Barnes Banter: Pre-Match Bolton
By MikeyB
August 24 2009
John Barnes' gave his pre-match views to the Official Rovers Site earlier today before Tuesday night's Carling Cup game with rivals Bolton. Barnes wants an improved performance from Saturday and wants his players to show more determination...
Ahead of Tuesday night's Carling Cup 2nd round game against old rivals Bolton, manager John Barnes told the Official Tranmere Rovers Website......
"We have to forget about the Leeds game now and just try to put right what we did wrong. We have to show the right attitude, desire and commitment. We need determination from individuals to do better. We don't want to be a nice team in League One who don't have aspirations to go up and not a lot is expected of us. We have to be better than that as a team and as individuals. We have to want to play at Elland Road and to play against teams like Charlton who have aspirations of going up and to have those same aspirations ourselves.
"It's an important match for us because it's in the cup and we want to have a good cup run. There's history between Tranmere and Bolton in this competition but it doesn't matter as far as I'm concerned. This is a new Bolton team with a new manager and it's a new Tranmere team with a new manager. We have to stop Bolton playing when they have the ball. If we don't concentrate and we're not strong when we're out of possession then they'll make us pay."
"Jose Mourinho said yesterday that the most important thing is having a clearly defined philosophy on how you want to play. That's not just him having the philosophy, it's the players understanding it and buying into it. We have to sit down and put it to bed and see whether we want to carry on doing it. If not we have to see if we can get the players who do, or if we can change. I believe they can do it and they've shown at times that they can. But I've always been the one pushing it to say it's what we want to do, but we need it to come from them as well."
Barnes Banter: Pre-Match Bolton
Posted by: Total Tranmere (IP Logged)
Date: 24/08/2009 15:34
What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
Re: Barnes Banter: Pre-Match Bolton
Posted by: Matty_1985 (IP Logged)
Date: 24/08/2009 17:43
Sounds to me that the players don't feel comfortable playing this style of football!?
Re: Barnes Banter: Pre-Match Bolton
Posted by: ivvy (IP Logged)
Date: 25/08/2009 01:17
Quote:Matty_1985
Sounds to me that the players don't feel comfortable playing this style of football!?
For one thing, those on loan do not owe any allegiance to the club and will lack interest IMO.
I think it calls for more work and fitness than they have been used to ? It also calls for use of the brain and using initiative and supporting eachother on the field.
I did notice however, a goal by Leeds which came from a long ball.
THe players are not a happy lot.
Re: Barnes Banter: Pre-Match Bolton
Posted by: tjmsojc (IP Logged)
Date: 25/08/2009 08:55
You make a good point ivvy.
Whenever you try to make fundamental changes to anything in life, it requires a bit of painful adjustment, especially if that does mean extra work and concentration. JB obviously isn't trying to do it the easy way, but then again that is why he was a winner against all the odds as a player. Maybe some of the players need reminding why they are third tier players and he was not?
Some of the vitriol spat in JB's direction — and generally from people who can't even spell — is absurd. OK, people may be reacting to Moore's sacking. But is it really so awful that such a pedestrian manager be removed?
Perhaps - just perhaps - John Barnes may succeed in delivering a good looking and graceful style of football to PP, not seen since the days of Johnny King.
These kind of teams never win all their matches. Remember how Kingy's team were absolutely erratic in results, especially away from home? How, when they delivered, it was an absolute pleasure to watch.
I'd take watching the champagne teams of the early nineties, competing at the top the second tier - winning some, losing some, over Aldo's frenzied competitors who reached a cup final, over Moore's tactically-savvy-though-achingly-dull terriers who achieved consolidation any day. Any day.
I have the sense that Barnes may just feel the same way.
Maybe, just maybe if some of the edam brains on this board give the man a chance, he'll be able to achieve something special.
Whenever you try to make fundamental changes to anything in life, it requires a bit of painful adjustment, especially if that does mean extra work and concentration. JB obviously isn't trying to do it the easy way, but then again that is why he was a winner against all the odds as a player. Maybe some of the players need reminding why they are third tier players and he was not?
Some of the vitriol spat in JB's direction — and generally from people who can't even spell — is absurd. OK, people may be reacting to Moore's sacking. But is it really so awful that such a pedestrian manager be removed?
Perhaps - just perhaps - John Barnes may succeed in delivering a good looking and graceful style of football to PP, not seen since the days of Johnny King.
