The Hotel End

What is JB on about?  :D

https://youtu.be/yHNI-1bYpm4

Any idea how ticket sales are doing? It's a long way to the ărse end of nowhere, so I 'm not expecting as many as last time, but as my Barrow supporting friend is not going this time, I had better go in the away end. Can I wait until the day or should I buy in advance?

The Cobblers make the 450 mile round trip to Holker Street Barrow on Saturday to take on The Bluebirds in this League 2 encounter.

Barrow of course had a spell out of the league between 1972 and 2020. They lost out on a re-election vote, their place taken by Hereford United at the time, suffered financial turmoil in the 1990's when they were at the mercy of a liquidator for a spell, before bouncing back as a "newco" in 2002 and eventual promotion back to the EFL on points per game in the Covid affected season of 2019-20.
Their Holker Street ground (now called the "SO Legal Stadium") and Sixfields both share the dubious honour of being built on rubbish tips!

Barrow have been faltering of late, a decent start to the season saw them in the top 3 early on, but recently a run of only one win in their last eight games has seen them slip to 8th in the table, a point outside of the playoff positions. An opening day victory at new boys Stockport was backed up by a victory in the next game at home to Bradford. Since then they have picked up seven further wins on their own patch, they have lost four times too with only the one game ending in a draw.

The Cumbrians are currently managed by Pete Wild, he's been in charge since May taking over from Phil Brown after a three year spell at Halifax Town. He has a record of 13 wins and 13 defeats in his 33 game Barrow tenure.

Josh Gordon leads the goalscoring stakes, he has 11 to his name this season although seven of those came by the middle of September. Former Cobbler Billy Waters has eight to his name. Defender Niall Canavan is their only ever present having appeared in all 26 league fixtures.

Waters is one of four former Cobblers in their setup. Billy scored just two league goals in 39 Cobblers appearances over a spell of three years between 2017 and 2020. He's arrived at Barrow via Torquay and Halifax, for whom he was fairly prolific under manager Wild scoring 21 goals in 48 appearances for the Shaymen.
Sam Foley former Cobbler, He was with us between 2017 and 2019 and has had spells at St Mirren. Motherwell and Tranmere before turning up at Barrow.
Third on the list is David Moyo, he was a trainee with the Cobblers who went on to make 2 league starts for us with 12 other appearances off the bench, he scored once before dropping down to non-league and scoring plenty of goals for Brackley and St Albans before a decent spell north of the border with Hamilton. Moyo is still a Barrow player but is now out on loan at Barnet.
Last but not least is Jason Taylor, a Cobbler back in 2015 and 2016 he has made over 100 appearances for Barrow, but only one this season and that was in the Trophy. He is on the coaching staff at the club but still retains a player registration.

We played the Cumbrians regularly in Division 4 days back in the late 50's and early 60's before our meteoric rise up the leagues....we met them again on the way back down of course too! In a total of 17 games between the sides we have won 12, only lost four times and there has been just the one draw. Three of Barrows four wins against us came at their home. Rivalries were renewed in 2022, Barrow did stun us with a first ever win in Northampton thanks to a second half Aaron Holloway goal, and then of course we made the long trek on the last day of last season, where despite a 3-1 win we missed out on promotion thanks to....well, i'll just leave it there!! Three goals in the first 21 minutes were ultimately not enough, two of them scored by Hoskins and the other by Horsfall, Liam Roberts saw red for a last minute handball too.
Earlier this season we recorded a comfortable 3-1 win, Hoskins, Bowie and McGloire the Town scorers.

Just looking at those attendances for the games in 2022 and 2023, last season at Sixfields there were 4604 present, for the last game at Barrow it was 4603 and for the game this season it was 4605.

Our old friend Darren Drysdale is the man in charge of the game, a league ref since 2004 we have seen him plenty of times over the years the most recent of which was the 3-1 FA Cup defeat at Cambridge last season. Its his first visit to Barrow since August 2021 when he reffed their 3-2 win over Hartlepool.

Great report as usual GPC.

Still undecided on this one. Might wait until Saturday morning..

Darren Drysdale is the referee we had for our Division 1 game at Ipswich a couple of seasons back when he butted heads with Alan Judge. In 20 games this season he has issued 49 yellows and 22 reds.
Not much history with Barrow, just 8 visits with 4 wins 1 draw and 3 defeats. They have won 8 of their 13 home games, drawing 1 and losing 4, scoring 19 and only conceding 11. They have kept 5 clean sheets in the 13 games and failed to score in 4. Of the top 10 teams only Bradford have scored fewer goals than Barrow and only Mansfield have conceded more. Barrow won 8 of their first 10 home games but have only taken 1 point (0-0 v Rochdale) from their last 3 (losing 1-2 v Tranmere and 0-1 v Swindon) but since these results they have won 3-2 away at Mansfield and drawn 0-0 at Orient.
We expect Guthrie to return to the starting 11 as it has been 2 weeks since he was missing with illness at Stockport and JB says 2 of the injured players may be able to take some part in the game. Obviously it is guesswork to predict our likely defence but I just hope the wheel comes off the barrow and we return with 3 points.

