Ashley Barnes

[Blyclaret]

I extremely disappointed i expected a striker that will actually score goals. Bring Ash back as a coach. Motivation is dressing room yes for sure. But not a player.

And no im not like 007. Thank you.

[KlyBfc]

Im struggling to see how this helps us turn those 5 0v0 at home into wins. Hes past it and not the answer. Id understand more if we didnt have Jay but its just adding to our slow frontline options

[martin_p]

Love the fact that Ash is back, it’s a no lose signing for me. Obviously I hope he isn’t the only striker we sign this window but I think he’ll be great for the dressing room and might just chip in with the odd important goal. It’s only to the end of the season and will be costing us next to nothing.

[CrosspoolClarets]

I only posted earlier today that Barnes or Wood types would be perfect strikers under Parker.

So this is a nil brainer. Will probably only cost two or three hundred grand in wages and there is little downside - we have seven 0-0 draws and cannot hit a barn door with a banjo. The only downside is if he stops a talent like Ferguson signing but hopefully if one of those becomes available we still go for them.

What Barnes will bring in drive, know how, intensity and shithousery can only benefit young players like Hannibal and co.

It is obvious with what the Norwich manager said that he wanted to keep him but only as a bit part sub, and Ash at his time of life said if that is what it will be I only want it to be at Burnley, and Norwich agreed as a courtesy. That seems to me to be credit all round, well done Norwich.

Now, any players not fully committed to being here, I reckon a 1 to 1 training drill with Ash would do the, the world of good

[Clive 1960]

I still hope we can get a striker in January but only time will tell if we can get some out of the door first to make room..

[It Is What It Is]

Agreed, but I wouldn't have him back now.

Why not?
Our so called strikers haven't exactly set the world alight have they?
Welcome back Ashley....hope you get minutes on Saturday....BFC and fans owe you massively.

[Taffy on the wing]

Made my day has this!

[Dyched]

Feels a bit desperation to me. But saying that, it gives me a lot more confidence for Saturday with hopefully him, Brownhill, Roberts, Cullen, CJ and Esteve in the starting 11. It will all be worth it just for that.

[IanMcL]

Does it need galvanising?

It will along the way. He knows how to get there.

[IanMcL]

FFS. Try reading the whole thread!

I did. You said he wasn't up to that standard.

[cockneyclaret]

What a suprise to wake up too.. excellent addition to the squad. You've only got to read to socials for the lift he's already given.
Obviously theres always some that cast negativity on the move but what would you rather.. Barnes to Sheff Utd or us

[ashtonlongsider]

Barnsey was in conversation with SP on the pitch after the Norwich game. I just wondered then could something be in the pipeline. I dismissed the thought as fantasy. I'm beyond surprised but if Ash is fit he'll be a better option than Fleming imo. At least short term.

[superdimitri]

Can we have episode 2 of the Barnes YouTube special now?

[Healeywoodclaret]

Family was/are settled up here, good mates with Jack Cork, wouldn't surprise me if we got him until the end of the season to help with the younger players all whilst coaching alongside Cork or moving in to that role in the summer.
Wouldn't be a signing of technical quality but experience wise and what he'd maybe offer the squad could be invaluable and what a player to have in the backrooms team moving forward if that was the case

I think moving on to the coaching team is exactly the plan at the end of the season. Welcome back Ash!

[Murger]

Just the type of person you need in around the place. Chuffed to bits with this.

[ElectroClaret]

Reacting to this on brfcs forum, somebody posted, "someone makes themselves an Ewood legend
if they snap his leg."

[billyhamilton82]

Just the type of person you need in around the place. Chuffed to bits with this.

Fully agree and some will be very surprised with his impact on the pitch judging by the usual negative posters.

Exactly what we need with how we set up and someone who can actually hold the ball up and head it.

Will definitely bring the best out of Flemming and Brownhill.

He has also been there and done it and will want a hat trick of Championship medals.

For me, he starts tomorrow.

