Does Barnard Make us Tick?

[Lighthouse]

Everyone talks about Fonte, Lallana, Rickie and Morgan being our key players and talk about how we would struggle without them, but I think Barnard is being overlooked a bit here. His work rate up front and excellent finishing have been the difference in a lot of tough games. Looking back at some of our worst performances and results this season, it would seem Barnard has only started 3 of them, highlighted in bold.

 

Walsall 1-0 defeat

Hartlepool 0-0 draw

Carlisle 1-0 win

Tranmere 2-0 defeat

Notts Co 0-0 draw

Brentford 2-0 defeat

Carlisle 3-2 defeat

Huddersfield 2-0 defeat

MK Dons 2-0 defeat

Swindon 1-0 defeat

Rochdale 2-0 defeat

Swindon 3-0 defeat

Plymouth 1-0 defeat

 

Infact Walsall is the only game we've lost under Adkins when Barnard started.

[Saint Charlie]

Barnard leads from the front and ensures we play at a high tempo.

[lethallee]

We are more of a consistant threat when Barnard plays. From what i've seen of Guly he has flashes of brilliance mixed in with some pretty mediocre stuff which perhaps is a little too unpredictable for this stage of season. Barnard deserves to keep his place in team.

[Saint_clark]

He's in the form of his life, apparently;

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10280~2319064,00.html

[Bourno]

I really like and rate Barnard, wish he had said 'We' in the article rather than 'They' (not that it really matters but would have been nice).

[The9]

I'd love to see what Guly and Barnard could do together. And Doble, for that matter.

[braveheart1983]

Barnard is definately more valuable to the team than many give recognition for. Every time I've seen him play definately raises the tempo of the game (suiting saints) and creates not only space for himself but more importantly OTHERS, players like Lallana and Rickie....who often get all the headlines.

 

The way I see Barnard, is he's a goalscoring version of Brett Omerod a few years ago. GREAT to have in the side & would be in my first 11 every week.

[david in sweden]

Barnard leads from the front and ensures we play at a high tempo.

 

.......AND NA is sensible enough NOT to play him for 95 minutes every game. He's often the striker who is subbed first (15 times in all competitions,) and that maybe helps to contain his niggling injuries and keeps him a bit fresher.

[Son of Bob]

Providing he's fit, Barnard needs to start every game for the rest of the season. Simple as that.

[david in sweden]

The way I see Barnard, is he's a goalscoring version of Brett Omerod a few years ago. GREAT to have in the side & would be in my first 11 every week.

 

Very good description. Braveheart !

[Thedelldays]

barny over guly any day of the week...still no way convinced guly is good enough

[70's Mike]

I'd love to see what Guly and Barnard could do together. And Doble, for that matter.

 

not sure if now is the time to gamble

[Son of Bob]

.......AND NA is sensible enough NOT to play him for 95 minutes every game. He's often the striker who is subbed first (15 times in all competitions,) and that maybe helps to contain his niggling injuries and keeps him a bit fresher.

 

He looked shattered when he came off down at Bournemouth!

[sotonist]

He's our only proper striker really. Lambert is a converted Midfielders, so is Guly. When Barnard isn't on the pitch we rely even more on Lallana to produce something.

[Saints foreva]

I'd love to see what Guly and Barnard could do together. And Doble, for that matter.

 

Meh, in my opinion that would a poor partnership.

 

Guly really isn't as good as people think on here, he hit a bit of form before his loan was due to expire and since signing permanently he has been lazy, bullied off the ball by defenders smaller than him and poor in the air. Not to mention his eye for a pass is terrible.

[Window Cleaner]

We'd have said that about Guly a month or so ago! I'm sure they all have a big part to play yet.

 

I know, lets have another "Taxi for Guly" thread, should make sure of 210% improvement.

[forever a red and white]

Yes. He may not be as 'intelligent' as Connolly and Guly nad perhaps not as techiqually gifted, but the shere amount of runs he makes leading the line means helps us a lot. For all the flashes of brilliane Guly has shown (and only flashes) his work rate and simply not good enough.

