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Scott5 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 15, 2026 12:20 am Barkhuizen was a good signing on paper and has shown glimpses but for various reasons, out of position, poor team and maybe a bit of disillusion in with the way last season unfolded, he doesn’t want to be here. It’s unlikely now though that anyone will come for him so is there a way back for him?
Kouyate was never good enough and his loan spells even at lower league level show that. Dreadful signing. Earing flattered to deceive and you can add Raglan to that, a bomb scare who we are lumbered with for another year.
Sadly if no one else wants them and is prepared to match their wages here then we’re probably stuck with them. But for that we could have another 2/3 really good players in who would add to the solid looking team that we have, if maybe lacking a little bit of quality.

We can live in hope

Barkhuisen’s career was built on pace, which he definitely doesn’t have now and hasn’t had for a good few years. Released by Preston as he was surplus, played at Derby for a final year because their promotion triggered an extra year on his contract and then played two league games in his last season there.

My concern at this point last year was that we were signing players on previous reputations rather than what they can offer the current squad. An EFL podcast said ‘Barrow are signing players that would’ve been great 6 years ago’.

Last season I posted on here saying there seems to be no vision or medium term plan as a club. I still don’t think we have one and we seem to be taking things, game by game, season by season, signing by signing, manager by manager. What does our club look like in 5 years, 10 years? What does the ground look like? What is our footballing style we consistently aim for? What are we trying to achieve?

Barky still probably would have been decent enough in a 4-4-2 or a 4-3-3; he isn’t a wing back, and when you play wing backs then sign wing backs!

bluebird90 wrote: ↑Fri Aug 21, 2026 1:28 pm

Scott5 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 15, 2026 12:20 am Barkhuizen was a good signing on paper and has shown glimpses but for various reasons, out of position, poor team and maybe a bit of disillusion in with the way last season unfolded, he doesn’t want to be here. It’s unlikely now though that anyone will come for him so is there a way back for him?
Kouyate was never good enough and his loan spells even at lower league level show that. Dreadful signing. Earing flattered to deceive and you can add Raglan to that, a bomb scare who we are lumbered with for another year.
Sadly if no one else wants them and is prepared to match their wages here then we’re probably stuck with them. But for that we could have another 2/3 really good players in who would add to the solid looking team that we have, if maybe lacking a little bit of quality.

We can live in hope

Barkhuisen’s career was built on pace, which he definitely doesn’t have now and hasn’t had for a good few years. Released by Preston as he was surplus, played at Derby for a final year because their promotion triggered an extra year on his contract and then played two league games in his last season there.

My concern at this point last year was that we were signing players on previous reputations rather than what they can offer the current squad. An EFL podcast said ‘Barrow are signing players that would’ve been great 6 years ago’.

Last season I posted on here saying there seems to be no vision or medium term plan as a club. I still don’t think we have one and we seem to be taking things, game by game, season by season, signing by signing, manager by manager. What does our club look like in 5 years, 10 years? What does the ground look like? What is our footballing style we consistently aim for? What are we trying to achieve?

I agree with that last paragraph. Not sure what we’ve been trying to do over the years other than the appointment of Pete Wild where there was a plan. Some of the other appointments were dubious at best and turned out to be disastrous, equally some of the players too. People say we couldn’t compete with some of the big guns in the EFL but as Carlisle have shown money doesnt guarantee success. Yes it helps but you have to spend wisely and we haven’t. I don’t know how much we’ve spent paying off managers and players who haven’t contributed - Mahoney, Walker etc. but it has to be a lot of money. We’ve had little resale on our better players too which we need to be better at.

We all knew last season was a shambles from start to finish, maybe it is showing even more so now just how bad it actually was. Ultimately the owners have to take the blame for taking their eye off the ball massively, and letting an ex agent run loose for two years at the club with no intervention with this being the result. Something a lot of fans called out way before even last season where there were signs. Even this season what’s the plan or expectation? The players talk of promotion but from what I can see were a million miles away from that and if anything could be another morecambe. If the money isn’t there the club needs to be honest and expectations be realistic.

Very good discussion on this weeks pod cast about this subject. Think it was Craig said we need an identity as a club and recruit players that meet that and maybe take a risk on some young players from further down the leagues as we used to do. Next manager should be brought in to fit in that model not tear everything up every time we get a different manager and new players.

sambino wrote: ↑Sat Aug 22, 2026 10:11 am Next manager should be brought in to fit in that model not tear everything up every time we get a different manager and new players.

That is the responsibility of whoever is recruiting the managers No doubt when our DOF?CEO was there it was him, but who is it now.

Who is now on the board or in other positions who actually has experience of a football club and how it should be run?

bluessupporter wrote: ↑Sat Aug 22, 2026 10:22 am

sambino wrote: ↑Sat Aug 22, 2026 10:11 am Next manager should be brought in to fit in that model not tear everything up every time we get a different manager and new players.

That is the responsibility of whoever is recruiting the managers No doubt when our DOF?CEO was there it was him, but who is it now.

Who is now on the board or in other positions who actually has experience of a football club and how it should be run?

After nearly eight years of part owning a football club I would both hope and think Paul Hornby has the experience and knowledge in how a football club should be run

As a businessman I think he’s very good, however I question his football is knowledge based on some of his appointments. Letting Iain Wood loose for so long and in particular saying we had a great transfer window last January when it was clear to all that kids weren’t what we needed. That was really worrying to me and would suggest he’s very naive when it comes to football. I also think he’s been guilty of listening to too many people and believing what he’s told last and taking everything as gospel.

Hopefully the next person pumping millions into the Club knows better.

behind the goals wrote: ↑Sat Aug 22, 2026 11:01 am Hopefully the next person pumping millions into the Club knows better.

If we don't get investment we'll end up in national league north back to where we were about 10 years ago this isn't being a pessimistic negative post it's a harsh reality, without being dramatic we really do need promotion this season because if we can't compete this season God knows what next season will be like!

blue nige wrote: ↑Sat Aug 22, 2026 11:25 am

behind the goals wrote: ↑Sat Aug 22, 2026 11:01 am Hopefully the next person pumping millions into the Club knows better.

If we don't get investment we'll end up in national league north back to where we were about 10 years ago this isn't being a pessimistic negative post it's a harsh reality, without being dramatic we really do need promotion this season because if we can't compete this season God knows what next season will be like!

100% Correct but too many live in a dream world, the current owners have made mistakes but we would be in the NPL without them coming in.