After we beat them by a narrow margin in the Trophy we can be in no doubt about the struggle we will face there on Saturday especially with them haunted by the spectre of relegation in the same way that TK haunts the top of the east stand when Barnet are losing.
It's fair to say that the game on what could generously be described as a "pitch" was not one for the purists and after that game there will be a fair bit of ill temper going in to Saturday's fixtures. Torquay will be benefitting from a midweek rest while Barnet limp on with their tiny squad with no reinforcements in sight, further weakened by Tuesday's defeat at Notts County.
On our side we have a tactically astute manager, a united team and a fan base who don't through their toys out of the pram after one bad result (mostly) and I still very much fancy our chances on the "English Riviera". With many bees fans having planned trips down for this one months ahead (who knew that you could plan months ahead??) a decent away following is in prospect for this one and we will need all of the bees to be buzzing to drown out the Gulls squawks if last week is anything to go by. Who knows the burger van may even have entered the 21st century with a veggie option, although I am not holding my breath.....
I was quite unwell at Torquay (not alcohol related before you ask
) so really did not enjoy my day out despite the result and I am looking forward to watching this one from afar as I continue to recover. I am not saying the Torquay pitch is mostly mud but Flanders and Swann were inspired to write their hit "Mud, Mud Glorious Mud" after visiting Plainmud, while rumour has it that the Missisipi Mud Pie actually orginates in Devon inspired by a punter getting mud in his pie from one of the scrotey challenges Torquay put in and that Harry Mudd the Star Trek villain was born on the doorstep of the stadium. Despite it being a lovely day out I cannot hide my distaste for Torquay, firstly for the relegation when ST holders were turned away and secondly for the assault on Jon Nurse when he was having his best game in a Barnet shirt (not a high bar I grant you). A win away would therefore be most welcome. In terms of team lineup Flanagan is clearly not trusted to start so our only real starting options are Moyo, Armstrong, and Hall. I suppose you could get a combined 90 out of Hall and Flanagan but that hardly seems ideal. The problem mostly is that Thomas, Collinge, Wynter and Revan are out and we clearly would not have thought to buy a 5th back up right sided defender!
I hope Collinge does return Saturday, if not then we have to enter the loan market and sign a right wing/full back or right sided centre back and I am sure Brennan is working on this now. Using De Havilland as and auxilliary right back is not a long term option in my view.
I would go:-
----------------------------------Walker-------------------------------
----Pritchard------Diarra----------Okimo-----------Beard----------
---------------De Havilland--Gorman---Woods----------------------
--------Smith-----------------Kabamba--------------Kanu------------
Subs: Immune, Armstrong, Hall, Flanagan, Moyo
Good luck to those bees taking the long trip down to the south coast and especial respect to those doing the same trip as last week. They do not consider themselves martyrs or any other smug term like that but people like letchbee94 and Jerroll who follow Barnet all over the country are the lifeblood of this football club.
COYBs
