Solihull Moors (Away) The Blythe Spirit Match Thread

[Bee_Forever]

So..... Saturday sees Brennan's misfiring bees travel up to the west midlands to take on Land Rover FC in our latest Bananarama League fixtures.

After back to back defeats to relegation favourites Aldershot and Dorking, Barnet have plummetted down the league to 8th and the early season optimism has evaporated faster than my lingering hopes of getting a beer at the Hive at half time.

It is hard to put a finger on what has gone wrong. We seemed in turns energetic and frenetic against Dorking and playing aimless hoofs to a striker who can't head the ball seems more pointless than asking Steve Percy to miss a game. One thing I did not like was some of our supporters getting on the players back early in the first half. We don't half have some moaning bastards in the Legends Stand. At least for the away match it should be a bit more united.

It feels like Dean Brennan has reached the crossroads in his managerial career, can he take the players he has signed and the ones he has retained and instill in them a footballing philosophy which will allow us to be competitive in this league against vastly richer teams, or has he reached the end of his capabilities, and we will be left fighting for scraps all season.

He seems to be either unwilling or unable to sign the striker which we desperately needs and his focus on pace seems to be blinding him to what is actually needed, which is a physical presence up front which our many attacking midfielders and Kabamba can gather around. His obsession with 4-3-3 ignores the players he has available and also the requirement for us to be flexible to the opposition especially when we are facing a bankrolled team.

Solihull, while not the same team bankrolled by Land Rover to get McCallum in, are seeing the benefits of longer term planning and also working with a small strong squad and have been one of the surprise packages in the division. While Solihull does not Evoque many happy memories (remember Byron's half time stroll and balloongate?) this promises to be a voyage of discovery for most of our team to see if we can improve on our performance away to Chesterfield where we stayed in the game until Tshimanga slipped past our defender on the left.

Confident that Brennan will stick with the same team and formation and hope for the best I remain of the view that we need to find a way to get some support for Kabambi so would suggest the following:-

--------------------------------Walker----------------------------------------

------------Collinge-----------Diarra------------Okimo--------------------

--Wynter------------------------------------------------------Thomas------

------------------Gorman------Smith-------Pritchard---------------------

-----------------------------Shields-------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------Kabamba--------------------------------

Subs: Callan, Ravon, De Havilland, Kanu, Hall

In an ideal world I would have De Havilland in for Gorman who I am beginning to think is quite a limited player but I don't think Ryan was anywhere near fit on Tuesday and we need legs in midfield for this one.

I am doing this one by Percy Bus. Stopping at Stratford on the way. Hoping it is not a nice day out spoiled by the football.

COYB's

[Beesting]

Believe another oversight in recruitment is a backup left back that isnt 34 year old Okimo. Beard hasnt had a great start to the season, gave the penalty away at Aldershot and was visibly blowing out his backside after 50 minutes. I think he also lets far too many crosses come into our box from his side, needs to get tighter to the winger.

[antbfc]

yes a good point Beesting. Beard was one of our best performers last season but something definitely isn't right with him.

A short term loan coming in at LB would be useful - but only after we sign an ACTUAL STRIKER.

[amberforever]

Yes it’s puzzling with Beard. One of our best performers last season, seems like a pale version of the player he was.

[rudebwoyben]

You’re right about the moaners. There was one sitting in front of me who started up about half an hour into the match. More annoying than the referee!

[Chainsaw]

Regarding your introductory post Bee_ Forever I think it's a bit melodramatic to say DB is at a crossroads in his managerial career (or even his Barnet career). We're experiencing a dip in form. On Saturday all those chances squandered in the last two games could suddenly turn to goals. I also think the management team are trying their darndest to sign a decent forward. I for one don't want them to make a panic buy (the Pavey Syndrome).

[Beesting]

What chances at Aldershot? I don’t think we even had a shot in the second half of that game. Apart from our headed goal, I can only think of one other chance we had in that game.

I saw a stat before the dorking game and at that point we’d had the fewest shots in the league.

