Harvey Barnes

[Yorkie]

1 minute ago, HaydnNUFC said:

 

We also had players that could play on the left as was evident in 2022-23 in Joelinton, Anderson, Willock and worse case scenario Isak.

 

On the right two players who are not good enough remained, and still do.

 

Only Joelinton is anywhere up to scratch in that position and has been a crucial member of the midfield. 

 

That's besides the point though - the issue is that we didn't sign a RW in  January or the summer. The Barnes signing is absolutely fine, just undermined by the lack of investment thereafter. 

[SUPERTOON]

12 minutes ago, Yorkie said:

Can't understand what the mystery is tbh. ASM went, leaving Gordon as our only LW, who was also expected to fill in at CF to relieve Isak and Wilson. Barnes was a quality goalscoring winger available at a competitive price so we signed him. 

Do you genuinely not think we would have been better spending that money elsewhere on the squad ?

[Yorkie]

Just now, SUPERTOON said:

Do you genuinely not think we would have been better spending that money elsewhere on the squad ?

 

Think I've answered that above. Barnes is a really good player and has already delivered in some big moments for us. 

[HaydnNUFC]

5 minutes ago, Yorkie said:

 

Only Joelinton is anywhere up to scratch in that position and has been a crucial member of the midfield. 

 

That's besides the point though - the issue is that we didn't sign a RW in  January or the summer. The Barnes signing is absolutely fine, just undermined by the lack of investment thereafter. 

 

Joelinton and Willock's interchanging on the left was one of the positive patterns of play lauded by fans in 2022-23 which has disappeared. Both could play there. The only time I was ever really impressed with Elliot Anderson was away at Forest when he came on for ASM at LW.

 

Even forgetting that and just counting Joelinton; there's two players in Gordon and Joelinton who are good enough for LW, despite Joelinton being more a CM these days. We don't have any good enough for the RW. Still don't. 

 

Barnes is a £40m outlay with other more pressing matters in the squad both now and when we signed him. Whilst in the present, the manager doesn't know what to do with him. Start him? Play him on the right? Put him on the left and move Gordon out of his best position for us? Sub him on as that's where the bulk of his goals come from? He's a good finisher but a poor signing in hindsight imo. That £40m should've gone on a RW and we'd have had a decent pool to pick from as we'd have had the lure of CL football in summer 2023.

 

 

Edited October 29, 2024 by HaydnNUFC

[r0cafella]

1 minute ago, Yorkie said:

 

Think I've answered that above. Barnes is a really good player and has already delivered in some big moments for us. 

I actually think Barnes and his limitations means he probably needs a system designed to get the best out of him. Hes a winger who essentially can't pass or dribble far from Orthodox. 

 

He was a opportunistic buy imo. Which is good but ultimately when squad building you need a long term plan and idea of where you want to get to buying based upon stats or perceived value can throw you for a loop. 

[Conjo]

I have my reservations over Barnes/prioritization of where we have strenghtened the squad as well, but he is clutch as fuck and will help us gain many points in the coming years. Seems to be best as a sub coming on against tired legs after Gordon has harassed the opposition defence for 60+ minutes.

[Ikon]

5 minutes ago, Yorkie said:

Can't understand what the mystery is tbh. ASM went, leaving Gordon as our only LW, who was also expected to fill in at CF to relieve Isak and Wilson. Barnes was a quality goalscoring winger available at a competitive price so we signed him. 

 

It's simply that he doesn't offer enough for me. Not a bad player as he's a great finisher, but i reckon that we

needed more variation in our tool kit to make us less predictable and allow us some more patterns of play.

 

I've said before that i think we need to improve our technical and creative ability, Also been saying that to evolve to the next level we need to improve our in general play as well as becoming a slightly more possession based team. 

We can't get to the next level without finding a good balance between directness/possession. I said a long time ago that i reckon we'll be found out otherwise and that other teams will adapt and we'll find it harder unless we can

become more unpredictable amd have more variation in our play. Just to add, i maintain the idea that we need a creative attacking midfielder to give us some playing depth both going forward and defensively.

