Going Loco

[barrowfan]

Remember that Wilkie bloke tried encouraging locals. That didn't work did it !

No it didn't did it?

Peter McDonnell,
Glen Skivington,
Tony Chilton,
Billy Gilmour,
Kevin Proctor,
Neil Doherty,
Ian Burgess,
Colin Cowperthwaite,
Kenny Gordon,
Lee Copeland,
Stuart Todhunter,
Gary Messenger,
Jimmy Capstick.

All from Cumbria, and all part of the best squad that Barrow ever had.

[Steelworks End]

I'm fairly relaxed on the locals / non-locals issue. As mentioned, Ray Wilkie had a good mix of the two - there was an exceptional group of local players around at the time - but he also made sure that the out-of-towners wanted to play for the club. That was one of his criteria; he didn't want players who were only at Holker Street for the money (which was probably just as well as we didn't have much to spare!). He also made the valid point that, after a bad performance, the out-of-towners could slink off to the anonymity of their home town, whereas the locals had to face up to supporters in the pubs & clubs on a Saturday night.

If the performance centre can identify suitable (National League standard) players, then all well & good, but that really depends on the quality of the lads available, bearing in mind that the best are likely to gravitate to clubs of a higher standard at an early age. Otherwise, the management will have to look elsewhere, with the hope of signing a hidden gem as happened with Jordan Williams. But whoever we sign, the players must want to give their absolute best for the club at all times.

[barrowfan]

But whoever we sign, the players must want to give their absolute best for the club at all times.

Spot on.

I always remember Kenny Gordon saying that the 1990 Trophy winners were 'all one big happy family as a team'. They played for each other and it showed.

That's what we should be aiming for.

[blue nige]

As much as I admire the clamour for locals when procky and Co played that was then this is now no disrespect to those players but the National league now is a different animal to the early nineties etc.
To prove a point look at young bauress he was one of the top players at his level but has found the going really hard.Before anyone says it I would love more locals but we're a long way off that day .

[Steeley]

Newby, newby, Carroll.

Tried this, they got binned off. Who is better and local?

[Wintergreen]

Remember that Wilkie bloke tried encouraging locals. That didn't work did it !

No it didn't did it?

Peter McDonnell,
Glen Skivington,
Tony Chilton,
Billy Gilmour,
Kevin Proctor,
Neil Doherty,
Ian Burgess,
Colin Cowperthwaite,
Kenny Gordon,
Lee Copeland,
Stuart Todhunter,
Gary Messenger,
Jimmy Capstick.

All from Cumbria, and all part of the best squad that Barrow ever had.

Some great players and characters there without a doubt but remember they all had day jobs. Going local means going part-time again I think which of course further supports the going backwards / scaling down / lack of investment evidence. I don't like it either but there it is - for all to see.

[Jonty]

It is a good thing to give the best young local talent an opportunity to progress their development with a route into the first team. To read the article and somehow place it as a downsizing meausure is just typical of the naysayers. We’ve had good local talent previously ie-Jason Walker-you know “the local boy has done it” if they are good enough they should get a chance with Barrow and not slip through the net. That’s it. The new lad Nathan Waterston will now get a chance to develop his career with his hometown club and will benefit enormously with learning from Pennock and Holt and other senior players around him.

[liverpoolann]

So, we are going to bring in more local players according to Pennock; a very interesting development is this. http://www.nwemail.co.uk/sport/barrow-a ... af97267-ds.

If you wanted more proof of going backwards / scaling down / lack of investment this would be it. I’ve thought for some time that his might be the long term future for us but didn’t want to say as much on here. I predicted last year that the Trust would be running the club within five years and have seen nothing to make me change my mind – quite the contrary.

As well as a team with several locals in I also think we might be sharing Craven Park with our sporting brothers as the owner tries to re-coup cash by selling the FBSS plot. Alternatively, someone with real money and intent might come forward in the interim. Dull it aint.

I have been reading other people expressing a wish for more local talent to be found and selected to play for us.Now the manager has said it is one of the aims it is taking as sign of cost cutting.Sounds to me you are a glass always half empty person don’t be so negative.