[king45bee]

Saturday could take us back to Beadle era in terms of results

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[BeesKnees99]

Sad as it is to admit, it’s starting to look like that super positive start to the season we had was a succession of flukes.

In all honesty, I never saw us play ‘well’ but we were uncharacteristically clinical despite our lack of attacking options.

Now we’re no longer firing on all cylinders, we’ve not really got much else going for us. Seems like we’ve been found out.

I hope it’s just a dip in form but realistically we need attacking reinforcements. I think we generally create enough chances but Kabamba can’t be relied upon to tuck them away (looks like he peaked at Yeovil!)

[jonbonbaby]

Gonna win the league , then we are doomed , relax give it time

[Bee_Forever]

Regarding your introductory post Bee_ Forever I think it's a bit melodramatic to say DB is at a crossroads in his managerial career (or even his Barnet career). We're experiencing a dip in form. On Saturday all those chances squandered in the last two games could suddenly turn to goals. I also think the management team are trying their darndest to sign a decent forward. I for one don't want them to make a panic buy (the Pavey Syndrome).

Maybe it is a stretch. But when you see

A manager unwilling to play two up front when chasing.

A team squandering set pieces by putting Gorman on them.

A team trained to go short from goal kicks giving up and hoofing long.

A ball playing midfield bypassed as we desperately hoof to our striker who could not win a header if his life depended on it.

You begin to distrust the process.

I do hope it is a blip as Deano has been a breath of fresh air after the shambles season and seemed to be planning long term which we desperately need. But I am starting to have seeds of doubt.

I accept we don't want another Alfie Donkey or Lord Byron situation but that should not stop us entering the loan market for a striker until the right option comes along.

At the moment it feels like we are a car with a land rover engine and fiat punto wheels.



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[ETBee]

DB now has a team of players of a type he likes and was calling for last season and only one player who is injured, a luxury any of our past managers would have given their right arm for. So it's now all down to him to organise them to win. Just do it, Dean.

[11bee717]

What chances at Aldershot? I don’t think we even had a shot in the second half of that game. Apart from our headed goal, I can only think of one other chance we had in that game.

I saw a stat before the dorking game and at that point we’d had the fewest shots in the league.

Gorman hitting the bar with his chip, Kabamba missing a 1on1 thanks to a incredible tackle and then after Kabamba and Diarra getting in each other’s way for a tap in

[North Finchley Bee]

I don't think we played particularly well against Dorking, but we lost because of the referee. It's frustrating that we've lost the last two but we need however to get behind the team. Confidence is a tangible thing, particularly for players at this level with the very concentrated nature of the support being from the Legends stand, your supporters shouting abuse etc is hardly helpful for a team that is still gelling together and finding its feet. As I and others have said, this is a bit of a long term project -2-3 years. Other teams are at a different place on that trajectory. I'll take just outside play offs based on where we are on that time line. Deano was very honest when he said after one early win 'that we can't get carried away and we've got 42 games left' I'm kind of glad it's away this weekend as the team won't have the pressure they would have if it's a home fixture. Saying all of that, we need a confidence boosting performance - a win or draw against an in-form team. I also sadly agree re Powell - it hasn't worked out for him or us. Some of the others brought in might not either - others are showing that they broadly are. We could do with another striker and have another formation that players are happy with and practice alongside the 4 3 3, otherwise we appear one dimensional and unable to adapt and that will cost us. I still think on a good day we have the makings of a team that could sneak into the play offs, or end up broadly where we currently are, with further adjustments for next season and a slight shifting of personnel again, ready for a play off push if we don't make it this year. COYB

[antbfc]

What chances at Aldershot? I don’t think we even had a shot in the second half of that game. Apart from our headed goal, I can only think of one other chance we had in that game.

I saw a stat before the dorking game and at that point we’d had the fewest shots in the league.

Gorman hitting the bar with his chip, Kabamba missing a 1on1 thanks to a incredible tackle and then after Kabamba and Diarra getting in each other’s way for a tap in

Vague memory that the keeper pulled off a fantastic save from Diarra that game too.

I mean we were dire, but we did have chances i agree!