Barnes to be fit for playoff final

[cambridgeshire canary 6,867]

If we make it that far of course. Bit of a blow from a psychological standpoint as you would feel he's exactly the kind of player you would want winding up and annoying the opposition players during high stakes matches.

 

Edited May 2 by cambridgeshire canary

[daz 72]

5 minutes ago, cambridgeshire canary said:

If we make it that far of course. Bit of a blow from a psychological standpoint as you would feel he's exactly the kind of player you would want wounding up and annoying the opposition players during high stakes matches.

 

Tbf other teams can wind him up too 😂 

[GJL Mid-Norfolk Canary 1,821]

'If' Rowe is fit, it solves the conundrum of how to get him back into the team at least....

[cambridgeshire canary 6,867]

2 minutes ago, GJL Mid-Norfolk Canary said:

'If' Rowe is fit, it solves the conundrum of how to get him back into the team at least....

Maybe his injury means we might see Hooijdonk get a start..

 

[RobJames 905]

Cometh the hour, cometh the man

Sydney van Honkytonk, now is your chance

''pass it to the Dutchy on the left hand side"

[Parma Ham's gone mouldy 2,246]

The shoe-horned two striker model can work well against weaker sides.

Not sure it stands longer term scrutiny against better teams.

Good strategic move to insert Rowe into a driving in-to-out 10. Maximising him as a weapon. 
 

Parma

[Pyro Pete 1,940]

2 minutes ago, Parma Ham's gone mouldy said:

Good strategic move to insert Rowe into a driving in-to-out 10. Maximising him as a weapon.

We can hope he does what Nathan Redmond did for us in the play-offs, last time around.

But while Rowe has the ability to be the difference in games. He can also be completely anonymous, as he was against Swansea.

[Yellow Fever 3,849]

My guess is that although he'll be rested for B'ham Wagner's being a little coy. 

[Greavsy 2,475]

3 minutes ago, Pyro Pete said:

We can hope he does what Nathan Redmond did for us in the play-offs, last time around.

But while Rowe has the ability to be the difference in games. He can also be completely anonymous, as he was against Swansea.

came on  as a sub and didnt get any service. 

Hardly his fault - especially in a first game back too. 

[Deptford Yellow 262]

Uncle Ash will be back before we know it - he’s strong as an ox !

[Robert N. LiM 4,656]

Just now, Greavsy said:

Hardly his fault - especially in a first game back too. 

He came on against Preston and Bristol City too. Was very lively at Preston.

[Bobzilla 179]

6 minutes ago, Pyro Pete said:

We can hope he does what Nathan Redmond did for us in the play-offs, last time around.

But while Rowe has the ability to be the difference in games. He can also be completely anonymous, as he was against Swansea.

Let's hope he doesn't do what Nathan Redmond did to us on the season after that...

[Greavsy 2,475]

1 minute ago, Robert N. LiM said:

He came on against Preston and Bristol City too. Was very lively at Preston.

Fair - apols. 

[Pyro Pete 1,940]

My point is that there is a lot of expectation on a young player, who is also coming back from injury.

And maybe it's also unrealistic.

He has the ability to win us games. But he has also shown that, sometimes, he can struggle to get involved in games.

[cambridgeshire canary 6,867]

33 minutes ago, Greavsy said:

came on  as a sub and didnt get any service. 

Hardly his fault - especially in a first game back too. 

This. I don't think he's 100% fit.

Edited May 2 by cambridgeshire canary

[Parma Ham's gone mouldy 2,246]

Play both pieces.

Strategically it can be argued that it matters little whether Rowe does something brilliant-dangerous, or whether the opposition fear he might.

If they must strategically adjust even to the possibility, the tactical gain is de-facto made regardless.

Parma 

[Cowboy 211]

1 minute ago, Parma Ham's gone mouldy said:

Play both pieces.

Strategically it can be argued that it matters little whether Rowe does something brilliant-dangerous, or whether the opposition fear he might.

If they must strategically adjust even to the possibility, the tactical gain is de-facto made regardless.

Parma 

I suspect that holds water against weaker sides, but not against the sort of quality (and they are quality, despite end of season form) teams that will be in the play-offs. Rowe's defensive frailties and tendency to give the ball away trying something flashy, coupled with a lack of match fitness might mean a net loss rather than a net gain.

