The Fishy - Grimsby Town FC

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Underhill
Underhill

Barnet v Grimsby Preview

By: Alex Green
Date: 02/10/2009

TOWN wander to the capital dazed and confused after their meeting with Chesterfield, where yet again the midfield was found desperately wanting. Barnet are next up to test the vulnerable Town who now lay 21st in the League.

Home > 2009-2010 Season > Previews > Barnet (a)


Wednesday may well be looked back upon as the make or break part of an already depressing season. As you are more than fully aware a win on Wednesday would have catapulted Town to midtable obscurity and transformed where the Mariners were heading. Now they nestle in the bosom of a relegation dog fight and with a confidence-inducing run destroyed leaving rubble strewn around them. Now eyes must look to the future Newell’s team has been found to be weak on endless occasions in midfield and out wide, how he and Fenty are going to correct that will rest with them but what Newell knows now is excuses about fitness, suspensions and injuries are wearing incredibly thin with myself and the majority. Saltergate aside Town now need to go to Barnet and pull a result out of the bag. The green shoots of recovery had started to materialise it’s now up to the men on the pitch whether they want them to be bathed in sunlight or taken out by a Flymo.

Overview

Their History

1882 Barnet were formed initially as Woodville FC 3 years later Woodsville were to be known as New Barnet before been finally called Barnet in 1888. Years of playing in random London leagues were the diet of Barnet till 1965 when The Bee’s turned semi pro a season which saw them become champions of Southern League Division 1. It wasn't till 1991 that Barnet made their first appearance in the Football League where they spent a decade been promoted to then Division Two on occasion under the instruction of then manager Barry Fry. After spending four years back in the Conference Barnet returned in 2005, where they have gone from survivalists to midtable nobodies.

Last Season Was

Ian Hendon’s first managerial job has so far been impressive steering Barnet away from relegation last season was a major achievement. Barnet had accumulated just 16 points when he took over the day after Boxing Day from long serving Paul Fairclough and Hendon immediately set about changing the fortune of the club with an impressive 2-0 win at Bournemouth just 2 days in to his job. From their Barnet slowly but surely clawed themselves away from the mess we had found ourselves in. 32 points from 24 games assured Barnet of another year in the Football League and with the likes of John O’Flynn bagging 18 goals there were a few bright sparks in an overall depressing season for the Bee’s

This Season Is

All about improving on what Hendon had started and so far Barnet fans can have no complaints. Though the opening day defeat to useless Lincoln was a blip from then on Barnet have built a record to make any team stand up and take notice. A 2-0 defeat at home to Watford in the League Cup didn't do Barnet justice as the Bee’s took the Championship club in to extra time. Since then Barnet have bested the likes of Millwall, Notts County, Northampton, Torquay and on Tuesday night added another with a 2-0 win over London rivals and another surprise package early on in the season in Dagenham and Redbridge. The only other defeat Barnet have collected was a 3-0 defeat against Rotherham last Saturday who were desperate to impress returning boss Ronnie Moore.

Their Ground Is

Well were getting the worst out of the way nestled in North London Underhill is one of the smaller grounds in the league with a capacity just shy of 5,500. Most famously used for Arsenal Reserve games Underhill is built on a slope and hadn't had much investment till last year when a new stand was built on the south side of the ground. Away fans are placed in the nice covered east terrace though if needs be we could also get the open to the elements north terrace so take a brolly!

Famous Players

Marlon King, Linvoy Primus, Maik Taylor, Dougie Freedman and Dean Sinclair who signed from Barnet to Charlton for £150,000 isn't a bad shout for a team who have been predominantly non league but not many in the league could compete for the honour of most famous player then Barnet who have had the honour of hosting Jimmy Greaves on their books. Playing just a season for The Bee’s in 1979-1980 Greavsie managed 25 goals from midfield at the age of 38!

