Barrow AFC.net

Nice lad, but how's he getting in this team. Can't pass can't shoot, can't tackle.
Even when ARH is fit he will get picked first. Harvey can tackle better than him.
Has he got some dodgy photos?

We (the fans in general) have said this all year. We've needed a proper defensive midfielder all season yet it hasn't been addressed. Lacey was a decent signing when he was needed for a relegation scrap, now where near good enough for a title fight

boyliegladbach wrote:Nice lad, but how's he getting in this team. Can't pass can't shoot, can't tackle.
Even when ARH is fit he will get picked first. Harvey can tackle better than him.
Has he got some dodgy photos?

Edmo's favourite obviously!!!!!
You can't have those in a footie team and expect to be successful !!

I'm gonna say this, and I'll take the inevitable backlash on the chin....but I think this demonising of Paddy Lacey is unfair. Every time we don't get the right result, he gets pilloried on this forum, whilst other players are spared. Yesterday, unless I was watching a completely different game, he played okay in my opinion, certainly no worse than the players alongside him. The lad will never be a Kenny Lowe, he will be the first to admit that he has had a few bad games, and if we do manage to get promoted, he will most likely be one of several midfielders we will need to move on, but he is no way as bad as a lot of people like to make out. Plenty of other players have had good and bad afternoons this season. Paddy isn't in the team to be prising defences open with precision passes, he's in there to sit in front of the defence and break play up, and bring the so-called more "creative" players into the game. Yesterday, especially in the first half, he did that okay for me. He even managed to get a decent goal-effort on target, something certain other people couldn't manage in 90 minutes. Yes, he did double back several times, went square, went backwards on occasion, but he didn't give the ball away in dangerous positions, and only went long when there was sod all else on for him, and late on when time was running out.
Paddy Lacey does a very similar job to Jay Owen and Robin Hulbert (neither of them were "footballers") and yet they could do no wrong. Yes, he can be frustrating, but the kid is doing his best, and this weekly witch-hunt isn't helping anybody.

Maybe we should sacrifice Paddy, or even more the role he plays, and go out and try and beat the team in front of us?

How Sam Sheridan doesn't start more regularly is beyond me.

For the record Ledsham was no better than Lacey yesterday imo...

Moonwatcher wrote:I'm gonna say this, and I'll take the inevitable backlash on the chin....but I think this demonising of Paddy Lacey is unfair. Every time we don't get the right result, he gets pilloried on this forum, whilst other players are spared. Yesterday, unless I was watching a completely different game, he played okay in my opinion, certainly no worse than the players alongside him. The lad will never be a Kenny Lowe, he will be the first to admit that he has had a few bad games, and if we do manage to get promoted, he will most likely be one of several midfielders we will need to move on, but he is no way as bad as a lot of people like to make out. Plenty of other players have had good and bad afternoons this season. Paddy isn't in the team to be prising defences open with precision passes, he's in there to sit in front of the defence and break play up, and bring the so-called more "creative" players into the game. Yesterday, especially in the first half, he did that okay for me. He even managed to get a decent goal-effort on target, something certain other people couldn't manage in 90 minutes. Yes, he did double back several times, went square, went backwards on occasion, but he didn't give the ball away in dangerous positions, and only went long when there was sod all else on for him, and late on when time was running out.
Paddy Lacey does a very similar job to Jay Owen and Robin Hulbert (neither of them were "footballers") and yet they could do no wrong. Yes, he can be frustrating, but the kid is doing his best, and this weekly witch-hunt isn't helping anybody.

Nothing against the lad personally, he's just not up to the job. Every game I've seen him play - bar a couple of half decent performances, he's been p*** poor all season. Not in the same league as James Owen or a Hulbert in his prime. Not his fault I suppose, management keep picking him, god knows why. Every successfully team has a midfield general & we haven't. Simple !!!!

don`t think it`s right putting paddy`s name as a stand alone thread,he wasn`t on his own yesterday!ledsham was everywhere and nowhere! lewis guy well i think i did more ,shouting from the terracing!

there seemed a lack of commitment from at least half the team,yes they were holding/pushing but just get on with it or you are getting the reaction these teams want.


every team we play meecham/edmo big them up as though they are worldbeaters,borh of them are too cautious and seem scared to loose,so we don`t play a high enough line and this creates a space for opposing teams to capitalise on, then our midfieid get critised when often they are out numbered(because other forwards don`t track back and help!

in the next match we should start with hayworth and pilks but i won`t hold my breath!

