Barnet Facing the Inevitable

May 5th 2001 is one of the more memorable days in football league history. What is now League two saw two sides draped in history, Barnet and Torquay United embroiled in a winner take all relegation match.

Barnet stood just a point behind Torquay United as the two met at Underhill on the final day of the season, with the winner retaining their place in the football league.

Three early goals from Jason Rees, Kevin Hill and David Graham all but kept Torquay up as a Darren Currie missed penalty saw Barnet fall short in a 3-2 loss.

A good friend of mine, who saw his Torquay side victorious on the day, has called the day the best of his life and has spoken at length of his admiration for Barnet and their supporters at Underhill.

He also recalled the two sets of supporters embracing and swapping shirts at the end of the match, to mark the historic occasion.

While Torquay went on to gain promotion to League one a few years later, Barnet battled away in the Conference, a relegation that many would debate re-vitalised the club’s fortunes.

Crowd’s began to rise again, and after a succession of new managers Paul Fairclough came in and made an instant impact.

He won promotion in his first full season as Barnet went up as Champions of the Conference with 86 points in 2005.

The promotion eclipsed the disappointment the club had endured in missing out the season before in the lottery of the play-offs, as Shrewsbury Town turned around a 2-1 deficit to win 5-3 on penalties.

With Fairclough in charge Barnet hit the ground running, and found themselves in 3rd after their first 5 games in League two.

With attendances peaking over 3,000 the club were firmly back where they thought they deserved.

Comfortably staying up in their first season back in the football league they followed it up with several mid-table finishes, as their foes from five years ago Torquay were condemned to relegation after a desperate season.

Since re-promotion things had been pretty bright for Barnet, and with three sides enduring points deductions for this new season, the Bees could look forward to another season in League two.

Things haven’t quiet gone to plan however, with Rotherham overcoming their 17-point deduction and overtaking Barnet, while Bournemouth, who were deducted the same amount, lieing just five points behind after this weekend.

The Bees current form has done nothing to aid their relegation battle as they have one win from their last 21 games, relegation form at best.

Their last win in-fact came against Bournemouth while Fairclough was still in charge, something that has contributed to their downfall.

With the man who got them back into the Football League gone, its been left to assistant Ian Hendon to steer the club to the end of the season, something that is becoming a struggle.

Hendon’s introduction, while it’s a gamble due to his lack of experience was always going to sit well with the fans after six years of loyal service as a player.

The new man is yet to pick up a win in charge, and things haven’t been made much easier as his side threw away more points at home to relegation rivals Grimsby Town.

The home team led 2-0 and 3-2 in the match, but still contrived to throw away three points, against Mike Newell’s defiant side.

Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Notts County left the side without a win since Boxing Day, Fairclough’s final game in charge.

Hendon knows they aren’t the only side in this predicament with Grimsby, Accrington Stanley, Chester City and of course Bournemouth embroiled in a tight relegation battle.

You could say they have their fate in their own hands; the Underhill club host both Bournemouth and Chester before the end of the season.

Attendances have dropped to the levels of their last relegation and with fortunes not much better and knowledge of the resurgence they encountered last time they were relegated, would dropping down a level actually be a way of moving the club forward?

I’m not for one minute saying relegation would be a good thing for the club and with the history of financial problems at Underhill, it could leave Barnet thread bare.

We’ve all seen what relegation has done to the likes of Rushdan and Diamonds, and Barnet will be keen to stay away from those issues.

However can you see a way out for Barnet, in my mind no. Bournemouth have previous experience of a relegation battle, an unsuccessful one at that but they put together six wins in their last eight last season, so they have handled a run-in before.

Barnet are sure to be pushed all the way this season, and if they are relegated it could be the change of fortune they’ve been waiting for, a certain side from Devon might argue the same.

West Indies win the first test: England woeful or Taylor Wonderful?

West Indies have won the first test in Jamaica by an innings and 23 runs after bowling England out in their second innings for just 51 runs.

