Colinjb Posted 31 January, 2012 Share Posted 31 January, 2012 (edited) I do feel a little concerned for these two players. The signing of Sharp and Lee as well as our long term interest in Gary Hooper indicate to me that their time at the club may be coming to an end. Barnard has obviously been hampered by injury and his legal issues but his signing of a new contract not long ago (last summer if I remember correctly) surely indicated at the time that he was seen as capable of growing and progressing with the team. The need for short term availability seems to have put paid to his status in the squad, personally I cannot see a way back in for him now. If Sharp and Lee get up and running straight away he will be 5th, maybe even 6th choice. Connolly isn't so much of a surprise now though. Age may be catching up with him, he hasn't impressed too much lately (although against Forest he was more then 'sharp' #ahem#) and there is always the feeling that his legs may go 'ping' at any time. He could be considered more of a ligitimate victim of circumstance in this way I suppose, I am certainly grateful for the role he has played in the club over the last two and a half years. Am I wrong? Should I just be grateful for the level of depth we have up top? Edited 31 January, 2012 by Colinjb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raging Bull Posted 31 January, 2012 Share Posted 31 January, 2012 Connolly is still good cover, Barnard however will probably not see too much time in a saints shirt apart from FA cup. IMO he isn't the quality we need and won't displace any of the other 4 strikers, feel a little sorry for him after some important goals last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
once_bitterne Posted 31 January, 2012 Share Posted 31 January, 2012 Connolly will not have his contract renewed at seasons end and Barnard will most likely be sold in the Summer. Not sure if he is Championship level so maybe a move back to L1 where he scores for fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjii Posted 31 January, 2012 Share Posted 31 January, 2012 They are decent players, however both have been injured a lot recently and so have lost their places. That's football. Connolly seems far too unreliable nowadays. For every good game he seems to have a bad game and he is rarely in the side long enough to prove that premise wrong IMO. I have no doubt Barnard is capable of doing a decent job in the Championship but is he good enough to be a part of the team that we aspire to create?... probably not. He would have played more this season had he been fit but he wasn't so we decided we needed to get Lee and Sharp. Both players have made a big contribution to our recent success and deserve, once they move, to be fondly remembered by Saints fans. I don't feel concerned for them. That's the way it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 31 January, 2012 Share Posted 31 January, 2012 They are decent players, however both have been injured a lot recently and so have lost their places. That's football. Connolly seems far too unreliable nowadays. For every good game he seems to have a bad game and he is rarely in the side long enough to prove that premise wrong IMO. I have no doubt Barnard is capable of doing a decent job in the Championship but is he good enough to be a part of the team that we aspire to create?... probably not. He would have played more this season had he been fit but he wasn't so we decided we needed to get Lee and Sharp. Both players have made a big contribution to our recent success and deserve, once they move, to be fondly remembered by Saints fans. I don't feel concerned for them. That's the way it is. Good post, although I still think Connolly can play a part for us this year. After that he'll move on I'm sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Stimp Posted 31 January, 2012 Share Posted 31 January, 2012 My concern is for the quality of the team, not individual players. I don't think they are good enough to get into our first team anymore and so if they choose to go then I'd say thanks and goodbye. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buctootim Posted 31 January, 2012 Share Posted 31 January, 2012 It is pretty harsh being a footballer. You help a team get promoted and they say - thanks for the goals - you arent up to it in our new division, bye. Clubs give no loyalty and receive none in football (yes I know the money is a big cushion). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 31 January, 2012 Share Posted 31 January, 2012 It is pretty harsh being a footballer. You help a team get promoted and they say - thanks for the goals - you arent up to it in our new division, bye. Clubs give no loyalty and receive none in football (yes I know the money is a big cushion). I don't see our club doing that at all. Conners has been more regular this year than I ever thought he would be, and Barnard was given a new 3 year deal in the summer - but has been out injured unfortunately. Don't think the club are casting them off at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buctootim Posted 31 January, 2012 Share Posted 31 January, 2012 I don't see our club doing that at all. Conners has been more regular this year than I ever thought he would be, and Barnard was given a new 3 year deal in the summer - but has been out injured unfortunately. Don't think the club are casting them off at all. Im not saying the club are being unfair - just saying thats how football works - quite brutal or the ultimate meritocracy, however you want to see it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Stimp Posted 31 January, 2012 Share Posted 31 January, 2012 Im not saying the club are being unfair - just saying thats how football works - quite brutal or the ultimate meritocracy, however you want to see it. If they didn't earn such ridiculous amounts of money to do a job they love I might even spare a bit of sympathy for them... