barker

LeicesterPoolie · **Joined:** Sat Aug 19, 2006 5:48 pm **Posts:** 1278

so are you saying we play Moore and Joel, up front.
That woud appear to be the only option, Foley is an impact player,
for the last 20/30 minutes (and is injured I believe)
McKay is not ready yet, is he ?
The only other option, would be Brown, but surely that weakens us down the flanks.

parmopooly · **Posted:** Sun Sep 30, 2007 12:04 pm

it's the age old problem of players who are good pros, give 100%, have done well for the club in the past etc etc - but there comes a time to let go. I'm not sure if Barker has reached that point yet, but his performances need to begin to have more impact (other than taking the hits from opposing centre halves so that the ball drops into forward areas, where we can pick up possession further up the field). A striker needs to do a hell of as lot more than that.
Paul Baker was the best all-round target man the club has had in my opinion, and gave great service to HUFC, but in his last season that he played for us he was obviously past it. I hope Barker comes good again, but it's not looking like anytime soon on current form. If he scores in hus next game, it could be the boost he needs - but if he doesn't have the impact required again, then it's time for Porter and Moore up front.

Mr Ripper · **Posted:** Sun Sep 30, 2007 12:29 pm

I dared to suggest Porter and Moore as our best pairing at the start of the season and was shot at from all angles for suggesting dropping Richard Barker. But at the moment Barker looks out of sorts and could make an impact coming off the bench for the last 20 if we are chasing a game and need to lob the ball up to him.

Porter was disappointing yesterday, but we probs won't see the best of him til he's had two or three starts to get his sharpness back.

katcha · **Posted:** Sun Sep 30, 2007 12:42 pm

as per my quote in the ratings thread

Barker- 5- doesn't seem up for it - a big lad but always backing in to defenders to 'hold up' - fook it richy - get the ball at your feet and run with it, put yourself about and use that weight, hurt people make a nuisance of yourself - stop being so bloody nice.

PJ_Poolie · **Posted:** Sun Sep 30, 2007 1:57 pm

I think Barker has had some really good games away from home this season when the onus is on the home team to attack and he has time to hold the ball up and bring others into the game, where he's struggled is at home when the onus is on us to unlock a well organised defence. He still has a role in our squad but I agree he needs a rest at the moment. I'd look at a loan signing.

Chip you say Porter looked miserable playing up front with him, his body language was exactly the same at the start of last season, poor.

LeicesterPoolie · **Joined:** Sat Aug 19, 2006 5:48 pm **Posts:** 1278

Hasn't this been a recurring problem throughout Barker's career,
where he has done the business in League Two, but then not
been able to maintain his form at the higher level.

He was scoring pretty freely in a poor Mansfield side last season
and no one can deny he was fundamental in our clinching promotion.
I seem to remember him saying when he signed, that he wanted to
test himself at a higher level.
From what I can see, he has only played in League One once previously
and that was for Rotherham, which coincided with his worst goals per
game return of his career.

So maybe he has a problem in this class of football, with his pace, because
you can't criticise his work rate or commitment

townendtimmy · **Posted:** Sun Sep 30, 2007 2:48 pm

chip fireball wrote:

i dont think porter enjoyed playing with jon daly, well actually i know he didnt, but you cant really blame him for being a bit pissed off at the moment.

he has spent most of the season on the bench, and the manger has slated him in the mail while praising barker and moore to the rafters. it cant be much fun playing for a manager who thinks you are past it.

the bottom line is that he has a better goals to minutes on the pitch ratio than both moore and barker this season, and despite not having his best game yesterday still looked our only real goal threat.

porters game isnt about chasing long high balls or flick ons. its about getting the ball on the deck and interchanging passes. he is never going to look that good playing alongside a big old fashioned centre forward like daly or barker, i.e. players that arent quick . boyd was his ideal srtiking partner. moore possibly could be, barker certainly isnt.

ultimately barker is going to have to either prove that there is more to his game than holding the ball up and winning the occassional flick on, or spend some time on the bench. im not sure he can adapt his game to suit a high tempo passing game that pools are trying to play at the moment. he currently looks like a sqaure peg in a round hole when we play at home..

he did ok last week whilst pools were playing fast flowing football, i felt Richie defended better yesterday than he attacked though. dont worry it will soon be tuesday :wink:

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