These kind of teams never win all their matches. Remember how Kingy's team were absolutely erratic in results, especially away from home? How, when they delivered, it was an absolute pleasure to watch.
I'd take watching the champagne teams of the early nineties, competing at the top the second tier - winning some, losing some, over Aldo's frenzied competitors who reached a cup final, over Moore's tactically-savvy-though-achingly-dull terriers who achieved consolidation any day. Any day.
I have the sense that Barnes may just feel the same way.
Maybe, just maybe if some of the edam brains on this board give the man a chance, he'll be able to achieve something special.
Re: Barnes Banter: Pre-Match Bolton
Posted by: ajmcd (IP Logged)
Date: 25/08/2009 10:12
tjmsojc, thank you for such an excellent post. I'll readily admit that I was disappointed when Ronnie was fired because I felt he'd done a decent job for the club and might be on the cusp of dragging us to the next level. But I don't think that anybody would be under the illusion that watching us play under him wasn't particularly exciting and was more than a little nerve-wracking for most of every match! Moreover, I find it difficult to believe that he'd have been able to take us anywhere in the Championship.
In contrast, I'll admit that, as a Londoner, the only game I've seen this year was the Gillingham one and there were plenty of minus points as well as positives despite the result. But, as tjmsojc indicates, there were times when we played fabulous, flowing football and if JB can get the players to buy into that philosophy and play it consistently, then trekking up to PP will become an absolute pleasure again - and we'll probably go places too (Leeds are a pretty good footballing side from what I've seen and they're doing ok).
The big worry at the moment seems to be the players' attitudes. Reading between the lines, JB is close to suffering a rebellion and he needs to get some new guys in or persuade the current crop that they will benefit from playing in his way. I hope he manages one or the other.
I also feel we need another quality midfielder. Shukes has been good enough this year, but I've been desperately disappointed with both McLaren and Mahon. I wonder if it's worth lining up with Fraughan-Barnett-Welsh-Shuker and seeing if we can't get a bit more reliable creativity that way...
In contrast, I'll admit that, as a Londoner, the only game I've seen this year was the Gillingham one and there were plenty of minus points as well as positives despite the result. But, as tjmsojc indicates, there were times when we played fabulous, flowing football and if JB can get the players to buy into that philosophy and play it consistently, then trekking up to PP will become an absolute pleasure again - and we'll probably go places too (Leeds are a pretty good footballing side from what I've seen and they're doing ok).
The big worry at the moment seems to be the players' attitudes. Reading between the lines, JB is close to suffering a rebellion and he needs to get some new guys in or persuade the current crop that they will benefit from playing in his way. I hope he manages one or the other.
I also feel we need another quality midfielder. Shukes has been good enough this year, but I've been desperately disappointed with both McLaren and Mahon. I wonder if it's worth lining up with Fraughan-Barnett-Welsh-Shuker and seeing if we can't get a bit more reliable creativity that way...
Re: Barnes Banter: Pre-Match Bolton
Posted by: Matty_1985 (IP Logged)
Date: 25/08/2009 12:55
tjmsojc - I agree to a certain degree with your post, but the players who Johnny King had were much better footballers than what Barnes has at his disposal now.
The teams of the 90's were exciting to watch, I agree, but the basics weren't even being met on Saturday at Leeds.
The teams of the 90's were exciting to watch, I agree, but the basics weren't even being met on Saturday at Leeds.
Re: Barnes Banter: Pre-Match Bolton
Posted by: kiws (IP Logged)
Date: 25/08/2009 14:12
Excellent posts, constructive without the knee jerk reactions we have become accustomed too.
JB was class as a player, I like his philosophy, he expects the best, he has inherited some good young players who he will be able to mould into his type of player, he knows the shortcomings of some individuals but he has to work with the smallest squad I can remember since the mid seventies.
We have a tough program at the start of this season, against teams with far more resources than we have, Yeovil being the exception, we are playing a style of football that , when it works, is pleasing to the eye, getting away from hoof it and hope tactics has to be a good thing.
I hope the players respond and the fans are patient, don't expect anything this season in terms of promotion, top half would be good, a cup run even in the jpt would be nice, judge next season when JB has had time to work with his players, who knows what the future holds, if we are being honest, with our resources could we compete in the championship, i'd rather be flirting with a play off spot in league one than being bottom 3 in the championship, to make the leap forward we need investment either through new money to help PJ or player sales, can't see either happening this season.
