Barrow v Harrogate Town, match thread

[HenneysKnee]

Can’t grumble too much because Farman does it for us when we are leading but their keeper did extremely well not to get booked for time wasting yesterday. Still find it strange they settled for a point so early in the game

[behind the goals]

How many of yesterday's squad would be up to league 1 Standard if promoted so we don't do a Carlisle and come crashing back down especially with rumours regarding Spence and Campbell futures, in the end it might not matter but would be interesting to find out.

[pjdaly]

As the likes of Blue Nige and Spirit of 1990 have suggested, penalty misses happen. Regrettable, but true. I would say that despite that miss Dean Campbell played well yesterday. It's one of those things and it can happen to the best of players.

Back in the early 1960's a young Walney lad called Keith Eddy made his debut for Barrow when he was only about 18 years old. This young lad took a lot of stick from the Holker Street terraces, some of whom thought he was useless. In time, Keith became skipper of top-flight Sheffield United before finishing his career as captain of a New York Cosmos side that included the likes of Pele and Franz Beckenbauer. Three-times World Cup winner Pele – considered by many as the greatest player of all time – missed a penalty in one match and Keith, who had gathered a reputation for being a reliable penalty-taker, had to take Pele to one side and tell him "sorry, mate, but I'll be taking our next penalty".

[pjdaly]

As Barrow AFC 2018 points out, when it doesn't seem to be your day (as was the case for us yesterday) it's often the case that Sod's Law kicks in and the outplayed opposition nick a winner against the run of play. Small mercies I suppose?

So, the ball moved on the penalty spot, this unsettling young Campbell perhaps? Many will remember that fake Geller feller claiming he had used his "powers" to make the ball move on the penalty spot just before Scotland's McAllister proceeded to miss against England in a vital Euros 1996 match. Maybe Geller is a Harrogate fan as well?

[pjdaly]

Well then, twice in a matter of a few weeks . . . I was clearly mistaken when thinking that sort of thing only happened in Massachusetts.

As it happens, it really didn't matter yesterday but it would have been interesting if the same problem had occurred during a Tuesday night match. If that had happened I don't think anybody would have been dancing in it. Hopping mad perhaps, but not dancing. I hope we have a decent electrician who can shed light on the recurring problem and solve it before it does happen in a more precarious situation.

[bhbb]

How many of yesterday's squad would be up to league 1 Standard if promoted so we don't do a Carlisle and come crashing back down especially with rumours regarding Spence and Campbell futures, in the end it might not matter but would be interesting to find out.

Oh sound then we’ll just put out the b team now and not even attempt to go up because we don’t know if the squads good enough. Might aswel not bother the season after and go back to playing farsley Celtic en all

[saltcellar]

Too cute, too soft, tried placing the ball and it cost us 2 points.

Need to change our penalty taker.

Stockton, Spence or Whitfield, would have blasted the ball into the roof of the net, giving the keeper no chance.

The ball moved before Campbell started his run up, I thought he would have re-spotted it as it was in a little depression. As was l seconds later. Semper sursum.

Can see the ball moved twice just before the penalty on this clip.

https://www.skysports.com/football/vide ... -harrogate

[Jim]

How many of yesterday's squad would be up to league 1 Standard if promoted so we don't do a Carlisle and come crashing back down especially with rumours regarding Spence and Campbell futures, in the end it might not matter but would be interesting to find out.

Oh sound then we’ll just put out the b team now and not even attempt to go up because we don’t know if the squads good enough. Might aswel not bother the season after and go back to playing farsley Celtic en all

I believe that Paul Hornby referred in his recent interview with Adam to being a player development club (or words to that effect). The implication to me was that our sustainable business model is to bring on young players and to make money from selling them. If so, it is inevitable that we may lose players like Campbell and have to find another to take his place. Whilst this may make it harder for us to progress, this is surely better than not having a club at all.

[DDevine]

How many of yesterday's squad would be up to league 1 Standard if promoted so we don't do a Carlisle and come crashing back down especially with rumours regarding Spence and Campbell futures, in the end it might not matter but would be interesting to find out.

