local lads

[barrowboy1991]

The local lads in the furness select on saturday surely did enough to ask the question, is it not worth trying a few of the young lads that really impressed in these friendlies? If not to give them a chance but to be on possible stand by if injuries occur etc. What are you thoughts?

[mrsenario]

Be good to have a look at a few at Kendal on Saturday...most of their players are locals round there...would be interesting.......ideal situation

[Barrowabc]

Was our keeper not from Furness select team on sat tonight came on late in 2nd half
Did ok as well ! Would be nice to see one or others try out tho

[K-Man]

Lavery ? I think he only got 15 mins and conceded 2 goals. Probably worth another look to give him a proper chance. I was impressed with Hayewood on Sat the big CB. However I doubt he'd take it seriously off the pitch with the drinking etc. Hopefully get him in and give him a proper pre season, he was puffing out of his arse but I reckon he could be a good player when fit. After that nobody else stood out from the F select tbh.

[John Very Little]

Those that played well in the Furness Select side on Saturday may not be that good because Barrow played so badly and only had half a team. If we'd have played as well against Furness Select as we did against Gateshead then Saturdays result may well have been different. There is also a whole world of difference between a pre-season friendly and Conference North football, bigger than many seem to think.
I think the club need a contact who watches the better local football sides to know who the better players would be that they should ask in order to determine who they should give a trial to as there are also probably better local players that weren't in the Furness Select side.
The question that should also be asked is which locals that may be good enough are prepared to travel to Blackburn twice a week for first team training? If they can't make training in Blackburn or don't want to train with the rest of the team then we shouldn't consider them with perhaps the exception of a goalkeeper. I doubt that many who are worthy of a trial would travel through for the training?

[HenneysKnee]

Best two 'locals' will be playing against us for Kendal on Saturday

[Wintergreen]

We’ve had this discussion a few times before on here barrowboy but in answer to your concerns I personally don’t really get this ‘local lad’ thing. JVL sets out the case well and the fact is that if young footballers are any good they are usually whisked off to one of the many pro club academies down the M6 in that there Lancashire at the age of 11. If that doesn’t work out they usually become disillusioned with the pro game and return to Barrow and play as a hobby and for the social aspect.

It’s nice to have a local lad in the side admittedly and former AFC legend Neil Doherty is working locally with young players in tandem with the club which may perhaps produce one or two for first team consideration in time. As JVL says above, the question any of these lads have to ask themselves is ‘Am I a professional sportsman and prepared to take on all that involves or do I just want to play as a hobby and seek regular Mon – Fri employment?’

As an aside, did you know that former local schoolboy sensation Max Wiper was at Man Utd then Blackburn academies from the age of 11, when that didn’t work out he turned to rugby league and now plays for Barrow RL!

[barrowboy1991]

I completely agree that the furness select team was not the strongest but it was full of youth now in my.educated opinion if dave bayliss is looking to build team why not build with young players. I understand were poor however the way furness select kept the ball and were so hard to break was sensational. I just believe that an oppurtunity of a pre season training oppurtunity will open the oppurtunities for local lads and improve football. In this area i just believe that the likes of tom heywood, brad hubbold, liam shields, jordan brough and a couple more should be given an oppurtunity now to see if they can deal with the demands of bsn football. Would it be the end of the world to them a shot would it cost the club anything the answer is no.

[K-Man]

Are you one of the players that played for Furness select Barrowboy1991 ?

[DaveP]

I completely agree that the furness select team was not the strongest but it was full of youth now in my.educated opinion if dave bayliss is looking to build team why not build with young players. I understand were poor however the way furness select kept the ball and were so hard to break was sensational. I just believe that an oppurtunity of a pre season training oppurtunity will open the oppurtunities for local lads and improve football. In this area i just believe that the likes of tom heywood, brad hubbold, liam shields, jordan brough and a couple more should be given an oppurtunity now to see if they can deal with the demands of bsn football. Would it be the end of the world to them a shot would it cost the club anything the answer is no.

Its not really a question of giving them a shot I'm sure the manager would be happy to, the real question is whether they want to be semi pro footballers which includes the travelling and training it brings with it?

[A.B.]

I don't see any harm in trialing a few of the Furness Select lads, seeing as though we've got another 9 or so friendlies to play. They can't be much worse than some of the dross that played on Saturday for us.

Would the locals be willing to commit to train in Blackburn for 2 days a week, especially if they're only going to be on the bench covering for injuries, like you say barrowboy1991?

[Wintergreen]

This recurring conundrum is textbook theory v reality, the theory is fine and the ability might be there but in reality, as young people would they (a) be prepared to take a gamble on a 9-month part time contract with Barrow – a club that has previous with not paying players on time, or would they think it better to (b) get into full time steady employment and a logically structured long-term career path?

Alternatively, after opting for (b) would they (c) sign amateur terms with Barrow, and (as already stated) drive to Blackburn twice a week to train and travel to Brackley, Oxford, Gloucester and such places possibly on a Tuesday night? The devil, as always is in the detail. I don’t know how old you are barrowboy but I wonder which option you or indeed any of us would choose if you/we were of the same age and ability as Brad Hubbold for instance?

[BillyBlue]

Can we not get the 'locals' with ambition and commitment to sign non-contract forms. That way we get first call on them and they can still play at a local level for their teams, this would come in handy for the Lancashire Trophy games when the step up wouldn't be so great. If any lads do come through then get them on a contract next season, seems a win/win situation for us and the 'locals'.

[Wintergreen]

Again – fine in theory but would the local hotshots go for it? Think of the human nature aspect, is it in the nature of the beast to join a group of seasoned semi pro footballers that they don’t know in the hope of getting a run out in the Lancashire Cup, then as an outsider, deposing one of those paid semi pros for the next few months to finally end up at point (a) as above?

And could you imagine Bayliss having to phone round these lads to be told ‘I’m on Nights/ holiday/21st/Stag Do/Going to see a group/Going to Anfield etc. like normal lads do. I’m not usually negative but I just think it would be a square peg in a round hole situation; however I would be highly delighted to be proved wrong on this one at some point.

[bluebird90]

Why is Bayliss not holding a session in Barrow once a week? Maybe that would determine the commitment of the players he is currently trialling?

There are certainly better players locally than some of the players he has played in the last 5 years. Its all well and good having docs development centre but in my view they wouldn't stand a chance regardless of ability. Look at the likes of Swarbrick, I doubt his commitment can be questioned having travelled to FC united and Lancaster regularly for training and games, but despite starring in the select last year he was hardly looked at while we watched players come into the side with less ability and no heart time after time. I fear we may see the same this year and continue to do so.

Is this BARROW AFC or Bayliss Mates XI?