2019-2020 Squad - what do we need ro change?

[Si_Nichols]

Joel Dixon - Keep
Sam Stephens- Eh?
Jonny Salter - No evidence to base it on

Defenders
Josh Granite - Keep
Dan Jones - Keep but will go to L2 I think
Jack Barthram - Leave
Connor Brown - Leave
Matthew Elsdon - Leave
Brian Wilson - Leave
Lee Molyneux - Leave
Kyle Jameson (on loan from WBA) - Sign
Rhys Norrington-Davies (on loan from Sheff Utd - Keep but will go on loan to L2 I think
Christian Sloan* - Little evidence to base assessment on
Sam Hird - Keep

Midfielders
Josh Kay - Keep
John Rooney - Leave- too inconsistent
Jason Taylor - Keep
Steve Jennings- Keep
Lewis Hardcastle - Keep

Strikers
Nathan Waterston - Pre season and see where we are
Jack Hindle - Keep
Jacob Blyth - Leave
Rhys Turner - Leave
Tom Dawson- Little evidence to base assessment on
Jamie Philpot - Little evidence to base assessment on
Nathan Ried* Little evidence to base assessment on
Dior Angus (on loan from Port Vale) - Leave/Go back to parent club

Pretty much this, with a question mark next to Josh Granite. I like him but he’ll have look like he’s over his run of injuries. We’ve carried a fair few like that this season.
Steve Jennings & Jack Hindle should be very important squad players...if they’d accept they probably won’t be first choice starters.

Definitely need a step up regards a striker.

Agree with this also though not 100% sure on Jennings but if he accepts being a squad player then fine

[Suffolk Blue]

Pretty much this, with a question mark next to Josh Granite. I like him but he’ll have look like he’s over his run of injuries. We’ve carried a fair few like that this season.
Steve Jennings & Jack Hindle should be very important squad players...if they’d accept they probably won’t be first choice starters.

Definitely need a step up regards a striker.

Agree with this also though not 100% sure on Jennings but if he accepts being a squad player then fine

Yes I think that assessment is pretty close too. Granite is definitely one to keep. He has had injuries but we've always looked better with him. Am not sure about Rooney. The position he occupies is a critical one and the quality of performances are particularly noticeable. The quality of our play through midfield has been pretty good this season though most will put that down to Jason Taylor. He also has a decent shot in him. All depends on his desire to stay, the budget and the available options. Same with Bartram though my gut tells me that he's probably a bit of a luxury. May depend upon what happens with Jones and Jamieson but on balance I think he'll probably go. Should also bring Hird into that equation. Not made a big splash but looks comfortable and solid in his position. Is still rated very highly at Chesterfield by fans and there is obviously an Evatt connection. I'd be happy to have him stay - again more likely if either Jones/Jamieson is not there and in which case Bartram is probably surplus to requirements.

Would love to keep Norrington-Davies but he's just too good. I actually think he's L2 standard now so if I were Sheff Utd I'd do what they did with Tyler Smith and send him to Doncaster in L1. That's if they are serious about keeping him and they should be. Really think he might have what it takes to make a Championship level player. But it wont happen if he stays with us.

...and to repeat the bleeding obvious, an instinctive goal scorer remains the number one priority, but I'm not holding my breath. I do look forward to seeing a couple of really decent loanees again however. Think our reputation in bringing these on has risen quite a bit meaning we are likely to get offered ones with more perceived potential.

[Mark Johnson]

Agree with this also though not 100% sure on Jennings but if he accepts being a squad player then fine

I do look forward to seeing a couple of really decent loanees again however. Think our reputation in bringing these on has risen quite a bit meaning we are likely to get offered ones with more perceived potential.

Except from Birmingham

[Jim]

Pretty much agree with the Aberdeen list. I can only go by a very few games I have seen, plus match reports and highlights, but I am not sure about Jamieson (I get the impression he makes quite a few mistakes) and I would be inclined to keep Barthram as he seems to bring some good attacking options.

[Soulboy]

This squad and management have performed brilliantly this season.
With a bit of fortune we would be higher so we’ll done all.
As for the question ...... that is not ours to make. Ian Evatt and co will make these qualified decisions as they should being far more qualified and experienced.
The manager selects the players and the fans support the team.

[Jonty]

This squad and management have performed brilliantly this season.
With a bit of fortune we would be higher so we’ll done all.
As for the question ...... that is not ours to make. Ian Evatt and co will make these qualified decisions as they should being far more qualified and experienced.
The manager selects the players and the fans support the team.

Evatt would disagree with this. He is not happy with 11th and says fans should not be happy with 11th. If this club is to dine at the top table next season, we need to expect to win home games. As fans, we don’t. A win is seen as a bonus, we look down instead of up. We have to change this mindset that mid table / survival for another season is seen as performing brilliantly. We are guilty of settting too low a bench mark.

[Hitthebar22]

This squad and management have performed brilliantly this season.
With a bit of fortune we would be higher so we’ll done all.
As for the question ...... that is not ours to make. Ian Evatt and co will make these qualified decisions as they should being far more qualified and experienced.
The manager selects the players and the fans support the team.

Evatt would disagree with this. He is not happy with 11th and says fans should not be happy with 11th. If this club is to dine at the top table next season, we need to expect to win home games. As fans, we don’t. A win is seen as a bonus, we look down instead of up. We have to change this mindset that mid table / survival for another season is seen as performing brilliantly. We are guilty of settting too low a bench mark.

