Mansfield - Barrow AFC - Game Thread

[mally]

The darkest hour is the one before the Dawn.

[barrowaberdeen]

I'm not sure, I just mean that ever dwindling, negative crowds at home will not help. I don't blame anyone for feeling that way and sacking it, but it won't help us stay up.

It was just before I moved to Barrow, but I am often told of the tremendous support for what what was essentially a pretty poor team Shane Westley managed to keep up (even though we were punted by the F.A) after everything imploded with Vaughan.

I generally don't like 'rallying cry' type posts as surely on here we are preaching to the converted, but to stay up we will need to win most of the dull, attritional games coming up at home against the sides who are as poor as we are.

We can either have this played in near silence in front of 850 frustrated souls except for howling at every Ruthers mistake etc, or we can accept our limitations for now and try to get a bit of an atmosphere going, with a combination of the hostility of the Macc Cup game and way the ground got behind the team in the second half against Luton.

We need to try to make it as cheap as possible to get folk in the ground and also travelling too, as it's a struggle for many at the moment. When we get over a thousand in HS the atmosphere is a lot better. Away two seasons ago, we went to Southport in a bit of trouble, went behind, but fought our way back into it with the constant backing from the away end. You can't win games off the park but you can affect the resolve of the players on it.

[mally]

I'm not sure, I just mean that ever dwindling, negative crowds at home will not help. I don't blame anyone for feeling that way and sacking it, but it won't help us stay up.

It was just before I moved to Barrow, but I am often told of the tremendous support for what what was essentially a pretty poor team Shane Westley managed to keep up (even though we were punted by the F.A) after everything imploded with Vaughan.

I generally don't like 'rallying cry' type posts as surely on here we are preaching to the converted, but to stay up we will need to win most of the dull, attritional games coming up at home against the sides who are as poor as we are.

We can either have this played in near silence in front of 850 frustrated souls except for howling at every Ruthers mistake etc, or we can accept our limitations for now and try to get a bit of an atmosphere going, with a combination of the hostility of the Macc Cup game and way the ground got behind the team in the second half against Luton.

We need to try to make it as cheap as possible to get folk in the ground and also travelling too, as it's a struggle for many at the moment. When we get over a thousand in HS the atmosphere is a lot better. Away two seasons ago, we went to Southport in a bit of trouble, went behind, but fought our way back into it with the constant backing from the away end. You can't win games off the park but you can affect the resolve of the players on it.

Agree with everything you say,but when you look at the nice comment on Lee Mcevilly from a Mansfield fan,the biggest damage will come from Barrow people themselves,by that I don't mean people who go to Holker Street,I am on about the people who cant wait to see us go under,and believe me there are plenty of them out there,indeed they are at it now on the Evening Mail website with sniping and poisonous remarks.Last night while in pubs around the town the attitude I encountered to the defeat was one of downright nastiness and no sympathy at all.As you say,it is up to us now to do all we possibly can to pull us through this.I for one will carry on buying my Wilkie stand ticket even though I am at work on shift when the soccer are at home a lot of the time,I don't want a pat on the back for that its just my-or was my- personal way of doing my bit.

[barrowaberdeen]

Yep, I heard about what it was like in town last night too.

Forget floating fans etc, just let's crack on.

[Bluebirdbaz]

8-1!? The players should be ashamed of themselves! absolute EMBARRASSMENT!!

[pjdaly]

On November 30th 1963 I remember sitting transfixed in front of the grainy old black and white T.V as the legendary Len Martin read out the classifieds on Grandstand and, as the screen scrolled to Division 4, the scoreline “Aldershot 8 Barrow 2” flashed before my eyes. I can recall the profound sense of shock. How could my team have let 8 goals in? I may be wrong but I think yesterday might be the first time since that day, long ago, that we shipped 8 in a game. Stattos correct me if I am wrong please. I know there have been a few 7’s, most famously in our final game in the Football League when we slumped to a 7-1 debacle away at Exeter.