Just be grateful we are not Chester!
JB was class as a player, I like his philosophy, he expects the best, he has inherited some good young players who he will be able to mould into his type of player, he knows the shortcomings of some individuals but he has to work with the smallest squad I can remember since the mid seventies.
We have a tough program at the start of this season, against teams with far more resources than we have, Yeovil being the exception, we are playing a style of football that , when it works, is pleasing to the eye, getting away from hoof it and hope tactics has to be a good thing.
I hope the players respond and the fans are patient, don't expect anything this season in terms of promotion, top half would be good, a cup run even in the jpt would be nice, judge next season when JB has had time to work with his players, who knows what the future holds, if we are being honest, with our resources could we compete in the championship, i'd rather be flirting with a play off spot in league one than being bottom 3 in the championship, to make the leap forward we need investment either through new money to help PJ or player sales, can't see either happening this season.
Just be grateful we are not Chester!
Re: Barnes Banter: Pre-Match Bolton
Posted by: bigmart (IP Logged)
Date: 25/08/2009 17:29
I would agree with most of what has been said in the above posts.
It will take a while for JB to gethis tactics and thoughts across and we need to be patient.
I do think the team needs to be physically stronger as we have quite a few players that can easily be knocked off the ball. It will be interesting to see ow we can cope with their style tonight as we know what is coming but will we be able to deal with it.
Fingers crossed for a good performance.
It will take a while for JB to gethis tactics and thoughts across and we need to be patient.
I do think the team needs to be physically stronger as we have quite a few players that can easily be knocked off the ball. It will be interesting to see ow we can cope with their style tonight as we know what is coming but will we be able to deal with it.
Fingers crossed for a good performance.
Re: Barnes Banter: Pre-Match Bolton
Posted by: MikeH (IP Logged)
Date: 25/08/2009 19:01
Its all about balance - no point passing for the sake of it. He's not asking them to do anything radical.
With the exception of shuker its an entirely new midfield anyway so hes not changing the system of an existing team I'd of thought the players should be comfortable - (mahon and mclaren are ball players and welsh came up at liverpool) with it.
With the exception of shuker its an entirely new midfield anyway so hes not changing the system of an existing team I'd of thought the players should be comfortable - (mahon and mclaren are ball players and welsh came up at liverpool) with it.
Re: Barnes Banter: Pre-Match Bolton
Posted by: SWS (IP Logged)
Date: 25/08/2009 21:01
your all talking out your ar5es an haven't got a clue!!
nah im only messing just trying to ruin a constructive well thought out thread haha... Nah my feelings are that whilest Ronnie was far from perfect in fact a game rarely went by when i never questioned a decision he made. He had realsitic goals and tactics that got the best out of what he had..
While i respect what John Barnes is trying to do and for the first 15 minutes of most of our home games we've been more exciting in our passing etc than the entirety of last season, the fact is we can't keep it up for 90 mins and teams are punishing us. you can't suddenly teach old dogs new tricks. It was far from exciting under Ronnie but he got the best he could from players with out asking too much of them, under barnes i feel he's trying to hammer square objects through round holes if you get me.
perseverance may end up paying off, but i fear another loss on saturday will cause a pretty big bout of depression and drop in our already dwindling attendances..
fingers crossed eh, im in work tonight but sounds like same old from my friends, were not playing bad but were losing?
i know they say if your playing well it'll eventually turn for us.. but will it?...
nah im only messing just trying to ruin a constructive well thought out thread haha... Nah my feelings are that whilest Ronnie was far from perfect in fact a game rarely went by when i never questioned a decision he made. He had realsitic goals and tactics that got the best out of what he had..
While i respect what John Barnes is trying to do and for the first 15 minutes of most of our home games we've been more exciting in our passing etc than the entirety of last season, the fact is we can't keep it up for 90 mins and teams are punishing us. you can't suddenly teach old dogs new tricks. It was far from exciting under Ronnie but he got the best he could from players with out asking too much of them, under barnes i feel he's trying to hammer square objects through round holes if you get me.
perseverance may end up paying off, but i fear another loss on saturday will cause a pretty big bout of depression and drop in our already dwindling attendances..
fingers crossed eh, im in work tonight but sounds like same old from my friends, were not playing bad but were losing?
i know they say if your playing well it'll eventually turn for us.. but will it?...
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.