Can Barnet now kick on after their great escape?

By Tony Alvarez

Wow that’s what I call Football, yesterday I was lucky enough to have a ticket to Barnet’s must win match against Port Vale at Underhill.

A victory alone would not be enough to keep the Hertfordshire side up they also needLincolnto not win at home toAldershot.

This is not the first time the Bee’s fans have been in this position there was another last day drama last season which have both ended in the club keeping their football League status.

The question is can Barnet now push on and give the performances that their faithful fans have been waiting for and judging by the atmosphere yesterday richly deserve.

I am sure by now most of you would have seen the events that took place an Izale Mcleod penalty a minute into the second half was enough to give Barnet a victory despite some late nerves, this would have been elementary had Aldershot not beaten Lincoln but they duly played their part by recording a 3-0 victory.

Before looking into whether the club can move forward next season and if Guiliano Grazioli can lead the club he loves so much to bigger and better things I have to mention the spirit showed by fans, players and board members alike after the final whistle on Saturday.

There was as im sure you will see on the Football League show the expected pitch invasion, what struck me was how happy the players and the board members of the club were happy to be celebrating with the players, whether it really does or not for them brief moments the club was in everyone’s hearts and not just paying their wages.

Now I must confess I do not get to see a full Barnet match very often but based on that performance I have no idea why they were in a scrap in the first place, every player performed and stood up to the occasion.

With the club striving to reach higher levels it ill be important they hold on to Mcleod he may be lazy and lack the effort some fans would like to see but you cannot knock his goal scoring record and still shows touches of class that would not be out of place in a higher division.

As well as keeping hold of Mcleod they will also hope that no other sides have been alerted by the performance of Mark Marshall after today’s display he was a constant thorn in Port Vale’s side and was man of the match by a country mile, his return of 6 goals from a winger is a poor return but if he could perform at the level he did yesterday on a regular basis the goals would soon come.

Based on today’s performance Grazioli is defiantly capable of getting his men to play at a higher level and be well clear of a relegation battle next season, however today the players fought for their future you cannot do that week in week out no team has the mental of physically ability to. If Grazioli can get his side producing performances of this ilk regularly Barnet will be fighting for a play off spot next term.

Just a quick note standing terraces need to be brought back into Football the atmosphere and together-ness that comes from standing like brothers in arms can never be recreated in a seated area.

What are your thoughts? Can Grazioli guide Barnet to new highs next season? Did they deserve survival? Was you present at Underhill to experience the atmosphere? Are you a fan of standing terraces? Leave a comment and let us know your thoughts

Is the magic returning to the Cup?

 

By Laurie Fitzgerald

There has been a large amount of scrutiny when it comes to the FA Cup over recent years. Does it have the same feel and potential “magic” that made it one of the most-loved cup competitions in world football?

The third round of the FA Cup is always seen as a significant round, with teams from the Premier League and the Championship entering the draw and potentially being pitted against lower opposition, or even non-league sides.

It’s what the FA Cup is all about – David against Goliath.

Last season’s third round draw didn’t bring up too many potential fairytales, although it did bring a couple of upsets in Leeds winning at Old Trafford and Reading winning at Anfield.

However, this year’s third round draw is one of the best in recent years.

There are potential upsets, draws which see the big boys come up against lower league opposition. Repeats of former famous clashes – Even a heavyweight clash thrown in for good measure.

Teams such as Millwall, Doncaster, Reading, Southampton & Sheffield United will be delighted with home draws against top-flight sides, as they take on Birmingham, Wolves, West Brom, Blackpool and Aston Villa respectively, all of which could see Premier League scalps claimed.

Sven Goran Eriksson will be facing Manchester City for the first time since he was sacked in 2008 in what should be a cracking match at the Walkers stadium, while Scunthorpe will look forward to taking on Everton at Glanford Park.

Then there is, in terms of potential FA Cup magic, arguably the draw of the round, as Stevenage, in their first year as a football league side, take on Newcastle United in a repeat of the clash that they had in 1997, when Giuliano Grazioli famously earned Borough a replay at St. James Park. They will feel they have unfinished business with the magpies.

Luton and Charlton will have an extra incentive in their replay at Kenilworth Road – a tie at Tottenham that will provide a great day out for their loyal fans and a welcome financial boost for their clubs, while Dover’s wonderful cup adventure continues away to Huddersfield.

As for the heavyweight clashes, only one all-Premier League tie was drawn – but what a tie. Manchester United against Liverpool is sure to provide fantastic entertainment as always.

But what makes these games even more exciting this year? Not only the fact that there are more games which bring out the potential for what the Cup represents, but also the unpredictability of this year’s Premier League.

The top-flight has thrown up an endless amount of surprising results this campaign, and that will only give their lower league opponents extra belief that they can write their names into FA Cup folklore.

That’s what the FA Cup is about. It shouldn’t be about playing weakened sides and dwindling attendances. It should be about teams that don’t have an opportunity week in, week out to face these kinds of opponents suddenly being presented with a chance to make them remembered in years to come by their fans.

Grazioli, Roy Essandoh, Ronnie Radford – these are the names that epitomise what the FA Cup means.

This draw creates the chance for more names to be etched into FA Cup history.

So what do you think? Is this year’s FA Cup potentially one of the most exciting in years? Will it remind the public of the magic of the Cup? How excited are you about your team’s draw in the third round? Let us know

Please read the comments from other fans and see if you agree with their points.

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