 

The Barnard-Lambert combination works, Barny being out of the team previosuly has probably isnpired him to work even harder, and to his credit, he is scronig some vital goals.

[del boy]

"We've got Lee Barnard"

[shurlock]

I'd love to see what Guly and Barnard could do together. And Doble, for that matter.

 

Agree - at least as a combo, its a more natural pairing than Barnard and Lambert. You need pace and if somebody is going to drop deep like Lambert does all too frequently, you need somebody else to bomb on - Barney's busier and more energetic than Lambert but still likes to drop deep to the hold the ball up. Otherwise it makes it far too easy for the defence to press up and play a high line. Even Barnard or Lambert and Forte might work (no kidding).

Edited 18 March, 2011 by shurlock

[The Cat]

Agree with sentiments expressed thus far. Barnard gives the team more energy and while he's banging in the goals should be a definite starter every week.

 

He also helps us defensively by closing down the opposition and rushing them into mistakes which help us gain back possession.

[SuperMikey]

Barnard is the kind of player you need at this level, he works very hard, scores goals and wins free-kicks in very useful positions for us to build attacks from set-pieces. Rickie and Guly are much more link-up players because they're both converted midfielders. Without Connolly fully available, we lack a spearhead for attacks like Barnard is. That should be a priority in the summer as well, we need a young, quick striker who scores goals and can replace an ageing Connolly. It would rely on promotion (and probably a rather hefty bid), but Nicky Maynard from Bristol City would be excellent.

[simo]

I think I saw a bompey fan say on their site he's one of those players fans hate unless he's in your team ! Always fighting (no pun intended) and not afraid if a bit of hussle and bussle !

[sfc1971]

Lee Barnard is our Tevez FACT !!

[The9]

Meh, in my opinion that would a poor partnership.

 

Guly really isn't as good as people think on here, he hit a bit of form before his loan was due to expire and since signing permanently he has been lazy, bullied off the ball by defenders smaller than him and poor in the air. Not to mention his eye for a pass is terrible.

 

I am respectfully ignoring your nonsense about Guly.

 

Signed on Jan 20th, he's played in 6 matches since, two of which we scored 4 in, plus a decent game against Man U. The other three were the Tranmere debacle, Hartlepool away 0-0 and Carlisle 1-0 at home. So three decent games and three not so great. He's also very good in the air, and has been all season, and sees passes that half the time Lambert (for instance) doesn't bother to run for. The "run of form" he had immediately before that coincided with us winning 5 in a row and scoring at least 3 goals against everyone except Premier League Blackpool, who we only beat 2-0.

 

Lambert only scored THREE of our 19 goals in that time.

 

Which is exactly why I'd like to see Lallana, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Guly sitting behind someone who makes runs and has movement like Barnard, rather than someone mostly immobile like Lambert. Added bonus of being able to sit two holding midfielders in front of the back 4 as well.

[up and away]

I am respectfully ignoring your nonsense about Guly.

 

Signed on Jan 20th, he's played in 6 matches since, two of which we scored 4 in, plus a decent game against Man U. The other three were the Tranmere debacle, Hartlepool away 0-0 and Carlisle 1-0 at home. So three decent games and three not so great. He's also very good in the air, and has been all season, and sees passes that half the time Lambert (for instance) doesn't bother to run for. The "run of form" he had immediately before that coincided with us winning 5 in a row and scoring at least 3 goals against everyone except Premier League Blackpool, who we only beat 2-0.

 

Lambert only scored THREE of our 19 goals in that time.

 

Which is exactly why I'd like to see Lallana, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Guly sitting behind someone who makes runs and has movement like Barnard, rather than someone mostly immobile like Lambert. Added bonus of being able to sit two holding midfielders in front of the back 4 as well.

 

That makes a lot of sense to me. I am not completely sure it would work, but I really would like to see it given a go for a few games. In his early games Guly demonstrated the ability to open up defences and the loss at Walsall could have been a different matter if he was playing alongside the right player.

