In Focus: Barnet (League Two)

In line with the new football-league season I'm starting up a new feature that gives Gasheads exclusive content from the view of the opposition to complete their pre-match preparation. This will go live before every league and cup clash Rovers play this season to offer a greater lowdown on the team we are about to face.

The feature will be from the perspective of an opposition supporter (in this case Barnet) and they can talk about any thoughts, predictions and hopes they have for the game itself and can offer some advice to Rovers fans should we be playing them away from home. They may explain who they feel can prove a key player for them in the game, players who may be unavailable due to suspension or injury and what they expect from Rovers - both on the field and off it.

In the third edition of this new feature Barnet fan Chris Moar talks ahead of our npower League Two game at Underhill tomorrow evening (8pm KO): 


Midweek football is back. Our first home game of the season sees us host Bristol Rovers, a team whom I believe will be contenders for promotion. Our opening game of the season was away at Port Vale. I’m not looking to dwell on this game for long. A 3-0 loss brought us back down to earth after a spirited performance against Birmingham City. Our defence was carved apart, once again. We saw another different player take up the right-back spot. We offered nothing going forward. A truly shocking performance.

Mark Byrne will play for Barnet tomorrow

Bristol Rovers also kicked off their season with a poor result. They were at home to Oxford United, whose two goals in the first half downed Rovers. Rovers are lacking some venom/bite in their attack; the departure of Muzzy Carayol playing a part in this factor. They would’ve want to have kept Carayol but a move away for the bright winger was imminent. Rovers sport a very talented striker in Matt Harrold; great finisher and strong in the air. They’ll look at him to be their top goalscorer, like last season. Rovers have made some shrewd signings such as Clarkson, Lund and Parkes. Those three all come from the more elite leagues in England. Most have been passed around league two under loans, the latter having played for Rovers last season. I think Rovers will undoubtedly reach the automatic places, if not, the play-offs. I’d be surprised if they didn’t go up this season. Quality side with some great support and a decent manager.

They’ll undoubtedly come into this game expecting the three points; I’m yet to meet a team that come to Underhill not expecting something from the game. Apart from the teams around us, of course.

Mark Robson recently said that he’s not going to give up on the passing philosophy – “I won’t change from the passing football, but we just need to be a little brighter on the ball. We also need to increase the tempo of the passing.” I couldn’t agree more with Robson. The ball needs to be moved around quicker with a lot of precision and fluidity. I’m still perplexed at the fact that we didn’t offer Deering a new contract, arguably the best passer in the team, he would’ve thrived under Mark Robson.
I reckon we’ll lineup with the same 4-4-2/4-4-1-1 that we’ve been playing recently. I’d like to see a 4-3-3, but I’m certain Robson will opt for the aforementioned. Hopefully we’ll see an actual right-back, Fuller, start against Rovers. Recently we’ve seen a different player at right-back in every game. These players aren’t even actual full-backs, most are midfielders. Here’s how I think we should lineup against Rovers:

I’m almost certain that we won’t see that lineup, though. It’ll certainly be a 4-4-2. I think this lineup would be perfect for a passing style as well as having a defensive backbone from the midfield.
I don’t want to get optimistic as it usually comes back to haunt me. I reckon we’ll be on the back foot for long spells in the game. Hopefully Robson’s passing plans/hopes come to fruition, it’d be great to see Barnet play like they did against Birmingham. Can we get off to a good start or will it be the same ol’ Barnet? I’m predicting a 1-1 result. Rovers will attack us right off the bat, and look to hit us with a goal very early on. Hopefully we can put in a great defensive performance like the first 60 minutes against Birmingham. I reckon Jon Nurse will score our goal with Matt Harrold scoring Rovers’.

Thanks Chris for this preview, excellent work.

Follow him on Twitter Gasheads; @GB1886 - could be good value pre-match! 

Barnet vs Bristol Rovers - Underhill - League Two - KO: 8.00pm

(Apologies for the change in font on this article, having trouble with the blog at the moment!)