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted 31 January, 2012 Share Posted 31 January, 2012 Im not saying the club are being unfair - just saying thats how football works - quite brutal or the ultimate meritocracy, however you want to see it. Depends on your outlook. Players like Connolly and Barnard, if they accept their place, can enjoy unlimited success getting lower league clubs promoted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobM Posted 31 January, 2012 Share Posted 31 January, 2012 They are decent players, however both have been injured a lot recently and so have lost their places. That's football. Connolly seems far too unreliable nowadays. For every good game he seems to have a bad game and he is rarely in the side long enough to prove that premise wrong IMO. I have no doubt Barnard is capable of doing a decent job in the Championship but is he good enough to be a part of the team that we aspire to create?... probably not. He would have played more this season had he been fit but he wasn't so we decided we needed to get Lee and Sharp. Both players have made a big contribution to our recent success and deserve, once they move, to be fondly remembered by Saints fans. I don't feel concerned for them. That's the way it is. A very nice summary. I'm sure they wont be surprised, after all we are bringing in one of the hottest rated forwards in this league and the same from the J-League. If DC and LB were truly able to compete, they too would be the hot property everyone wanted. DC I'd like to keep for cover, as you never know what may happen. We thought we were well covered at CB until we lost four of them to injuries of various types... imagine if we lost four forwards! But Barnard can go, he has a big chunk of his career ahead of him still. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ART Posted 31 January, 2012 Share Posted 31 January, 2012 Great thread to post before one of our most important matches of the season. I pray neither player gets to see the speculation. Could be one or either both will feature tonight and this type of post is just what is needed to inspire them. Both have suffered from not playing with Ricky of late. I'd prefer to see both in action with him and fit before passing judgement,. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colinjb Posted 31 January, 2012 Author Share Posted 31 January, 2012 Great thread to post before one of our most important matches of the season. I pray neither player gets to see the speculation. Could be one or either both will feature tonight and this type of post is just what is needed to inspire them. Both have suffered from not playing with Ricky of late. I'd prefer to see both in action with him and fit before passing judgement,. You have to be fair that the question regarding their long term futures is valid, i'm sure it will have already crossed Connolly's mind anyway as his contract expires at the end of the year! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pap Posted 31 January, 2012 Share Posted 31 January, 2012 Great thread to post before one of our most important matches of the season. I pray neither player gets to see the speculation. Could be one or either both will feature tonight and this type of post is just what is needed to inspire them. Both have suffered from not playing with Ricky of late. I'd prefer to see both in action with him and fit before passing judgement,. Ah, c'mon - these guys are professionals; they are paid a lot of money and are used to being the subject of scrutiny. No-one on this thread has outright slated them, but as fans, we're entitled to speculate on where they fit in after this window and to discuss their performances. I like both players (hello lads, in the unlikely event that you're reading), but the striker situation has changed dramatically in the past month. The question is totally valid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doddisalegend Posted 31 January, 2012 Share Posted 31 January, 2012 First off we better check that the two new boys are up to it. On paper they both look good but plenty of players have flopped after big moves so it might be a bit early to write off David and Lee. I'm still of the opinion that Barnard could do a job in this division (not sure about the PL) if he hadn't been injuried most of the season....I'm amazed how many people have written him off when he has probably played about 90mins this season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammysaint Posted 31 January, 2012 Share Posted 31 January, 2012 DC im sorry but in some games you have looked poor, and for us to get promoted we need a quick striker for me