

[symyjym]

For what it is worth I have traditionally been a 'Barnes Hater' and would not have been disappointed had he left the club over the summer. Whilst he has always had an excellent positional sense and tracks back very well to support the rest of the team, his first touch has been suspect, his temprament has been awful (both through the Burnley and Tripgate sendings off and his desire to throw himself to the floor and moan at the referee at least 4 times a game) and his finishing has not been as good as other strikers at this level.

I have noticed a difference since he returned from Tripgate and have to admit that the 30 mins he played yesterday was the best I have seen him for the Albion. This was not just about his volley (which was very good) and the run he made for the chance that was saved but for his general attitude which I thought was much better. The best example of this (and the point that finally made me think he could convince people like me that we were wrong) was an incident where the ball was played up to him which he laid off before getting clattered from behind. Sensing there was a decent break on he pulled himself up, put in a 20 yard burst and took the ball forward to instigate another attack.

I am convinced that the Barnes of this time last season would not have done this and would have rolled around the floor for a bit. Whether this is due to him growing up after Tripgate or if it is Oscar Garcia not putting up with the theatricals that Gus not only put up with but also demonstarted himself on the touchlime every game is to be guessed at.

Either way, credit where it is due and 6 goals over the next 3 games please Ashley!

But that's the trouble though, fans writing players off as the finished article at the start of their career. Barnes is only just 23, has heaps of experience and is still learning his trade. Where was Murray at 23?

With resgards to tripgate, I found that funny and it still makes me chuckle now. It was hardly a Suarez bite, Barton punch up or a Diouf vitriolic spit.

I am pretty confident that Barnes will be thought of as a BHAFC legend in years to come and will be remembered fondly in the BHAFC Hall of Fame.

 

[B.W.]

Barnes played extremely well. His attitude is now much better. Is he FINALLY growing up?

He is clearly a striker. Something Gus failed to understand but Oscar clearly does. We definitely need him over the next 3 games.

 

[The Large One]

Barnes played extremely well. His attitude is now much better. Is he FINALLY growing up?

He is clearly a striker. Something Gus failed to understand but Oscar clearly does. We definitely need him over the next 3 games.

You just can't help yourself, can you?

Barnes played as the up-front striker when there was no-one else available, being second string to CMS, then Ulloa when they were/are fit.

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

Barnes played extremely well. His attitude is now much better. Is he FINALLY growing up?

He is clearly a striker. Something Gus failed to understand but Oscar clearly does. We definitely need him over the next 3 games.

You were SO close to doing a post without mentioning Gus.

Honestly, I was really rooting for you but you JUST fell at the last hurdle.

Great effort though B.W. Great effort.

 

[Spun Cuppa]

Barnes played extremely well. His attitude is now much better. Is he FINALLY growing up?

He is clearly a striker. Something Gus failed to understand but Oscar clearly does. We definitely need him over the next 3 games.

Blinding deduction as we don't have any other un-banned or fit strikers! Strewth!

The difference for me is that Ulloa is an old-fashioned centre-forward who bullies the oppo defenders by putting himself about, whereas Barnes, like Murray used to, keeps getting knocked about and goes over, looking for the sympathy vote off the ref. That is why there are mixed views on him. If he actually stayed on his feet and dished it out a bit, more people would get behind him...

 

[Aquilaugh]

cant help jumping in here - I'm a Palace fan and have always thought Barnes is a good player and really dont get why some Albion dont rate him - cant help wondering if he had started against us that you would have gone to wembley and from what I saw yesterday I think you would have won if he had started - he gets in good positions

 

[Mellotron]

You were SO close to doing a post without mentioning Gus.

Honestly, I was really rooting for you but you JUST fell at the last hurdle.

Great effort though B.W. Great effort.

Haha genuinely the same feeling I had reading it.

 

[Mellotron]

Is he FINALLY growing up?

He's 23. SAME age as Beckham when he got sent off against the Argies.

 

[sydney]

Blinding deduction as we don't have any other un-banned or fit strikers! Strewth!