[Venkys4eva]

When he was talking to parker at the end of the Norwich game I was hoping but never thought it would happen.

What a fantastic signing. A great motivater for the dressing room and someone whos done it all before.

I dont think he will start many but what a player to bring on when its 0-0 with 20 minutes left!

[Newcastleclaret93]

When he was talking to parker at the end of the Norwich game I was hoping but never thought it would happen.

What a fantastic signing. A great motivater for the dressing room and someone whos done it all before.

I dont think he will start many but what a player to bring on when its 0-0 with 20 minutes left!

I think he may start more than we think.

Finally a striker that could maybe allow Flemming to drop deeper.

[mybloodisclaret]

This is an absolutely brilliant bit of business, I don't know how anyone can't see it.
I'd let him do a speech in the dressing room on Saturday. He 100% gets what this is about. I think he will be great for the younger lads, and even if for only the final third in games, his nous, experience and know how will be invaluable, can see him working very well with Flemming.

[mybloodisclaret]

Reacting to this on brfcs forum, somebody posted, "someone makes themselves an Ewood legend
if they snap his leg."

What did you expect from that lot? Shocker of a comment but that's what you get with them.

Signing Ash is already having the desired effect. It will have them rattled. Sales of toilet roll in the BB1 area skyrocketed overnight.

[Stonehouse]

Word on the Norwich forum was the Sheff Utd were in for him,I wonder if that contributed to us bringing him back.

[Dyched]

I think he may start more than we think.

Finally a striker that could maybe allow Flemming to drop deeper.

I hope not. Last thing we want is Brownhill playing deeper and his goals to dry up. He’s our only goalscorer.

[vinrogue]

No brainer for me, loan out Tresor to Real Madrid or whoever he wants to play for other than us, and have Ash on board for the push to the end of the season. It’s Ash to do the things we don’t get to see. I am chuffed for him and his family and for us too. UTC

[Loyalclaret]

I've unsuccessfully tried to find his quotes when he joined in 2014 but I remember them being along the lines of 'if I can contribute with a goal or two to help promotion then I' ll be happy'. That season he bagged goals that did exactly that, Wigan at home springs to mind immediately. In the interview he implied he would do anything, however little to help the team across the line.

Parker could re-use some of Dyche's quote at the time "I can assure you Ashley is not here just to supplement the group and support the front two, but to make sure we have a real challenge up front.

"He has a will and desire to improve and affect football matches, as strikers do by scoring goals."

[jrgbfc]

If you take history/sentiment out of it and we'd just signed a 35 year old sub from Norwich who has barely played for 18 months then everybody would be going mental.
Hopefully he proves me wrong and bags a few important goals.

[ArmchairDetective]

I'm not fussed if he's 35. I'm not fussed if he starts 1 game or 15 games between now and the end of the season. The point is he gives the fans and everyone around the club a boost going into the second half of the season. He adds value beyond the stats, he gets the club.

It's a low risk signing and I'm all for it.

[Row x]

If this is our only attacking signing this month, then my positive thoughts on promotion have just taken a massive nosedive

[RVclaret]

I think if people are expecting another striker signing on top of this they will be disappointed.

We now have 5 strikers on the books, 6 if you include Flemming, for what is typically 1 position in Parker’s system.

I think Hountondji will probably leave on loan, mind, but still, with Foster looking almost ready to go, I think that’s that.

[Dark Cloud]

Like 20,000 other people at The Turf I absolutely love Ashley to bits, but if we really have re signed him at his age and with his recent fitness record to bolster our striking options and push for promotion, I think it's a total waste of a squad place and wages. What are the recruitment team thinking of?

[KRBFC]

Happy with Barnes returning, he should never have been let go. Hopefully he can fire us towards his 4th promotion with us. However we need to address the issue of lack of goals especially from out wide, hoping for a big signing on the wing to address this.

