Barnard out for the season

[doggface]

No shock really, but a blow to our hopes.

 

My mate just text me and he has just been told Barnie will miss the rest of the season from a senior player.

[Windmill Arm 2]

IF true, then I would expect Connolly to take his chance and fire us into the NPC !

[Brussels Saint]

For me, I hope they move Guly back up front with Lambert and use Connolly off the bench. Guly's outstanding form came earlier in the season when he played in this role and for me its his best.

 

All the "Taxi for Do Prado" and recent criticism, come from when he plays in a wider midfield role.

[scotty]

b*llocks. Thats a bad blow, Ive thought hes been massive for us this season.

 

Still, as others have said its not like we dont have cover.

[farawaysaint]

Foooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooook Can't be helped though, although it is a massive blow before Brighton. Let's just hope if we lose that one we take advantage of our remaining games.

[Turkish]

For me, I hope they move Guly back up front with Lambert and use Connolly off the bench. Guly's outstanding form came earlier in the season when he played in this role and for me its his best.

 

All the "Taxi for Do Prado" and recent criticism, come from when he plays in a wider midfield role.

 

Despite all these clowns without a clue critiscing Gully, goals win games and Gully has scored the same amount of goals in half the combinded appearances the supposed footballing gods of Papa Waigo and Antonio did for us last season.

[dubai_phil]

Despite all these clowns without a clue critiscing Gully, goals win games and Gully has scored the same amount of goals in half the combinded appearances the supposed footballing gods of Papa Waigo and Antonio did for us last season.

 

Correct, BUT Guly has looked & sounded like a fish out of water when he has played wide right (Away at Charlton as an example). Not that he is a poor player, simply it was clear that he has little or no experience in that position and it doesn't fit into his strengths. He was there because needs must.

 

Up front he'll be no doubt as frustrating, but he will be in a an area where he can cause damage when one of his "quality moments" happens. If that happens twice a match between now & the end of the season that would be 2 goals per game

[Window Cleaner]

Foooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooook Can't be helped though, although it is a massive blow before Brighton. Let's just hope if we lose that one we take advantage of our remaining games.

 

 

I don't really think it is all that of a massive blow if Connolly holds up for the 5 matches left to us.

In a "paper contest" Connolly is 5 times the striker Barney will ever be, it's just that he's at the end of his career and has quasi permanent fitness problems.

[70's Mike]

If true then bad news suppose the good news is that Connolly only has to stay fit for 5 games and may be a bit of surprise for other teams who will not have been able to watch him recently

[bender]

Dont like the idea of relying on Connoly. Thats like saying Killer is on the mend. Getting nervous now. However, if Mk Dons can somehow beat Huddersfield and we can take advantage of Brighton's pre match celebrations on Saturday, we could be in a position where we only need to win our homes games to go up.

 

Do feel we need Huddersfield to slip up though.

[Window Cleaner]

Dont like the idea of relying on Connoly. Thats like saying Killer is on the mend. Getting nervous now. However, if Mk Dons can somehow beat Huddersfield and we can take advantage of Brighton's pre match celebrations on Saturday, we could be in a position where we only need to win our homes games to go up.

 

Do feel we need Huddersfield to slip up though.

 

I think we've won a fair few games without Barney this season already. True we've been more consistent since he's been fully fit though.

However a couple of benchmark wins were achieved without him.It depends if Lallana is going to be fully fit or not at any time soon.

[alpine_saint]

So, looks like its all down to Connolly staying fit.

 

Congratulations Huddersfield

[NickG]

Guly 10 in 23 starts (many in midfield), Connolly, Forte, N'Guesson all offer decent cover. Would much rather he was fit but should not be an excuse for finishing this off

[Turkish]

Correct, BUT Guly has looked & sounded like a fish out of water when he has played wide right (Away at Charlton as an example). Not that he is a poor player, simply it was clear that he has little or no experience in that position and it doesn't fit into his strengths. He was there because needs must.

 

Up front he'll be no doubt as frustrating, but he will be in a an area where he can cause damage when one of his "quality moments" happens. If that happens twice a match between now & the end of the season that would be 2 goals per game

 

Indeed he has, he clearly isn't a wide midfielder. The point is though that whilst some bang on that Waigo and Antonio were the answer to all our problems and get on Gullys back, he has been as effective as them in terms of goals scored, in half as many appearances.