[liverpoolann]

Oh no, Pedro has hijacked Wintergreens account

I think the penny is dropping with alot of people.
The guys had his time in the limelight ,TV, National Papers,Local Radio.
Last year he failed to invest to get us promotion in January ,this January he has failed to invest to push us away from the relegation zone which I think he wants us to fall through the league's so he can get rid of Holker Street.
I honestly believe you would run a reserve team to bring locals through but we have been promised this for years but it's never happened
Paul Ogden could have assisted as you are all aware he was promoted to the vital role ,what happened to him.
Casson is reducing costs as much as possible
He is a businessman and this Project is over.
You can have as many meet the Owner as you like or now Junior,promise a new stadium,a team to get us into the league,, a commercial set up etc.
But really of any of the aims he set has he achieved?

Sing us another one just like the other one sing us another one do.(or turn record over please)

[Wintergreen]

So, we are going to bring in more local players according to Pennock; a very interesting development is this. http://www.nwemail.co.uk/sport/barrow-a ... af97267-ds.

If you wanted more proof of going backwards / scaling down / lack of investment this would be it. I’ve thought for some time that his might be the long term future for us but didn’t want to say as much on here. I predicted last year that the Trust would be running the club within five years and have seen nothing to make me change my mind – quite the contrary.

As well as a team with several locals in I also think we might be sharing Craven Park with our sporting brothers as the owner tries to re-coup cash by selling the FBSS plot. Alternatively, someone with real money and intent might come forward in the interim. Dull it aint.

I have been reading other people expressing a wish for more local talent to be found and selected to play for us.Now the manager has said it is one of the aims it is taking as sign of cost cutting.Sounds to me you are a glass always half empty person don’t be so negative.

We approached Lincoln's top scorer with a decent offer in recent times, now we are recruiting local part-time or amateur players. Is that me being negative or lying or having to state the naked truth?

[Big E]

Damned if we do, damned if we don't ....

[Moribund]

I have been reading other people expressing a wish for more local talent to be found and selected to play for us.Now the manager has said it is one of the aims it is taking as sign of cost cutting.Sounds to me you are a glass always half empty person don’t be so negative.

We approached Lincoln's top scorer with a decent offer in recent times, now we are recruiting local part-time or amateur players. Is that me being negative or lying or having to state the naked truth?

We've also signed up an ex-Premier League forward. What exactly is your point?

At one point we were spunking way above the odds for players, now we seem to be reigning it in a little. But you'd rather we keep chucking good money after bad, just to maintain the illusion that we're progressing?

The overall wage bill now will be just about in line with whatever it was at its highest, so comparing Nathan Waterston and Matt Rhead is a fallacy.

[Wintergreen]

We approached Lincoln's top scorer with a decent offer in recent times, now we are recruiting local part-time or amateur players. Is that me being negative or lying or having to state the naked truth?

We've also signed up an ex-Premier League forward. What exactly is your point?

My point is I was accused of being 'negative' and a 'naysayer' whereas I thought I was commenting on the club's new direction re player recruitment.

[Moribund]

We've also signed up an ex-Premier League forward. What exactly is your point?

My point is I was accused of being 'negative' and a 'naysayer' whereas I thought I was commenting on the club's new direction re player recruitment.

But to pick out Waterston from a list that includes the likes of Holt, James x2, Walters, Cook, Arnold etc to use as your example doesn't tell the whole story does it?

You can't pick and choose who you want to use to prove your point - the other signings don't hint that our recruitment is "going backwards".

[Wintergreen]

My point is I was accused of being 'negative' and a 'naysayer' whereas I thought I was commenting on the club's new direction re player recruitment.

But to pick out Waterston from a list that includes the likes of Holt, James x2, Walters, Cook, Arnold etc to use as your example doesn't tell the whole story does it?

You can't pick and choose who you want to use to prove your point - the other signings don't hint that our recruitment is "going backwards".

I haven't mentioned Waterston - I am commenting on the club's new strategy, then being accused of negativity.