Alfreton v BARROW thread

[Ste Story]

Proper gash.

[Jim]

The manner of capitulation last night was a shock for me and it is a very sad way to end a five year spell in the BSP, one of the best periods of our non-league history. The cycle of success and failure is something we Barrow fans are familiar with. We are at or near the bottom of the cycle at the moment, it may not be much better next season but I will dig out my copy of the (in)famous song "Barrow will Rise Again" and keep playing it.

[mally]

The manner of capitulation last night was a shock for me and it is a very sad way to end a five year spell in the BSP, one of the best periods of our non-league history. The cycle of success and failure is something we Barrow fans are familiar with. We are at or near the bottom of the cycle at the moment, it may not be much better next season but I will dig out my copy of the (in)famous song "Barrow will Rise Again" and keep playing it.

And I'll also dig my copy out and play it as well Jim but,one things for sure this cycle will keep repeating itself with possibly the most dire of consequences for the club one day unless the basic dynamic of the club changes,and very soon,whether that means doing away with the way its run at the moment,'a members club' or what,I don't know,but something will have to change.

[HenneysKnee]

The main thing that hurts is the lack of fight; in previous years when we have been in trouble we have gone backs to the wall and the lads have battled and scrapped for everything. Now we have a team of lightweights who are scared to put a foot in

[mally]

The main thing that hurts is the lack of fight; in previous years when we have been in trouble we have gone backs to the wall and the lads have battled and scrapped for everything. Now we have a team of lightweights who are scared to put a foot in

And to 'me',that says that there are big problems behind the scenes-well,we had all worked that one out anyway,but what I find really disturbing is just exactly what they might be and how are they gonna affect the future.

[Jim]

Now we have a team of lightweights who are scared to put a foot in

That is a bit unfair on many of the players. There have been some games where they really have battled - eg Luton, Macclesfield. Where they can be criticised is that they can play like that one day then surrender meekly another day.

[Ste Story]

Now we have a team of lightweights who are scared to put a foot in

That is a bit unfair on many of the players. There have been some games where they really have battled - eg Luton, Macclesfield. Where they can be criticised is that they can play like that one day then surrender meekly another day.

To be fair I agree completely with HenneysKnee on that point, we're ridiculously lightweight all over the field. Ebbsfleet came up here and bullied us physically, and I don't even mean that in a derogatory way to them, they just outmuscled us and dominated us for the first 70 minutes. Thats happened far too often this season.

[BahamasBluebird]

Myself and the majority of Barrow fans stayed until the final whistle and applauded the players off, though god only knows why.

We really were dire tonight, no passion or commitment, and I don't think we would have scored if we had played until Saturday. The majority of the players that played tonight really should be ashamed of themselves, how they can go out onto that pitch in a game which we really needed to win and play like they did is beyond me.

Why are yous clapping them off after that ? You've just said how shocking they were with no fight, yet you clap. I'm not saying boo but no response by the Barrow fans might of been better. You can support them how you want(good on you for getting a lift down there)

I just don't get happy clappers.

You have a point, what I should have said was I stayed and clapped the players who actually put some effort in during the game. And I am sure it's no coincidence that the few players that I thought did o.k and actually put some effort in, were the ones who put the effort in to come over and applaud us at the end.

Skelts was one of the best as usual, Peo and O' Donnell played o.k, and Ruthers put some decent effort in once or twice, possibly could have had a penalty first half but I think it would have been soft. And finally as against Ebbsfleet, Danny Hurst made some fantastic saves and without him it really could have been 7 or 8.

[DaveP]

Are we not reading too much into this with behind the scenes innuendos etc?

I think the players have reached a point whereby they no longer believe they can avoid the drop. successive draws where the luck seems to have deserted us and then they gave it a good go against a very good side on Saturday and still everything went against them. I think once they conceded last night that was the end of it as far as most of them are concerned. Yes I'd rather have gone down sweating blood until the final minute of the final game but its not to be.

What is so frustrating for me is that even with all of the obstacles this season if you cut out the "free headers which turned into goals" we would probably be mid table; just can't understand this when our manager is an ex centre half!!!

As for the future the club needs a complete reorganisation in terms of how it is run and the skills which are available to use. Just look at what the ground maintenance team have managed to do. Lets use our supporters skills to improve admin, advertising, marketing etc and develop as a club. Open the doors BOD.

As far as players are concerned stop flogging the "locals" idea cos its a dead duck until we can train locally. We need some "nasty ugly beasts" in the team at centre half centre mid and up front. Bullies who are uncompromising and give the opposition something to fret about whenever they are due to play us instead of seeing us as a soft touch. Remember Jonah, Macca, Hulbert/Sheridan and Cookie and thats only in recent years (every one of them would get stuck in and not give an inch). Lets stop conceding goals then develop from there.

PS Its a funny old game we are Barrow we might just win the last two and stay up

[Jim]

What is so frustrating for me is that even with all of the obstacles this season if you cut out the "free headers which turned into goals" we would probably be mid table; just can't understand this when our manager is an ex centre half!!!