[OldNick]

So, looks like its all down to Connolly staying fit.

 

Congratulations Huddersfield

i know how you feel Alps, I was scoffed at when i kept calling for some players to be brought in during the windows. If anything happens to (RL Please no) we are really in trouble. Complacency regarding our squad has been a been mistake IMO.

Huddersfield kept their nerve when we were chasing them last season, i hope we can do the same to them this season.

[Saint Stimp]

Despite all these clowns without a clue critiscing Gully, goals win games and Gully has scored the same amount of goals in half the combinded appearances the supposed footballing gods of Papa Waigo and Antonio did for us last season.

 

At least those clowns can spell his name..

[Turkish]

At least those clowns can spell his name..

 

I take it you are one of them then.

[saints-cris]

Bit of a shame as he's done so well for us lately, but Connely is CLASS when he's fit. Lambert and Guly were getting goals together as well.

 

This is where our depth comes in pretty handy, we should be able to carry on without it impacting us too much.

[NickG]

If we don't go up it won't be because we don't have enough forward cover with

 

Lambert

Guly

Connolly

Barnard

Ox-C

Lallana

Forte

N'Guessan

Doble!!

[Dalek2003]

I said last week, before the Barnard injury, that Connolly could be a key player in the run in. Never expected it to happen this way, but a fit Connolly is an effective Connolly. Fingers crossed !

[NickG]

Think these are about right..

 

Oh well, we haven't been too unlucky with injuries over the season, it's just all come at once. Guly/Forte/Nguessan/Lallana/Connolly can all help out Lambert though, so hardly a crisis. They'll just have to make sure we have 5 games left, not 7 or 8.

 

Bit of a shame as he's done so well for us lately, but Connely is CLASS when he's fit. Lambert and Guly were getting goals together as well.

 

This is where our depth comes in pretty handy, we should be able to carry on without it impacting us too much.

and these an over reaction!

 

So, looks like its all down to Connolly staying fit.

 

Congratulations Huddersfield

 

Foooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooook Can't be helped though, although it is a massive blow before Brighton. Let's just hope if we lose that one we take advantage of our remaining games.

[The9]

Oh well, we haven't been too unlucky with injuries over the season, it's just all come at once. Guly/Forte/Nguessan/Lallana/Connolly can all help out Lambert though, so hardly a crisis. They'll just have to make sure we have 5 games left, not 7 or 8.

 

We've had shedloads at the busiest time of the season, thus maximising impact - I would call that being extremely unlucky with injuries.

 

As I noted to a friend yesterday, we're currently missing starters at left back, left midfield, right midfield, one of the two starting centre midfielders (and two of the other candidates for centre midfield have been injured in recent weeks too), and one of our two starting strikers. Add to that recent injuries to our backup right back and a suspension to our 5th choice centre midfielder, plus our 3rd choice striker's been injured most of the season.

 

We've really been struggling with injuries, and it's only been the incredible depth of squad that we've got that it hasn't had much more of a detrimental effect. For all of Alpine's whining about cover, no-one could have imagined we'd actually NEED to play Gobern when we had Hammond, Schneiderlin, Chaplow, Stephens, Lallana, Guly, Dickson, Richardson and Oxlade-Chamberlain all able to fit into various positions across the midfield ahead of him.

 

As it stands at the moment, if Lallana isn't fit I would expect us to be either picking 3rd choice striker Connolly up front, or picking Forte up there, meaning Dickson at left mid and if Harding's injured, Seaborne at left back. That is not even close to a first choice side.

[Toomer]

Bit of a shame as he's done so well for us lately, but Connely is CLASS when he's fit. Lambert and Guly were getting goals together as well.

 

This is where our depth comes in pretty handy, we should be able to carry on without it impacting us too much.

 

A fit and staying fit DC could be a good thing you could see when he came on for Barnard that he has a very good football brain.

[NickG]

Our best league run this season was 5 conseq games end of Dec into January

 

Huddersfield W 4-1

Exeter W 4-0

Daggerham W 3-1

Oldham W 6-0

Nott C D 0-0

 

Not bad 5 games run. Would you take similar for the next 5?

 

Guess the link to our best run this season and this thread?!

