Barrow AFC.net

Jonty wrote: ↑Thu Jan 01, 2026 8:53 pm Just watched the goals. We've got Whitfield trying to defend and stop a cross in a right back position for the first and the classic Barrow leave ourselves wide open to the counter for the second.

Last ditch blocks saved our blushes on three or four occasions. The vulnerabilities of switching off in defence are a real concern we are as you said wide open in games far too often and have been for a large chunk of the season.

Jonty wrote: ↑Thu Jan 01, 2026 8:54 pm

Toid wrote: ↑Thu Jan 01, 2026 8:25 pm Worrying if its Gallagher and hes sat there today and let them shambolic subs take place without having an input

Maybe he did have an input, maybe it was his decisions.

Or maybe he was overruled

Steeley wrote: ↑Thu Jan 01, 2026 8:09 pm Another game we’ve conceded 2 goals

Correct. For all the talk of no mythical 20 goals a season striker you don’t see many games won 3v2 every week anyway. Need to be hard to score against, whatever magic Rob Kelly does when he’s here

The booing at the end was poor tonight, we played really well, by far the better team but just couldn’t find the net to kill the game off.

That being said, you could see immediately in the second half that Robinson realised the high ball behind Williams and Raglan was catching them out for their lack of pace and that’s how they scored the winner. That’s the difference a good manager makes, hopefully the board saw the same…

HenneysKnee wrote: ↑Thu Jan 01, 2026 9:13 pm

Steeley wrote: ↑Thu Jan 01, 2026 8:09 pm Another game we’ve conceded 2 goals

Correct. For all the talk of no mythical 20 goals a season striker you don’t see many games won 3v2 every week anyway. Need to be hard to score against, whatever magic Rob Kelly does when he’s here

Drawing with one of the better sides in the league at the 80 minute mark you prioritise not losing. In a relegation battle ffs.

Steeley wrote: ↑Thu Jan 01, 2026 9:49 pm

HenneysKnee wrote: ↑Thu Jan 01, 2026 9:13 pm

Correct. For all the talk of no mythical 20 goals a season striker you don’t see many games won 3v2 every week anyway. Need to be hard to score against, whatever magic Rob Kelly does when he’s here

Drawing with one of the better sides in the league at the 80 minute mark you prioritise not losing. In a relegation battle ffs.

This….exactly.

At 1-1 (before the substitutions) we looked more than capable of getting the point - if not a winner. The absolutely bizarre crazy mad substitutions cost us today, without a doubt. Can’t blame the players who did ok really but they can’t be blamed for ridiculous changes during the game!
Surely that’s the final nail in NMcs managerial career at Barrow.

Still shaking my head at what he did.

SilverdaleBluebird wrote: ↑Thu Jan 01, 2026 9:14 pm The booing at the end was poor tonight, we played really well, by far the better team but just couldn’t find the net to kill the game off.

That being said, you could see immediately in the second half that Robinson realised the high ball behind Williams and Raglan was catching them out for their lack of pace and that’s how they scored the winner. That’s the difference a good manager makes, hopefully the board saw the same…

I kind of take your point but just about any manager would know that we currently have a ponderous defence, and it's easier to be a good manager when you've got the likes of Cole Stockton, Fabio Borini and Luke Garbutt at your disposal even at this stage in their careers.

BarrowLad71 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 01, 2026 8:11 pm

blue nige wrote: ↑Thu Jan 01, 2026 5:59 pm

Get what you're saying but if the players love a manager doesn't sound good, he might have different ideas compared to Whing but there’s more to management than that and he’s managed no one !

He’s got the same experience at Ian Evatt , not a lot other than few caretaker roles. Half the battle of any team is getting players to run through brick walls for managers you do that it’ll take you halfway - further than we are now.

We were in non league with nothing to lose and everything to gain you can't even compare our situation now as was then ,so yes it's a massive gamble and pressure that Evatt didn't have to face !

blue nige wrote: ↑Thu Jan 01, 2026 11:25 pm

BarrowLad71 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 01, 2026 8:11 pm

He’s got the same experience at Ian Evatt , not a lot other than few caretaker roles. Half the battle of any team is getting players to run through brick walls for managers you do that it’ll take you halfway - further than we are now.

We were in non league with nothing to lose and everything to gain you can't even compare our situation now as was then ,so yes it's a massive gamble and pressure that Evatt didn't have to face !

Completely agree Nige, but is every management appointment at this level not a risk? Look at how many we’ve been through , I think that answers the question. For me there is nobody else putting their hand up to take this on at this current time that is a nailed yes we would take him in a heartbeat kind of manager , or it would’ve been done a week.

Gallagher does not have the management experience proven agreed , but who knows he’s got to start somewhere. The players are responding to him , so maybe it’s worth a shot.

If it does not work we’ll sack him in 8 games like Jolley!

Cokey wrote: ↑Thu Jan 01, 2026 5:52 pm His kicking was all over the place too.

Loved the Dior Angus comment from the Tranmere game, along the lines of:

"It always amazes me that keepers have the whole pitch to aim at - and still they manage to kick it out..."

blue nige wrote: ↑Thu Jan 01, 2026 6:16 pm The way we sign forwards it wouldn't surprise me if we signed Jason Walker!

He WAS there yesterday, along with Cowps,
Coincidence - I think not.

tommy2thumbs wrote: ↑Fri Jan 02, 2026 9:27 am

blue nige wrote: ↑Thu Jan 01, 2026 6:16 pm The way we sign forwards it wouldn't surprise me if we signed Jason Walker!

He WAS there yesterday, along with Cowps,
Coincidence - I think not.

Jonty wrote: ↑Thu Jan 01, 2026 8:54 pm

Toid wrote: ↑Thu Jan 01, 2026 8:25 pm Worrying if its Gallagher and hes sat there today and let them shambolic subs take place without having an input

Maybe he did have an input, maybe it was his decisions.

Agree with both comments if he's taking charge surely he will have had an equal say or does it just sum up where we are as a club?

It’s possible that the club is looking for the least expensive way to go forward, and in many ways I understand this in view of the money that the board has pumped in.

Perhaps they think that if McDonald keeps us in the EFL, he will have done his job, and then they might start looking for a permanent manager in the summer.

I have to say, though it’s a massive gamble.

bluessupporter wrote: ↑Fri Jan 02, 2026 10:25 am Perhaps they think that if McDonald keeps us in the EFL, he will have done his job, and then they might start looking for a permanent manager in the summer.

Completely see your point; and I also very much agree it’s what the club appear to be wanting to happen. But say Gallagher and McDonald do keep us up (mainly at the moment by virtue of at least two others also losing most weeks) would they not just keep them? They’ve done their job then, they’d probably have to stay, then if we get off to a bad start next season it’s sacking time and here we go yet again…..