[jaberry2 558]

37 minutes ago, RobJames said:

Cometh the hour, cometh the man

Sydney van Honkytonk, now is your chance

''pass it to the Dutchy on the left hand side"

I'd start SVH this weekend. Big call. Get more minutes out of Rowe from the bench as well again.

[Yellow Fever 3,849]

Just now, jaberry2 said:

I'd start SVH this weekend. Big call. Get more minutes out of Rowe from the bench as well again.

I think that's probably a good call. If there is any game where we might start him it's this one and see how it goes.

[lake district canary 4,562]

For me it's a mouthwatering proposition to have Rowe, Sainz and Sargent as a front 3, with Nunez Sara and Mclean behind them. The best front six in the league imo.

[Yellow Fever 3,849]

I'll be honest - I'm just leery of over-hyping Rowe. He certainly has potential.

The team however has to be greater than the sum of it parts.

Rowe was certainly clinical and composed earlier in the season and was adding/improving to his game (particularity better defensive duties) but I'd like to see a whole season and not just a purple patch.

[jaberry2 558]

19 minutes ago, lake district canary said:

For me it's a mouthwatering proposition to have Rowe, Sainz and Sargent as a front 3, with Nunez Sara and Mclean behind them. The best front six in the league imo.

Rowe looks a way off match fitness currently. I cant see him being risked from the start and I think he'll be blowing by half time. It look likes a good front six, however would leave us very narrow and would depend on Brums tactics, which will no doubt be attacking as they have it all to lose.

Edited May 2 by jaberry2

[pete 320]

Best front six ? better than Leicester or Leeds I think not.  Dreamer !

[cambridgeshire canary 6,867]

2 minutes ago, pete said:

Best front six ? better than Leicester or Leeds I think not.  Dreamer !

Leeds players are a bunch of bottlejobs and Leicster have Vardy and that's cheating 😉

[jaberry2 558]

15 minutes ago, pete said:

Best front six ? better than Leicester or Leeds I think not.  Dreamer !

That's the mans opinion. They can differ. 

[Indy 3,343]

For me this might be blessing as we get to see the potential of Sargent, with Rowe, Sara, Sainz and Nunez & McLean in midfield……that’s some championship set up! Just a shame the back four doesn’t Mach up!

[Capt. Pants 4,325]

5 hours ago, lake district canary said:

For me it's a mouthwatering proposition to have Rowe, Sainz and Sargent as a front 3, with Nunez Sara and Mclean behind them. The best front six in the league imo.

We pretty much had that against Swansea. Unfortunately Rowe looks well off the pace.

If Barnes is missing for the play-off semis begs the question who plays on the no.10 role.

If we're down to 1 fit striker I'd be tempted to drop Sarge to the bench.

[GJL Mid-Norfolk Canary 1,821]

We were outnumbered in midfield vs Bristol City with Barnes playing and were the better for an extra number in that midfield vs Swansea when he was on the bench...and that was agsinst 2 mid table sides with little to play for.

This maybe a blessing in that Wagner's hand will be forced to do the same against thr better standard of opposition we would now face where we cannot afford to be open and out numbered vs the likes of Leeds or/and Southampton.

..although it would still have been good to have had him on the bench

 

[Six Pack 95]

Waiting for Ashley Barnes, our savior - we are really scraping the bottom of the barrow ain't we ?

[chicken 2,680]

10 hours ago, Parma Ham's gone mouldy said:

The shoe-horned two striker model can work well against weaker sides.

Not sure it stands longer term scrutiny against better teams.

Good strategic move to insert Rowe into a driving in-to-out 10. Maximising him as a weapon. 
 

Parma

Bit confused by this as you are usually more astute IMHO. Barnes has been used, for my money, in a similar way to Stieperman was.

Not prolific in terms of goalscoring but enough of a physical presence to be a nusance. Stieperman was more unconventional than physical but it had the same impact.

I wouldn't say Barnes was shoehorned or an out and out striker as such. He's played the same/similar role at Burnley, often in behind the likes of Woods, Rodriguez, Ings etc.

When Sargent has played, he's never really ahead of him going forward.

Though I kinda get what you are saying. He's not an out and out '10' either. More a 9.5. Or a 'false 9'.

Jury is out on Rowe in there. It's an option. As is Fassnacht. You could equally play Sara there and Rowe wide or Sainz there with Sara and Rowe wide.