Not sure what your point is here.
My experience of years sitting in the stand is (amongst other things) too often the staggering negativity of those who turn up to watch. Frustratingly they DO NOT support the team. They criticise at every opportunity. Miserable uninformed lack of what is being attempted on the pitch e.g. “get the bloody thing forward” under Evatt and “Get the bloody thing on the floor” under Cox. To support the team wholeheartedly surely only requires an appreciation of players putting in the necessary effort to do as well as possible individually and as a team as their talent allows.

[Jonty]

Fans will shout things that others don't agree with. Some will sit and support quietly during the game. All celebrate a goal. All supporting the team in their own way. I wouldn't get frustrated on someone shouting something that I didn't agree with though. Its football and fans have opinions on what they see in front of them.

[Steelworks End]

Unfortunately, there has always been a not insubstantial number of so-called experts on tactics who have constantly criticised the manager and team, no matter how good they were.

In my early days as a supporter, Keith Eddy - one of the best local players the club has ever produced, going on to carve out a successful career at Watford and Sheffield United - was virtually hounded out of Holker Street by the vociferous minority on the Popular Side. Team mate Brian Arrowsmith - now a club legend - also received much unjustified criticism. Then later, Peter Withe was described as "another big useless bugger up front"; so useless that he only made approaching 500 top level appearances and won 11 England caps.

And probably most of the squad (led of course by Brian Arrowsmith) that took Barrow to their highest ever position in the Football League - 8th in Division Three, the predecessor of League One - were not good enough to grace the shirt.

So whatever Barrow do or achieve as a club or how well the players perform as individuals, the moaners will never be happy. But for the players picked out for their vitriol, as the above shows - you're in good company.

[Hitthebar22]

Fans will shout things that others don't agree with. Some will sit and support quietly during the game. All celebrate a goal. All supporting the team in their own way. I wouldn't get frustrated on someone shouting something that I didn't agree with though. Its football and fans have opinions on what they see in front of them.

Agree with this, but....When it’s relentless, and always critical, it’s a bit wearing. Its a general malaise (but not everyone by any means), but one chap near us is an expert. It’s as though the team are his wife, his boss and his neighbour that ordinarily he wants to shout at but can’t, or daren’t. No one stops him at HS.
Can’t take him seriously because, as an example of his lack of knowledge, a few weeks ago it was obvious he didn’t know that you can’t be offside at a throw in. You always hear him.
My only point is that yes, people have a right to behave how they want once they’ve paid their money, but maybe they should realise (as a supporter) they have a responsibility to the team as well. Not much point in going otherwise. Contrast our exceptional away support, which can’t be bettered by any other club in this league.

[Jo am back]

Agree with most though I do think barthram has improved and does well. This will be scoffed at by most on here and may sound controversial, but I believe Evatt isn’t as good as we thought. He has assembled a decent squad of players who in the main are very good footballers,which I have enjoyed watching.My point is that IE doesn’t ever come up with a plan B,probably dictated by the height of this squad. Im getting to a point were game after game after game is following the same pattern,we have a lot of ball play good football, but constantly over play, get to the final third and run out of ideas. IE never changes any pattern of play bizarrely.

[Jim]

My point is that IE doesn’t ever come up with a plan B,probably dictated by the height of this squad. Im getting to a point were game after game after game is following the same pattern,we have a lot of ball play good football, but constantly over play, get to the final third and run out of ideas. IE never changes any pattern of play bizarrely.

Not sure I agree with that. I have been impressed by some of his interviews where he has analysed the weaknesses of opponents and picked a team and formation accordingly. I think the Wrexham game was one where he did this.

[McMark]

Agree with most though I do think barthram has improved and does well. This will be scoffed at by most on here and may sound controversial, but I believe Evatt isn’t as good as we thought. He has assembled a decent squad of players who in the main are very good footballers,which I have enjoyed watching.My point is that IE doesn’t ever come up with a plan B,probably dictated by the height of this squad. Im getting to a point were game after game after game is following the same pattern,we have a lot of ball play good football, but constantly over play, get to the final third and run out of ideas. IE never changes any pattern of play bizarrely.

Wow! How good were we supposed to think Ian Evatt is?
He is a young manager learning a whole new scenario, building a back room team he trusts. Playing to a system that is entertaining in the main but with limits mainly due to the budget he has.
He has in the main got some of those players we had lost trust in last season
playing to a decent standard most weeks, and showing obvious improvement. Supplementing them with his own additions and some that were brought in before he took the job on along with with some very good loan prospects along the way.
For me IE shouldn't be judged on this season he is learning and learning fast. He will tweak things going into next season probably add more than a few new faces within our budget. Be more adaptable and with luck with injuries give it a right go.
That is all we can ask for, we aren't the richest of clubs we will have to box clever, hopefully get more people on board not just to get behind the team but to also help out whenever they can.
I for one can't wait for it all to end, just so it starts again tbh!

[Jo am back]

Mark I very much agree with most of your sentiments,I for one am really encouraged by IE passion not just for football but for our club, and really enjoy his post match interviews, Im just surprised that he allows every game to play out doing the same things time and time again.I do think every team now knows how to set up against us knowing we play the same way for 90mins.

[Jo am back]

And as for our budget dictating how we play, I think effiong and co on Saturday showed that direct football doesn’t come with an expensive price tag.