[Saint dyer]

can anyone remember when barneys court case is? if at all? is it before the end of the season?

[Saint Fan CaM]

Barnard is definately more valuable to the team than many give recognition for. Every time I've seen him play definately raises the tempo of the game (suiting saints) and creates not only space for himself but more importantly OTHERS, players like Lallana and Rickie....who often get all the headlines.

 

The way I see Barnard, is he's a goalscoring version of Brett Omerod a few years ago. GREAT to have in the side & would be in my first 11 every week.

 

Got to agree with everything here...good post.

[for_heaven's_Saint]

Which is exactly why I'd like to see Lallana, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Guly sitting behind someone who makes runs and has movement like Barnard, rather than someone mostly immobile like Lambert. Added bonus of being able to sit two holding midfielders in front of the back 4 as well.

 

I'd also like to see a 4-2-3-1 formation I think we'd create a lot more chances, especially if Morgan was one of the holding midfielders.

[david in sweden]

He looked shattered when he came off down at Bournemouth!

 

So might you if you run around as much as he does.

He has been subbed in many games ..at least 16 times this season but he has scored 12 goals along the way.

[ericofarabia]

Lee Barnard is our Tevez FACT !!

 

No No No ... he's way too hard to ever think about wearing gloves, tights and a snoogle or whatever they are called !!

[Shroppie]

can anyone remember when barneys court case is? if at all? is it before the end of the season?

 

31st March IIRC

[Bailey]

His work rate is phenomenal.

 

The difference between Barnard and Guly is quite something. Granted, he has flashes of brilliance, but that's not always enough.

 

When Guly has an off day, my god does he have an off day!

 

But with Barnard's style of play, even if he's not at his best in front of goal, he makes up for it with his work rate, which in turn creates openings for those around him.

 

To say he makes us tick is quite a statement, but we certainly pose more of a threat when he's in the side.

 

Nigel, take note.

[StrangelyBrown]

brett is a crap version of dirk kuyt - tries very hard but ultimately is playing well beyond his capability. When he played for us he worked his socks off but there was no end product. I can't say the same for barnard, but I didn't ever see brett play in league one. There is literally no point in a centre forward who has no end product.

[niceandfriendly]

Had another good game for us tonight, I thought. He's exactly the sort of player opposing sides hate to face, dangerous in front of goal, never gives you a moments rest and he holds the ball up well. The latter being something I think he's improved on a lot this season actually.

[simo]

Couldn't fault him today !

[Lighthouse]

Just seen the highlights and Lamberts goal shows exactly why we need Barny on the pitch. Running, bullying, good awareness and he set up Ricky brilliantly.

[Smirking_Saint]

brett is a crap version of dirk kuyt - tries very hard but ultimately is playing well beyond his capability. When he played for us he worked his socks off but there was no end product. I can't say the same for barnard, but I didn't ever see brett play in league one. There is literally no point in a centre forward who has no end product.

 

What utter crap.

[Saint Without a Halo]

What that highlights to me is that generally, when we score we're alright. Our poor results nearly all involve not scoring, yet we have a lot of firepower. That can only be a psychological issue and it happens too often. The simplistic 'sign more strikers' argument just isn't applicable as they prove they can do it too frequently for it to be a quality issue, and these games usually involve us dominating and everyone losing their shooting boots at once.

 

Barnard is the perfect example of it. Good finisher, very good for this level, high workrate but sometimes bottles it when starting for some reason. Hopefully his confidence is up though and his run can continue.

 

Too true amongst the top six we have the largest mumber of blanks this season at 12 even though we are the thrid highest scorers in total. Our problem is always getting the first! however interesting to note Barnard did not start in 9 of the 12 blanks we have had!

[StrangelyBrown]

Why? Brett consistently missed chances that he should have taken. I just think the comparison with Barnard is completely unfair as he has the end product at this level and like most people I never saw Brett playing at this level for Blackpool.

 

I suppose you think that Brett was a quality Premier League striker, which explains why so many premier league teams were fighting for him when he left us?

 

Just because someone runs around a lot does not make him a good footballer.