Ashley Barnes being an absolute hooligan in the box

[Spiral]

I truly love this man. If you get the chance to see the highlights back, watch Ash in both set piece goals, watch him at work. First goal, Hernandez moves toward the ball, he's about in line with Vitinho, could have had a free run at him, could have put him off or headed clear. NOPE! Barnes totally bullies him. Barges him, then pushes him, then drags his arm across his face, and leaves a bit of afters. Clean header for Vitinho, goal. Second one, same player, Hernandez, running to intercept JBG's corner. NOPE! Barnes bends him in half, free space for Maatsen for the first-touch cross, Ekdal goal. Ten minutes later, we're defending a corner, Norwich player has an amazing strike on goal, who's our last man? Barnes, clips it away like it's nowt. He's been doing this forever, we all know it, but it's worth highlighting because with all the incredible football we play these days he still quietly (sometimes loudly) goes about unsettling teams to great effect. Even total football needs a sprinkling of $hithousery. Love him.

[jedi_master]

I know there’s no such thing as sentiment in football, or shouldn’t be, but I’m starting to think we should be keeping him around for one final campaign.

[Goobs]

We have had some real cult heroes over the years but he is the biggest and best of them all.

Not only does his shithousery and folklore outweigh his ability but it's even more impressive than ever as he is a mighty fine footballer to boot.

[Claret Till I Die]

Beyer's winner against WBA recently had him stopping the runner allowing him a free header around the edge of the 6 yard box.
Sometimes football is about what you do without the ball that's not always seen..

[Cheshireclaret]

I know there’s no such thing as sentiment in football, or shouldn’t be, but I’m starting to think we should be keeping him around for one final campaign.

Hmmmm except such 5hithousery isn't tolerated in the PL because of VAR, so whether it's weak as pi55 defending (which I hasten to add, some of it was) or the dark arts, the likes of Barnes are now obsolete in the PL so not sure that's correct and he'll have more joy below that level.

Watching Casemiro's red card says it all.

[Bordeauxclaret]

Today was up there with his best performances for Burnley I thought.

[Spiral]

I know there’s no such thing as sentiment in football, or shouldn’t be, but I’m starting to think we should be keeping him around for one final campaign.

I think so. There's nobody in our squad who can go to war like him, and even though he basically doesn't score goals these days, he's useful if our football isn't working and we just need some chaos in the box, because when you think about it, we won 3-0 from them overplaying and two set pieces. Defends from the front very well, too, which will be helpful next season when we can't dominate possession to quite the same degree.

[Spiral]

Hmmmm except such 5hithousery isn't tolerated in the PL because of VAR, so whether it's weak as pi55 defending (which I hasten to add, some of it was) or the dark arts, the likes of Barnes are now obsolete in the PL so not sure that's correct and he'll have more joy below that level.

Watching Casemiro's red card says it all.

The two things Barnes did for the goals today wouldn't have been fouls, though, even with VAR. He all but cleaned out Hernandez before he could become involved in the play without actually going into foul territory. He's just strong as fk, puts himself about and never gets bullied. You're allowed to be stronger than your opponent.

[Cheshireclaret]

The two things Barnes did for the goals today wouldn't have been fouls, though, even with VAR. He all but cleaned out Hernandez before he could become involved in the play without actually going into foul territory. He's just strong as fk, puts himself about and never gets bullied. You're allowed to be stronger than your opponent.

I don't disagree with any of that. Unfortunately, as we have seen, that is not the interpretation of the officials at that level. i'd love you and people like you to be in charge of VAR and officiating but they're not. We'd all love to know who is though..................

[BigGaz]

Every team that has achieved great things has had at least one big horrible shite doing their bit. Ash is ours. Vinny knows this himself and I hope he resolves this situation if Ash doesn’t stay.

Argentina had about 10 of them on the pitch at the same time in the WC just gone
Keane
Viera
Casemiro
Van Dijk
Pepe
Fernandinho
Barnes

List goes on and on

[JellyBaby]

[bfcjg]

I noticed with our second goal his off the ball play, really intelligent football.

[Spiral]

Honestly, the cheeky little header away in that gif above is just *chef's kiss*

[ants_g]

The two things Barnes did for the goals today wouldn't have been fouls, though, even with VAR. He all but cleaned out Hernandez before he could become involved in the play without actually going into foul territory. He's just strong as fk, puts himself about and never gets bullied. You're allowed to be stronger than your opponent.