Jerome Taylor took career-best figures of 5-11 as the tourists slumped to their third worst-ever test score.

The innings was littered with poor shot selection by England batsman as well as brilliant bowling by both Taylor and Sulieman Benn, who took four wickets.

However, this isn't the first time Sabina Park has produced a pitch that has succumbed a team batting third.

Just five years ago, England bowled out their West Indian counterparts for just 47 as Steve Harmisson took seven wickets.

But was it a case of West Indian brilliance? Or England in disarray?

If we look at the England batting line-up, we see problems arising right from the start.

Alistair Cook looks like a player low on confidence after a disappointing period in his international career.

Cook's dismissal in the second innings was of a man who hasn't made runs for some time, as he was left stuck in the crease and wafted at a pretty ordinary delivery.

His fellow opener, Andrew Strauss, has his mind set on something more demanding, his captaincy of the side.

I've always been a fan of the player, as a captain and a batsman, and his two hundreds in India reminded everyone he can perform, it's time at the crease he needs.

At number three, Ian Bell looks hapless, and surely the selectors will drop a player they have persevered with for far too long.

Owais Shah deserves his chance at three, after countless failures by the Warwickshire man.

Another issue is the role of Kevin Pietersen in the side, a role that seems pivotal to the side's success.

It's not the individual's performances that should be called into question, but those of the men around him.

Obviously, he looked to up the run rate and dominant at the crease, but once he departed, the side looked lost.

No one seems to step up to the plate, and after his dismissal yesterday, it seemed written on the face of every England player that the match was over.

As the England batting line-up takes a battering, it's the bowling that most concerns me.

It's obvious the talent is there in the batting ranks and that form will come, but with the bowling, I'm not so sure the potential is there to take 20 wickets.

Monty Panesar has been drifting in the side for around 18 months now, and without any notable contributions, his position is surely under threat.

His effort over these four days has been nothing short of dreadful, and the novelty factor of this spinner has worn off for me; he has to go.

Steve Harmisson did his best to re-capture the heroics of 2004 and previous years, but since the Ashes, hasn't that been all he's tried to do?

Stuart Broad and Andrew Flintoff bowled well as always, but they were alone in that respect.

England's inability to read the pitch must also be called into question. How they didn't see a repeat of the 2004 incident, we'll never know.

It's poor captaincy on the part of Strauss, who would have surely known what happened just five years ago.

Not picking two spinners was a mistake as well, and all in all, The West Indies out-thought the English in every department.

When we look at Taylor and the way he ripped through the England top order, we can't help but think why didn't England do the same.

The pitch did help the seamer, whatever way you look at it.

The ball kept low at regular intervals and in truth when put in the right areas it was a nightmare for the England batsman.

However, I would go as far to say that no pitch is so brilliant to bowl on that the batting side should be scoring under 100.

The West Indies got the result they wished through perseverance and a strong work ethic; it was no fluke.

As for England, drastic changes are needed to turn around what could turn out to be a long and arduous tour.

The January Transfer Window: The Winners and Losers

One of the most important parts of the Football season; the January transfer window has finally slammed shut.

A month of speculation can be put to bed, while teams ponder on whether they made the most of the allotted time.

Plenty of teams got the men they wanted, while many will be ruing that the window came and nicked some of there prize assets.

Many were given offers they simply couldn't refuse, while some gave offers that were shunned as quickly as it took Robbie Keane to re-join Spurs, one of the many transfers we saw on another intriguing deadline day.

As far as the winners go in the transfer window you don't need to look any further than Keane's new club Tottenham Hotsphur.

Harry Redknapp has brought in five new players, including Jermaine Defoe and Wilson Palacious, both for £12 million.

However the best signing that relegation threatened Spurs have made for is the acquisition of Carlo Cudicini from Chelsea.

Even behind Petr Cech, Cudicini is seen as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premiership and with the issues surrounding Heurelho Gomes it's an excellent signing.