I believe (like Reg in an earlier post) that there is something more to this than just a question of ability. I feel there has to be a question mark over attitudes. I feel I am taking a liberty because I normally avoid passing comment on games I have not seen but, having listened on the radio yesterday, and backed by countless examples that I have witnessed all season long I do question the application of at least some of the team and particularly the defence. Why do so many crosses come in? Why do our central defenders seem incapable of marking opponents? It’s beyond a joke that the lessons do not seem to have been learned still, after the failings have repeated themselves over and over again during this campaign. However, the most damning indictment, and the event which most strongly leads me to conclude that there is a problem with attitudes, comes with the recall of what happened only seven days earlier. Against Luton we were pinned back for much of that match (and nearly all the second half) and yet they barely had a sight of goal. Why? Because every one of our players applied themselves utterly and completely to the cause and concentrated totally on tight marking, staying with runners, closing down etc. That tells me more than anything that we can do it when we really apply ourselves and that only leaves attitude as the real culprit. I am not saying we are great here, I am merely saying I think we have enough, ability-wise, to escape the bottom 4.

If it is attitude then it would mean I disagree with Reg’s comment that we are already down. If ability is the sole reason for our problems then, yes, we are down. Ability cannot be transformed overnight, if ever at all. However, with attitude as the problem there is hope. As Mr B. Aberdeen rightly said, “resolve can be affected”. That can be changed and changed quickly. We approach a period in the next few months when Dave Bayliss is going to fail or prove himself as a man-manager. Can he find his inner Brian Clough and cajole the maximum from the players at his disposal? If he can, we will survive.

In a perverse way I can see a positive in an 8-1 defeat. It was always likely we would lose at Mansfield but if we had lost 1-0 (heroically) we might have been patting ourselves on the back. Instead the most humiliating collective kick-up-the-backside has been administered to every one of those players. They will remember it decades from now when they reflect on their professional football careers. Having made a laughing stock of themselves in front of every football follower in the land who looks at that score-line, there is only one possible course of action available to them. And that’s not to have the odd flash 1-0 win over a “big” club like Luton but to show some pride, integrity, determination, passion and total commitment to every one of the 18 games remaining this season. Then they can look back and say “we showed them, after they all thought we were sure to go down”. I’d be tempted to stick up cuttings on the dressing room wall about the 8-1 defeat and leave them there till the end of the season. Would it destroy their confidence? I don’t subscribe to that. After all, we lost 6-1 at Luton and only a few weeks later had the “confidence” to beat them 1-0. I don’t think “confidence” should be overplayed in all this; however I do think “the right attitude” for each and every match does need drumming into them. It’s over to you, Dave. I hope you can rediscover that “Luton spirit” but keep it going for 18 matches. I think the players owe you, as well as all the fans.

Footnote: I remember that 7-1 defeat at Exeter and falling out of the League. I always believed that the 71-72 team had enough ability but I thought the attitude of some of the players was highly questionable. People hate Hereford for taking our place but I think our players could have kept us in that season with a better attitude. I felt some hardly tried.

[snowdog71]

September 2nd 1964:
Workington 9 Barrow 1 (Football League Cup 1st Round)

Our record defeat to date.

[mally]

On November 30th 1963 I remember sitting transfixed in front of the grainy old black and white T.V as the legendary Len Martin read out the classifieds on Grandstand and, as the screen scrolled to Division 4, the scoreline “Aldershot 8 Barrow 2” flashed before my eyes. I can recall the profound sense of shock. How could my team have let 8 goals in? I may be wrong but I think yesterday might be the first time since that day, long ago, that we shipped 8 in a game. Stattos correct me if I am wrong please. I know there have been a few 7’s, most famously in our final game in the Football League when we slumped to a 7-1 debacle away at Exeter.