Well done chaps, bloody good read.

22 red cards in 20 games  :o :o

Yes, but butting heads with stompy stroppy Alan Judge gains him many kudos points...
Call him the Gnu...and make sure he sees us clap him!
Ulverston for the weekend, as last season. Duke of Wellington across from the station late on...and in the away end this time!

Here now for the weekend. Spot of lunch in Cartmel followed by the coast Rd in from Ulverston. Barrow is known as home to the meat and potato pie, funny that.

Important game to get back on track. In real need of a clean sheet and 3 points. Hopefully have had enough time to get a few bodies back, particularly in defence.

L'Enclume?

Pig and Whistle more like.

We are entrenched in the Abbey House after a fine repast in Oscar's. Lots of fishy things. Hoping to give the squid an outing when we get back to our room.

Abbey apts for us,Taj for dinner. Very disappointed Manhattans has closed.

;D
What makes you think that, doubting Mr T?

Big game today. Anything other than a win could see us in the play offs. Fingers crossed some of the injured players are back. Super Sammy needs his scoring boots on.

I understand that other than the pickled eggs, they do a mighty fine Desperate Dan cow pie. Right up your street.  ;D Enjoy your yourself today, and come back with three points.

McWilliams is in the picture of the squad checking out the pitch on the Official site so hopefully he’s back.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FnkG3ShWAAIukWx?format=jpg&name=small)

Wheres that new fella?

Not fit enough apparently - he had an ankle injury that kept him out for a while. It’s ironic that we’re worse off in terms of attacking players than defensive given the last couple of weeks.

‘Not fit enough to feature’ according to the Chron.

Makes you wonder what he’s being doing at Barnsley  :afro

Hylton also injured apparently. Clearly not through over exertion on the pitch though.

The same with Haynes - we must play Murderball in training.

In the set position!

(Training to get match fit.)The

Good to see more first teamers back in the squad.

Tyler & McWilliams back on the bench today. Good news

It’s a good point. Hlyton, Bowie and Haynes appear to have been injured in training.

I wonder if today will be the day we see Harrop in action.

I assume they are genuine injuries and not transfer window strains!

Probably not. How long did it take Dominic Revan to get up to match fitness? Or Etete for that matter.
We rarely sign anybody that hits the ground running.

We do either seem to like an injury prone player, or something about the training regime that they go through is particularly rigorous. Or we just have rather bad luck.

He’s one of two attackers on the bench. Been in the matchday squads for 6 weeks without getting a minute so far! 

It's funny that Haynes and Hylton are both out today. Probably the two players in the squad we are looking to offload. All speculation obviously but when/how did they get injured - they've hardly played recently. Training must be very hard going.

Just what I was thinking - I’ve probably just got a suspicious mind!

Carlisle 1up..dropped to 4th

The atmosphere is rocking today. You've really got to be here to experience it.

Crawley 1 Salford 0.

Swindon getting hammered as well.

Wheres Baldy today?...Partimer

Can say that again

I get the feeling this ref doesn’t like us.

[quote I’ve probably just got a suspicious mind!
[/quote]

We’re caught in a trap.

Would McWilliams be a natural replacement for Leonard ? Don't want to go down to 10 men.

I'd do it at half time - yes the yellow is a risk but Shaun is a better player and we need more bite in midfield

All depends if he can last 45 minutes I suppose.

Sorry I'm late. I've been doing the ironing for most of the day and then fell asleep.

Can you give a brief form update please?

It's a s*** game so far.

Not worth putting £24 in Rochdale's coffers is my opinion so far.

Defensively strong (particularly Guthrie) according to Radio Northampton. Barrow not that good.

We’ve been second best so far. Nobody standing out either positively or negatively, collectively look below par.

I thought we looked defensively shakey, personally.

Thank God for that. Bingers was worried sick.

Brady in!!!

1-0 Fox!  ;D

Get in there!!!

Good delivery from Super Sam

We will be fine now

He's the greatest!!!

Feel like we need a 2nd here. Need to put away one of these chances.

223 Cobblers supporters make the trip. Crowd only just over 3,000.

I really wish you hadnt have said that..

Orient loosing!!!

2-0 mcwilliams

Get in!!!

They're the greatest

McWillo!!!!

No problems. Curly is the worst judge ever...FACT

Harrop coming on!

Rochdale score

It's all coming up roses.

chalked off..

