Do We Need An Experienced Head ??

[Regiment]

Following the announcement today of Dutch legend Edgar Davids joining the staff at Barnet, and Luis Boa Morte signing for Chesterfield, I am wondering if we are missing that experienced old pro in the squad.

I know Ainsworth was already at Wycombe, but having him there at this time is obviously helping them.

I don't have any doubts about Lingy or any of his staff, but when you think about the influence Branston had when he joined us, our season changed dramatically from that point onwards.

As we have a relatively young side, i'm just wondering if you think we need an old head in there somewhere to settle things down a bit and help the young lads along, and the team to gel a bit more.

I know getting Easton back might be the answer, and we've got a degree of experience with Nico and Manse, but it's really just TUFC experience, Downes has been around a while, but do we need more ??

If so, who would you like to see at Plainmoor ??

[AustrianAndyGull]

I've heard Zinedine Zidane is looking to get into coaching.............

[Jeff]

Whilst in principal I see the point your making, the worry is it is a very fine line between experienced old head acting as a settling influence on a young side, and haggered washed up has-been after one last pay cheque.

[Alpine Joe]

Regiment

As we have a relatively young side, i'm just wondering if you think we need an old head in there somewhere to settle things down a bit and help the young lads along, and the team to gel a bit more.

People will look at the Aldershot match and wonder just how much Branston's experienced old head settled his team down and stopped them panicking and throwing away a 3 goal lead ?

If it was a good idea for League2 clubs to throw sack loads of cash at big names from the past then I'm sure you'd see more of them do it. It could be interpreted as a sign of desperation in that Barnet are already bottom of the league, 5 points adrift and starting to panic. Chesterfield got relegated, were expected to go straight back up but find themselves in the bottom half.

If this sort of signing had a history of working out well then you'd see far more little clubs trying it, but these signings are only newsworthy because they're unusual.
I think there's a long way to go before we need to consider whether we can tempt Mo Camara back to us

[AustrianAndyGull]

You make some really good points there Joe but i think Brady was simply posing the question to canvas opinion. Branston was superb for us both in terms of motivation for the other players AND his own immense performances and perhaps he is doing crap at Aldershot because they haven't got as many good players as we had under Buckle. Boa Morte is interesting as a short term fix but in no way is he going to have a long lasting, steadying effect on the rest of the Chesterfield squad. He'll be off soon enough, like Davids and leave no legacy whatsoever. You could argue that in Lee Mansell, we have our own Mr Motivator who is experienced and wise and can do the job albeit he could do with a hand from another 'old head' to ease the burden. It's a fine line between getting someone in who is really prepared to dig in and perhaps commit to a club thus having a long lasting effect all around the place or a Boa Morte who you won't really see for dust. But you're right Joe, i don't think Mo Camara need apply!

[Yellow4life]

A return for Reuben Hazell? He isn't needed at Shrewsbury...possibly past it however?

[AlexGulls]

A return for Reuben Hazell? He isn't needed at Shrewsbury...possibly past it however?

Him and Howe in the same team would be interesting after the "incident" that got Howe sent off at there place last season..

[bixieupnorth]

i think its a real shame that not many famous players drop down thru the divisions like they used to. yet another kick in the balls that the abhorrent premier league has delivered to us small fry!

the days of great west ham players coming to plainmoor in the 60s, bruce rioch in the 80s, waddle, southall etc in the 90s, it'll never happen again now they're all millionaires, shame for the likes of us

[Dave]

Do We Need An Experienced Head ?? The answer to me is no. You have already mentioned Nich, Manse, Easton and Downes, I think the important thing to consider here is that these players not only have a great deal of experience but there collective experience has been gained largely playing at the level we are at ( lge 1, 2 and conf).

Edgar Davids and Luis boa Morte what relevance does their playing careers/experience have to league 2 football, they could become frustrated very quickly when they find the players they are playing with aren't on the same wave lenght, and their footballing brains are working 10 steps ahead of their teamates. Also is Edgar Davids going to try and coach things that are beyond the grasp of Barnet's players, is he going to ask them to play a style of football they simply are not capable of playing.

Experience yes, however stick to players and coachs who understand what this level of football is all about, yes we have a mainly young team, if the club can keep them, they will grow together.

[Kernowgull]

When Chris Waddle played for us, he was bloody awful, although Big Nev was fun!!

[AustrianAndyGull]

When Chris Waddle played for us, he was bloody awful, although Big Nev was fun!!

SCORCHIO!!!!!!

[ferrarilover]

Nope, I don't think so, I agree with Joe, Barnet are really scraping the bottom of the barrel here, they are totally out of ideas and searching for anything that might just earn them yet another ill conceived reprieve (they REALLY need to go down, and with due credit to their supporters, they are acutely aware of it). They know that they can't get out of the mire with footballing prowess, so they are trying something way out of left field, in the hope that it will come off. It won't, of course. I seem to recall Davids having a pop at it in the Championship and not really achieving much. Who was it who went to Notts County for about 15 minutes?
That said, I've always thought Davids was absolutely brilliant, so I'm hoping he'll look really good (albeit on the losing side).

Matt.

[Burnhamgull]

The Edgar Davids signing will end in tears.

He was part of the dutch team that always fell out with each other at major tournaments and there were also rumours he caused ripples in the dressing room at Spurs. I can see a dressing room/training ground bust up coming very soon and then the news that Edgar has moved on. There's also the fact that he's used to training/playing with world class players..............hes in for a shock at this level.

I can see the argument for an older head and think we could have got three points at home to Burton if we'd had somebody calming things down on the pitch. The problem is you often end up with players who are looking for one last pay day (somebody else has already mentioned this). You've also got the problem of an old hand coming in and trying to run the show and upsetting the management.

[Glostergull]

Chris Waddle was only here for the money. He typifies the type of player someone on here mentioned a few posts ago. Someone is on the way down and is just after that last pay cheque with no ambitions to really help the team.
I questioned Waddle when he was at Plainmoor. what does he think of our set up. his reply turned me right off the guy. he was totaly selfish.
"Well it's ok untill something better comes along. The players ain't up to much though.
How do you think that went down with the Plainmoor faithfull.
I brought up the subject in my memories of Plainmoor long ago, that it was a shame we didn't get the older pros who were at the end of their careers coming down the lower league now. they are indeed all millionaires and don't see the need to put something back into the game. they are all out for no.1 only.
What we really need are guys who get Yellow into their veins and have ambitions for United to progress. Have a passion for our club in the mould of Lee Mansell and Nicho. These are guys who have the old head experience we require.
Of course yuo can always threaten them, that if they don't perform to your requirments then you will make me go into the dressing room and tell them my jokes for an hour and lock us all in.