I believe (like Reg in an earlier post) that there is something more to this than just a question of ability. I feel there has to be a question mark over attitudes. I feel I am taking a liberty because I normally avoid passing comment on games I have not seen but, having listened on the radio yesterday, and backed by countless examples that I have witnessed all season long I do question the application of at least some of the team and particularly the defence. Why do so many crosses come in? Why do our central defenders seem incapable of marking opponents? It’s beyond a joke that the lessons do not seem to have been learned still, after the failings have repeated themselves over and over again during this campaign. However, the most damning indictment, and the event which most strongly leads me to conclude that there is a problem with attitudes, comes with the recall of what happened only seven days earlier. Against Luton we were pinned back for much of that match (and nearly all the second half) and yet they barely had a sight of goal. Why? Because every one of our players applied themselves utterly and completely to the cause and concentrated totally on tight marking, staying with runners, closing down etc. That tells me more than anything that we can do it when we really apply ourselves and that only leaves attitude as the real culprit. I am not saying we are great here, I am merely saying I think we have enough, ability-wise, to escape the bottom 4.
If it is attitude then it would mean I disagree with Reg’s comment that we are already down. If ability is the sole reason for our problems then, yes, we are down. Ability cannot be transformed overnight, if ever at all. However, with attitude as the problem there is hope. As Mr B. Aberdeen rightly said, “resolve can be affected”. That can be changed and changed quickly. We approach a period in the next few months when Dave Bayliss is going to fail or prove himself as a man-manager. Can he find his inner Brian Clough and cajole the maximum from the players at his disposal? If he can, we will survive.

In a perverse way I can see a positive in an 8-1 defeat. It was always likely we would lose at Mansfield but if we had lost 1-0 (heroically) we might have been patting ourselves on the back. Instead the most humiliating collective kick-up-the-backside has been administered to every one of those players. They will remember it decades from now when they reflect on their professional football careers. Having made a laughing stock of themselves in front of every football follower in the land who looks at that score-line, there is only one possible course of action available to them. And that’s not to have the odd flash 1-0 win over a “big” club like Luton but to show some pride, integrity, determination, passion and total commitment to every one of the 18 games remaining this season. Then they can look back and say “we showed them, after they all thought we were sure to go down”. I’d be tempted to stick up cuttings on the dressing room wall about the 8-1 defeat and leave them there till the end of the season. Would it destroy their confidence? I don’t subscribe to that. After all, we lost 6-1 at Luton and only a few weeks later had the “confidence” to beat them 1-0. I don’t think “confidence” should be overplayed in all this; however I do think “the right attitude” for each and every match does need drumming into them. It’s over to you, Dave. I hope you can rediscover that “Luton spirit” but keep it going for 18 matches. I think the players owe you, as well as all the fans.

Footnote: I remember that 7-1 defeat at Exeter and falling out of the League. I always believed that the 71-72 team had enough ability but I thought the attitude of some of the players was highly questionable. People hate Hereford for taking our place but I think our players could have kept us in that season with a better attitude. I felt some hardly tried.

[Three Lie Ins]

September 2nd 1964:
Workington 9 Barrow 1 (Football League Cup 1st Round)

Our record defeat to date.

Odds for new record Grimsby away 30th March?

[snowdog71]

I have now seen Barrow AFC both win 8-1 (Bolden CA, FA Cup 80/81) and lose 8-1, but that certainly won't put me off from travelling to Southport on Tuesday night.

Onwards and upwards towards safety and YES we are capable of doing it, with the current squad and management team!
:flag:

[mally]

On November 30th 1963 I remember sitting transfixed in front of the grainy old black and white T.V as the legendary Len Martin read out the classifieds on Grandstand and, as the screen scrolled to Division 4, the scoreline “Aldershot 8 Barrow 2” flashed before my eyes. I can recall the profound sense of shock. How could my team have let 8 goals in? I may be wrong but I think yesterday might be the first time since that day, long ago, that we shipped 8 in a game. Stattos correct me if I am wrong please. I know there have been a few 7’s, most famously in our final game in the Football League when we slumped to a 7-1 debacle away at Exeter.

