We have been blessed in recent years with striking talent. From the 90s onwards at each level we have been well stocked for the respective level.

From Conroy, to Payton, to Austin to Wood.

Heath, Vokes, Akinbiyi, Gray x 2, Fletcher, Rodriguez, Ings etc. All probably more noted as scorers. Barnes traditionally probably more in the mould of Cooke and co.

But the inportance of his goals and his improvement is pheonomenal.

Where would you rank Barnes in our best strikers of recent times?

You missed out Robbie Blake

Statistically, Ian Moore is the closest comparison, they have an almost identical goals-per-game ratio.

Oshkoshclaret wrote:Statistically, Ian Moore is the closest comparison, they have an almost identical goals-per-game ratio.

How many goals did Ian Moore scored at the top level?

I don't recall anyone like Ash, he puts himself about like no one else. His nuisance value is just as important as his goals, and he does have a nice touch when linking up.
It's like comparing chalk and cheese imo

I agree with the OP with the similarity to Andy Cooke. Barnes is much better overall, but I loved the way Cooke got stuck in. It's that hustling and bustling in Barnes' game that reminds me of him. I think Barnes has really stepped up and looks like he belongs in the Premier League.

Great signing, though I doubt I could rationally 'place' him in a rating system.

He's probably my favourite striker of all the ones we've had. I was seemingly one of the happy few when we signed him from Brighton as I already knew what he was about. I didn't expect his overall game to progress quite as much as it has though. We're now reaping the rewards of an Ashley Barnes who knows he's improving and knows he's good enough for the Premier League. The great thing about him as a striker is that he's shown us some real quality at times while maintaining the physical and fiery side of his game. I bet the Stoke fans absolutely hated him yesterday, haha.

This season he must be rated as excellent. When he got his chance he grabbed it with both hands in full knowledge the Gaffer doesn't drop players who are performing. He has made it almost impossible for SD not to put his name on the team sheet. I remember when Sam Vokes got his chance after the sudden departure of Austin (think it was Austin) and Sam ended up partnering Danny to an incredible season of scoring for fun. Really chuffed for Barnes he gives 100% every game and deserves all the plaudits for his seasons work. UTC

His confidence has has a massive boost since the Chelsea link in the last window, whether it was genuine or not.
He either scores scruffy goals or screamers and isn’t a natural finisher, like Austin, but whatever he has it works for us.

Colburn_Claret wrote:I don't recall anyone like Ash, he puts himself about like no one else. His nuisance value is just as important as his goals, and he does have a nice touch when linking up.
It's like comparing chalk and cheese imo

Agree with this.

The best way to find out his true rating is wait until he leaves and then see how many threads or comments appear wanting him back.

Oshkoshclaret wrote:Statistically, Ian Moore is the closest comparison, they have an almost identical goals-per-game ratio.

But that's where the comparison ends although Moore cost us more than twice the amount we paid for Barnes

Why has nobody included Liam and Inchy in this discussion ? Our very own Heath Robinson Attack force ?

Ash the Bash is out there on his own. A scrappy mongrel of a player who’s sneaked into Crufts and won the affections of many while also gaining nowt but the disapprobation of those with the stoniest of hearts. At least some of those who were heaping opprobrium upon him have now stilled their tongues. They’re still there, mind; just waiting for him to cock his leg on one of the judges, or curl one out on the show floor, then they can say that they, “Told you all so!”.

It is cruel to call him a poor man's Diego Costa, but the relative price/reward of both we got an absolute bargain. Has improved immensely this season, and as I have said on another thread, I think Walters arrival has helped him.

This long running Barnes thread (7 years and counting and still very active) shows that he has always been a bit marmite until this year

http://www.northstandchat.com/showthrea ... ugh-for-us" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

He's up there with the best I've seen in making the most of his attributes. He plays on the edge. Defenders hate playing against him. He's technically better than others give him credit for. Shawcross was 'crying' yesterday.

7decades wrote:Why has nobody included Liam and Inchy in this discussion ? Our very own Heath Robinson Attack force ?

I included heath.

Chester Perry wrote:It is cruel to call him a poor man's Diego Costa, but the relative price/reward of both we got an absolute bargain. Has improved immensely this season, and as I have said on another thread, I think Walters arrival has helped him.