VAR? Lol

That’s a shame - if Carlisle win or draw against Barrow on Tuesday we drop out of the automatics but with a game in hand.

Or should I say losing.

0-2 FT.

Well Done boys back to winning ways..

Proper Div 2 promotion winning performance. UTC

Brackley win 4-0. No need for Hylton after all.

Well done NTFC  ;D

JB has just said Bowie is out for at least 8 weeks.

ah s***e.

Brady just said that Bowie injured in training and out for two months minimum.
Possible incoming striker.

Their commentary team described that game as the Cumbria Classico  ;D

Now 8 points behind Orient with a game in hand, in their last 7 games they have scored 1 goal.
Expect to drop to 4th on Tuesday night as Carlisle are at home to Barrow and they have another winnable home game next Saturday.

Never expect anything is this league, plus it's a local derby.

Carlisle only need a point on Tuesday to go above us and Barrow are going to have to put in a much better performance than today, they did not have a shot on target until the 96th minute.

We now have the best away record in the division.

Great result. A much better performance in the second half. Appere put in a shift which is something I don’t get the chance to say to often!

Looks like a 4 horse race at the top!

Great result indeed.... 49 points now, should see us safe from relegation!!

Does look like 3 from four at this stage, but plenty of time to go yet.

Phew, that's always my concern at the start of the season.


And sometimes quite late on in the season as well.

Any chance of match report , who played well. Curly said we were poor 1st half inspite of another poster saying defence looked ok.

First half very poor, as bad if not worse than we've been all season, struggled to pass to our own players, like Stockport last game.
Much better second half and once we scored there was only going to be one winner. Pinnock poor again, seems to have gone completely off the boil, Bradford game apart, since he signed his new contract. Thought Fox had a good game and Guthrie, in fact the defence was very solid, think we restricted them to a couple of shots. Don't understand Apperes aversion to heading the ball. Never seems to even attempt to head it, in fact he actually ducked several times when the ball came near his head. He did head it once, when under no pressure, straight out of play. Apart from his heading phobia he had a reasonable game. Great 3 points and 2 very winnable games coming up and Barrow to beat Carlisle Tuesday.

Can’t argue with any of that.

Must admit I’m confused why Eppiah has been dropped for Pinnock. Two weeks ago I was slated for questioning it as apparently Eppiah needed a rest, I’m not sure if he’s still in need of a rest or if in fact he has been dropped as I assumed.

Certainly couldn't do a lot worse than Pinnock at the moment. Maybe Pinnock needs a rest.

See above Evers.

I preferred the Bradford win, but its unlikely we'd do that week in week out. However, promotion or even Champions, needs wins like that. And if we get the occasional flash of brilliance like at Valley Parade, it will have been a good season.

See you at Spotland.

Didn't have long on the pitch to show us what he could do, but my observation is that he is quite slight and was easily bundled off the ball, and the pitch, by the bigger boys. There were a couple of touches that showed potential, but too little to make a proper assessment. Seen him the flesh though, so that is one up from Siddique.

You may have missed his flick for Fox’s goal. I admit he can look lost or clumsy under the high ball but I think he’s all about getting the ball down to get the team playing off him. He won’t win many aerial challenges with big defenders and there’s no point him flicking on when we have no runners in behind him. Get it to his feet or at least his midriff, and he comes alive. One beautiful reverse pass to Hoskins yesterday.

Blimey! But how many shots did he have? MoM for you in a modest display against Stockport and now this grudging compliment. Can I send you a Louis fan club application form?  So far it’s just me and most of the opposition commentators.

Flick? He went for it but completely missed it. I wasn't questioning his general play, I said he had a reasonable game, just puzzled by his heading aversion. Why won't he win many aerial challenges? He's a big lad. Even small Super Sam wins a fair few aerial challenges against big defenders.

I think that's massively unfair. While I personally think he's a very good player I can appreciate that others don't rate him, but to say he doesn't often put in a shift is clearly incorrect.

I'd have thought even his harshest critics could appreciate his work rate - he runs his socks off for us every time he plays.

Absolutely right.
That's the one constant to his game, he runs his nuts off. The rest of it isn't always so good for me.
More generally, I thought yesterday was a real good example of us controlling the game and taking our chances when they came along. A copybook performance. Barrow were poor, but a lot of that was down to us. Credit also aw it can't be easy playing at a s***hole like that, there was zero atmosphere.  Ifthe new fella from Barnsley was there he must wonder what he's got himself into.
What chance Carlisle and Stevenage go up with us while Orient have to make do with the play offs?

The first 45 minutes were just incredibly dull with virtually nothing happening, and not for the first time I questioned my sanity in using up an entire day of my life just for 90 minutes of football - the only consolation being it was a new ground for me to tick off the list.

