Barrow v Southend United Match thread

[Matty]

Shit result and performance, but that's the been the story of the season.

Makes me laugh the criticism of Devitt in particular though, if that Quigley goal counted just before half time you'd all be raving about what good skill he showed in the build up. Let's not forget it was his pinpoint pass that set Quigley free for his winner against Oldham, the game that made us realise all was not lost after Jolley's shitshow. It is hard to show the qualities he's known for in a team that has been typically playing route one football, skipping the midfield entirely.

[John_Bucks]

Lot of people over the top again today. Season is over and they wanted it more which is fairly obvious.

Since Kelly took over again, this team took 1.4 points per game give or take and over a season that’s top ten form. All this talk of wholesale changes is premature and there was no talk of this on Tuesday. For me, momentum is the key. Lose the dross which we have quite a bit of and add to the quality that has remained and under Kelly’s guidance and whoever is with him we will be in for a much better season next season.

[blue nige]

Shit result and performance, but that's the been the story of the season.

Makes me laugh the criticism of Devitt in particular though, if that Quigley goal counted just before half time you'd all be raving about what good skill he showed in the build up. Let's not forget it was his pinpoint pass that set Quigley free for his winner against Oldham, the game that made us realise all was not lost after Jolley's shitshow. It is hard to show the qualities he's known for in a team that has been typically playing route one football, skipping the midfield entirely.

Devitt is a good player but since he left Carlisle he's hardly played and infact was criticised about his attitude while at Blackpool.

[holkerboy]

Must say if Kelly wants the job get him signed up. We've had two of the so-called better 'big-name' managers this season. and the boss who's done the best is the caretaker.

[blue nige]

Must say if Kelly wants the job get him signed up. We've had two of the so-called better 'big-name' managers this season. and the boss who's done the best is the caretaker.

think the only thing that will stop him is that he doesn't want the stress etc that goes with being manager.

[RedWeb]

Personally don't think Rob will take the job. He looks and sounds drained. At best he stays as an assistant.

[Pedro]

Must say if Kelly wants the job get him signed up. We've had two of the so-called better 'big-name' managers this season. and the boss who's done the best is the caretaker.

think the only thing that will stop him is that he doesn't want the stress etc that goes with being manager.

There is no way Rob Kelly will take the job.
Eight jobs as a caretaker manager only one as a permanent manager think He prefers to coach.
He wanted to come back to the UK from Germany and I think this job was a interim move.
All credit to him he has turned a sows ear of a team into a silk purse.
He did not answer when questioned about the job when in RC.
I think it will be Neil McDonald and Sam Hird not sure on that I just hope RC stays but I think he will look near home .
Several players need to be shown the door.

He is a typical football coach and unlike Chris Bitch is pragmatic.

[russell_anderson]

Spot on. Last season we had the best midfield in the NL by a country mile. We controlled possession in almost every game and our defence was seldom under pressure. Our wingbacks, Barry and Kay, played like forwards whereas this season they have had to play like defenders. In Rooney we had the most creative player in the league and in Whte and Hardcastle we had a couple of terriers who were quick and could get around the pitch. This season we have the worst midfield in EFL 2. In almost every game we have had vastly inferior possession than the opposition (today was one of the few games in which we had more possession 54% to 46% but that was only narrowly against a team also with a very poor midfield). I don't think Quigley has played anywhere near as well as last season but he is playing on scraps in most games and has still managed to score 15 goals in a very poor team. If we can sort out the midfield and get another good, quick striker signed next season could be decent. If we play with the same squad (almost certainly minus Davies and Thomas) we will be in another relegation battle.

You also have to factor in that this was the way Evatt wanted to play. The stamp he put on Barrow’s game has also worked at Bolton whilst it was drilled in to us that it wouldn't work for us at this level.

Absolutely. He's proved at Barrow last season and at Bolton this season that even with players at the lower levels if you insist that they attempt to play football in the same manner as teams in the higher leagues play then you can succeed. Unforunately there are too many managerial dinosaurs in EFL 1 and 2 who still believe in booting the ball out of the ground when defending and hoofing it up the field as a form of attacking which, of course, is why they are managing in those leagues.

