Page 7 of 10
Re: Barrow v Cheltenham
Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2025 11:14 am
by russell_anderson
Matty wrote: ↑Sat Dec 20, 2025 8:45 am
A lot of things that we have been screaming for were in the way we played last night. Barkhuizen and Whitfield played like proper wingers, staying wide, taking on full backs and getting good crosses in, two of which should have been put away by Gordon. The opposite wingers attacking the far post as proven by the goal. Two strikers supporting one another.
I was fairly confident before last night we had enough quality in squad to be competitive and it was a case of taking the shackles off. Now I'm not so sure.
Whitfield and Barkhuizen were outstanding playing as wingers last night. However, if they are being played as wingers you have to play 4-4-2 not with 3 at the back as we did particularly as none of the 3 are quick and and Shipley is error prone. That is a managerial error. Granted we don't have a decent back 4 but, at least, by playing a back 4 we have a couple of defenders who should be somewhere near the opposition wide players and able to stop some of the crosses coming in.
Re: Barrow v Cheltenham
Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2025 11:29 am
by MisterPleasant
russell_anderson wrote: ↑Sat Dec 20, 2025 11:14 am
Matty wrote: ↑Sat Dec 20, 2025 8:45 am
A lot of things that we have been screaming for were in the way we played last night. Barkhuizen and Whitfield played like proper wingers, staying wide, taking on full backs and getting good crosses in, two of which should have been put away by Gordon. The opposite wingers attacking the far post as proven by the goal. Two strikers supporting one another.
I was fairly confident before last night we had enough quality in squad to be competitive and it was a case of taking the shackles off. Now I'm not so sure.
Whitfield and Barkhuizen were outstanding playing as wingers last night. However, if they are being played as wingers you have to play 4-4-2 not with 3 at the back as we did particularly as none of the 3 are quick and and Shipley is error prone. That is a managerial error. Granted we don't have a decent back 4 but, at least, by playing a back 4 we have a couple of defenders who should be somewhere near the opposition wide players and able to stop some of the crosses coming in.
We adopted 4-4-2 for the first 20 minutes against Gillingham and got ripped to shreds. Reverting to 3-5-2 (credit to Neil McDonald for that) we got a foothold in the game and got the draw.
Re: Barrow v Cheltenham
Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2025 11:50 am
by Tony
Wintergreen wrote: ↑Sat Dec 20, 2025 9:04 am
As stated above, woeful finishing of the chances we did create last night cost us dearly. The lack of goals is the main problem for us of course and we desperately need a swash-buckling centre forward. Is there are a shortage of swashes or maybe a lack of bucklers to pass on their skills? Let's hope the Wizards of BoDs can find us one come January.
Could we get Andy Cooke back on loan?
Re: Barrow v Cheltenham
Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2025 11:53 am
by Cromwell58
If it was Easter period I would be worried, we have time to turn it round but not with the players we have. They were excellent first half hour but dire the last 20 minutes.
Re: Barrow v Cheltenham
Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2025 11:59 am
by Jonty
I’m gonna say first 20 minutes is everything we wanted to see from a Barrow side, playing on the front foot, forcing corners, getting the ball out wide and getting deliveries into the box. It was a bright start but lacked the all important breakthrough. Cheltenham to their credit, were organised enough to deal with Gordon and Hemmings.
Everything is compounded by our league position, being managerless and a low crowd. If we had been pumped 3 or 4 nil I’d be feeling a lot more concerned this morning, but that doesn't alter that fact we didn’t do enough to secure at least a point,
We do need to bring in some quality in January.
Re: Barrow v Cheltenham
Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2025 12:08 pm
by bluessupporter
Pedro wrote: ↑Sat Dec 20, 2025 12:33 am
The Director of Football must take a lot of blame but that can be sorted at the end of the season. We are in the last chance saloon.
He needs to go NOW or be told by the rest of the Board to stop interfering with playing matters.
Re: Barrow v Cheltenham
Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2025 12:09 pm
by olbarrafancumbak
Thought there was a clear improvement and we looked like a team.
We also got more than one half out of them too.
They played with a bit of intensity but we just lack someone who can finish and that's the nature of the game.. score more than them and despite the criticism of the defence, we could have and should have been ahead.
Low crowd, more so the fact it was black eye Friday, it being a Friday and also being so close to Xmas! Yes, some folk stay away when on a poor run, that's kind of understandable.
We are half way through the season, a hell of a lot of points to play for, so being rational I don't think it's quite panic stations.
Neil has definitely improved the play and IF we had someone who knows how to hit the back of the net, I think we will be ok.
Side note.. can anyone really see Darren Ferguson wanting to come here? Is he even the right man?
