How did Barnes do?

[Ric Flair]

Night and day compared to the timid player we saw in the cup games a year ago. He looks strong and very direct. It felt like watching Vardy or Chilwell play for England though in the sense that nobody wanted to give him the ball at first but that eventually changed. 

 

I think it's time we tried 3-4-2-1 with him and Maddison behind Vardy.

[Ric Flair]

Just now, DennisNedry said:

I felt sorry for him really.

 

Imagine being ripped away from a club playing exciting high scoring football, playing with players you know, and at a club that's on the up at the minute.

 

And being plonked in a situation where you're 0-2 down, playing against a Soton brick wall in a hostile environment where you hardly know the players and every misplaced shot/pass is met with groans.

He'll have loved it, we are his club and it's the level every young player wants to play at. West Brom would be taken apart back in the PL, their fans arent at all enamoured by what Darren Moore is doing. From the outside looking in that'll make people laugh, but a bit like us with Puel all is not well.

[Bats8711]

13 minutes ago, Fox92 said:

Thought that was weird how Chilwell seemed to refuse to give him the ball.

 

Posted this in the post-game thread.  Glad I'm not the only one who noticed this.

[Bert]

3 minutes ago, Frost said:

Thought as much myself. 

 

Here's hoping Bournemouth come back with a £25m for Gray like they did a couple of windows ago.

You missed the . From in between the 2 & 5. 

 

Barnes showed a few flashes but he was playing in a free flowing team at West Brom. We must remember that. 

[dooflip]

5 minutes ago, DennisNedry said:

I felt sorry for him really.

 

Imagine being ripped away from a club playing exciting high scoring football, playing with players you know, and at a club that's on the up at the minute.

 

And being plonked in a situation where you're 0-2 down, playing against a Soton brick wall in a hostile environment where you hardly know the players and every misplaced shot/pass is met with groans.

I think a lot of the fans, myself included, made a special effort to encourage him and applaud him.

 

he got into some great positions, looked full of beans and eager to impress, which is something we are desperately in need of at the moment. I would consider starting him Purely based on that, the fact that he has a point to prove and will work hard.

[Sampson]

Did pretty much **** all. Which wasn't exactly his fault.

 

But as he's the saviour people will give silly cliches about him "looking lively"

 

But in truth, you barely noticed he was there and he didn't make any impact to the game.

 

Not that he shouldn't be encouraged or won't be great in the future, but let's not be silly and give meaningless platitudes to his performance.

[foxer]

A couple of times he and maddison almost linked up nicely. Reckon that could develop into a decent little partnership. 

[lcfcsnow]

4 minutes ago, Bats8711 said:

 

Posted this in the post-game thread.  Glad I'm not the only one who noticed this.

He did seem to only pass to him as a last resort. @Foxy-Lady do you know if they get on from the academy days as they must have played together a fair bit? Suppose if he’s threatening Grays place Chilwell might not be keen 

[Kisnorbo fox]

Encouraging ! Looks to be full of confidents, some nice passes and movement. Looked to push forward. Just needs to gel with the team, but thats easier said than done with a muppet like puel managing as who nows what team or formation he will adopt from game to game. Only thing that could be a problem is puels incompetence, recalling the lad back from Westbrom and benching him every game.

[woddyuk]

We did the same with him as England did with Vardy. 

 

Brought him on when we were in the shit , told him to stay wide on the left wing and try  win us the game from there . What else would you do with a striker? ? 

[southfox66]

He looked impressive with some good touches and good movement, but then he been most of the season at wba, but give him a few weeks with Puel and that will all change 

[murphy]

55 minutes ago, SuperMike said:

I really worry about Harvey coming back. He is such a superb player with flair, imagination, enthusiasm, skill, attacking intent and even goals. Did you see Jeff Stellings' video of his WBA goals? Absolutely stunning - all of the oooohs and aaaahs from the panel.

But I remember seeing a very, very similiar collection of highlights from a young man of equal promise - a certain James Maddison.

But he has had all that drive and enthusiasm and freedom sucked out by this dour and boring regime; and is now only a shadow of the player we signed.

Such a shame - two of the most promising young players in the game being ruined by Puelball.

Or maybe the Premier League is a bit harder than the Championship.

 

Maddison stilll has 5 goals and 3 assists in half a season in the prem though, so perhaps not as bleak as you suggest.  You do realise that real games are not the same as highlight reels don't you? 