Two points surrendered at Nuneaton by going to sleep for a few seconds in stoppage time after totally outplaying them, missing a pen and hitting the post. Three points handed to Nuneaton at FBS with minutes to go, and abject performance to give Stockport 3 points. Take just those three games and, in spite of everything else that has gone on, we should be near mid table with a healthy gap between us and relegation.

PS Its a funny old game we are Barrow we might just win the last two and stay up

Sadly, I think those odds would be longer than Aurora's Encore at Aintree.

[pjdaly]

I did not go to Alfreton but listened with increasing despair and no small measure of bitterness as the second half proceeded. It seems like we only had one attempt on goal in the match (a shot by Skelton in the first half) and the words of the commentators (and subsequently by Hoskins) all confirmed an abject lack of effort and desire.

Having witnessed the abysmal efforts against Hyde and Ebbsfleet (and also the much better effort against Mansfield, which seemed to resemble a case of “after the horse had bolted”) it’s intriguing to wonder how many of those players can look themselves in the mirror. I have no idea of the truth or otherwise about these rumours that the players have not been paid. If that is true then it is clearly wrong. After all, a contract is a contract and players have a right to expect to be paid. They could even, if necessary, take the club to court (which I think one player did back in 1999, I forget his name). I can also understand that they have bills to pay and that they are not Premier League prima donnas and do, no doubt, need every penny of their wages in order to live.

However, despite understanding all of this, I cannot abide the thought of players not trying. While they are wrangling with the club over any monies owed they should still go out there and give it their all in the meantime. Why? One simple reason; you and I; all the die-hard fans of this (or any other) small football club. I would like to think that if I was in their shoes, whilst I might be unhappy about delayed wages I would also appreciate that “innocents”, in the form of long-suffering fans of struggling little clubs, pay their money to come and watch and that for this reason they deserve to be shown 100% effort, no matter what is going on behind the scenes. But that’s me and how I would like to believe I would react. I guess the truth is that most of the players couldn’t care less about us fans. That’s why Jonah, and also Dave Higgins, Eddie Johnston and Ian Foster were so well respected for what they did back in 1999. Those guys did show respect for the humble fan despite all the behind-the-scenes issues.

On the back of recent displays there are not too many I would wish to see stay next season. But, yes, I agree that Skelton is one who I would be looking to keep as he seems a genuine type in the Jonah mould. No matter what changes ensue, I hope there is some role in the new set-up next season that accommodates Skelton.

[Three Lie Ins]

This is the end
Beautiful friend
This is the end
My only friend, the end
Of our elaborate plans, the end
Of everything that stands, the end
No safety or surprise, the end...

When one door closes, others open.

[barrowfan]

When one door closes, others open.

Or in Barrow's case when one door closes another shuts!

[Si_Nichols]

Been busy with work today and only just arrived back down south after a day in office in Irlam so not had time to post about game last night. Rather than bang on too much about it as Elaine, Ryan and others have already said enough I will just summarise it in 3 words

Woeful! .... Wanting! .... Whimper!

The only positive experiences I had in the evening where the two pints of rather nice bitter I had beforehand, the usual meeting up with the hardened souls who made the trip (there were actually over 30 of us in the end as I spoke to most at some point) and finally the fact I made it back to my hotel in Manchester after a mad dash at Sheffield station as we were held at a red signal outside on the train in from Alfreton which almost caused me to be marooned.

I have quickly scanned through the thread and I must add to the comments re: Radio Cumbria as I did not see one Barrow fan leave the ground - and no Boylie I kept my scarf on Stupid unnecessary sensationalised reporting that we can do without as now more than ever we need to pull together and support the club. On the train from Sheffield to Manchester we called at a station called Hope. As we pulled out of the stop I suddenly realised how apt for the evening it was that we were "running out of Hope" and almost simultaneously my phone (on shuffle) decided to play Tom Petty's "Running Down a Dream"

All I can add is to anyone going to Cambridge on Saturday - lets have a damn good party and even if the team seem to have given up let's go down in style as a set of supporters.

[andyg]

I too went to the game but stayed on in the midlands before travelling back to Manchester on the wednesday so have not had chance to get online. Like St Nicholas (think we spoke to each other in the first half when we were behind the goal) I felt it to be a totally abject performance (particularly in that atrocious second half) but none of us left early. I even spoke to the Radio Cumbria guys after the game who, to be fair, were as disraught as I was with that second half performance - but they shouldn't have put that in the paper about us leaving - most of us couldn't anyway because we were frozen stiff!!! As for the person - who didn't go to the game - stating we were wrong to clap some of the Barrow lads off at the end - why shouldn't we they are our team and Skelts, O'Donnell & Hurst all put in a shift & they came over to us after the game - you've no right to say that if you weren't there.

Won't be going to Cambridge - just to far and I've used enough petrol up on the team for away games this season. However, I'll be there for Braintree - just hope we can at least win that one - i've only seen one win this season that was my first game at Tamworth (the away game) so a win against Braintree will neatly bookend my season of watching Barrow....shame about everything in between.