This ^




xx

[Commy]

I keep replaying in my head the closing down in the Rovers match when he followed, I think, Ayala to the touchline and won a throw in. That showed his commitment.

[fanzone]

Beyer's winner against WBA recently had him stopping the runner allowing him a free header around the edge of the 6 yard box.
Sometimes football is about what you do without the ball that's not always seen..

Football is 90% what is done without the ball

[CrosspoolClarets]

Given the risk that Foster and Obafemi won’t cut it, which is huge in the PL, keeping Ash as well as Jay could be a no brainer. Their nous when defending a lead is well worth the wages they would attract, which won’t be huge, and at their age one will be injured periodically so we need both. I simply don’t see why we would let Ash go unless he is desperate to play every week.

It’s a big squad game now. I sense Vinny is making us a different type of PL side to Dyche. Rotation, big squads etc. Doing it like the big sides do it, rather than doing it the other way. A Brighton could be the example.

[Claretnick]

Vincent admires Ashley's contributions to the team, I can see a new contract being discussed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35AoDHQH4hE

[ElectroClaret]

Beyer's winner against WBA recently...

Don't you mean Coventry?
Twines free kick won it against WBA.

Just sayin'...

[Hibsclaret]

Absolute monster performance yesterday. I pointed out on another thread this week that he had a better goal/assist ratio than our other main strikers Jay and Tella. If you add to this all the goal involvements and defensive work as highlighted in this thread you have a complete striker that is perfect for a team that scores goals from every department.

[bobinho]

By far the best option up top right now. Absolutely immense yesterday. Brutal in the box, he absolutely bullied them all.

[RVclaret]

I know there’s no such thing as sentiment in football, or shouldn’t be, but I’m starting to think we should be keeping him around for one final campaign.

Not for me. We’ve already got Jay for another year who’s already coming to an end. Perfect season for Barnes to sign off with us, on a high, this. Makes room for more younger profiles to come in while we keep building our squad for the ‘next’ seasons.

[agreenwood]

On recent evidence, Barnes is more effective than Jay.

Jay had a good cameo against West Brom, but he’s had a pretty quiet time since the World Cup break.

I’d imagine at least one of them will leave this summer. Not sure the club will want to keep two 33/34 year old strikers on.

[Claret Till I Die]

Don't you mean Coventry?
Twines free kick won it against WBA.

Just sayin'...

That's the one.....

[agreenwood]

That's the one.....

To be fair, you forget the names of own family at your age I’d imagine.

[Rick_Muller]

In the first 5 or 6 minutes yesterday Barnes won the ball on the right by the half way line then pinged a Beckham style pass to Zaroury on the left wing. Right to his foot. Superb.

[jrgbfc]

I'd be absolutely amazed if we offered Barnes any kind of new deal. Let him finish on a high by winning the league, rather than going back to being a 4th choice in the Prem.
At least his performances now are ensuring he'll get a decent deal somewhere.

[Belgianclaret]

The term hooligan does him injustice.

Far more to his game than committing smart fouls

[mybloodisclaret]

In the first 5 or 6 minutes yesterday Barnes won the ball on the right by the half way line then pinged a Beckham style pass to Zaroury on the left wing. Right to his foot. Superb.

It was to his chest Rick, Zaroury brought it down a plomb and went straight at Nowrich. It was a class knock like a missile.

[Rick_Muller]

It was to his chest Rick, Zaroury brought it down a plomb and went straight at Nowrich. It was a class knock like a missile.

Yeah, slept since then - just remember it and thinking “bloody hell what a pass”

[warksclaret]

Never thought I would say it but right now would play him ahead of Rodriguez, as he offers more to the team, and seems to stay both injury and illness free. Jay seems to never be fit anymore.No one in our team has as much passion as AB-just look at him after whoever scores for us

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

Jay Rod hadn’t looked fully fit since the restart after the World Cup. Barnes on the other hand looks sharper than he has done for some time after his own injury problems and is playing really well.

[Sproggy]

I'll be surprised if we don't release him at the end of the season.

[NewClaret]

Agree with others that I think a new deal should be offered. All the talk on here is about what he does on the pitch but his contribution is also about what he does off it. You can see how much the players love him & the influence he has on our team spirit.

Ahead of JRod for me atm, and I never thought I’d say that. Seems to have really understood the role VK wants him to play and developed his game - massive credit to him.

[GrahamBranchsPerm]

One of his best ever games for us yesterday. Brilliant. Leader.

