Barrow v Cambridge United, match thread

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Main Stand SeasonTct
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Re: Barrow v Cambridge United, match thread

Post by Main Stand SeasonTct » Sun Nov 23, 2025 10:31 am

Jonty wrote: Sun Nov 23, 2025 10:11 am
Not sure if the new team thing can still be used 17 games in. I would say we have got some results when we have only been good in spells and we have got away with some, largely down to some great performances from Stanway. Never see players barking orders on the pitch, they never look to each other after a goal is conceded, or showing frustration at missing a chance or being subbed off. You need that extra edge on the pitch competitively.
The body language from the players was awful. On two occasions when a trainer was on the opportunity to gather around the coaching team on the touchline was there but players just stood around in various parts of the pitch.
Personally I think Whing has lost the dressing room and I thought that before Rob Kelly came in but his addition definitely got a spark out of the squad. Since his departure we appear to have reverted back to how we were before he came in.
I do believe we have a decent squad who are more than capable of surviving in this league but sadly yesterday’s performance told me the players have no belief in what the manager is trying to do.
I like Whing as a person he gets the club the town and the fans but sadly he and his assistant appear out of there depth and for the good of the club and the wellbeing of Andy Whing he needs to be let go

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Re: Barrow v Cambridge United, match thread

Post by blue nige » Sun Nov 23, 2025 10:35 am

Bluebirdboy wrote: Sun Nov 23, 2025 9:27 am If we are being completely honest we need to remember this team is a brand new set up from the start of the season we just need to trust the process of whing and the team will start to gel more eventually whing is the manager at the end of the day he is the decision maker with what he wants from his team it’s his first full season at barrow he gave us amazing form before we lost to Bromley it’s just our heads slip once we’ve lost game then form drops Abit but after a couple of games we pick our form back up yes yesterday was disappointing and we didn’t look like scoring we need to be patient there’s teams losing every week in and out and that’s not what we are doing at the moment trust process
UP THE BLUEBIRDS🔵
I'm sorry this is delusional!, I can't remember apart from Preston when we actually attacked a team at home, the football is to avoid defeat then change it and maybe get a win !, it's only been poor finishing and Stanways brilliance then has helped us to actually win games!
Process what Process, there's no game plan, as someone previously said Hemmings started to press while others stood around!
Time after time play breaks up because there's no running off the ball so we aimlessly punt it up front where it inevitably comes straight back!
We rarely get bodies into the penalty area because we're so deep!
Just what do people think is going to change?
To have Barkhuizen ( when fit) Whitfield and Newby playing in defence is criminal they're the only decent attacking player's we have!
Whing plays a back 3 which if done right and the ball moved quickly can be really effective BUT we pass it around and any attacking options then break down so we then end up with everyone behind the ball, keep playing like this can anyone hand on heart see us getting another 30 points under Whing because I can't!
Whing is a decent guy but it's not about his personality it's his tactical knowhow and motivational skills and how his substitutions change games!
I'll support Barrow whatever league we're in but I can’t support this antifootball served up by Whing, the player's looked dejected and not motivated so there's something seriously wrong after listening to any of Whings interviews I can’t imagine any of his team talks to be Churchillian Standard ! ( younger fans might not get that)!

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Re: Barrow v Cambridge United, match thread

Post by blue nige » Sun Nov 23, 2025 10:38 am

Main Stand SeasonTct wrote: Sun Nov 23, 2025 10:31 am
Jonty wrote: Sun Nov 23, 2025 10:11 am
Not sure if the new team thing can still be used 17 games in. I would say we have got some results when we have only been good in spells and we have got away with some, largely down to some great performances from Stanway. Never see players barking orders on the pitch, they never look to each other after a goal is conceded, or showing frustration at missing a chance or being subbed off. You need that extra edge on the pitch competitively.
The body language from the players was awful. On two occasions when a trainer was on the opportunity to gather around the coaching team on the touchline was there but players just stood around in various parts of the pitch.
Personally I think Whing has lost the dressing room and I thought that before Rob Kelly came in but his addition definitely got a spark out of the squad. Since his departure we appear to have reverted back to how we were before he came in.
I do believe we have a decent squad who are more than capable of surviving in this league but sadly yesterday’s performance told me the players have no belief in what the manager is trying to do.
I like Whing as a person he gets the club the town and the fans but sadly he and his assistant appear out of there depth and for the good of the club and the wellbeing of Andy Whing he needs to be let go
Yes totally agree!

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Re: Barrow v Cambridge United, match thread

Post by jeff1966 » Sun Nov 23, 2025 10:41 am

Home form is an absolute killer. I’m sure some statto can get it on here but including last 3 home games last season it’s around 3 wins in almost 8 months.

Managers have to talk the talk and say yeh I’m here to produce exciting performances etc but Andy looks scared of his own shadow. How anyone can justify paying £22 to watch that yesterday. I don’t think we will go down just in for a very tepid season

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Re: Barrow v Cambridge United, match thread

Post by tommy2thumbs » Sun Nov 23, 2025 10:47 am

Rushy wrote: Sat Nov 22, 2025 6:10 pm ... having a conversation with a supporter who was leaving the main stand.
The fan who said to AW that he has "one more game before he can F off"?
La lucha continua...

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Re: Barrow v Cambridge United, match thread

Post by Blue Bayou » Sun Nov 23, 2025 10:51 am

LCBAFC40 wrote: Sun Nov 23, 2025 9:22 am Biggest game of the season away to Newport now, lose that and we are truly up shits creek !
[/qu

Can write the script now for the Newport County game - Christian Fuchs is their new manager!

