This is a key point in the season.

[Mad Dog]

This is a mixed bag of things I'm commenting on really.

I've read the comments on here regarding yesterday's performance and it reminds me back to this time last season.

We didn't see the comments being bandied about, but I do remember that after a not very good performance against Billericay, although we won the match, At that time, some of the very same posters that are putting some of the more 'interesting' comments were talking about sacrificing the league for the FA Trophy. Quite frankly, if that happened this year and we won it at the cost of a playoff position (doesn't mean that we win the playoffs either), I would consider it a far less successful season than last year. It certainly hasn’t helped Barrow become a force in the Conference.

Why? Well obviously there is no guarantee that we would get a playoff position via an early exit from the Trophy. My point is that it should be something of complete secondary importance, a nice distraction, but something that should not be getting the kind of reaction seen on here. There were far worse performances under Hill in the league that got less of a reaction on here.

For the game as a whole it definitely wasn’t a good performance, and JE has already indicated that for some of the players it was their last chance. I agree that Lewwis Spence and Craig Farrell (unfortunately due to his performances last year, although he has had that injury) may be on their way. I don’t think Sam Smith showed much today again either. Injured or not, it’s been his excuse for near on two years now after a good debut season. He really needs to go on loan and come back and prove himself.

But I’m surprised that Curtis Osano hasn’t been mentioned. Fans favourite or not, the performance he put in yesterday was quite frankly disgraceful. If he wants to stay at this club, he needs to up his game and start performing. It doesn’t matter what your ability is, you don’t work and show the commitment, you could very well find yourself dropped or out the door.

I’m looking forward to Eastbourne. I know we’ve got the replay in between now, but that’s a situation for the players to correct. They have shown what they are capable of this year in some of the performances. It is time for them to turn the corner, which I believe they are capable of, by putting in one of those performances against Eastbourne in preparation for the Luton game on Boxing Day.

There are some important games coming up and a transfer window to boot. This time of the year could very well make or break the season, and it is up to the players to believe they can achieve something this year.

[davealbon]

I agree with most of what you've said there, but IMO the Trophy holds more importance than you are giving it. The league should, of course, be our number one priority but I honestly don't think we are good enough to reach the play offs this season (that's not to say we won't or that we shouldn't aim for them), and a trip to Wembley for the Trophy final would be an amazing experience, possible the biggest of our history.

Barrow may have struggled since winning it last year, but I imagine they are in a much better position financially. In contrast to them, York reached the final the previous year and went from a struggling side to one that reached the play offs the following season, and the winners that season were Stevenage, who of course won the league last year.

Although there were plenty of worse performances under Benny that didn't get this much of a reaction, we have moved on greatly since then. JE has raised the bar considerably in the last 2 years, and the players fell well below these standards. The performance also came on the back of poor results/performances against Yeovil, York, Kiddy, Fleetwood and FGR.

[ron manager]

...and a trip to Wembley for the Trophy final would be an amazing experience, possible the biggest of our history.

Shame then its not at Wembley, but at Man City's ground, takes the shine of it somewhat.

[DiamondsR4ever]

...and a trip to Wembley for the Trophy final would be an amazing experience, possible the biggest of our history.

Shame then its not at Wembley, but at Man City's ground, takes the shine of it somewhat.

its the playoff finals that have been moved to mancity i belive not the trophy final..

[Noddy]

Shame then its not at Wembley, but at Man City's ground, takes the shine of it somewhat.

Just to confirm, the FA Trophy Final is at Wembley Stadium on May 7th 2011.

[ron manager]

Are you sure, I thought it was announced on official site a month ago

I will look

[ron manager]

Looks Like I may Have been wrong, surely not, it looks like the play off final is a citys ground

[StaceyH]

As far as I'm aware the Play-Off final will be played at Man City's ground, having been moved from Wembley due to the Champions League Final being played there around the same time but the Trophy Final is still due to be played at Wembley. I've been looking for a link to confirm it but can't find one and I've given up now!