The most protracted transfer of the window involved Andrei Arshaven's move to Arsenal, which Zenit St Petersburg did there best to string out for the entire window.

Arsenal got their man, a player I see as a replacement for Alexander Hleb a move that has come to late for their title challenge and maybe even for their Champions League qualification hopes.

Manchester City will also find themselves in good shape after a good January period, off the pitch at least.

After spending £47 million in the month Mark Hughes will be expected to finish in the top half, even if their bid for Kaka did eventually fail.

The £14 million they paid for Craig Bellamy however seems to me to be an oversight, it's a lot for a player who is constantly in trouble off the pitch with team mates, and who is very injury prone on it.

However his last great season in the league was under Hughes at Blackburn, and of course they were together at Wales so maybe the duo can work successfully once again.

Talking of Blackburn, you have to think they have done brilliantly to keep hold of Roque Santa Cruz, a player who seemed destined for Eastlands.

Half of the job instilled in new man Sam Allardyce has now been accomplished, now for staving off relegation.

Bolton Wanderers have also done themselves no harm, losing Kevin Nolan won't affect their season so far, but will the three players brought in finally turn the fans round to Gary Megson's successful regime?

Another signing that could change the fortunes of a Premiership club is James Beattie.

The former Southampton and Everton striker has moved to Stoke City to revitalise there season, after the loss of Richardo Fuller and the misfiring of Dave Kitson.

For me Beattie will assure Stoke stay in the league for at least another season, something that Tong Pulis deserves after doing an excellent job this year.

Reading have bolstered their squad with the signing of Jay Tabb from Coventry, a case of the best getting better.

Birmingham have reacted to what was a disappointing end to the year with Lee Bowyer and Scott Sinclair coming in, signings that should at least guarantee a top three finish.

The football league has been littered with surprising and quality signings.

Sheffield United may have lost Beattie, but the signing of youngster Jamie Ward from Chesterfield seems to be a shrewd one.

The talented young striker has been lighting up league two, and after scoring the winner at St Mary's last night for his new club his talent is there for all to see.

Look no further than Lee Trundle making a temporary move to Leeds United, a move that could either push Leeds towards the Championship, or keep them in their current position of outside the play-offs.

Colchester have boosted their promotion ambition as well, with Simon Hackney coming in from Carlisle, a necessary winger for the Essex based club.

And as we saw Wayne Bridge sign a five year deal and then move on to Manchester City just six months later, not of the same could be said about Andy Bishop of Bury.

Bishop has turned down a number of moves in the window and in previous summers, and has now penned a new contract to keep him at the club for the foreseeable future.

The striker for one won't be moving on for the added bonus of an improved pay check.

Now we turn to the losers of the window, as they don't come worse off than Wigan Athletic.

Having lost two of there best players in Palacious and Emile Heskey, they have replaced the duo with Mido, N'Zogbia and Ben Watson.

Their league position is sure to be affected, but with the bids in question for the two players the club aren't in a position to turn down the offers.

Portsmouth have lost potentially their finest two player, and with owner Alexander Gaydamak keeping the £32 million for his own gain, funds for transfers have been limited.

To replace the duo Hayden Mullins has come in from West Ham, and Theofanis Gekas on loan, hardly names to light up the Premiership.

With small funds, and a terrible transfer window, Pompey will struggle to stay in Premiership, with such a one dimensional attacking formation, a defense without a clue and a manager already proving he's out of his depth things don't look rosy.

As the football league goes, no-one is worse off than Stockport County.

Anthony Pilkington and Jim McNulty have both departed, as Jim Ganon bemoans the financial situation of the club as the best of their young players are sold off.

County lie ninth in league one, and things are set to get worse as they attempt to complete a second successive promotion.

But as you can probably tell it's not all been doom and gloom in this years transfer window, most teams got what they came for, a factor that will assure an exciting end to the season across the football pyramid.