Isn't it ironic that Robbie Keane scored 5 goals for Ireland in 3 games, breaking the alltime international team individual scoring record while doing so; but he only scored twice for the Hammers, and more importantly, missed a couple of sitters at key times in the last two games he played, goals that could have saved us from relegation! Also it seems that Barrera is playing great for Mexico, but where was he when he was playing for us? He never seemed to show what he apparently has at the international level. Maybe the Premier League is a higher standard than most of the international competitions. Anyway, Keane has gone back to Spurs, and I doubt Barrera will stay at Upton Park. It will be interesting to see just who will go as soon as Big Sam arrives to make those decisions. He obviously has to sell a few to get cash for lesser replacements.
In South America (or even North America for the Mexicans) you get much more time and space on the ball than in the prem, and that is why barrera struggled here but does ok internationally... I think given time barrera could come good... might be worth keeping for another season. As for Keane... he couldn't give a toss about helping WHU stay up (I'm sure he'll get a 'bonus' from 'arry for not helping us stay up)... but he'll bust a nut for Ireland. Suppose you can't blame him for that....
In his first few appearances Barrera looked OK but just lacked a bit of EPL experience and a bit of knowledge of the English game. He made wrong decisions to shoot when the pass was on and vice versa and often looked too keen to score. Lots of players struggle to adjust but many eventually do and go on to do well. So I think with the right coaching and regular appearances he could develop into a good player for us...if he stays. Keane done OK for us but didn't seem to care about missing those sitters. He will go back to Spurms and we won't miss him.
mexico is a quality side and if barrera can get looks there and be productive, no reason he can't do the same at west ham. maybe the championship is the right enviornment for him. as for keane, never have i disliked a player so quickly. 'proven goalscorer' my arse.
Although Barrera was a big disappointment this year and almost every time made the wrong decision I think with some confidence and consistent playing time he could become an effective player if west ham makes it back to the premier league. Hopefully the game will slow down for him and he will be able to see the field better.
Looking at this video clip he's got the ability. Most of these goals seem to come from a central area on the pitch, so perhaps we have been playing him too wide: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8U4lrLDYwdo"]YouTube - TOP 10 Goles Pablo barrera‏[/ame] If he wasn't our player and we watched this video we would all be shouting 'sign him'. I think we should definitely try and get the most out of him in the Championship, if he will stay.
LOL, the way he missed those certain goals he should of been a defender. Keane maybe wanted to go back to spurs. Barera should be given a few games to prove himself and if he doesn't then ship him out. Big Sam will make the right decision. As long as the owners don't cause him problems.
just saw mexico dismantle cuba in the gold cup. barrera started and had an assist to dos santos. he looked very lively on the wing (remember when it seemed like we had no wingers?) and had a few other crosses that could/should have been converted. granted the opposition was weak, perhaps weaker than any team even in the championship, but his crossing was excellent.
What irony! Barrera played in a total of 21 games for the Hammers (League, Carling Cup and FA Cup (a lot of them as a sub) and couldn't score a single goal. He plays for Mexico, gets 3 goals in 2 games, and several assists for Hernandez, and gets plaudits from everyone! I think we paid 4 million pounds for him on a several year contract. I wonder if he'll stay now that he's an international star winger (and we sorely need a decent pair of wingers)!
Ähh just great he made it there, we´ll get more money when selling. He never copes in fizzy pop - wasn´t tough enough for PL and didn´t cope even with its pace. Not a slightest chance to survive.
yeah, and on a rainy night in stoke and all that... international play is certainly faster and more physical than the championship. given ample time and exposure i'm sure he'd come good-- i could see g&s cashing in, however.
He-who-is-not-to-be-named didn't even use Barrera properly. He doesn't attack from the far wing, but rather come in from the outside. With ********face Grant's stupid 4-5-1 formation, there is no way Barrera is going to work in that system. Mexico sure knows how to use Barrera and he has been highly effective playing for them. Don't give me that stupid EPL is so physical crap.
You´re absolutely right on our previous formation. Assume also Barrera being a confidence player and to give players that wasn´t Grant´s best asset. Which was beats me. Those very few times Barrera was used he was very nervy, looked very fragile and made constantly wrong decisions which I see partly being also due to the pace which is undoubtedly more demanding than Gold Cup matches. Still for me the issue is not PL which he would´ve possibly coped with, it´s Championships which is a league for trad British soccer with all the trad attributes attached. I´ve said this somewhere before but for me this spell there is quite thrilling: the kind of soccer it´s been in the past and played against good old clubs like Coventry, Leeds, Leicester, Southampton, Nottingham etc. - plus Millwall of course. Haven´t popped in at Boleyn during the last two miserable seasons but I´m sure the next season I will. Cold! Freeze! Wind! Rain! Flying tackles! No prima donnas no diving! Refs whistling only when somebody´s dying!
Barrera was simply not very good last year. Played awful defense and made the wrong decision most of the time. Looked predictable throughout games when he would only cut inside. He did look good but the Gold Cup doesnt prove anything, the competition is very poor. But hopefully he can bring that confidence into championship play and contribute to a position we are weak at.
Barrera has never been a defender . He made his name in Pumas as an impact player comming off the bench. If he started games he would get subbed at halftime. He just can't run for 90 minutes and be effective every week. Barrera is good for 30-40 mtr sprints at the front 3rd of the pitch only. I saw the position that Grant was asking him to play the first few games at PL and I knew he wouldn't be any good that way. Grant asked him to start running from 5 meters behind half line, He was getting to his position exausted ( this had alot to do with his decision making , the guy is not dumb). Why would you want your winger that doesn't defend start from so far back ? it seemed like a waste of talent to me . Also the African players (forgot their names, winger on the left and forward) that ran as much with more success then Barrera could have been much better had they not had to run as much. I just didn't like Grants tactics and stopped following , If Barrera stays, he will do well with different tactics.
Because in the EPL (for some reason) it has become the way of things to defend with at least 10 players. With Allardyce as our manager I expect we will soon be doing the same thing. I take the point that Barrera may not have been played in the right way. This is an important thing if you want to get the most out of a player. Just look at Cole last season compared to when Zola was manager. Zola and Clarke found the best way of playing him and we saw great results. People were saying that Cole was impossible to defend against. It's just a shame they couldn't maintain this with him and somehow he lost his mojo. Needless to say he was a completely different player under Grant. My only concern about keeping Barrera is whether he would fit into Allardyce's regime. Allardyce is a very defensive type of manager (to say the least!!) and he would expect even the silkiest of wingers to muck in and contribute in defence.
Yes, I'm familiar with big Sam's tactics, he also folds his cards too early vs. the top four teams. If Sam can find a spot in the team for a player with alot of pace and dribling talent but does not defend at all, then he wants Barrera. Barrera is similar in style to EPL wingers like Nani , Would Allardyce find a spot for him him ?
Barrera is not a Nani. The wingers that rarely play defense are game changers on the offensive side; they can spark a team at any moment. He is not anywhere close to a caliber of player that can just play 40 minutes like you suggested without any defensive contribution. At this time your are highly over valuing his talents outside of Mexico.
Perhaps I am overrating him, time will tell. But he never got the decent chance this past season to show his talent in the top third of the pitch. Like I said, he was asked to do something that he doesn't know how to do, and thats the reason for the diparity in play National team vs West Ham.