Moonwatcher wrote:I'm gonna say this, and I'll take the inevitable backlash on the chin....but I think this demonising of Paddy Lacey is unfair. Every time we don't get the right result, he gets pilloried on this forum, whilst other players are spared. Yesterday, unless I was watching a completely different game, he played okay in my opinion, certainly no worse than the players alongside him. The lad will never be a Kenny Lowe, he will be the first to admit that he has had a few bad games, and if we do manage to get promoted, he will most likely be one of several midfielders we will need to move on, but he is no way as bad as a lot of people like to make out. Plenty of other players have had good and bad afternoons this season. Paddy isn't in the team to be prising defences open with precision passes, he's in there to sit in front of the defence and break play up, and bring the so-called more "creative" players into the game. Yesterday, especially in the first half, he did that okay for me. He even managed to get a decent goal-effort on target, something certain other people couldn't manage in 90 minutes. Yes, he did double back several times, went square, went backwards on occasion, but he didn't give the ball away in dangerous positions, and only went long when there was sod all else on for him, and late on when time was running out.
Paddy Lacey does a very similar job to Jay Owen and Robin Hulbert (neither of them were "footballers") and yet they could do no wrong. Yes, he can be frustrating, but the kid is doing his best, and this weekly witch-hunt isn't helping anybody.

a massive +1 from me moonwatcher

He wasn't alone yesterday none of team with exception of NWA/Cooky/Haworth put in a shift,maybe a bit unfair on Lacey but he is having a really poor run at moment and any manager worth his salt would see this and act accordingly.Lot of blame lies with the management IMO.Slowly becoming very disillusioned with their team selection and substitutions.Why they don't play their strongest/best players at start and use our strong bench to rectify anything that is not right I don't know.

bobbie moore wrote:He wasn't alone yesterday none of team with exception of NWA/Cooky/Haworth put in a shift,maybe a bit unfair on Lacey but he is having a really poor run at moment and any manager worth his salt would see this and act accordingly.Lot of blame lies with the management IMO.Slowly becoming very disillusioned with their team selection and substitutions.Why they don't play their strongest/best players at start and use our strong bench to rectify anything that is not right I don't know.

They either can't see how frighteningly one dimensional and lacking in width/creativity we are, or they can see it but can't work out how to solve it.

Either of those options is pretty concerning tbh...

We signed 3 top strikers for this division at the start of the season

We signed two top centre backs for this division at the start off the season

In midfield ( especially the centre) we failed to do so with maybe the exception of Pilkington.

We didnt get that top player in midfield. We got Crowther.

Paddy isn't the only person who has been poor of late mr burns has be awful since the Fylde games I cant remember the last time he went on the overlap the possibility of playing against players with pace terrifies him and it shows

He reminds me a lot of Andy bond before he was good.
Bond was very frustrating, would do something good then lose the ball. It took him time to mature and learn that the key I being a good player is doing the simple stuff well. Paddy is a similar as bond as this stage.

Good to see edmo having faith in him, but the situation is different. We had faith in bondy when were playing for mid table mediocrity not a championship.

My instinct is he will come good, but I'm not sure we have the time to be patient,

EHB wrote:He reminds me a lot of Andy bond before he was good.
Bond was very frustrating, would do something good then lose the ball. It took him time to mature and learn that the key I being a good player is doing the simple stuff well. Paddy is a similar as bond as this stage.

Good to see edmo having faith in him, but the situation is different. We had faith in bondy when were playing for mid table mediocrity not a championship.

My instinct is he will come good, but I'm not sure we have the time to be patient,

Got to be honest I don't see that at all. I don't think Lacey is anything like Bond was, at any stage ever.