LB being 4th choice would be great with Guly being put RM so him and puncheon can rotate. LEE Lambert Sharp will be our main 3, LB is here till the end of the season so we can see how well this Lee is going to adapt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobM Posted 31 January, 2012 Share Posted 31 January, 2012 Great thread to post before one of our most important matches of the season. I pray neither player gets to see the speculation. Could be one or either both will feature tonight and this type of post is just what is needed to inspire them. Both have suffered from not playing with Ricky of late. I'd prefer to see both in action with him and fit before passing judgement,. Why on earth would these guys be reading this forum just before tonights game, whether they feature or not? Even if they did, perhaps questioning their place might motivate them to make sure they do claim a starting place. The question is valid in any case and there is little room for sentiment in this race back to the Premiership. Nobody has suggested they aren't good players, they just aren't the best we have any more. Times change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Who? Posted 31 January, 2012 Share Posted 31 January, 2012 Connolly will play a part, lee has a lot to prove. Barney does not have a future after this season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ART Posted 31 January, 2012 Share Posted 31 January, 2012 Steve Ridder is reading and tweeting today so nothing to say he does mention it or other things to the players. I agree it's a valid question but not before such an important game as tonight's game. Connolly is in the line up afterall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint IOW Posted 1 February, 2012 Share Posted 1 February, 2012 The future for them both is to work hard in training and make it hard for the manager to leave them out, just because another player is signed in your position dose not mean you are finished it means compition and to push yourself and try that little bit more if possible, just because you buy a new dog you dont put your old one down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dimond Geezer Posted 1 February, 2012 Share Posted 1 February, 2012 Based on last nights performance I doubt Connolly has much of a future here, I thought he was poor & ineffective yesterday, and will be a way down the pecking the order once the others are fit/bedded in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forever a red and white Posted 1 February, 2012 Share Posted 1 February, 2012 I think Connolly by and large has been okay this season. He seemed to start the season reasonably well has faded slightly. I'm annoyed with those who say Barny can't do it. He has been out pretty much the whole season. He, like every other player who got us promoted, deserives the chance to prove himself in the team. He got a great number of goals last season when again he spent a while on the sidelines. It's clear from previous interviews that Rickie enjoys playing with him. On top of that he can finish and has a fantastic work-rate. He might not be top class but how can we say until he has had a sustained run in the team. Which he may now struggle to get this season. There have been plently of matches this season where we have struggled and needed a bit of a fight, grit and harrying of opposition which Connors and Guly certainly didn't provide. So I think we should keep him, he has a dew years left in him, its hard to say the same for Connolly despite his contribution this season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lighthouse Posted 1 February, 2012 Share Posted 1 February, 2012 I think Barnard could be very useful when fit. I really don't get people saying he isn't up to it and that League 1 is his level, based on absolutely nothing. Give him a run of games to get fit, then make a judgement. Connolly I just don't think is that good. He plays well when Saints are playing brilliantly and dominating the oposition (Forest, Boro) but in any other game he just goes missing. Wouldn't get on the bench for me when the others are fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cestrian Saint Posted 1 February, 2012 Share Posted 1 February, 2012 I see both being released at the end of the season, which is a shame as I'd rather see Barnard in the team than, Lee. I'm convinced Lee will be a complete flop! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjii Posted 1 February, 2012 Share Posted 1 February, 2012 I see both being released at the end of the season, which is a shame as I'd rather see Barnard in the team than, Lee. I'm convinced Lee will be a complete flop! Presumably you haven't seen him play then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobM Posted 1 February, 2012 Share Posted 1 February, 2012 I see both being released at the end of the season, which is a shame as I'd rather see Barnard in the team than, Lee. I'm convinced Lee will be a complete flop! Based on what, exactly? Barnard hasn't had much more playing time than Lee in the NPC so far, so I'm genuinely interested to hear your reasons for this belief. That's assuming we're aloud to have this conversation today, is it far enough ahead of the next game? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now