Think it would make us better in both directions as well as helping Isak A LOT. The distance between say Tonali and Bruno and isak is quite massive, so it doesnt take advantage of their ability either imo.

 

 

 

[80]

Amidst all this, there is the question of whether Barnes will tolerate playing the role of an impact sub throughout the best years of his career.

[SUPERTOON]

10 minutes ago, 80 said:

Amidst all this, there is the question of whether Barnes will tolerate playing the role of an impact sub throughout the best years of his career.

If we get an offer that matches what we paid, we would be daft not to sell tbh.

[80]

Just now, SUPERTOON said:

If we get an offer that matches what we paid, we would be daft not to sell tbh.

I reckon so, yeah. Think it will work out best for all concerned. Unless we're going to seriously change our approach on and off the pitch.

[timnufc22]

Those impacts will start to fade very quickly once he realises he's not trusted to be a first eleven player, I'm really surprised and disappointed at Eddie's handling of him. Barnes has scored a number of worldies this season yet he's almost being viewed as a write-off and while he needs to do more at times (like every other player so far), part of that perception stems from being subbed off every single time and never being given a long run in the side.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

Just now, timnufc22 said:

Those impacts will start to fade very quickly once he realises he's not trusted to be a first eleven player, I'm really surprised and disappointed at Eddie's handling of him. Barnes has scored a number of worldies this season yet he's almost being viewed as a write-off and while he needs to do more at times (like every other player so far), part of that perception stems from being subbed off every single time and never being given a long run in the side.

Where would you play him though? 
 

FWIW I’m sure the management don’t see him as negatively as the fans do. 

[Lush Vlad]

3 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

Where would you play him though? 
 

FWIW I’m sure the management don’t see him as negatively as the fans do. 

 

On the left, Gordon on the right.  

 

The same argument about Gordon 'not looking good enough' on the right.  Can be applied to Barnes.  I don't think we have seen it enough to really know.  But as I've said numerous times.  You can't tell me it will be worse than having Almiron/Murphy on the right and Gordon left.  

 

Moot point, though.  As nothing Howe has done suggests he will do that or that he trusts or wants to give Barnes a run of starts on the left. 

[timnufc22]

1 minute ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

Where would you play him though? 
 

FWIW I’m sure the management don’t see him as negatively as the fans do. 

 

Actions speak louder than words and the manager and staff can tell him whatever they want, but those words will be hollow from his point of view when he's never given a long run and subbed every game he plays.

 

He should have been LW all season up til now, Gordon has not played well and came back late. Barnes was ready and sharp and still scored brilliant goals from the starts/sub appearances he did get. But Gordon is always quick to get his LW back, look at the Brighton game - low and behold Barnes is dropped and while Gordon was lively in the first 20 mins, his end product was once again was poor.

 

 

[Aiston]

Sell him.

 

[nufc123]

Mr. Lethal

[Newcastle Fan]

Absolute killer when you bring him on from the bench against tired teams, was surprised he didn't score the second chance towards the end.

[Ikon]

Very good for a team (and us) when there’s a lot of transitions. Bloody great finisher. 

[TRon]

That touch round the corner for Bruno which started off the move near our own penalty area took some balls mind. Didn't know he had that in him.

[STM]

He's a player that loves a game with space.

[Smal]

if he could get involved in the rest of the game more I’m pretty sure he’d be one of the best players in the league. Not convinced there’s anyone more clinical in terms of getting a goal or assist when he has it in that inside left position.

 

 

Edited November 10, 2024 by Smal

[PauloGeordio]

Bruno getting him to do the "double archer" pose!  

[Shearergol]

He’s not leaving, I’m not sure why people think he is

 

[Joelinton7]

We have the best two lw’s in the league. Just enjoy it.

[Kid Icarus]

Yet more evidence that he's our Jota/Trossard imo. Ideal player to bring on, absolutely lethal against tired legs.