Barnes last game for us...

[FeedTheArf]

... on Sunday. According to the press conference he's just given:

"It would mean a massive amount [to keep Burnley in the Premier League]. The club have shown faith in me through everything and hopefully I can go and give that back in my last game."

Not wholly unexpected. I just hope we can stay up and give him the proper send off and appreciation he deserves after 8 years at the club.

[DCWat]

I thought I’d read on here that he was likely to be here for another season?

[jedi_master]

Been a terrific servant for us, and a bargain price. Like so many from the Dyche era, he owes us nothing for what he has given back to the club - but one final goal (or two) from him would be fantastic - and a load of timewasting/diving if we're ahead of course

[FeedTheArf]

He does have an option for another year but looks like it's in the clubs favour.

[The Enclosure]

It will be really sad to see this team that has bonded so well for many seasons broken up.
Not all of them are top class players but they are all top class blokes and all have given everything for the club.
I wish every single one of them all the very best whether they are retiring from football or going on to other clubs.
Lets give them all a rousing send off on Sunday.win,lose or draw.

[Cirrus_Minor]

Well if his replacement is half as good as Barnes then he will be a hell of a player. He has been terrific for us and scored some great goals that have both memorable and important.

[corporal jones]

A proper send off FROM THE STANDS NOT THE PITCH.

[DCWat]

He does have an option for another year but looks like it's in the clubs favour.

I wonder who is making these sort of decisions, alongside Rodriguez’s contract extension, in the absence of a management team.

[ClaretTony]

I wonder who is making these sort of decisions, alongside Rodriguez’s contract extension, in the absence of a management team.

Only one person makes decisions

[onewillieirvine]

I was thinking the same DCW, very strange.

[Vegas Claret]

surely it'll depend what division we are in

[BurnleyPaul]

I wonder who is making these sort of decisions, alongside Rodriguez’s contract extension, in the absence of a management team.

Alan Pace…

If Barnes is going then I’d say that we are confident about signing a replacement for him. I’d also suggest that his drink/driving conviction last year hasn’t done him any favours with the new regime either. (Probably Stephens will go for the same reasons…)

[Devils_Advocate]

Barnes deserves one hell of a send off for what he's done for the club but if the decision is the club's to let him go then whoever makes the decisions has made the right one cos he's not what we need to progress whatever division we end up in

[Quickenthetempo]

He has given us some good times, but it's time to move on.
Played way above his transfer fee and let's hope his replacement does similar or better.

[Quicknick]

One of the best signings of the Dyche era, and so cheap.

[FeedTheArf]

Alan Pace…

If Barnes is going then I’d say that we are confident about signing a replacement for him. I’d also suggest that his drink/driving conviction last year hasn’t done him any favours with the new regime either. (Probably Stephens will go for the same reasons…)

Stephens will be going because he's terrible

[martin_p]

Just watched the press conference. On his contract extension Barnes says (I’m paraphrasing), ‘that’s parked to one side until after Sunday, there’s a conversation to be had with the owners’. So I think this thread may be a bit premature.

[Burnley1989]

Barnes deserves one hell of a send off for what he's done for the club but if the decision is the club's to let him go then whoever makes the decisions has made the right one cos he's not what we need to progress whatever division we end up in

Completely agree

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

As with the majority of Dyche’s signings Barnes has been a superb servant to the club. Too much to ask that he signs off with smashing a winner in!

[FeedTheArf]

I wonder who is making these sort of decisions, alongside Rodriguez’s contract extension, in the absence of a management team.

Taking the emotion out of it, (given what Barnes has done for this club in the past), a 32 yr old striker who, until last night, hadn't scored all season and has suffered lately with injuries kind of makes the decision easy.

In fact, the only thing keeping Jay-Rod at the club is the 'one of our own, local boy' link to feed the 'favourite underdog' nonsense.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

Bargain for £400k, made his presence known when on the pitch, was unplayable at times alongside Wood.
The opposition defenders often knew they'd been in a game against those two.

If he goes then I've no issue with that, we need to upgrade.

Best wishes to him wherever he ends up, was an integral part of the team/squad.

[tarkys_ears]

Long been one of my favourite players to pull on a Burnley shirt.

Unfortunately the last year or two, he hasn't been half the player he was 4-5 years ago.

I wouldn't be getting rid of him if we end up in the champ next season though as I reckon he's still got a couple of seasons left in him yet.

If we stay up, it's probably time for him to move on. Whatever happens, I don't want him playing against us.

[martin_p]

It’s a tough game for him on Sunday given that if we win it’ll probably be the end of his Burnley career but if we lose he might get another year.

[Blakesboots]

I thought I’d read on here that he was likely to be here for another season?

It’s on offer, but the player wants to play more and we can’t offer that.

[Blakesboots]

Taking the emotion out of it, (given what Barnes has done for this club in the past), a 32 yr old striker who, until last night, hadn't scored all season and has suffered lately with injuries kind of makes the decision easy.

In fact, the only thing keeping Jay-Rod at the club is the 'one of our own, local boy' link to feed the 'favourite underdog' nonsense.