Maybe the future of the likes of Campbell & Spence is dependant on whether we go up.
It’s no secret how much they all seem to love it at the club at the minute. Coupled with Spence‘a obvious relationship with Wild, wouldn’t be a catastrophe in his career to stick with Barrow in L1 before looking for that green grass.

[DDevine]

Stephenson pipped my MOTM yesterday.
When he’s given consistent starts/minutes you can see what he’s about (remembering that’s not his position)
I think he should have played more. He’s unfortunate he plays the 2 positions we have most bodies & through a period there were more rotations than hot dinners. If the club have any aspirations of getting him back next season then you’d imagine he needs to stay in that starting 11.
His link up, one touch passing down that side with Spence is a joy, you can see they have, or could have a great playing relationship.
All that said, no issue at all with the choice of Feely, deserves it 100% for the performances he’s put in. To go from being 90% out of the squad altogether to starting, replacing a man like Canavan, at this pivotal point of the season is not to be sniffed at. He still makes me a bit nervous though, won’t lie.
Consistency in squads, formations etc is key now!
You can see the improvement in Aquah since he’s stuck with him.

[blue nige]

Reflecting on yesterday's game I still don't understand how Whitfield can't get into the team ,his movement, his creativity etc are sadly missed, same with Telford I think he'd be a better fit for Stockton, Aqua man is a likeable player but he's still learning, I'd bring him on for the last half hour!.
What happens if it's not going well is we bring the cavalry on this might work now and again but too often we lose our shape and run out of ideas!
I think Pete knows what to do but senses that with the league being so tight he's taking no chances which is understandable!

[DDevine]

Reflecting on yesterday's game I still don't understand how Whitfield can't get into the team ,his movement, his creativity etc are sadly missed, same with Telford I think he'd be a better fit for Stockton, Aqua man is a likeable player but he's still learning, I'd bring him on for the last half hour!.
What happens if it's not going well is we bring the cavalry on this might work now and again but too often we lose our shape and run out of ideas!
I think Pete knows what to do but senses that with the league being so tight he's taking no chances which is understandable!

Simply because he just doesn’t ‘fit’
Where do you play him? Who does he replace?
His big impact moments have been off the bench.
Didn’t happen when he was given the starts…
Tbf to the lad he’s played every position other than GK.
And Telford, I agree, but his confidence is shot, the 10/15min scraps he’s getting is making that worse, but with 9 games to go do you risk changing again?

[Main Stand SeasonTct]

Oh sound then we’ll just put out the b team now and not even attempt to go up because we don’t know if the squads good enough. Might aswel not bother the season after and go back to playing farsley Celtic en all

I believe that Paul Hornby referred in his recent interview with Adam to being a player development club (or words to that effect). The implication to me was that our sustainable business model is to bring on young players and to make money from selling them. If so, it is inevitable that we may lose players like Campbell and have to find another to take his place. Whilst this may make it harder for us to progress, this is surely better than not having a club at all.

IIRC When Wild signed the likes of Campbell, Spence and Aquah he said himself that investing in these young players would hopefully benefit the club financially in the future. Campbell and Spence only have one year left on their contract after this season. Im expecting at least one of those 3 to move on in the summer and the club to get a nice fee regardless of what league we are in next season.

[bhbb]

Oh sound then we’ll just put out the b team now and not even attempt to go up because we don’t know if the squads good enough. Might aswel not bother the season after and go back to playing farsley Celtic en all

I believe that Paul Hornby referred in his recent interview with Adam to being a player development club (or words to that effect). The implication to me was that our sustainable business model is to bring on young players and to make money from selling them. If so, it is inevitable that we may lose players like Campbell and have to find another to take his place. Whilst this may make it harder for us to progress, this is surely better than not having a club at all.

It was sarcasm mate. Realistically how many teams are good enough to go up and compete in the league above. You have exceptions of bank rolled teams like Wrexham/Salford in the past signing players capable of playing 2 levels above

[saltcellar]

14 other teams have failed to beat Harrogate when playing at home to them this season.
We had opportunities to score but unfortunately didn't.
That's football.