[OldNick]

Can't believe that if we don't go up there'll actually be morons on here saying it's because we didn't spent enough. It's as frustrating as it is depressing in its sheer stupidity.

you should stop your arrogance and stop calling people morons. You may be happy having Gobern and players who are at the end of their careers and injury prone holding our hopes of promotion others are not. As for your embarrassment that we have spent a lot Lol. I have no embarrassment as Im sure Man Utd Liverpool Barcelona etc dont when they wipe the floor with other clubs for decades.

You may rest on your HOPE that the reserves can hold their nerve at the most important part of the season, but i dont believe we should have to be in the position. If the club had spent to ensure promotion (after all Im sure many have told me on numerous occasions that we are wealthy), getting in players of the quality that will hold us in good stead if we do go up to the next level.

We have been crying out for cover right through the spine of the team. So before you point your finger calling people who have rightful concerns about being a moron you should perhaps look in the mirror

[NickG]

think only position it could be argued that we are lacking cover is CM. That is debatable as not sure how many first 11 standard players other squads would expect. Chaplow was a signing all on here applauded and added to Morgan and Dean provides quality and experience in CM. Stephens has been added to that, although not seen a lot to get too excited. It is silly to have 5 players for each position.

[OldNick]

think only position it could be argued that we are lacking cover is CM. That is debatable as not sure how many first 11 standard players other squads would expect. Chaplow was a signing all on here applauded and added to Morgan and Dean provides quality and experience in CM. Stephens has been added to that, although not seen a lot to get too excited. It is silly to have 5 players for each position.

Yep I was happy having Chaplow in. If RL gets injured what then?

[Deppo]

Yep I was happy having Chaplow in. If RL gets injured what then?

 

Connolly

Guly

Lallana

[Deppo]

Actually, I've thought about and OldNick is right. We should have at least 7 top quality strikers in the team (5 sitting on the bench), just in case Barnard, Lambert, Connolly, Guly and Lallana all get injured.

[NickG]

you should stop your arrogance and stop calling people morons. You may be happy having Gobern and players who are at the end of their careers and injury prone holding our hopes of promotion others are not. As for your embarrassment that we have spent a lot Lol. I have no embarrassment as Im sure Man Utd Liverpool Barcelona etc dont when they wipe the floor with other clubs for decades.

You may rest on your HOPE that the reserves can hold their nerve at the most important part of the season, but i dont believe we should have to be in the position. If the club had spent to ensure promotion (after all Im sure many have told me on numerous occasions that we are wealthy), getting in players of the quality that will hold us in good stead if we do go up to the next level.

We have been crying out for cover right through the spine of the team. So before you point your finger calling people who have rightful concerns about being a moron you should perhaps look in the mirror

 

If we don't go up it won't be because we don't have enough forward cover with

 

Lambert

Guly

Connolly

Barnard

Ox-C

Lallana

Forte

N'Guessan

Doble!!

 

would be a shame. But there are still a lot of options. Do you really think we could have / should have added to this list? Have a look at Brighton's squad.

[OldNick]

Actually, I've thought about and OldNick is right. We should have at least 7 top quality strikers in the team (5 sitting on the bench), just in case Barnard, Lambert, Connolly, Guly and Lallana all get injured.

yep and another 5 in case they get injured. of course they all must not in any way be a target man to cover for the most important player we have up front. They have alos to be injury prone and at the start or end of their careers

[Saint_John]

IF true, then I would expect Connolly to take his chance and fire us into the NPC !

As a TEAM we have only scored TWO league goals this season when Connolly has been on the pitch.

Both against Bristol Rovers (Barnard up there in the 90+1th for the 4th and Guly in the 82th to win us a match).

 

That is 2 TEAM goals in the 377 mins he has been in the pitch, imo the worst of any of our players. It has to be Guly starting up front for me.

 

Connolly full record in the league this season :-

Plymouth .L 0-1 - Full game

Orient ...D 1-1 - 80-90 (10mins)

B Rov ....W 4-0 - 79-90 (11 mins) - Barnard scored in the 91th min for the 4th.

Rochdale .L 0-2 - 0-61 (61 mins)

Swindon ..L 0-1 - Full game

MK Dons ..L 0-2 - 0-65 (65 mins)

P/Boro ...W 4-1 - 82-90 (8 mins)

Brentford L 0-2 - 83-90 (7 mins)

Charlton .W 2-0 - 79-90 (11 mins)

B Rovs ...W 1-0 - 66-90 (24 mins) - Guly scored in 82th min.

[scotty]

would be a shame. But there are still a lot of options. Do you really think we could have / should have added to this list? Have a look at Brighton's squad.

