Newport County v Barrow, match thread

[Scott5]

Think serious questions need to be asked of the board, we've gone from potentially league one in 2 seasons, to another relegation scrap within our 5 years of league two status.... in just one season, for me something up the top isn't working, do we need new investment/ownership/restructuring? Or is it purely on field? Either way we are struggling to have any consistency in this league and it's very worrying despite how much money we throw at it....cause it may cost us currently.

I think there have been a lot of poor decisions made and I’m not sure what thinking has been behind some. Money isn’t the main issue as money has been made available but recent recruitment has largely been poor and we’ve not spent it well.

Questions were asked as to why we collapsed last season but, why did it then take a month after the season ended to decide to replace Pete Wild? This put us on the back foot straightaway.

Who signed players in the interim period and even after Clemence was appointed? Presumably Wood.

Why did we not sign a couple of proven attackers having lost Whitfield and Stockton, who were out only real threats last season? Mahoney you could argue on paper might’ve been but his career has been in decline for some time now.

Who gave Kouyate a three year contract and Barnes a deal knowing his injury concerns?

Why was Clemence backed with new players and then immediately sacked after Swindon? He should’ve gone after Harrogate and given the new man longer and more opportunity in this transfer window. The sacking itself wasn’t a shock but the timing was. Any change should’ve been made sooner.

Who decided that Kyle Cameron was good enough with his last two clubs having both moved him on abruptly? I’d have rather Stokes back…

Lastly with so many players out of contract in the summer if some are to be leaving then why hasn’t more been done to add more permanent players? We’re going to face another rebuilding job in the summer which will again set us back.

I don’t just blame Clemence for the state we’re in I don’t think he was or is a good manager, but there’s a lot of things not right and our decline started well before he came in. Questions need to be asked and you hope there’s still two worse teams than us because at the minute we are as bad as anyone in this league.

[mulholland]

Some good points made regarding team-selection especially the new manager's baffling decision to play Acquah as a lone-striker. If Taylor's worthy of his behind the scenes role (set-piece specialist/cone-carrier/whatever) then surely his one bit of harsh but fair advice to Whing would be for God's sake do not play him up front alone. My advice would be to keep Acquah on the bench to the 75th minute of any game minimum and that's putting it politely.

[behind the goals]

Good finish from Cameron, can`t really blame Farman this time, but before the goal we have free kick into the box cleared by Newport upfield Cameron passes back to Farman who kicks it upfield various attempts by us to get get the ball ends with Newport putting the ball into the penalty area where Cameron puts a great header past Farman, Regarding the Ghost Goal a shot from Mahoney goes wide but appears to have hit the back of the net but has only gone wide and the Goal Alert person was too quick pressing the button.

[russell_anderson]

I like Tyler Smith very much but his record this season doesn't support that. He hasn't even played regularly.

There you go then, hasn't played much this season so obviously if you are not playing you cant score!!! We at Barrow know all to well he is a finisher if given a run of games to get sharp.

Players change as time passes. We've had players who have improved after leaving us and players who have deteriorated. I would suggest Tyler Smith's record at Bradford City indicates he is not the player he was when we last had him although he certainly needs more than 1 match before anything is obvious and he doesn't have too much competition our list of good finishers!

[HenneysKnee]

Worth a listen to Whings interview if anyone didn’t catch it after the game

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0knq6cx

[bhbb]

Does anyone have a photo of the flag before the game? Looked class

[MisterPleasant]

Worth a listen to Whings interview if anyone didn’t catch it after the game

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0knq6cx

That's a good interview and he does refer to a lack of intensity in training "but that changes next week". Because of having had 3 games in 8 days he hasn't had the opportunity to do much on the training ground in the time he's been here so a week's break to get stuck in might be just what's needed.
We're also going to see us get in the face of refs a bit more - he thinks we're too soft. A couple of penalty claims yesterday should have provoked more of a reaction.

[mall]

Worth a listen to Whings interview if anyone didn’t catch it after the game

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0knq6cx

That's a good interview and he does refer to a lack of intensity in training "but that changes next week". Because of having had 3 games in 8 days he hasn't had the opportunity to do much on the training ground in the time he's been here so a week's break to get stuck in might be just what's needed.
We're also going to see us get in the face of refs a bit more - he thinks we're too soft. A couple of penalty claims yesterday should have provoked more of a reaction.

"We're also going to see us get in the face of refs a bit more"

I've been saying this for years. The amount of teams that come to Holker Street and get in the refs ear surrounding him!

[Jonty]

Think serious questions need to be asked of the board, we've gone from potentially league one in 2 seasons, to another relegation scrap within our 5 years of league two status.... in just one season, for me something up the top isn't working, do we need new investment/ownership/restructuring? Or is it purely on field? Either way we are struggling to have any consistency in this league and it's very worrying despite how much money we throw at it....cause it may cost us currently.

Football results are never guaranteed and don’t always align with investment / best laid plans. Look up the road for proof of that.
We don't have pots of money and the big question… Would we have progressed again this season with Wild? Well he had a football plan and who knows this season may have been the next step in that, however the last third of last season you could argue we’d stalled. It’s a difficult question to answer with so many influencing factors and unknowns.

I do feel though that to elevate our status as a FL club would need additional investment and all that goes with it. The club currently doesn't have a strong platform as an EFL club.

[McMark]

Does anyone have a photo of the flag before the game? Looked class

IMG_0291.jpeg (240.57 KiB) Viewed 9672 times

[Hadrian]

Some good points made regarding team-selection especially the new manager's baffling decision to play Acquah as a lone-striker. If Taylor's worthy of his behind the scenes role (set-piece specialist/cone-carrier/whatever) then surely his one bit of harsh but fair advice to Whing would be for God's sake do not play him up front alone. My advice would be to keep Acquah on the bench to the 75th minute of any game minimum and that's putting it politely.

You underestimate Acquah with your dismissive comment. Playing better by the game and using his physique better, too. Contract to summer 2026 - could be away on a fee before then.

[Jim]

Thank you Hadrian. I only saw 10 mins of highlights but Acquah was the one winning the ball and laying it off. Even the commentator said he was a nuisance to the defenders. He may not be the most accomplished but he seemed to put a real shift I . I get the impression that he is the sort of player that Whing wants.

[McMark]

Citeh showing tonight how much it can go horribly wrong when playing it out from the back.
Thought Aquah did alright holding the ball up tbh, nobody really to feed off him ultimately and he never looked like scoring and will never be a prolific goalscorer.
But if he chips in with a few vital goals between now and the end of the season and we definitely need someone to be do so, we will all be smiling.

[bhbb]

Does anyone have a photo of the flag before the game? Looked class

IMG_0291.jpeg

[tommy2thumbs]

Newport to act after complaint of homophobic abuse - https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/arti ... k513gzk7po