Jay is one of our own, and he earns his place with the work he does off the pitch as much as on it.

Top professional, whose got a new lease of life recently.

[tarkys_ears]

If he's "one of our own" why did he **** off and leave us at the first opportunity instead of fighting for us?

[Silkyskills1]

If he's "one of our own" why did he **** off and leave us at the first opportunity instead of fighting for us?

You can't really mean that, surely. Footballers will always find somewhere that 'the grass is greener'.

[superdimitri]

Knowing Barnes it will be all part of an act to get decisions his way and to win the pantomime battle he tries to win every game.

[Targetman]

... on Sunday. According to the press conference he's just given:

"It would mean a massive amount [to keep Burnley in the Premier League]. The club have shown faith in me through everything and hopefully I can go and give that back in my last game."

Not wholly unexpected. I just hope we can stay up and give him the proper send off and appreciation he deserves after 8 years at the club.

I've just watched the interview with Barnes on the club website and didn't hear him say it was his last game, was it an interview eleswhere that you watched?

Certainly on the club site interview he said contract discussions would be left until after Sunday's game.

[ElectroClaret]

surely it'll depend what division we are in

Agree with this.
Think Ash'd be good for another season if the worst happens on Sunday, the Championship would seem like his ideal environment.

(So obviously, I hope he's on his way )

[FeedTheArf]

I've just watched the interview with Barnes on the club website and didn't hear him say it was his last game, was it an interview eleswhere that you watched?

Certainly on the club site interview he said contract discussions would be left until after Sunday's game.

Quotes from the Burnley Express..

https://www.burnleyexpress.net/sport/fo ... ub-3702087

[FCBurnley]

Always been a player I would rather have in my team than the opposition. At his best a great instinctive goal scorer. Hope he gets a great move but not to a team we will be playing next season !!!! Just score our winner on Sunday Ash to become an instant hero even to the haters on here

[Steve1956]

Barnes...gave us good service,scored some cracking goals...and ruffled lots of feathers
Good Luck Ash,and thanks for the memories......Ash going out on a high on Sunday with a nice brace in a 2-0 win anyone?

[jrgbfc]

Whatever league we're in I think this summer is the right time for him to go. He's too injury prone now, and when he's on the pitch we're forced into playing a certain way.

[Pickles]

Scored some huge goals for us but it’s the right time for him to leave, he's become increasingly limited. I'd start him against Newcastle though, he's a big game player and would not be surprised at all if he has a big say in our survival.

[SussexDon1inIreland]

Super Ash if your going thanks mate for all the great memories especially your goal vs Wigan

[KRBFC]

I'd much rather we kept Barnes for a year over Rodriguez 2 years. Shocking decision imo, Barnes' been struggling with injuries and needed a run in the side to show what he can still offer, I think he offers more than Rodriguez.

[Taffy on the wing]

I love Ashley Barnes & i wish him nothing but the best in future.......let's have one more cracker on Sunday!

[boatshed bill]

I've always liked Ashley Barnes, gives it his best shot every time. it might suit him better to drop a division in order to get a longer contract than his one year extension with BFC.

[CombatClaret]

Reminds me of Vokes in that he's not put a foot wrong and given everything to the club but it's just time to move on.
He could probably do another season in with us in the Championship from the bench but if the gods smile upon us and we survive he's too limited to keep around.

With Vydra it feels like we're losing a player, with Barnes, it feels like we're losing a Claret.

[boatshed bill]

With Vydra it feels like we're losing a player, with Barnes, it feels like we're losing a Claret.

Like this

[randomclaret2]

Be nice if Barnes' last 2 games with us are his roughing up of Villa's Centre Backs on Thursday and his goal, followed by something similar to keep us up against Newcastle

[williamjblazkowicz]

I'll be sorry to see him go whenever that may be. One of my favorite players in recent years.

[Elizabeth]

We have had the best of Barnes over the years and while it might be lights out for him on Sunday he still owes us one final heroic occasion.
Keep your arms down Ashley

[paulatky]

If he's "one of our own" why did he **** off and leave us at the first opportunity instead of fighting for us?

At the time the club needed the money.
How long have you been supporting us ?

[Belial]

Typifies Burnley - loyal, hard working, gritty, unfashionable...what a signing he has been. If he does leave, he'll leave a big hole in the squad, and will no doubt miss his commitment and attitude. There aren't many like him around.

[Belial]

If he's "one of our own" why did he **** off and leave us at the first opportunity instead of fighting for us?

Same reasons all players in that situation do...money, fame, career progression etc etc

[Lancasterclaret]

I hope he has a stormer on Sunday

I hope he gets cheered to the rafters as being a great player for us

I hope we don't offer him another contract

[CnBtruntru]

If it is, good luck to him whatever he does next season, owes us absolutely nothing, would love him to get winner Sunday but that's reserved for Collins Sunday.

[Aclaret]

I hope he has a stormer on Sunday

I hope he gets cheered to the rafters as being a great player for us

I hope we don't offer him another contract

Indeed Lancaster, he's been brilliant for us, sadly time has caught up and it's time to move on.
Well done Ashley Barnes. Always a claret.