Crewe Alexandra v Barrow: Match thread

[mall]

I know its a different subject but with the Stevenage match kicking off at 12-30, does anyone know for sure if the Cross Bar will be open after the game?

[FanzoneFan]

If we finish 9th, we will only have bettered that 5 times in our history. Out of 122.

That's a really powerful post, BA, and it brings it home when you look at some of those "big, big" clubs you've listed that we will finish above this season.

And the line quoted above just leaps off the page as one of the most stone-cold sober facts about where we are going to finish this season . . . our 6th best finish in 122 years! Despite the odd Crewe-style showing we surely will have to raise a glass to our 6th best finish across 122 years? It's not perfect, it never is perfect, but we have had cause for feeling a lot worse at the end of most other seasons since 1901. There's no room for complacency as we build towards next season but it would be more than reasonable to allow ourselves a smile when this season closes.

Great fact but I’m missing one of our finishes - spent three years in the old Third Division ( now League 1) got promoted from the old Fourth Division ( now league 2 ) when did we finish above 9th position in another campaign ?

[Hadrian]

Not sure what Farman was rushing out for after they scored it he does this a lot but didn't see anything wrong.

Encroachment, according to Adam in commentary.

Clear encroachment but EFL Highlights commentator suggested it was because the taker stopped and restarted. I didn't even know that was now apparently illegal

[Scott]

Encroachment, according to Adam in commentary.

Clear encroachment but EFL Highlights commentator suggested it was because the taker stopped and restarted. I didn't even know that was now apparently illegal

Ah. Encroachment happens just about every penalty tbh and is never pulled is it, just watched back and Ray is also in the box before it's kicked.
Interesting run up for the penalties the lad for them does that with all of his, I know you can't completely stop and he seems to keep moving albeit very slowly on the long step.

[pjdaly]

Great fact but I’m missing one of our finishes - spent three years in the old Third Division ( now League 1) got promoted from the old Fourth Division ( now league 2 ) when did we finish above 9th position in another campaign ?

Fanzone Fan . . . . . you would have to ask Barrow Aberdeen how he arrived at what could be a potential 6th best ever finish this season but I suspect, when assessing how high we have finished in the pyramid, he is just taking into account our finishing positions from 1958-59 onwards. Probably everything before then (eg the split into Division 3 North and Division 3 South, plus of course all of our non-league years) would be considered lesser or inferior, and therefore lower in the pyramid, as it wasn't either a whole-nation set-up or part of the official "Football League".

So, on that basis, just checking back to 1958-59 we might - stress, might - have had only 4 previous finishes in our history that are going to rank higher than this season's. Of course it's still in the balance as we haven't quite finished yet for this season. As you mentioned, there were the 3 seasons in Division 3 plus the famous 1966-67 season when we were promoted in 3rd position in Division Four. So that's going to be four better finishes for sure.

In seasons 1961-62 and, again, 1962-63, we ended up 9th each time in Division Four. So if we could manage to finish 8th this time it would then appear to be our 5th highest finish in our history but if we finish 10th this time it would seem to be our 7th highest finish of all time. Whichever happens, the one thing that is for sure is that this season's finish is going to be well up there - and I mean really well up there - amongst our highest ever finishes across 122 years!

[Jonty]

When you consider the constraints of FFP in EFL2 which limits spending on player wages to 55% of income then yes we are punching above our weight. That’s why it’s important to keep getting through those turnstiles and to maximise sponsorships and hospitality as these are the income streams we can use on player wages within FFP rules
I am not a fan of FFP as it gives the “bigger clubs” an advantage in squad size and what they can pay.

[andyg]

There is an interesting English football archives site at www.enfa.co.uk which charts Barrow's progress in the football league since 1921 (but not our non league years). According to the site we were 5th in 1931/32, 8th 1933/34, 7th 1947/48 - obviously these season we were in Division 3 North. We finished 9th in 1932/33 & 1946/47 seasons and 9th again in Division 4 in the 1961/62 & 1962/63 seasons. Add to this our 3 Division 3 seasons and the promotion season of 1966/67 those are our best seasons in the history of our club.

The site gives us all Barrow's results in the league seasons, squads & managers. For a fee (which I have not tried) you can get more info on the various seasons. Seems to be a fairly accurate site.

[mickmike wilson]

If you believe he doesn’t know his best side after a season then I pity you but football isn’t as simplistic as that as his “Best team” will change many times during a season depending upon the variables ie opposition, conditions, styles of play, different formations, Home or away etc.

You also said, “MCcelland not playing absolute joke” ! & “Wild makes some weird decisions”
and also let down hundreds of fans who have spent a lot of money for nothing!


A fully fit McCelland I’d agree but what if the metrics they all wear is telling you that he is highly probable to pick up a tweak if not rested this week or he already picked up a niggle in the day or so after Pete said “Everyone’s fit” You’d be a fool to tempt fate & loose the lad for the run in, But you’d play him Right!!

All basic stuff you should understand, You didn’t even know Feely was brought in as a CD who can also play FB, Now I understand you probably just let your emotions run wild and spout off in anger, It’s the passions of the game, Just think a little before firing in anger.

Feely was brought in as a replacement for Warren ! ,Wild even admits not playing McClelland was a mistake!, Mike unlike you I make comments based on facts ,the comment about McClelland was made before the game finished and I stand by it.

You've a short memory defending Paul Casson without knowing what had gone on ,I spoke to 3 people heavily involved and it was a lot different to the drivel you spouted on here !

Just saw this now, Why change the subject we’re debating, Take about deflecting

Seeing as you raised the subject perhaps you can tell us all what you’re blabbering in about as I honestly don’t have a clue, So go on then Nige