[Mike Oxlong]

1 hour ago, Fox92 said:

Thought that was weird how Chilwell seemed to refuse to give him the ball.

 

It was almost as if Harvey had nicked Ben’s girlfriend. 

 

Some good movement from Harvey today that went to waste. 

[StriderHiryu]

1 hour ago, lgfualol said:

Looked lively. Sometimes was ignored by other players though, particularly Chilwell who decided to lose the ball instead.

 

I'd throw him in the team straight the way. Cant do worse than anyone else.

This is exactly what I thought too. To add to this I would also say that sometimes he wasn't on the same wavelength as the other players, e.g. he'd make a run when the passer was checking back, or vice versa. The irony here being, that I thought Barnes' runs were often the much better decision than the one the person on the ball decided to take!

 

He already looked miles better than the young man we saw at the end of last season. As you say I would whack him in the first team myself personally too.

[Guest MattP]

1 hour ago, Sampson said:

Did pretty much **** all. Which wasn't exactly his fault.

 

But as he's the saviour people will give silly cliches about him "looking lively"

 

But in truth, you barely noticed he was there and he didn't make any impact to the game.

 

Not that he shouldn't be encouraged or won't be great in the future, but let's not be silly and give meaningless platitudes to his performance.

Agree, thought he did OK and he's an option, but had little impact.

 

Someone described him as "amazing" which again shows how mental our fan base can be when it comes to young players or ones we are pinning hopes on.

[reynard]

Not sure he will fit in he actually moved off the ball. Sure we will soon sort that out!

[Dan]

Could tell he had something about him, looked sharp, although couldn't massive impact the game as he was thrown in at the deep end - as predicted / feared.

[lcfc sheff]

Seems to have far more about him than any of our wingers at present, think he’ll start next game. Think he needs to be next to vardy whilst Maddison drops deeper to somewhat dictate the game.

[Otis]

2 hours ago, Fox92 said:

At least he wanted to go forward.

Don't worry, that'll be coached out of him soon.

[st albans fox]

Lacking a bit of confidence to be brave but given the circumstances that was expected

 

chilwell and him will have to strike up an understanding. Problem is that if he wants to hug the touchline to receive the ball then he is occupying the space Chilwell wants to drive into ...... it will be sorted ( well it should be but i don’t have much faith in the coaching staff having watched that rubbish today) 

[Trav Le Bleu]

2 hours ago, SuperMike said:

I really worry about Harvey coming back. He is such a superb player with flair, imagination, enthusiasm, skill, attacking intent and even goals. Did you see Jeff Stellings' video of his WBA goals? Absolutely stunning - all of the oooohs and aaaahs from the panel.

But I remember seeing a very, very similiar collection of highlights from a young man of equal promise - a certain James Maddison.

But he has had all that drive and enthusiasm and freedom sucked out by this dour and boring regime; and is now only a shadow of the player we signed.

Such a shame - two of the most promising young players in the game being ruined by Puelball.

In 45 mins of football?

 

Does your doctor know you've escaped?

[SuperMike]

3 minutes ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

In 45 mins of football?

 

Does your doctor know you've escaped?

Hey! Never said he's ruined him YET!!

.....give him a few more games and the lad will be bereft of confidence and will be reluctant to try anything other than sideways and backwards passing.

[Tanya]

4 hours ago, lcfc sheff said:

Seems to have far more about him than any of our wingers at present, think he’ll start next game. Think he needs to be next to vardy whilst Maddison drops deeper to somewhat dictate the game.

Agreed.  I think he got into good positions and was a stud lenght from scoring at one point. He looks exciting.  A week's worth of training and I'd have him starting, maybe just behind Vards as you say.

[Deeg67]

8 hours ago, lcfc sheff said:

Seems to have far more about him than any of our wingers at present, think he’ll start next game. Think he needs to be next to vardy whilst Maddison drops deeper to somewhat dictate the game.

This. I think the change is Barnes starting on the left wing, Maddison dropping back as the high point of a midfield three and Mendy to the bench. Effectively a 4-3-3 still, giving Maddison more freedom to drop deeper or to attack.

[Guest Bob Hazels shorts]

Not in his most comfortable position for much of the game and not given the ball oddly.

 

Some great highlights on YouTube of him ripping up defences at West Brom, a bit like Vardy pre Puel.