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Re: Barrow v Cambridge United, match thread

Post by WillBAFC » Sun Nov 23, 2025 11:00 am

As others have noticed, it’s glaringly obvious that we are terrified of losing (which, of course, causes us to do so). The players play with fear and no energy about them. I do believe that we have the players to stay in this league, but currently our set up and total lack of self belief is killing us.

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Re: Barrow v Cambridge United, match thread

Post by bluessupporter » Sun Nov 23, 2025 11:25 am

Regardless of the staying up argument the important thing is what was said earlier about paying £22 to watch such awful performances.

Eventually those floating supporters will stop attending and the owners will see the income drop, and it's not sustainable for them to keep footing the bill for such terrible performances.

If a play in the West End was getting terrible reviews would you go and watch it?

If things don't improve the same will happen at Holker Street.

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Re: Barrow v Cambridge United, match thread

Post by Cromwell58 » Sun Nov 23, 2025 11:33 am

Can not just blame the manager the players need to look at themselves, get a win at Newport and something at Wigan then the mood will change.

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Re: Barrow v Cambridge United, match thread

Post by Tallow » Sun Nov 23, 2025 11:40 am

Sacking managers every season doesn't come cheap and never works.
If you lose Whing, the new guy would have the same squad and finances to work with.
I don't know how long Whing has a contract for, but like all managers, he should be judged at the end of it.
Looking from the outside, you'se have a decent manager.

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Re: Barrow v Cambridge United, match thread

Post by Main Stand SeasonTct » Sun Nov 23, 2025 11:59 am

Tallow wrote: Sun Nov 23, 2025 11:40 am Sacking managers every season doesn't come cheap and never works.
If you lose Whing, the new guy would have the same squad and finances to work with.
I don't know how long Whing has a contract for, but like all managers, he should be judged at the end of it.
Looking from the outside, you'se have a decent manager.
Whing is a decent guy but sadly not a decent coach or tactician imo, We have good players who coached better and set up tactically better are more than capable of holding their own in league 2. It’s not a question of can we afford to get rid it’s a question of can we afford not to. The body language of the players yesterday said it all.

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Re: Barrow v Cambridge United, match thread

Post by bluessupporter » Sun Nov 23, 2025 12:20 pm

Main Stand SeasonTct wrote: Sun Nov 23, 2025 11:59 am

Whing is a decent guy but sadly not a decent coach or tactician imo, We have good players who coached better and set up tactically better are more than capable of holding their own in league 2. It’s not a question of can we afford to get rid it’s a question of can we afford not to. The body language of the players yesterday said it all.
To back this up it there was a noticeable improvement when 'his assistant' came in and a dip when he left.

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Re: Barrow v Cambridge United, match thread

Post by Scott5 » Sun Nov 23, 2025 12:28 pm

Nice guy maybe but so were Clemence and Dunn...

I haven't seen a lot of matches this season but there's no balance to the squad, no proper right sided full back or wing back.
That was always going to be an issue, Whitfield and Barkhuizen on their day could be two of the best attacking players/wingers in the league but are being totally wasted and it exploits their weaknesses, we even had Mahoney at times yesterday coming back to defend.
We are too easy to play through at times and that's down to the manager, the first goal yesterday epitomised that. No organisation and leadership after that we are a team of mutes, that comes from the manager who never once got the players over - even when Mahoney was down for 2-3 minutes.

We were hampered by the loss of Campbell, Spence and Gotts which were always going to be hard boots to fill but Booty was way off it and had to be loaned out, Smith should follow and Harper yesterday looked like he was running with lead in his boots and missed a sitter before he was spared. Only McCann has looked anywhere near good enough in that area. Overall our signings have been poor - Cameron another that needs to follow, Walker a crock...

Cambridge were no great shakes but every team we play we seem to set up in awe of them and sit back, think Swindon, Bristol, yesterday we wait until behind to have a go....why? There's an obvious lack of confidence in some players in not wanting to show for the ball which happens when results aren't great but even when they do try and play, there's little movement in front of them or seemingly any idea or real game plan.

Something has to change as fans will vote with their feet and probably already have looking at yesterday, it can't go on like this.
The unbeaten run (with Kelly there) papered over a few cracks I think more than anything, there were a lot of draws in there but we were grittier and harder to beat. It's not all on Whing but ultimately he's the manager and something has to change fast...Newport next week wont be easy as they're under a new manager. Another defeat there and he's gone I would say. Wigan is a free hit.

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Re: Barrow v Cambridge United, match thread

Post by Wintergreen » Sun Nov 23, 2025 12:55 pm

Scott5 wrote: Sun Nov 23, 2025 12:28 pm Nice guy maybe but so were Clemence and Dunn...

I haven't seen a lot of matches this season but there's no balance to the squad, no proper right sided full back or wing back.
Had to laugh yesterday when our lacklustre right-sided players couldn't even foul their winger when he set up the second goal!
We will foller the soccer, over land and sea...

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Re: Barrow v Cambridge United, match thread

Post by Scott5 » Sun Nov 23, 2025 1:28 pm

Wintergreen wrote: Sun Nov 23, 2025 12:55 pm
Scott5 wrote: Sun Nov 23, 2025 12:28 pm Nice guy maybe but so were Clemence and Dunn...

I haven't seen a lot of matches this season but there's no balance to the squad, no proper right sided full back or wing back.
Had to laugh yesterday when our lacklustre right-sided players couldn't even foul their winger when he set up the second goal!
Yep that was criminal Raglan and Jackson both had chances to take him out for a yellow and still missed! Summed us up all day really!

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