Love him.

Also think the VAR point is totally valid, and that we move on at the end of the season.

A natural ending to a great decade.

UTC

[Burnleyareback2]

Was surprised he wasn’t captain yesterday, he was a real leader throughout the game.

I’ve said it before on here, I hope he sees his career out at Burnley, there will always be a need for Ashley Barnes in a game, even if it’s just the final 20mins

[ecc]

I thought Barnsey was very good yesterday. Early doors he was spraying 60 yard balls wing to wing. Although he's not got the majestic thechnique of a player like Anass he's no clown either. I'm certain VK and his staff have worked a great deal with him to show him how to get the best out of himself. Put in a huge shift and seems to love this new Burnley.

Classic demonstration of how a striker can play well without scoring.

[Quicknick]

Barnes was brilliant yesterday. Good to see VK appreciates him. Most managers would.

[Lancasterclaret]

He was absolutely terrific yesterday but I just don't see a role for him in the premier league

All good things come to an end, and its always best to part on a high if possible

[ElectroClaret]

Jay Rod hadn’t looked fully fit since the restart after the World Cup. Barnes on the other hand looks sharper than he has done for some time after his own injury problems and is playing really well.

This.
Playing excellently, holding up and laying off the ball to great effect.

Another contract? That's a difficult one.
I'll leave it to VK.

[bodge]

A very good point from the OP. I noticed it myself after the game watching the goals back.

Barnes performance was the epitome of a classic physical centre forward display, got his body between ball and defender numerous times to get the fouls, his link play was top drawer and his passing which can on occasions let him down was pinpoint.

Bravo Ash !

[Darnhill Claret]

I've always been a fan of Ash's. Footballwise I like his clean striking of a ball, shooting or long passing. He doesn't need a lot of touches. I like his assassin like execution of tasks in direct confrontation with the opposition. Absolutely cold blooded, followed by that smile when he knows he has them rattled. Love his joy when we score and how he is totally invested in 'team' and note how teammates respond to him when celebrating. I was disappointed that many fans didn't give him the benefit of the doubt when he took a while to rediscover form and fitness following his surgeries, but now they have the evidence of their own eyes they seem to be coming around to at least being more open-minded. Now if they could just relax about his age they might enjoy him even more.

[tiger76]

Barnes has been excellent since the Rovers game, however I still remain doubtful over offering him a new contract, Jay will likely be here next year as he penned a new 2 year deal last summer, so the question has to be can we justify keeping 2 strikers well into their 30's, who almost certainly won't play every week, and who's recent records at PL level are pretty dire regarding offering a goal threat.

[Hibsclaret]

We can justify it if this manager wants him. To come into a relegated club and lose just 3 games in all competitions is beyond incredible and if he thinks Barnes is good enough for the Premier league then that’s good enough for me (and should be for everyone else on here).

If he doesn’t think he can do a job in the prem then he won’t renew his contract and all usual suspects can relax.

[SussexDon1inIreland]

Enjoyed reading this thread and am glad the “get rid of useless Barnes” brigade have at least gone quiet.

I hope he can have a one year extension. VK seems to think our Ash does have something to offer and I imagine Ash is a great voice in the dressing room.

UTC

[ClaretPete001]

Barnes has been brilliant for the club all the way through.

In truth, I didn't rate him at the start and thought he was finished after the first few games of this season but he's come good again.

His particular genius is game management: disrupting back lines, maintaining possession and winning free kicks. All gold dust for a side that concedes possession in the way SDs did. Of course, he can play as well.

I was not convinced those attributes would be as useful in VKs vision but it's clear that VK saw the value in Barnes straight away.

How long he stays at the club depends upon whether at 33 he is physically capable in the PL and whether he can get a two year contract elsewhere.

[SussexDon1inIreland]

https://youtu.be/35AoDHQH4hE

Link to VK’a after match press interview
3:47 very complimentary about Our Ashley

UTC

[warksclaret]

https://youtu.be/35AoDHQH4hE

Link to VK’a after match press interview
3:47 very complimentary about Our Ashley

UTC

I get the feeling VK loves passionate and positive players around him. Ashley is a big assett for more reasons than playing. AB is very astute -he knows exactly where that fine line is, which prevents him getting red carded

[ClaretTony]

At set pieces, he's doing the job that Stephen Ward used to do for us in the box.

[mikeS]

Whenever I see his name mentioned, the image I see is him barging the Rovers keeper into the back of the net.