[Hedontplayforyou]

Factor in also that Jay looked shot against Stoke and was way off it, Barnes hasn’t been brought in to rejuvenate the attack, he’s an extra body yes and experienced, but he could have a massive influence around the dressing room and helping the young players grow

Hountondji could now get a loan to free up another space

[billyhamilton82]

"if we really have re signed him at his age and with his recent fitness record to bolster our striking options and push for promotion, I think it's a total waste of a squad place and wages. What are the recruitment team thinking of?

Its obvious you can't explain football to someone who doesn't understand it judging by the negative comments.

Barnes will create goals, not just score them and he will hold the ball up top, something we have been missing massively since he left.

He shouldn't have been allowed to leave in the first place, as we now know VK didn't replace him.

Age is just a number, unlike Jay Rod, Barnes has never relied on his pace, he is a very intelligent footballer who will bring others into play.

He will open up defences and give us a platform to play from.

This is NOT a sentimental signing, we desperately needed this type of centre forward, hence our link with McBurnie.

I totally and utterly disagree with your comments and think its the best signing we could have made, as we know Sheff Utd also wanted him and for good reason.

Come on Ash shut the negativity up by scoring another couple tomorrow !!

[Conroy92]

If you take history/sentiment out of it and we'd just signed a 35 year old sub from Norwich who has barely played for 18 months then everybody would be going mental.
Hopefully he proves me wrong and bags a few important goals.

That's not true though is it. People like to quote his age as a negative but not many put 3x promotion winner next to it. Amazing that isn't it like it may fit an agenda.

I think it's more realistic that if he had not played for us before people would be welcoming a short term deal from a player with bags of experience and promotions at this level..

[123EasyasBFC]

If this is our only attacking signing this month, then my positive thoughts on promotion have just taken a massive nosedive

How does signing Barnes mean our chances to a massive nosedive to our chances before he re signed?

[Walt]

Not sure what to make if this and I'm torn between totally getting the euphoria of a legend returning, the value his personality can bring to the squad but taking a squad place when in reality his output is likely to be minimal.

As RV has said it almost certainly ends our striker business based on squad numbers.

We have a confident, united squad anyway and have already added leaders, such as Worrall, Egan and Laurent. Yes it's a short deal and the outlay won't be substantial but what is he going to offer on the pitch, based on his time at Norwich not a great deal.

The 35 yr old sub from Norwich who has had injuries in his time there is also a valid point. This messageboard would have gone into meltdown if he wasn't called Barnes. Let's not forget discussions about wanting Ferguson (albeit probably unrealistic) and a lot of people turning their noses up at the prospect of Mcburnie.

This signing is quite a step down from lofty wishlists of a striker signing.

But hey, he is a legend and what a servant he was for his 350k fee. I sincerely hope it's a masterstroke and my reservations are thrown in my face.

[Row x]

How does signing Barnes mean our chances to a massive nosedive to our chances before he re signed?

Quite simple really

The majority of fans have been calling for a signing this month who will score the goals we need to move forward, and turn those nil nil draws into wins

What do you see in Barnes, his form, goalscoring, fitness, in the past two seasons that suggest that he is that player, and if we don't sign anyone else we will struggle to score those important goals

If he was called Smith, and had never played for us, would you be happy with the signing given his record at Norwich?

[Broadsword]

I’m really excited by this. It’s like having Putin’s nuclear arsenal.. we might not need to use it, it might not work if we do, but it puts the fear of god into the other side!

[Hedontplayforyou]

Not sure what to make if this and I'm torn between totally getting the euphoria of a legend returning, the value his personality can bring to the squad but taking a squad place when in reality his output is likely to be minimal.

As RV has said it almost certainly ends our striker business based on squad numbers.

We have a confident, united squad anyway and have already added leaders, such as Worrall, Egan and Laurent. Yes it's a short deal and the outlay won't be substantial but what is he going to offer on the pitch, based on his time at Norwich not a great deal.

The 35 yr old sub from Norwich who has had injuries in his time there is also a valid point. This messageboard would have gone into meltdown if he wasn't called Barnes. Let's not forget discussions about wanting Ferguson (albeit probably unrealistic) and a lot of people turning their noses up at the prospect of Mcburnie.

