First of the year Barnet v Plymouth Argyle Match Day Thread

BARNET NEWS

The Barnet  make it three signings in a day with the capture of Simeon Akinola from Braintree Town...
Barnet Football Club are pleased to announce the signing of attacker Simeon Akinola from Braintree Town for £40,000.

The 24-year-old, who can play on the left of midfield or up front, joins the Bees after scoring five times in 24 outings for the Iron this season.

Akinola, who has previously turned out for Boreham Wood and Harrow Borough, will link up with the Bees ahead of the January transfer window.

The attacker, who has scored 19 times in 100 times for the Essex outfit, is a direct, pacey attacker who was listed as one of Sky Sports' Six Non-League Players to Watch earlier this season.

He becomes the Bees' fourth capture ahead of the 2017 January Transfer Window opening with Dan Sweeney, David Tutonda and Ricardo Almeida Santos already signed


Barnet last game

Interim assistant head coach Henry Newman speaks after Barnet's 3-1 loss at Luton Town on New Year's Eve

Interim assistant head coach Henry Newman was keen to accentuate the positives as Barnet lost 3-1 at Luton Town but admitted the Bees did not do the basics well enough.

After cancelling out Alan Sheehan's fine free-kick with a Bira Dembele header, Barnet were undone by two goals in seven minutes immediately after the restart.

First Cameron McGeehan was afforded the time and space to steer home an acrobatic volley following a free-kick before Alex Gilliead ghosted forward and curled home.

"There were definitely positives  to take out of it," Newman said. "In the first half our performance was very very strong.

"It was a good goal to score, we created some chances and some of the passages of play we had in the opposition's half was pleasing.

"However, unfortunately, we didn't do some of the basics well enough in the second half. The protection of the back four wasn't as good as it needed to be which you can see in the goals we conceded.

"This team has built its success on making sure we've got a solid base to play from and some sloppy decisions at the start of the second half have cost us today

Team News

Strikers Michael Gash (knee), Ben Tomlinson (quad) and Shaun Batt (hamstring) have already been ruled out for the rest of the 2016/17 campaign. James Pearson (knee) is a long-term absentee.

Last Time We Met: The Bees only tackled the Pilgrims in November, coming away from Home Park with a 2-0 win against the league leaders.

Bira Dembele headed Barnet into an early lead from a Luke Gambin corner before John Akinde latched onto an inch-perfect ball over the top from Mauro Vilhete and slotted past goalkeeper Luke McCormick.


Connections:

Former left-back-cum-midfielder Lee Hodges made more than 100 appearances for both Barnet and Plymouth Argyle.

The Epping-born left-sider joined the Bees from Tottenham Hotspur in 1994 and stayed at Underhill for three years, netting an impressive 26 goals in just 104 league appearances.

Less prolific was Bondz N’Gala. The centre-back left The Hive London in late November to join Eastleigh. He scored twice in just 96 league appearances, most memorably a late winner against Forest Green Rovers as the Bees won the 2015 Vanarama Conference title.

Another member of that title-winning side who has also joined Eastleigh recently is Graham Stack. 

The former Arsenal stopper, who has spent the last few months in the Indian Super League with Kerala Blasters, also made five appearances as a Pilgrim during the 2008/09 season.

Also: Jake Cole, Yannick Bolasie, Jason Puncheon, Carl Fletcher, Kevin Gallen, Anthony Pulis.

Argyle News

No new injuries news coming out from Home Park, On the transfer front we will not know until DA decides to inform us. he could surprise us with new name/s in the squad for tomorrow. Jenkins could take Tanner place and the team could be the same that started the second half against Crawley.


From the web by a Barnet fan

Hi all, Barnet fan in peace. Safe journey to all of you. POTD

New stand holds 1850 but the old away seated area of the west stand is held back for overflow which also holds another 750 so you will be more than safe paying on the day.

Anyone looking for free parking and an easy get away I recommend putting HA7 1JR in google maps for a non residential slip road with plenty of spaces only 5 walk from the ground.


I am going for a 2 - 1 win to Argyle

1-1 I reckon today and would be happy with that

A club back by their chairman

Barnet's management team discuss the arrival of four new signings at The Hive London...
Rossi Eames and Henry Newman brought the number of signings prior to the January transfer window opening up to four on Saturday and discussed each of the new additions today.