This long running Barnes thread (7 years and counting and still very active) shows that he has always been a bit marmite until this year

http://www.northstandchat.com/showthrea ... ugh-for-us" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Definitely agree on walters. Having watched walters for stoke its the nearest comparison i can think of. Bet hes learnt a bit from him.

Chester Perry wrote:It is cruel to call him a poor man's Diego Costa, but the relative price/reward of both we got an absolute bargain. Has improved immensely this season, and as I have said on another thread, I think Walters arrival has helped him.

This long running Barnes thread (7 years and counting and still very active) shows that he has always been a bit marmite until this year

http://www.northstandchat.com/showthrea ... ugh-for-us" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Best comment I've seen and could be used on here, even with Barnes.

This is the crux of the matter. Someone starts a thread which completely slates a player with ridiculous hyperbole about their lack of skills, and a little way down the line, that player shows them up.

For 400k he has been a bargain,doesn't score many but when he bags they are usually vital goals.Defenders hate playing against him that tells you something.

From the OP on the North Stand Chat thread:

"BE honest, how many of think of Barnes, and see a picture in your mind of him sitting on his arse, arms out by his side with a look of disbelief on his face because he didn't get a free kick?"

I must admit this made me laugh.

Interestingly Barnes and Wood only need 2 more goals each to match the 11 in a single PL season scored by Ings.

ClaretTony wrote:But that's where the comparison ends although Moore cost us more than twice the amount we paid for Barnes

I actually liked Moore when we first signed him. It was a bit of a `coup`, wasn`t it? He had pace to burn, linked up well with Gareth Taylor, gave 100% and scored quite a few goals. I remember his debut and can recall thinking `geez...this chap is QUICK!!!!!`

I do recall him missing though an absolute sitter away to PNE after the other Moore beautifully chipped the keeper and it came back off the bar. That was probably the beginning of the end.

Dazzler wrote:You missed out Robbie Blake

Yes. Robbie Blake. Then everyone else.

Really liked him from the first day 100% effort and what a nuisance to any defender. During his first season I sat near the front of the Bob Lord and watched closely his aerial battles outside of the box Ash won more than Sam in total but not always with his head, off his neck, his shoulder, his back in fact anywhere that was legal he probably has his own motto "I'm in there I'm havin it " top man utc

LordBob wrote:Really liked him from the first day 100% effort and what a nuisance to any defender. During his first season I sat near the front of the Bob Lord and watched closely his aerial battles outside of the box Ash won more than Sam in total but not always with his head, off his neck, his shoulder, his back in fact anywhere that was legal he probably has his own motto "I'm in there I'm havin it " top man utc

Me and my mate used to laugh at how good he was in the air and on the deck... with his chest!

Dazzler wrote:You missed out Robbie Blake

Hes not robbie blake, hes not robbie blake...

I think at the moment Ashley Barnes would be the first name on my team sheet.

Opposing sides must hate playing against him.

Imagine what some Spanish defence would make of Barnes, Wood and Vokes??

tybfc wrote:Imagine what some Spanish defence would make of Barnes, Wood and Vokes??

Bull and matador spring to mind

HiroshimaClaret wrote:I actually liked Moore when we first signed him. It was a bit of a `coup`, wasn`t it? He had pace to burn, linked up well with Gareth Taylor, gave 100% and scored quite a few goals. I remember his debut and can recall thinking `geez...this chap is QUICK!!!!!`

I do recall him missing though an absolute sitter away to PNE after the other Moore beautifully chipped the keeper and it came back off the bar. That was probably the beginning of the end.

Not sure who he linked up with first. He was here a few months before Taylor and Payton wasn't getting a game. He was quick but that was about it.

tybfc wrote:I think at the moment Ashley Barnes would be the first name on my team sheet.

Opposing sides must hate playing against him.

Imagine what some Spanish defence would make of Barnes, Wood and Vokes??

I'm told our own players hate playing against him in training - he's no different than he is on match day.

In terms of Premier League goals for players who don't play for a top-6 club, I would rate him 4th.

Top scorers (excluding penalties):
Vardy 13
Arnautovic 10
Mahrez 10
Barnes 9
Sane 9
David Silva 9
Wood 9

dsr wrote:In terms of Premier League goals for players who don't play for a top-6 club, I would rate him 4th.