Re: Barrow v Cheltenham
Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2025 12:20 pm
by farington blue
There's so much needed in January that I just hope Wood and Harvey have plans in place?
A right back, right sided central defender, and centre forward are non-negotiable.
Lets get some physicality into the team as well and start winning some challenges.
Oh, and one last wish as it's Christmas.....a quality loan signing.
If we mange that I'm confident we'll stay up comfortably. But if we don't.....
Re: Barrow v Cheltenham
Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2025 12:26 pm
by Methuselah
olbarrafancumbak wrote: ↑Sat Dec 20, 2025 12:09 pm
Thought there was a clear improvement and we looked like a team.
We also got more than one half out of them too.
They played with a bit of intensity but we just lack someone who can finish and that's the nature of the game.. score more than them and despite the criticism of the defence, we could have and should have been ahead.
Low crowd, more so the fact it was black eye Friday, it being a Friday and also being so close to Xmas! Yes, some folk stay away when on a poor run, that's kind of understandable.
We are half way through the season, a hell of a lot of points to play for, so being rational I don't think it's quite panic stations.
Neil has definitely improved the play and IF we had someone who knows how to hit the back of the net, I think we will be ok.
Side note.. can anyone really see Darren Ferguson wanting to come here? Is he even the right man?
Have to agree with all of the above.We were excellent in the first half but it,s blatantly obvious that we need a big aggressive guy up front who can get on the end of at least one if those crosses last night.We definitely also need to sort our defence out.We used to have one of the best defences in the league but it,s now all over the place.I felt really sorry for Ben Whitfield last night after such a brilliant display only to be let down by our defenders who don,t seem to have a clue of how to close the opposition down and keep leaving gaps for them to run into.Something needs to change and fast.
Re: Barrow v Cheltenham
Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2025 12:27 pm
by MisterPleasant
bluessupporter wrote: ↑Sat Dec 20, 2025 12:08 pm
Pedro wrote: ↑Sat Dec 20, 2025 12:33 am
The Director of Football must take a lot of blame but that can be sorted at the end of the season. We are in the last chance saloon.
He needs to go NOW or be told by the rest of the Board to stop interfering with playing matters.
What evidence do you have that he interferes with playing matters?
Re: Barrow v Cheltenham
Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2025 12:34 pm
by WalneyOne
MisterPleasant wrote: ↑Sat Dec 20, 2025 11:29 am
russell_anderson wrote: ↑Sat Dec 20, 2025 11:14 am
Whitfield and Barkhuizen were outstanding playing as wingers last night. However, if they are being played as wingers you have to play 4-4-2 not with 3 at the back as we did particularly as none of the 3 are quick and and Shipley is error prone. That is a managerial error. Granted we don't have a decent back 4 but, at least, by playing a back 4 we have a couple of defenders who should be somewhere near the opposition wide players and able to stop some of the crosses coming in.
We adopted 4-4-2 for the first 20 minutes against Gillingham and got ripped to shreds. Reverting to 3-5-2 (credit to Neil McDonald for that) we got a foothold in the game and got the draw.
What about 3 4 3 with Whits and Barks wide of Gordon or even a proper CF?
Re: Barrow v Cheltenham
Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2025 12:37 pm
by Hendoblue
Jonty wrote: ↑Sat Dec 20, 2025 9:47 am
Innes Cameron- isn’t he supposed to be the big man up front to get on the end of these crosses.
As handsome as he is, he’s destined for the regionals.
Re: Barrow v Cheltenham
Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2025 12:42 pm
by tommy2thumbs
Tony wrote: ↑Sat Dec 20, 2025 11:50 am
Could we get Andy Cooke back on loan?
Legs have gone
Re: Barrow v Cheltenham
Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2025 1:13 pm
by bluessupporter
MisterPleasant wrote: ↑Sat Dec 20, 2025 12:27 pm
bluessupporter wrote: ↑Sat Dec 20, 2025 12:08 pm
He needs to go NOW or be told by the rest of the Board to stop interfering with playing matters.
What evidence do you have that he interferes with playing matters?
What evidence do you have that he doesn’
Why do you think Wild left ?
Re: Barrow v Cheltenham
Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2025 1:21 pm
by Main Stand SeasonTct
bluessupporter wrote: ↑Sat Dec 20, 2025 1:13 pm
MisterPleasant wrote: ↑Sat Dec 20, 2025 12:27 pm
What evidence do you have that he interferes with playing matters?
What evidence do you have that he doesn’
Why do you think Wild left ?
Wilds leaving is subject to an NDA so only those parties involved know and are bound by the NDA not to discuss it with anyone. As for Woods interference like has been said what's your evidence? Folk keep shouting out about him but it's only ever words no actual evidence to back it up. He is just being used as a scapegoat IMO. and quite frankly it's tiresome and boring.