This signing is quite a step down from lofty wishlists of a striker signing.

But hey, he is a legend and what a servant he was for his 350k fee. I sincerely hope it's a masterstroke and my reservations are thrown in my face.

For the people worrying about taking a squad place , you e got to remember that Hountondji wasn’t getting a sniff whilst Foster was unfit, Lyle is back now so this pretty much ends Hountondjis chances for now, so replace him on the bench with Barnes and we will at least have the experience to bring on from the bench as and when needed . Hountondji can then go out on loan and play some games . It was almost a certainty that he wouldn’t be used form the bench, this gives us another option now 100%

[Blyclaret]

How does signing Barnes mean our chances to a massive nosedive to our chances before he re signed?

Your busy answering everyone thats disagreeing with you that Barnes as a player is not a good signing. Its the boards cheap way of answering the fans call for a striker.

[Wokingclaret]

Torn on this one, but where would I be without seeing a 36 year old Dobson, a 37 year old Tommy Hutchison, a Leighton James 3rd spell, even a 40 year old Gezza. I wouldn't be the holder of seeing quality and experience.

If it stops these 0-0s then I'm all for it, BARNES

[ClaretAL]

I think one eye will be on moving in to coaching, but one thing for sure is Ash can bring on the young players both on and off the pitch.

[Jakubclaret]

Shades of nostalgic reminiscing with some I think. But tempering negativity with positivity he'll hopefully have some influence around the place & will be a option seeing out slender leads & maybe nick the odd goal translating into draws. With what's happened or should I say not been happening with tresor some cynical people might suspect it's a timed strategical distraction.

[blatherwickstattoos]

This could either be a masterstroke from Parker or a step backwards.

Yes we need a goalscorer badly (loads of time yet in the window) but with how parker plays we also need a forward who can make the ball ‘stick’ upfront.

One thing is for sure, the fans will be galvanised. I’ve never heard it as quiet on the turf for a game than last Saturday.

[Walt]

For the people worrying about taking a squad place , you e got to remember that Hountondji wasn’t getting a sniff whilst Foster was unfit, Lyle is back now so this pretty much ends Hountondjis chances for now, so replace him on the bench with Barnes and we will at least have the experience to bring on from the bench as and when needed . Hountondji can then go out on loan and play some games . It was almost a certainty that he wouldn’t be used form the bench, this gives us another option now 100%

Replacing Hountondji is a fair point. I think most people would have been expecting something different for that though.

[KlyBfc]

I keep reading about his experience being an important factor, we already had that in Jay (a promotion winner and England international). If we didnt have Jay fine but we do, so unless Jay leaves i just don’t get why we have resigned him. Take the emotion out hes a slow over the hill striker. We need pace and mobility up top and if we end up with bench options of Jay and Barnes then that is frightening and not in a good way.

[Wokingclaret]

I'm thinking Barnes up front with Flemming behind him, will it happen.........

[JohnMcGreal]

What did you expect from that lot? Shocker of a comment but that's what you get with them.

There's a poster on the Tresor thread suggesting that one of our own players should have one of his legs broken

It takes all sorts!

[KlyBfc]

I'm thinking Barnes up front with Flemming behind him, will it happen.........

Barnes of last 2 yrs drops deeper to hold the ball up into the space Flemming would occupy, and Flemming isn’t going to run beyond him as Tella did 2 years ago into the space hes created. i just can’t see ZF and AB being partnered together.

[123EasyasBFC]

Quite simple really

The majority of fans have been calling for a signing this month who will score the goals we need to move forward, and turn those nil nil draws into wins

What do you see in Barnes, his form, goalscoring, fitness, in the past two seasons that suggest that he is that player, and if we don't sign anyone else we will struggle to score those important goals

If he was called Smith, and had never played for us, would you be happy with the signing given his record at Norwich?

The point is signing Barnes doesn’t make our chances nosedive though. Are you suggesting before signing Barnes our chances of promotion were nosediving?