The difference for me is that Ulloa is an old-fashioned centre-forward who bullies the oppo defenders by putting himself about, whereas Barnes, like Murray used to, keeps getting knocked about and goes over, looking for the sympathy vote off the ref. That is why there are mixed views on him. If he actually stayed on his feet and dished it out a bit, more people would get behind him...

RE .Ulloa apart from yesterday when Alex Pearce spent most of the first half trying to rip his head off.......Ash looked good when he came on.

 

[The Large One]

Blinding deduction as we don't have any other un-banned or fit strikers! Strewth!

The difference for me is that Ulloa is an old-fashioned centre-forward who bullies the oppo defenders by putting himself about, whereas Barnes, like Murray used to, keeps getting knocked about and goes over, looking for the sympathy vote off the ref. That is why there are mixed views on him. If he actually stayed on his feet and dished it out a bit, more people would get behind him...

cant help jumping in here - I'm a Palace fan and have always thought Barnes is a good player and really dont get why some Albion dont rate him - cant help wondering if he had started against us that you would have gone to wembley and from what I saw yesterday I think you would have won if he had started - he gets in good positions

Once upon a time, he would have been battered off the ball like a kitten being threatened with a snooker ball in a sock, and would disappear into a sulk.

Then he 'manned up', and went a bit hatstand.

Now I think he's finally found his appropriate level of psycho-aggression by being a pain in the arse to defenders - he didn't give Alex Pearce a moment's peace when he came on - while getting in good positions to score.

I must admit, as the ball was coming over and you could see Barnes at the back stick winding up for the volley, I thought the shot would end up in the back of Row Z, or go vertically up in the air. However, the new improved Barnes hit it pretty sweetly.

Still improving, still offering loads, still got plenty to give.

 

[Mellotron]

I must admit, as the ball was coming over and you could see Barnes at the back stick winding up for the volley, I thought the shot would end up in the back of Row Z, or go vertically up in the air. However, the new improved Barnes hit it pretty sweetly.

Funny how differently each of us see it - I was CERTAIN he'd hit it pretty much exactly as he did. Since he came back from the tripping ban, he's been sensational.

 

[El Presidente]

Is it me or is has he been working out a lot over the summer? He looks far more physical than last season.

 

[bhawoddy]

Funny how differently each of us see it - I was CERTAIN he'd hit it pretty much exactly as he did. Since he came back from the tripping ban, he's been sensational.

LOL. hes been ok.......

 

[kevtherev]

I'm sure iv'e missed something in the last 24 hours. I thought we drew 0-0, Barnes came on and had a couple of good chances that the keeper done well to save, but then that is what he is paid to do. If Barnes had had another 3 chances would he have scored, or would the keeper have saved them too...We will never know, all we know for sure is we dropped two points yesterday in a game we had enough chances to win. Would we have taken a point before the game Most probably, but in hindsight it's another story of missed chances against a side that maybe isn't as good as we all thought they would be..It will be interesting to see how many chances we get Weds night.

 

[Mellotron]

LOL. hes been ok.......

He's been very, very good. Childish and stubborn to suggest otherwise.

 

[Icy Gull]

Barnes excites me when he is on the pitch and I don't mean that in a sexual way.

 

[bhawoddy]

He's been very, very good. Childish and stubborn to suggest otherwise.

Just ok for me............

 

[Thunder Bolt]

You were SO close to doing a post without mentioning Gus.

Honestly, I was really rooting for you but you JUST fell at the last hurdle.

Great effort though B.W. Great effort.

But he only mentions Gus when others mention it first.

Oh.

 

[Zen Frenzy]

Confident that Barnes will come good - if he doesn't, Oscar won't pick him. Nil desperandum.

 

[Coggersc1974]

Really good to see that Ash is starting to get some well deserved praise after a couple of seasons of unfounded criticism and in some cases personal abuse. Has the tide actually turned?

One thing I will say is I do not accept the comments of those who say his performances have only improved after 'tripgate'. However if this is simply used by those to 'save face', I am happy to leave it at that. No apologies necessary, just happy he is getting support.