[boyliegladbach]

Devitt not looking good.

Edit: OK, maybe the injury's not so bad.

Devitt just isn’t the player he was & id be amazed if we don’t release him, Not sure if he’s contracted for next season or not, Either way I’d get rid, Same for Kay for me, We can’t wait forever for him to mature.

If we lose this both Relegated clubs took maximum points off us, Got to be a mentality thing imho.

You've obviously followed his career closely and seen Devitt play a lot to say he's not the player he was,
I've only ever seen him play for to barrow and if he can stay fit ide have him in the team every week.

[Hadrian]

I remain to be convinced.

As were Newport.

[Wintergreen]

There has been an unprecedented influx of players this season due to the chaotic managerial merry-go-round. Some players have come in and gone straight out again never to be seen playing for us. Some have come with decent reputations but never really performed for reasons we can only guess at. Somehow Rob Kelly has managed to get some decent results with these unlikely lads and now a big sort out is required preferably by RK who will know all the background stories of our ‘stars’ he inherited.

Somehow I am reminded of Graham Taylor buying Paul McGrath from United for Aston Villa way back when. Within a couple of weeks Taylor discovered that he had broken the bank at Villa to sign and alcoholic with dodgy knees. He skillfully handled McGrath’s situation to make him arguably Villa’s best player for the next seven seasons as Taylor progressed from Villa to the England job.

[Man and Boy]

The season is over (well almost). Lessons have been learned and will be (I imagine) implemented next season. And most important, we’re still a football league side. What’s not to be happy about?

[Hadrian]

Glance through the threads and you will be able to compile a list.

[Methuselah]

If the rumours are to be believed about some of our players being poached change may be forced on us whether we like it or not.If we cannot hang onto the spine of our team and we also lose Rob Kelly we may have to get ready for another rollercoaster ride next season.
I am sure though,this time the board will have learnt hard lessons and will.not make the same mistakes this time round.If Rob Kelly doesn,t want the job,I hope we can retain him in an advisory capacity as he would be still.a great asset to have.I am sure with his help we could build a decent team throughout the closed season and hopefully put us in a position where we could survive in this league and maybe even try for for the play offs.
I for one will.carry on supporting Barrow having seen them go from.being voted out of the Football League to near oblivion,only to rise like a phoenix out of the ashes thanks to our previous owner bringing in Ian Evatt and the present board keeping him for as long as they could
As a Barrow supporter you get used to the ups and downs and it is probably one of the things that makes it exciting to support them as you never now what will.be round the corner.So come on everyone get behind Barrow and cheer them on to victory.

[Pedro]

If the rumours are to be believed about some of our players being poached change may be forced on us whether we like it or not.If we cannot hang onto the spine of our team and we also lose Rob Kelly we may have to get ready for another rollercoaster ride next season.
I am sure though,this time the board will have learnt hard lessons and will.not make the same mistakes this time round.If Rob Kelly doesn,t want the job,I hope we can retain him in an advisory capacity as he would be still.a great asset to have.I am sure with his help we could build a decent team throughout the closed season and hopefully put us in a position where we could survive in this league and maybe even try for for the play offs.
I for one will.carry on supporting Barrow having seen them go from.being voted out of the Football League to near oblivion,only to rise like a phoenix out of the ashes thanks to our previous owner bringing in Ian Evatt and the present board keeping him for as long as they could
As a Barrow supporter you get used to the ups and downs and it is probably one of the things that makes it exciting to support them as you never now what will.be round the corner.So come on everyone get behind Barrow and cheer them on to victory.

Yep I remember getting the bus home and seeing in stop press we had been voted out of the league.
The seasons that followed and looking to see how few were on the terraces.
We now have a organised Board.
I want Rob Kelly to stay because I think he is a football man with good coaching abilities but the lack of clarity after keeping us up makes me think he wants to be nearer home which is understandable.
I expect a announcement straight after the Exeter game with Neil McDonald and Hird as his assistant just a hunch.
The Board will then want to give the new Manager a early chance to rebuild.
The question is are these players up to it?
Personally I think we will see more go than stay.
The team needs to be built round Quigley and bring in another good striker and two decent midfield players in.