Top scorers (excluding penalties):
Vardy 13
Arnautovic 10
Mahrez 10
Barnes 9
Sane 9
David Silva 9
Wood 9

What list is that?

Couldn't see him doing what he is doing at the moment to be honest.

Well chuffed for him that he is though.

ClaretTony wrote:Not sure who he linked up with first. He was here a few months before Taylor and Payton wasn't getting a game. He was quick but that was about it.

Looks like it possibly was the one and only Andy Payton. Moore signed on November 20th and then came on as a sub (replacing Super Glen Little in the 27th minute) the next day, helping to set up Payton`s goal soon after.

`Moore became known at Turf Moor for his pace and dedication, and regularly chased down goalkeepers and defenders to try and force mistakes. Moore went on to make almost 200 appearances for 'The Clarets', scoring 37 league goals in the process. He seemed to enjoy the FA Cup most though – netting a hat-trick against Canvey Island and a double against Bournemouth. Some of his fans said he was like a "dog with a balloon".

As his career progressed at Turf Moor, Moore was increasingly played as a winger, which was thought of as his best position considering his lack of goal scoring prowess but taking advantage of his pace. This was not a position which Moore enjoyed however, and he often visibly 'sulked' in games, and his previous dogged determination had gone.`

p.s. Liam Robinson was quick too!!!!

UpTheBeehole wrote:What list is that?

At a guess, Premier League goals for players who don't play for a top-6 club.

DustyBawls wrote:At a guess, Premier League goals for players who don't play for a top-6 club.

Well dsr did say that, but Leroy Sane and David Silva are on it.

Do penalties not count as goals by the way?

Sidney1st wrote:The best way to find out his true rating is wait until he leaves and then see how many threads or comments appear wanting him back.

There's a thread on Northstandchat, the Brighton forum still going about our Ash.

UpTheBeehole wrote:Do penalties not count as goals by the way?

Not for Burnley.

DustyBawls wrote:Not for Burnley.

Graham Alexander only scored 3 goals for us then. What a poor return.

claretandy wrote:There's a thread on Northstandchat, the Brighton forum still going about our Ash.

Since leaving the Amex, he’s done consistently better with Burnley than Brighton HA have done. He’s been a key part of what we’ve achieved as a Club(often at the expense of BHAFC). I bet they’re really cheesed off that they want nay got £400k.

To paraphrase Shakespeare, I’m glad Ash’s value wasn’t measured by his worth, for then it would have no end.

UpTheBeehole wrote:Graham Alexander only scored 3 goals for us then. What a poor return.

Jesus... it was a joke! It was reference to penalties this season and Burnley. Admit it - you're not the sharpest tool in the box.

Lord Beamish wrote:Since leaving the Amex, he’s done consistently better with Burnley than Brighton HA have done. He’s been a key part of what we’ve achieved as a Club(often at the expense of BHAFC). I bet they’re really cheesed off that they want nay got £400k.

To paraphrase Shakespeare, I’m glad Ash’s value wasn’t measured by his worth, for then it would have no end.

Since Ashley Barnes left Brighton, He's scored 24 goals for Burnley.

Since Glenn Murray signed for Brighton, 3 years after Barnes joined Burnley, he's scored 36 goals for them.

They haven't missed him.

UpTheBeehole wrote:Since Ashley Barnes left Brighton, He's scored 24 goals for Burnley.

Since Glenn Murray signed for Brighton, 3 years after Barnes joined Burnley, he's scored 36 goals for them.

They haven't missed him.

But that wasn’t my point. My point was how well we’ve done with Barnes, compared to Brighton with and without him.

We'd have probably done better if we'd signed Glenn Murray.

UpTheBeehole wrote:We'd have probably done better if we'd signed Glenn Murray.

Whatever.

UpTheBeehole wrote:Do penalties not count as goals by the way?

Penalties do count as goals, but when you're measuring how good a centre forward is, you tend to leave out penalties because it distorts the figures. For example, as alluded to earlier, Graham Alexander scored more goals in the Premier league than Ashley Barnes has this year. But Barnes is by far the better centre forward - I think we'd all agree.

Vokes and Barnes mostly not rated by Brighton fans at all.

Time to play them both up front against them and show them how much they have improved.

Ashley Barnes is probably my favourite striker since Billy Hamilton.