Great defensive performances but for affect on the game, Barnes - genius! His role is exactly the one he played tonight..not a lot more...but worth it.

Sorry but no.
We admire Barnes because he's a blokes footballer, tough and up for it but MOTM no.
Boyd all the way.
The Barnes paradox is that he was great up front when we didn't need a goal. He was sent on to interfere and delay, he did his job but the main work was done by others.

Let's not forget Tom and Ben. Sounded like they were fairly solid.

ben mee was excellent tonight

The defence as a unit were excellent tonight and restricted them to
mainly long shots.

Genuinly I'd give Barnes MOTM.
We've conceded a lot of late goals this season at the end of both halves and had more nerve wracking finishes than I can put a number on. But he was a class above and by far and away the reason we were able to see this massive game out. Outstanding.

I'm not sure Barnes could be a realistic candidate considering how long he was on but I take your point. I think he's a very clever player who obviously followed the instructions given to him tonight. I have a massive man crush on him.

Really took the pressure off tonight. Great cameo appearance

Ben Mee must wonder what he has to do after that performance tonight


Point taken...

Claret Till I Die wrote:Ben New must wonder what he has to do after that performance tonight

He needs to stop using autocorrect!

The whole defence were totally solid all night against a Stoke side that you know are going to come and try to batter you.

Barnes was magnificent when he came on and whether he was following orders from Dyche or his own instincts he certainly helped us to 3 points.

I wouldn't like to play against him.

Brilliant night.

I gave Barnes 507 on the players score tonight, absolute master class when he came on in how to disrupt a game, win free kicks and take the sting out of it. As a whole team injury team was near perfection

But the poster 'Walton' knows that you're all wrong.

Even if you aren't wrong.

Defence was solid and Mees head was worth 3 points. Mistakes made by a few but a celebratory 3 points to the back 4.

Arnautovic was our best player!

Hendrick for me, provided our only quality in the final third.

Brilliant cameo from Ashley. Stoke could and probably should have had Martins Indi sent off due to Barnes getting under his skin. When the board went up saying 6 minutes i was worried but Barnes played a critical role in breaking up the play and not allowing Stoke to get a head of steam up. This is what he's good at. I'd hate to play against him!

I think the op was being slightly tongue in cheek tbh. But everyone who was there knows exactly where he's coming from! Barnes wasn't on long, but he brilliantly helped us see out time and "defended" that lead just as much as the lads at the back with his weird little cameo. Yes, Mee was probably THE MOM, but everyone stood to applaud Barnes. It was great to watch when you're nerves are shredded!!

The suggestion that Barnes could of been MOM is laughable in my opinion. He came on late and did job by roughing and winding them up, little football involved.

Ben Mee by mile for me, although the whole back line were excellent.

If you looking for a single player to praise for that win it should be Mee.

Its all opinions of course but as I left the ground there was only one MOM for me and that was Ben Mee, outstanding at times under pressure. I have to give credit to the whole team though for a professional performance.

mickleoverclaret wrote:Arnautovic was our best player!

This. I think a few are forgetting he was through on goal two (three ?) times and ballsed it up. With better finishing (Adam missed a decent chance) we could have been buried, alarmingly.

tybfc wrote:
I wouldn't like to play against him.

Brilliant night.

Carefully worded there tybfc

KRBFC wrote:Hendrick for me, provided our only quality in the final third.

Apart from the goal he was anonymous

Ben Mee MOM by a mile.

Wilsdenclaret wrote:Apart from the goal he was anonymous

You really need to get a seat facing the pitch!

Wilsdenclaret wrote:Apart from the goal he was anonymous

Agreed.

The whole defence were good but Mee was outstanding and MOM for me. Barnes was superb when he came on though. He's a great option from the bench to give tired defenders something to think about whilst not a great goal threat. I'm a big convert on Barnes and I enjoy watching committed players like Mee and Barnes.

One of the hardest players in the premier league to play against
A real old fashioned centre forward who gets in your face.

Top top player

Barnes isn't really an orthodox Premier League type player and many of these foreign defenders are not used to a player like him which gives us a different edge at times.