How come there are only 4 teams have scored more than us ?
There are also only 2 players scored more than our centre forward.
Our centre forward also has a 100% record with this seasons penalties.
To claim we are better off without Barker is just

The only answer to that is just because he has been doing well compared with the rest of the division, it doesn't mean someone can't do better. I'm not saying they would, just that it's not a very solid argument.
As an example, Jim Provett was doing well till we brought Dimi in. *shrug*

But as you imply it is more of a leaky defence problem. Maybe McCunnie, Collins, and Barrett
are more significant than what goes on up front. We'd gone 5 games without a clean sheet before tonight. And we aren't really in a rich scoring vein, with just two goals, including tonights, in four games since our 3 against Port Vale.
We need that defence!

I don't think anyone has been saying Barker is a bad player, just that he is not our best option.

The trouble was Wilson, who just kept playing him at times when he should have been rested....due to this, the only chance of trying something new up front was if Wilsons hand was forced by injury. This has happened and we now have an opportunity to try other options.

Unfortunately Chip, you are wasting your breath trying to explain such a thing. A lot of the folk on here are like the schoolkids, ie ask them to name their favourite player and they will pick the person who scores most goals. This is all they can see. The fact that he plays every game and takes the penalties is irrelevant to them. The fact that he doesnt assist often is also irrelevant. He is slow, one dimensional, not very good in the air, holds the ball up no better than Porter, misses sitters etc etc but he is in the top scorers chart so he is automatically one of the best strikers in the division. Dont waste your breath, you know he is vastly overrated, as do I and a few others, lets just leave it at that. The others will realise eventually. (ps they will be the same people who said Effion was fantastic as he scored some nice goals despite the fact that he failed to do much for us or do anything for Wrexham)

That's a load of rubbish grave.

I wouldn't disagree with chips post but I haven't seen anyone say Barker is their favorite player. I have seen them try and defend a good honest pro against some OTT criticism. It's Wilson who hasn't used him properly. Say what you like about what he can't do but he's been a snip at £80,000 and done a good job for Hartlepool United. Show him a bit of respect at least.

Also Eifion Williams was a great player for Pools, he was rightly moved on at the end of last season but don't disrespect his contribution to the club.

Fickle, fickle people.

The sad fact is that certain players can only be used to do a job for so long. I am a big fan of Richie Barker but he has simply been over used massively. His performances this season haven't justified the amount of starts and chances that he has had.

The same can be said about Eifion last season.......

My quibbles is that Wilson seems to have built his team around Barker, the ball comes up he has back to goal, holds ball and what....? fact is astonishingly little. There's a lot of 'effort' on show and a lot of heart too... but up front we are astonishingly predictable because we know if he's available, Danny will play him. .....and don't suppose other managers in this division haven't noticed either.

Im not being fickle though PJ. True, I dont rate Richie Barker, I did not rate him last season or this season so I dont think that it makes me fickle. I also never rated Effion. I dont base my opinions on one game (unlike many on this forum do which I feel makes them fickle)

I appreciate that barker tries hard but it does not justify a starting place every game. Like others have said though, this is as much down to Wilson as anyone else. Unfortunately Barker would not benefit from being dropped IMO as the problem with him is not one of effort but one of ability (at this level anyway)

He has scored about 8 of those goals from the spot so if you take them away he wouldnt be in the list. I am a big fan of Barker's but he has been overused, with being 30+ and not the most mobile he really needs a rest every so often. He still tries his hardest every game regardless and I cant think of anyone else I would rather take the penalties (especially in the last minute) than him.

Dont get me wrong,Im not claiming that Barker should be on the pitch 100% of the time,but he gets paid to score goals & has done that regularly,regardless of wether its from the penalty spot or not.
True,he has looked exhausted & in need of a rest at times but the main point is we have not struggled to score this season & the guy is an asset for this club.
It may be that his best role is comin on from the bench late in games ( a la Crewe at home) but I believe he does have a role to play & we are better off with him than we would be without him.

The telling factor with Ritchie Barker is WHO he scored against. Only two were against top oppositions and they were tap ins. I wouldn't get rid of him because he's a good player and without doubt the hardest working and most courageous we have but 90 minutes week in week out irrespective of opposition is criminal.

Apart from which there's a rumour IOR aren't prepared to run the risk of being successful.

There's nowt wrong with tap-ins. Gerd Muller and Denis Law were top-notch tappers-in but you won't find many people who consider it makes them any less great. I agree with the "Barker puts the wrong complexion on the game" school of thought rather than the "bad striker" school.

that's the way I would put it as well, Mr Head

I thought Barkers goal at Forest was a decent strikers header?

how many times have the team worked the ball into the wide areas to provide him with such service? Not often enough!!

I hate it when people say they need a rest... Bloody hell man all they do is train a couple of hours a day then play football once or twice a week! That's it, that's their job!

I am also over 30 and most days I feel quite tired at work, but I have to work for 8 hours not just 2!!! Can I ask for some more holidays then because I am tired?!?! I would love to have Richie Barkers problems.... "Oh I really can't be ar5ed to go to work today and play football"... we'd all give almost anything to be able to do it!

(Deep breath) Sorry for the rant - this is not meant as a critisism of Barker in anyway, i do like the bloke, but rather of the myth that footballers suffer from tiredness. Give over!!

just to nip in here

if barker was playing for us all of last season and taking the penalties

who would have won the title...

us

Don't get me wrong, I would give anything to have these problems aswell but watching him closely you can see that when he chases the ball constantly game after game he is blowing out his arse where younger players (Mackay, Brown, Foley etc etc) seem to be able to go for longer. The analogy i used was probably the wrong one, what i should really have said was every now and then it needs rotating. Its a known fact that he wont be able to cope with the strain of playing 2 and sometimes 3 matches a week as easily as players younger than him.

not necessarily...could you guarantee he would have scored them all?..it's all a might have been, but never was.