Predictions 2008-9 - 14th Barnet Sunday, 3rd Aug 2008 12:02
Nearly halfway through now in our pre-season predictions, with a look at Barnet who we reckon will finish in approximately 14th position.
Barnet |
last
season at a glance |
On the pitch, you have to say it was a good season
for the Bees. Despite surviving on attendances only bettering Accrington
and Dagenham, they finished in the top half, ending the season in
twelfth place. And this done despite having to sell Liam Hatch midway
through the season. The FA Cup proved to be even more successful
reaching the fourth round before being knocked out by a Rickie Lambert
goal at home to Bristol Rovers.
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The
gaffer - Paul Fairclough |
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Paul Fairclough was always a manager that we allowed our snobbery to get the
better of us over. We'd dismissed him countless times as being nothing more than
a non league manager where the most important task is to ensure that your
players are sober enough on a Saturday afternoon or not overly tired from doing
their milk round that particular morning. But with so many of the League Two
sides having played Conference level football over the past ten years or so,
it's arguable that the differences aren't what they were in terms of the make up
of the teams which is making it easier for promoted sides from the Conference to
flourish in a world where half the sides are "non league" sides.
Fairclough has seemingly done an excellent job whilst with the Bees. Despite
getting tipped for relegation year in year out, he has turned them into a
comfortable mid table side despite being forced to sell a number of key players
along the way. And all done whilst maintaining good quality football. If I had
to pinpoint why he's managed it, I'd say it was down to taking advantage of the
non league scene, bringing in players who were perhaps overlooked at 16 / 17 yet
have shone at a lower level.
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Reasons for a better season |
Barnet could be a surprise package for much the
same reasons we've talked about for other sides. This season is ripe for
someone to come out of nowhere and stake a claim in much the same way
that Hereford did last season, and arguably for reasons we've covered
previously, we feel it will be easier for a side to do that than last
year.
They have a settled side at Underhill. I know
there's been player sales but they'll go into the 2008-9 season with a
very similar side to the one they finished last season with. They have
the same manager, they have the same star man, and they have pretty much
the same squad - so why can't they build on what they've got?
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Reasons for a worse season |
The loss of Jason Puncheon to
Plymouth Argyle will be a big blow to the Bees. He made the PFA League
Two team of the year, being perhaps the only surprise choice in a team
where League Two footballers simply picked out as many Peterborough and
MK Dons players as they could. He grabbed eleven goals from an attacking
midfield position last term, and as we often talked about, players who
can score goals from midfield are worth their weight in gold. £250,000
seems rather cheap for the former MK Dons player.
It does make you wonder just how
long that Barnet can keep getting away with it. There has to be a line
crossed, whether it be down to a failed gamble in the transfer market or
a key injury. They keep over achieving but surely someday that they are
going to find themselves competing with the sides that their crowds
suggest are their peers.
With no realistic chances of
promotion on the horizon, it's very easy to feel that you're just
treading water, and whilst its a great achievement finishing where they
seem to finish every year, it isn't success and its difficult for
players to be motivated about a finish that reflects a better finish
that teams on comparatively higher attendances.
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Season depends on - Albert Adomah |
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Barnet always seem to have this knack of
getting players from non league and giving them a shot of League
Football. It's long been argued that there isn't the talent in
the Conference that is willing to step forward and make the
necessary sacrifices required to give professional football a
real go, but Barnet constantly dispel that myth with names such
as Jason Puncheon, Tresor Kandol and Liam Hatch as proof of
that. Adomah is the next on that Barnet non league production
line. He only arrived at Barnet at the start of this year,
after impressing for Harrow Borough with a Albert opting for
Barnet over Dagenham. A fight over Christiano Ronaldo this was
not. But it was quite possibly the League Two signing of
the season, because within weeks of making his debut for the
Bees, the scouts were flocking to Underhill to see him in
action.
He was transfer listed at the end of that season at his own
(agent's) request, following a number of links with Premiership
and Championship moves, but he's made it clear he's in no rush
to leave Barnet and happy to play for them.
The pacey winger looks far too good for this division, and
it'll be a case of how long can they resist the bids. He'll
probably move to Peterborough whether they need him or not.
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RochdaleAFC.com Prediction |
14th - Mid table
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Reasons for our prediction |
If ever there was a team who could be described as
being a mid table side, then its Barnet. If League Two is to be known as
being the Rochdale Division, for our longevity at this level, then we
may as well start up a subdivision known as the Barnet midtable due to
their ability to constantly finish between 12th and 14th. There is so
much to be admired about Barnet. They are a small club, with an even
smaller fan base, yet have constantly punched above their weight since
their return to the League. They play a style of football which is very
pleasing on the eye, and all this has been done despite having to sell
their best player seemingly every six months. Take away their Conference
roots, and you could almost accuse them of being a Southern version of
ourselves.
Barnet supporters could be worried about the sale of Puncheon. He was
a top class player at this level, and will be sorely missed. But their
supporters can have faith that he will be replaced and not missed, in
much the same way that Hatch was sold back in January. This is a club
that knows what it is doing.
But the worry will be how long they hold on to Adomah. It seems a
matter of time before he leaves Underhill with so many suitors after
him. I appreciate this completely contradicts what is put above about
the sale of players, but I see it more than this constant sale of
players whilst not putting the team in jeopardy, it does prevent them
pushing on to the next level hence we're not tipping them for anything
higher than 14th.
It's going to be the same old same old for Barnet. Some great results
against some of the best sides in the division, and without doubt on the
day, they're a match for anyone, but performing over a season will be
too much of an ask, and they'll sit comfortably mid table looking
forward to the following season from around January.
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Photo: Action Images
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