Barnet have been active ahead of the window opening today (January 1), signing Ricardo Almeida Santos from Peterborough United for £100,000, Simeon Akinola from Braintree Town for £40,000, Dan Sweeney from Maidstone United for an undisclosed fee and David Tutonda on free transfer from Cardiff City.

"We're very pleased we've been able to identify targets and the Chairman has been able to go out and get them.

"Our contacts, knowledge of the leagues and experience with players got us these signings, as well as significant backing from the Chairman.

"All four players will come in, significantly strengthen our squad and challenge for starting places immediately.

"Ricardo Santos is a centre-back which is an area where, for the last four or five weeks, we've only had two in Michael Nelson and Bira Dembele.

"We have strengthened the backline because over the course of the season you will have injuries and suspensions.

"The loss of Bondz N'Gala was a major factor in our decision to sign Ricardo who has great experience with 60-70 League One games under his belt at 21.

"Dan Sweeney has the attitude to continue to rise, as well as the physical prowess. What we're going to do is work with him to build up his positional play and technical abilities.

"He is already starting from a good base but hopefully we can put together a really good package of a player.

"David Tutonda is very versatile and he strengthens our backline because he can play left-back, left centre-back or left midfield.

"Again, he has great potential because he is 21 and has 20-odd League Two games under his belt already while on loan from Cardiff City.

"He is very receptive and good to coach. We think we've identified a real talent to work with.

"Finally, we've got Simeon Akinola who is very versatile but we believe his strongest position is the central areas of the pitch.

"He's very skillful on the ball; powerful and exciting and we're absolutely delighted to have him. He's someone we think can be a really exciting prospect for the club.

"They are all hungry and they want to prove something. We feel we can give them the right platform and coaching so they can be assets for the football club.

We haven't got a chance against a recently strengthened Barnet side. We'll be completely outplayed again but this time also completely outscored.

Very comfortable 2-0 win for Barnet

Iam with freathy on this one got a bad feeling about this one with the liverpool game up next
The players aint gunna risk putting in a shift and risk getting injured and missing out on proberly the biggest game in there careers for that reason alone iam going for a 2-1 win for barnet iam afraid

Three big money signings for Barnet, we are punching well above our weight in this one so deffo home win.

Highest league gate for Barnet this season Stevenage Sky Bet League Two Att. 3,228. average 1,500

We cannot compete with big spending teams like Barnet, 2-nil to the Greens. :-)

Come on Argo, cause an upset and beat this big money team!

Can't see a giant killing I'm afraid, draw at best.

Do you think Jimmy, has finalised his Anfield Directors box, line up yet?

As predicted. Game over.

Shitty 1 up at home!!!!

Hanging on, dire.

You could always try switching it off, Les.

Down to 3rd

Soon be out of the top 3

Must be orgasmic for you freathy.

Bugger, thought we would cruise that one, Now even more important to strengthen with some non league players.

2nd, freathers, as Carlisle are doing an argiggle collapse. More importantly, the gap to the play offs, 4th place, could be down to 6 points, despite the improved recent run of form.
A lot hanging on a transfer window push over the line. Not beyond a small percentage of the huge Liverpool money. This squire seems to have a lifetime habit of snatching public defeat from the jaws of victory, while merrily keeping his eyes on his personal squirreling. Obviously can't track two balls at once.

PatDunne wrote:

Bugger, thought we would cruise that one, Now even more important to strengthen with some non league players.

Always looked difficult to get a win in London today, sounds like gary miller missed a definite chance.
As somebody  has said now only six points ahead of pompey scum in 4th.
Time for green Jimmy to dip into his pension pot methinks.
And will fly.

Don't worry it's non-league no goals Nathan to the rescue.

We ain't going up FFS

Predictable surrender to the North London Giants, Argo crying out for a striker that can score force the manager to sign a crap non league one that cant.... promotion my Arse, Brent out!

Not a good performance by all accounts, not much difference in the top 3, but has allowed the chasing pack to close a bit.

Would much rather be playing in the league next week rather than a meaningless cup fixture.

we must buy this month and buy well. otherwise its another january sales that costs us promotion.