Harrogate v Barrow match thread

[blue nige]

Totally agree we need to spend and try and buy a decent goalscorer, i can't remember the last time we actually spent money on a player.

Didn't we buy platt last season ?

Yes,but we all know what we need, now we have villa money bank that and at least spend the Quigley money, it's just pathetic really!

[Desmond2-2]

Disappointing result but unfortunately we are carrying a lot of injuries and key players cant go 90mins. We have very little on the bench who can come on and change things.

That plus this lot seem to have replaced Fylde as our bogey team.

Looks like goalscoring is going to be a problem with this side. Not so much from the front, but others popping up with a few when we need them to.

It certainly sounded from commentary that it was a good contest and the teams were evenly matched. Possibly deserved a point?

Football is like life Jim, you don’t always get what you deserve. Harrogate average today, we looked below average going forward. It’s becoming rather infuriating that everyone can see what we need, yet we are 4 games in now and no sign of a striker. Another long season ahead unfortunately.

[Middleton Nick]

Need a 20 a season striker. Today we capitulated from a strong position.

[blue nige]

It certainly sounded from commentary that it was a good contest and the teams were evenly matched. Possibly deserved a point?

Football is like life Jim, you don’t always get what you deserve. Harrogate average today, we looked below average going forward. It’s becoming rather infuriating that everyone can see what we need, yet we are 4 games in now and no sign of a striker. Another long season ahead unfortunately.

Spot on people burying their heads in the sand saying/hoping it'll come right it won't, we won't get relegated but it pi***s me off because we have a decent squad another decent midfielder and striker we'd make the playoffs!

[Jim]

It’s becoming rather infuriating that everyone can see what we need, yet we are 4 games in now and no sign of a striker. Another long season ahead unfortunately.

Mark Cooper knows what we need too, but he won't sign just anyone, it has to be the right one. Doesn't he say he is looking for a young, hungry, loan signing. The long season cliche is a bit premature I think !

[Jonty]

We are not financially strong enough to be a buying club and I don't think I would want us to spend money we really haven't got with no guaranteed return. We need to grow steadily as a club and look to Cooper to get the best out of the squad and a marked improvement on last season and pick up any promising loanees. The Villa game is a bonus but for me any money from that needs to be used to go back into building the infrastructure (ie into the Academy or towards the extra seats required). Anyway we are only 4 games in! Lets see where we are when we get players back and fully fit. My own view but i think its where we are right now.

[HenneysKnee]

We’ll do better than last season regardless……but we do need another striker, Luke James is non league standard

[blue nige]

We are not financially strong enough to be a buying club and I don't think I would want us to spend money we really haven't got with no guaranteed return. We need to grow steadily as a club and look to Cooper to get the best out of the squad and a marked improvement on last season and pick up any promising loanees. The Villa game is a bonus but for me any money from that needs to be used to go back into building the infrastructure (ie into the Academy or towards the extra seats required). Anyway we are only 4 games in! Lets see where we are when we get players back and fully fit. Not the answer many want to hear but i think its where we are right now.

Jonty even with those players whose going to score?

we have the Quigley money that Villa money will not be anywhere near putting seats up ,I'd use it to put barriers up in the steel works end to get fans behind both goals!

[Jim]

Just listened to Cooper interview. Angry, threw away the game with poor decisions for both goals after looking comfortable. Adam asked about further signings - Cooper said squad number is limited so no point having players who are not taking part. Seemed to suggest the need is to get current squad performing to the standard he requires.

[MisterPleasant]

Cooper not a happy manager. Felt we were in complete control but poor decision making cost both goals. I got the impression, not for the first time, that he's a bit annoyed with Zanzala (although he would have come off anyway because he's not up to 90 minutes). Thinks the squad is basically good enough and the support would be there to bring someone in but they have to be better than what we've got. Any of the injured players close to a return, asked Adam. "No." was the very curt reply.
At the moment, he's just not bothered about the AV game, needs to digest this defeat.

[blue nige]

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Club News

We Looked So Comfortable - Cooper

Just now

Matt Dodd Barrow boss Mark Cooper

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Mark Cooper couldn’t hide his disappointment after seeing his side beaten 2-1 by Harrogate Town despite taking a first half lead at The EnviroVent Stadium.

Offrande Zanzala’s close-range finish on 17 minutes put The Bluebirds in the driving seat and they rarely looked threatened by their hosts as they produced a strong display on the road.

However, individual mistakes after the break were to cost Barrow dear as Town came back to claim three points and leave Cooper frustrated.

“I felt really comfortable in the game,” he told iFollow.

“At half time I said to the players that it was about making good decisions because good decisions will get us though and bad decisions will mean we don’t get a result – and that cost us the points.

“We had chances and the front players have to be more ruthless but, if I am being honest, I couldn’t see Harrogate scoring until their first goal.

“When that goes in, you need to regroup and be diligent, but we tried to be clever in the middle of the pitch when we’re being pressed, and it’s turned over and it’s a goal.

“At this level, mistakes win and lose you games because nearly every goal is a mistake.

“The fans were great but when they’re like that we have to give them something to go home with – and when we were that comfortable in the game, we should have.”

Look out for our full post-match video interview with Mark Cooper on iFollow Barrow soon.

[blue nige]

Just listened to Cooper interview. Angry, threw away the game with poor decisions for both goals after looking comfortable. Adam asked about further signings - Cooper said squad number is limited so no point having players who are not taking part. Seemed to suggest the need is to get current squad performing to the standard he requires.

Cooper's no fool he knows we have 14 quality players, the others are OK but if we want to be up near the playoffs, we need at least 2 quality players, think he's just being diplomatic!

[Wildwolf]

It’s becoming rather infuriating that everyone can see what we need, yet we are 4 games in now and no sign of a striker. Another long season ahead unfortunately.

Mark Cooper knows what we need too, but he won't sign just anyone, it has to be the right one. Doesn't he say he is looking for a young, hungry, loan signing. The long season cliche is a bit premature I think !

Yes, he is looking, along with many, many, more managers at this point in the season. All want to pick up the right hungry dazzler cheap on loan. I begin to think that maybe now at this late point , the striker signing, ship has sailed, hope i am wrong.

[Jim]

Mark Cooper knows what we need too, but he won't sign just anyone, it has to be the right one. Doesn't he say he is looking for a young, hungry, loan signing. The long season cliche is a bit premature I think !

Yes, he is looking, along with many, many, more managers at this point in the season. All want to pick up the right hungry dazzler cheap on loan. I begin to think that maybe now at this late point , the striker signing, ship has sailed, hope i am wrong.

My feeling is that Zanzala will prove to be as good as, and possibly better than, Quigley. If we need another striker, it is probably someone who is more like Sea. Probably more important is to have a midfielder, or someone behind the strikers, who can score goals (yes, I know, a 'Rooney' type ). Wasn't the chap who scored two for Harrogate today a midfield player?

[Jonty]

It’s not just about the striker. All our goals this season have come from players at that end. We need other players stepping in and scoring and if that second evades us we need to get better defensively.