Time For Barnard to Start
Friday, 2nd Dec 2011 11:03

Lee Barnard had become Saints forgotten man, but perhaps his time is here again.

Last season when Lee Barnard was injured against Bristol Rovers many Saints fans feared that this would severely dent our promotion hopes, history shows us that David Conolly stepped up to the plate and we stormed across the finish line.

Our whirlwind start to the season with Connolly up front alongside Lambert and then subsequently Guly moving from midfield after Connolly got injured has perhaps meant that Lee Barnard has slipped to the back of our minds, but more to the point we have forgotten just how vital he was to us last term.

Now the injury situation is forcing Nigel Adkins to look to his squad again, our problem is lack of width in midfield with the injury to Richard Chaplow, some would call for Steve De Ridder to fill that gap, but Im not one of them, I think Adkins knows that DE£ Ridder is best of the bench, he is an impact player who relies on his speed and the element of surprise to make that impact, when he starts a game, he soon finds that defences sus him out and his impact lessens.

That being the case perhaps its time to reinstate guly to the right of midfield, a position he filled so well earlier in the season, this will bring back the balance that we so lacked after Chaplow went off at Bristol City and in the first half on Tuesday night.

Having dont that though we need a partner for Lambert and I feel its time to unleash Barney to work with Lambert again and re establish a partnership that worked so well last term, Barnard is raring to go after what has been an eight month lay off and his running will be of great help to the cause.

Of course there is a question as to his match fitnes at the moment and ability to get in 90 minutes, but we dont need him to do that, get in an hour, maybe 70 minutes and then we can make a change, switch Guly back up front and bring on DE Ridder to do what he does best and thats run the legs off tiring full backs in the final quarter of the game.

For a good manager its not just about having decent playeers at your disposal its about how you use them and this is a time when we need Nigel Adkins to do his bit and get it right tactically on the field and with his team selections.

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bstokesaint added 12:57 - Dec 2

This is probably our biggest "crisis" for a little while. There is no doubt that in Chaplow's absence we lose our shape. We have decent front men, but something needs to be done about the lack of width. It was telling against Bristol and we weren't fantastic against Hull, although we did a job. Personally I think a natural winger like SdR is the best fit and that any half decent pro should able to do more than come off the bench for 10 minutes.

stmichael added 13:20 - Dec 2 I was alarmed at how much off the pace Barnard was tue. Does not look anywhere near ready to start at this level. Lee Holmes is the answer with Adam moving to the right. Barnard on the bench. If rickie is not fit he will have to start.
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SaintNick added 13:25 - Dec 2

You have to take barnard's game on Tuesday in perspective, look at the games lambert & Guly had, they are match fit but they were as much off the pace as Barnard, perhaps the difference was that Barnard was putting in a bit of leg work to try and get in the game.

Yes he wasnt that great but then again nor was anyone else, so from that perspective its hard to be too harsh on him

wssxsaint added 14:47 - Dec 2 Imo Barnard does not have the ball control to play succesfully at this level. In the words of Ron Atkinson when speaking about Carlton Palmer "He can trap a ball further than I can kick it." cf Connolly who is looking to see what to do with the ball as he receives it.
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SaintNick added 14:54 - Dec 2 Undoubtably Connolly has more control and nouse about him, but there are plenty in this division who rely on just charging around and chasing down defenders
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iwtwms added 15:39 - Dec 2 What does anyone think about bringing in Butterfield and playing Richardson in for Chaplow?
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saintBob added 18:46 - Dec 2

"For a good manager its not just about having decent playeers at your disposal its about how you use them and this is a time when we need Nigel Adkins to do his bit and get it right tactically on the field and with his team selections."

That's basically a managers job Nick. NA has got it right on most occasions. It could be a case of just grinding out a result this weekend though, with respect to our recent away form.