Is it just me, or does anyone else think that the arrival of Tadanari Lee spells the end of his time on the bus for Lee Barnard? It's sad cos he's been good for us, but with Lambert, Lee, Connolly and Guly all potentially above him, he may be surplus to requirements :/
But didn't he sign a new contact fairly recently? I may be wrong but I seem to remember him signing a 3 year contract
I agree, he seems to have a re-occuring problem with his ankle. Also the off field situation is just dragging on and on..
No not at all, the guy is injured and out for 2/3 months. Its showing we need more fire power especially now with Lambo out for 3 games, Conners is still injury prone, has some nice movement and experience but lacks pace. Guly well has seem to have forgotten the ball goes in the net not past/over it & I think he is better on the right at times but he has 10 goals so not all is lost with him. Reeves etc still need experience and we can't afford to give them that if we want to go up this season.
I am not sure Barnard will come back to play much for Saints, he is not proven at this level yet and seems to be struggling from injury and off field problems.
I think Barnard is a great league 1 player, and that's about it. Nothing against the guy, works his socks off and gives 100%!
I rate him as our second best striker atm. My pecking order goes. Lambert, Barnard, Connolly, Guly. WHen T.Lee is finalised he will slot in ahead or just behind barnard not sure yet. But he definelty has a future at the club. he s only about 26/27. Connolly will retire soon and Guly could get moved on if we get the premiership but its unlikely to happen.
Don't write him off - he is on a 3 year contract, and has a 3-monthish injury, that leaves another 2 years to prove himself
Barnard was one of our best players last year without doubt. If he gets back to full fitness he can be a huge asset. He has great work rate and is good at closing down (not the same thing) he also has good movement and is a goal scorer. He'd get in my team when hes on top form like the end of last season.
How do you know? He's not played this season. He wasn't far away from Lamberts goal tally last year even without pens and the fact he had several injuries.
For all we know he might come back and score loads of goals, but the fact is he has been out since last April with an ankle injury. The chance of him coming back as good as he was before the injury is quite low IMO.
Barnard was our best player in the second half of the season until he got injured. He may even have to get a short term loan to get match fit but I have no doubt he will be good enough for the Championship when fit.
