Well, that was good wasn’t it?
After a couple of really encouraging displays and a great result on Saturday, maybe, just maybe, we were sorting ourselves out. Well if we had, then we took several steps back last night. It was all too familiar, namely in the second half, a team of players who looked like strangers to each other, in the end easily beaten by a side that barring a few decent individuals, didn’t look the strongest of opponents.
We started brightly enough and it was good to see Gallen finally get a goal. However, other than that, he once again showed that he is quite simply, past it. However, McLeod also showed when he came on that he’s going to need at least a few more weeks before he’s at his sharpest. Either that or he’s just very lazy – but given the extended period of time he’s been out for, I think we’ll go with the first judgement for now!
Once again, Kabba was an absolute workhorse, what a quality player he is, it’s a shame we don’t have more players with his application and ability. Southam as usual gave as much fight etc as he could, but he doesn’t actually possess an awful amount of footballing ability and in certain games, like last night, wont be as effective. He was better than Hughes though, what on earth has happened there? In the first half of last season he was one of our best players, when we were playing well too. Looks a shadow of that now, it’s a shame.
At the back? What a shower! Even Grant Basey who has thus far generally done a very good job looked a little shaky. But, then again, if you have to play alongside those other three, it’s always going to be hard to do your job. Anwar Uddin is one of the worst centre backs I’ve seen turn out in a Barnet shirt, he is just hopeless. I’m not sure how popular this opinion is, but I genuinely believe he was signed partly as something of a publicity stunt, in line with Barnet’s efforts to get Asians involved in the game. If he’s not good enough, it doesn’t matter if he’s white, black, brown, purple or blue, he shouldn’t be in the team! We’ve been very unlucky with injuries at the back, but the guy is woeful. This coupled with Joe Devera’s consistently shocking displays at right back this season, wow. To an even greater extent than Hughes, what has gone on there!? Formerly a player of the year and one our most reliable performers. He has become a massive liability and surely can only continue to be picked for so long? Then lastly, little Jordan Parkes. He tries hard, bless him, and he will make the odd good run forward and what have you, but, sadly, he’s Conference standard at best. Maybe he’ll do us a job next season.
It comes back to me simply repeating myself again: Stimson put this team together and they’re not very good, whilst equally, I don’t believe he is doing all he can (or not in the right way anyway) to get the best out of them. He was the wrong man for the Barnet job and though this should have happened at least one, if not two months ago, he has GOT to leave the post.
Talking of Barnet managers, a former one let himself down big time last night. Ian Hendon – well done for behaving like an absolute moron and causing at least myself to lose any respect remaining for you. The way he celebrated Gillingham’s second goal, you’d have thought it was a last minute winner to gain promotion, against a team he doesn’t like. Considering how bad we were in the second half of last season, he got a very easy ride from our supporters. Last night, as far as I am aware, he received no stick or the such like, yet turns round and does that? Then the fist pumping toward the East Terrace at full time? What is wrong with you? Thank you for the good service as a player, but don’t expect any recognition of that next time you come back to Underhill.
A really disappointing night last night, after a few little hints of reasons to be positive in the last couple of weeks. 10 days until our next game now, another big one, at Oxford. Will it be worth making the trip, though? Watching Barnet away is all too predictable. I guess it depends whose in charge come 4th December...
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