I believe (like Reg in an earlier post) that there is something more to this than just a question of ability. I feel there has to be a question mark over attitudes. I feel I am taking a liberty because I normally avoid passing comment on games I have not seen but, having listened on the radio yesterday, and backed by countless examples that I have witnessed all season long I do question the application of at least some of the team and particularly the defence. Why do so many crosses come in? Why do our central defenders seem incapable of marking opponents? It’s beyond a joke that the lessons do not seem to have been learned still, after the failings have repeated themselves over and over again during this campaign. However, the most damning indictment, and the event which most strongly leads me to conclude that there is a problem with attitudes, comes with the recall of what happened only seven days earlier. Against Luton we were pinned back for much of that match (and nearly all the second half) and yet they barely had a sight of goal. Why? Because every one of our players applied themselves utterly and completely to the cause and concentrated totally on tight marking, staying with runners, closing down etc. That tells me more than anything that we can do it when we really apply ourselves and that only leaves attitude as the real culprit. I am not saying we are great here, I am merely saying I think we have enough, ability-wise, to escape the bottom 4.
If it is attitude then it would mean I disagree with Reg’s comment that we are already down. If ability is the sole reason for our problems then, yes, we are down. Ability cannot be transformed overnight, if ever at all. However, with attitude as the problem there is hope. As Mr B. Aberdeen rightly said, “resolve can be affected”. That can be changed and changed quickly. We approach a period in the next few months when Dave Bayliss is going to fail or prove himself as a man-manager. Can he find his inner Brian Clough and cajole the maximum from the players at his disposal? If he can, we will survive.

In a perverse way I can see a positive in an 8-1 defeat. It was always likely we would lose at Mansfield but if we had lost 1-0 (heroically) we might have been patting ourselves on the back. Instead the most humiliating collective kick-up-the-backside has been administered to every one of those players. They will remember it decades from now when they reflect on their professional football careers. Having made a laughing stock of themselves in front of every football follower in the land who looks at that score-line, there is only one possible course of action available to them. And that’s not to have the odd flash 1-0 win over a “big” club like Luton but to show some pride, integrity, determination, passion and total commitment to every one of the 18 games remaining this season. Then they can look back and say “we showed them, after they all thought we were sure to go down”. I’d be tempted to stick up cuttings on the dressing room wall about the 8-1 defeat and leave them there till the end of the season. Would it destroy their confidence? I don’t subscribe to that. After all, we lost 6-1 at Luton and only a few weeks later had the “confidence” to beat them 1-0. I don’t think “confidence” should be overplayed in all this; however I do think “the right attitude” for each and every match does need drumming into them. It’s over to you, Dave. I hope you can rediscover that “Luton spirit” but keep it going for 18 matches. I think the players owe you, as well as all the fans.

Footnote: I remember that 7-1 defeat at Exeter and falling out of the League. I always believed that the 71-72 team had enough ability but I thought the attitude of some of the players was highly questionable. People hate Hereford for taking our place but I think our players could have kept us in that season with a better attitude. I felt some hardly tried.

I remember going to Boston in the dark days of the seventies under the manager at that time called Ron Yeats assisted by Tony Hateley,and getting hammered 8-0.I have tended to try and block those awful memories out down the years so the only players I can recall are Dave Large-a great guy-,and a left full back called Steve Brimlow.I am not sure whether or not Big Ron played,Ian Gill rings a bell as well.

[SKIPPER]

I remember being at a Res.match at HS in the early 60's when the press box phone rang with news of the score at Hartlepool. Hartlepool 10 Barrow 1 was the score. Everyone thought it was a hoax call until we got home and heard the truth on the radio. And we've survived 50 years since.

[snowdog71]

I remember being at a Res.match at HS in the early 60's when the press box phone rang with news of the score at Hartlepool. Hartlepool 10 Barrow 1 was the score. Everyone thought it was a hoax call until we got home and heard the truth on the radio. And we've survived 50 years since.

Beats the 9-1 defeat by Workington then!!!

It was during the 58/59 season that we lost 10-1 away to Hartlepool, the same season that we had managed to beat them 2-0 in the FA Cup 2nd round, helping to set up a bumper 3rd round tie against Wolves.

[snowdog71]

We also lost 9-0 away to Crystal Palace in October 1959.

[Steeley]

I was annoyed at people enjoying the fact we were slaughtered on facebook etc when they havent been near holker street or near whatever football ground they claim to support, BUT when our fans happily take enjoyment mocking the rugby when things go wrong its hard to play victim.