Key Player

John O’Flynn as aforementioned scored 18 goals in his first season at Underhill after been signed from Cork City. But it was at Peterborough where the Irishman learnt to scrub boots attracting interest from another Anglian club Ipswich Town before returning to his home county of Cork for 6 years. The 27 year old has managed 6 international appearances for Ireland scoring 3 and winning the Irish League Championship with Cork in 2005 and the FAI Cup 2 years later. His quick feet and mazy runs have drawn comparisons to another Barnet terrace favourite, Giuliano Grazioli by former manager Paul Fairclough. Another impressive season may see the striker move to a higher league unless he helps take Barnet there instead.

Recent Form

TownBarnet
LChesterfield(a)2-3
DDarlington(h)1-1
WTorquay(a)2-0
WHereford(h)1-0
LPort Vale(a)0-4
Currently 21st in League Two.
WDagenham(h)2-0
LRotherham(a)0-3
DBradford(h)2-2
DMacclesfield(a)1-1
WNorthampton(a)3-1
Currently 8th in League Two.

Top Scorers

TownBarnet
Conlon3
Sweeney3
Hyde4

Team News

TownBarnet

  • Right back Robbie Stockdale (groin) will be missing for a further three weeks, which means Bradley Wood will continue in his place.

  • Midfielder Danny Boshell is back in contention following a hamstring injury.
  • Defender Gary Breen (knee) is the only slight doubt.
  • Squads

    TownBarnet
    1GKNick Colgan
    2DFRobbie Stockdale
    3DFJoe Widdowson
    4DFRyan Bennett (captain)
    5DFMatthew Heywood
    6MFPeter Sweeney
    7MFAdrian Forbes
    8FWNathan Jar man
    9FWAdam Proudlock
    10FWBarry Conlon
    11MFDanny Boshell
    12DFJamie Clarke
    13MFNick Hegarty
    14MFPeter Bore
    15DFMatthew Bird
    16DFPaul Linwood
    17MFGrant Normington
    18FWChris Jones
    19MFMichael Leary
    25DFRobert Atkinson
    26FWJean-Louis Akpa Akpro
    27FWDanny North
    35GKLeigh Overton
    1 GK Jake Cole
    2 DF Joe Devera
    3 DF Kenny Gillet
    4 MF Mark Hughes
    5 DF Ismail Yakubu
    6 DF Gary Breen (player/assistant manager)
    7 MF Albert Adomah
    8 MF Nicky Deverdics
    9 FW John O'Flynn
    10 MF Micah Hyde (captain)
    11 MF Yannick Bolasie (on loan from Plymouth Argyle)
    12 DF Ryan O'Neill
    14 MF Albert Jarrett
    15 MF Joe Tabiri
    16 FW Jake Hyde
    17 MF Danny Hart
    18 GK Lee Harrison (player/goalkeeping coach)
    19 FW Elliott Charles
    20 DF Daniel Leach
    21 DF Clovis Kamdjo
    22 DF Ahmed Deen
    23 GK Phil Carpenter
    24 GK Will Viner
    28 FW Paul Furlong

    Head to Head

    Town had a perfect record against Barnet, until the last two games which have yielded just one point.

    P 8 W6 D1 L1F20A5

    Head-to-Head (3rd on The Opposition Ladder)

    Last Meeting

    Barnet 3 Grimsby 3 (Tue 10th Feb 2009)

    An incredibly valuable point, and a fantastic result after being two goals down. Adrian Forbes's goal of the season rescued a point for the Mariners - without it they may well have gone down.

    Report

    Prediction

    The Fishy Prediction

    I know confidence is the key but I never get these right so what’s the matter in been a little realistic. Barnet aren't the same Barnet we knew and loved anymore they are shit hot. Even with tiny attendances a miniscule budget and so many great teams around them to compete against. They have managed to build a team that is affective and great to watch. We have little or no chance in winning but a draw would be nice.

    Barnet 1-1 Grimsby

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