 

.....but dont do it at work, those sites may be frowned on if they catch you....

[OldNick]

would be a shame. But there are still a lot of options. Do you really think we could have / should have added to this list? Have a look at Brighton's squad.

i dont care about Brightons squad as they seem to have been 10 points clear the majority of the season. Had they been in our position they may well of dipped into the market as well as getting Noone. We got our own No-one but not the Plymouth one.

I wish for the cards to be fully stacked in our favour, i truly hope that my concerns are not well founded and we cruise to promotion. The weekend will tell us a lot.

[Deppo]

yep and another 5 in case they get injured. of course they all must not in any way be a target man to cover for the most important player we have up front. They have alos to be injury prone and at the start or end of their careers

 

I think that you were born to be a football manager.

[trousers]

Here's a new SWF competition: It's called 'Predict an end of season thread title'....here's my go:

 

"Wow! Connolly! Barny's injury was a blessing in disguise!"

[OldNick]

I think that you were born to be a football manager.

F'sure I was and now we are down to the bare bones, I would have got a shedload of players in F'sure

[Spudders]

Here's a new SWF competition: It's called 'Predict an end of season thread title'....here's my go:

 

"Wow! Connolly! Barny's injury was a blessing in disguise!"

 

Needs its own thread IMO (that's not my prediction of a thread title either!)

[um pahars]

think only position it could be argued that we are lacking cover is CM. That is debatable as not sure how many first 11 standard players other squads would expect. Chaplow was a signing all on here applauded and added to Morgan and Dean provides quality and experience in CM. Stephens has been added to that, although not seen a lot to get too excited. It is silly to have 5 players for each position.

 

Centre Midfield does indeed look problematic and when you consider that we knew in the loan window that we had problems (given that Scheiderlin was by then a long term casualty), then I have to say we have been left somewhat lightweight (something apparent in recent games).

 

Stephens & Gobern IMHO are not adequate replacements for the here and now. Was never going to be easy getting in someone who could hit the ground running at that stage of the season, and not sure what we came up against when we did look, but it is an area that we need to shore up PDQ (Chaplow in for me ASAP).

 

Given the injuries to Lallana and Chambo, then this just compounds our midfield nightmare.

 

Upfront isn't so much of a worry for me as I think Guly is an able replacement up top, with Connolly to come off of the bench (or maybe even start a couple of the matches), but midfield is where we have big problems.

[NickG]

think my post 27 indicates that if midfield is ok Barnard is not needed

[simo]

Connolly is our best striker anyway so he can slot straight in ! (just hope he stays fit)

[doc oli]

Connolly is our best striker anyway so he can slot straight in ! (just hope he stays fit)

 

He was different class on Saturday- and seemed to have the energy of a 20 year old. Provided the link between midfield and RL that was really lacking by playing two identical central midfielders. Other option is to go back to good ol 4-5-1 with AL in behind RL.

[NickG]

think I would swap Barnard for a fit Morgan or Lallana!

[Goalie66]

Just where was it confirmed that Barnard is out for the season?

[hughieslastminutegoal]

Dont like the idea of relying on Connoly. Thats like saying Killer is on the mend. Getting nervous now. However, if Mk Dons can somehow beat Huddersfield and we can take advantage of Brighton's pre match celebrations on Saturday, we could be in a position where we only need to win our homes games to go up.

 

Do feel we need Huddersfield to slip up though.

 

What, are we kicking off before they've finished?

[Stu Man Do]

If Barny is out surely we can just slot Guly in there and I wonder if Richardson CDAJFU at right midfield as I seem to remember when we signed him the OS talking about what a good attacking player he could be.

[Leicestersaint]

Shame - but Connolly can step up.

[aintforever]

That is a blow, Barnard has been superb this season. With Chambo, Scheiderlin and Lallana also knackered getting that 2nd spot would be a massive achievement.

[Barry the Badger]

Davis

 

Butterfield - Jaidi - Fonte - Dickson

 

Forte/Chaplow - Stephens - Hammond - Lallana/N'Guessan

 

Guly - Lambert

[Pip]

I'd be interested to see Guly and Connolly playing together. A lot of criticism is levelled at Guly because other players don't anticipate his clever balls into space. Connolly's thinking is way ahead of anyone else's so a combination of Guly playing Connolly in or Connolly playing Guly in with his speed would be interesting.