Second half however I thought we played some really nice stuff at times. We absolutely bossed it in midfield, and I'm in the strange position of really rating Marc Leonard and what he brings to us, but thinking that the midfield three of Fox-Sowerby-McWilliams is actually our best unit in there. Still, it's nice to have options and Hondermarck will only add to that once he's fit enough to feature.

How Mysterious Curle can question the work rate of Appere is beyond me, every game he puts a mammoth shift in. His scoring record and aerial strength is there for questioning no doubt, but I don't think that's what he's being selected for by Brady - it's his pressing of the opposition defence and his hold up play with the ball to his feet where he can bring our midfield into the game and allow us to have more possession.

I'd put Appere in the same category as Sowerby in that the end product stats (attacking wise) might suggest they don't contribute much, but there's probably a whole load of other stats that we don't see that justify their inclusion, though the main thing is that we play much better as an XI when they are both in there.

Forget 3/4 place I’m looking at the title. We’ve had our wobble and tough run of games McWazza is back, it’s in the bag.

There are quite a few ‘Louis’ supporters on here,including me! Would suggest that Curly remarks are mostly attention seekers which some posters find puzzling. His unjust and wildly inaccurate critical appraisals of certain players are troll like in how they are delivered! Also remember he has claimed that JB is not upto the job! Quite an astonishing claim(s). I do wish that Louie would weigh in with a few more goals.


 

Exactly. Wise words from the land down under. Despite not ever attending games, he has his finger on the pulse. A true supporter if ever there was one.

Agree with that and that he shows touches of class well above L2 level at times. He isn't the aerial presence we'd probably like him to be but it's also true that he seems to get fouled almost constantly whenever high balls come his way and rarely gets a free kick. Otherwise, his hold up play is much better than it was and he's good at bringing other players into the game. I thought he had another decent game yesterday.

Touchè, and wise words from Bingers.

Think we can all agree on that. I suspect Louis gets more pleasure from laying on a chance for someone else. For me, he’s the catalyst for our best play. But a number nine who doesn’t look like scoring is bit of an indulgence except if the team is going well. A few bundled tap ins and especially heading in some crosses would help enormously - might even get the Mystic foreteller of our slide down the table on side. First, though he has to get in the box.

Maybe shift is the wrong word, agreed he puts in a shift and has the right energy every game. It’s not often I praise his work with the ball. Yesterday he was good with the ball.

Very amusing.

Care to share anymore made up stories?

 ************************************************

Hi Genius,   

Quote from: Mysterious Curle on January 14, 2023, 16:55:56 pm
JB has completely killed any momentum we had with his choice of subs.

Third loss in four.
Only two more games to get through before we get some more bodies in the building.

********************************************************************

   
Re: v Stockport (a) 14th Jan
« Reply #119 on: January 14, 2023, 17:21:30 pm »
Reply with quoteQuote
from: anjing on January 14, 2023, 17:16:24 pm
Simple question, what is your issue with JB?

**********************************************

If you’re looking for my opinion, I don’t think he’s very good at his job. Other than that a lovely fella.

***********************************************

This isn't your first go at JB and nor will it be your last!

Appere's energy, power, drive and commitment made him MoM for me, a class performance yesterday.
Saw absolutely nothing from Josh Harrop's few minutes - though the view is rather restricted from the covered away terrace!
Tom King's kicking is still on the atrocious side - power, yes, direction - virtually non-existant!

Ulverston, The White Swan and Old Friends especially - brilliant!

So you got the words wrong completely?

Made for a great story though. Please tell us another.

To be fair to King, there was a horrific side wind. I think it was the exact wind that has followed us ever since Stockport.

Hopefully Neverbrite can confirm?

   
            Re: v Stockport (a) 14th Jan

 Reply #119 on: January 14, 2023, 17:21:30 pm »
 Quote

No issues.

If you’re looking for my opinion, I don’t think he’s very good at his job. Other than that a lovely fella.
   

________________________________________
Quote from: anjing on January 14, 2023, 17:16:24 pm
Simple question, what is your issue with JB?

Yep, I’m still struggling to see the bit that says ‘JB is not upto the job’ - unless of course, not for the first you made something up?

Anymore stories to share?

 :o

Being up at Barrow on Saturday, I don't recall any horrific side wind...quite mild, calm weather in fact!
Stockport though, pretty awful conditions that day!

Agreed, a bit of the fine rain (it gets everywhere) but not particularly windy, unlike Stockport which was cold and windy.

We seem to be making a habit of starting games poorly and often conceding the first goal and having to come from behind. Last season we were very rarely behind at half time but then often conceded in the period just after the break but our goals record this season paints a very different picture :- 1st half scored 15, conceded 15 - 2nd half scored 27, conceded 13.

We're seeing games off, that's why we're going up as Champions.