What is wrong? (From Barry And District News)

What is wrong?

Barry Town 0 CAERSWS 3

IT IS DOUBTFUL whether Kenny Brown slept very well last Saturday night. He probably had nightmares about this disastrous defeat.

Barry Town had 80 per cent of the play. Caersws keeper Matthew Griffiths had five times more work to do than Barry keeper Richard Johnson! Barry had five times more goal scoring chances than their opponents, but still lost 3-0, their biggest home defeat ever in the League of Wales.

Consider this: 1. Jenner Park is no longer a stronghold; 2. Barry are not as good as they were; 3. Barry are in danger of losing their league title; 4. Barry are not the best team in the league; 5. Something is wrong.

Defeats at home against Connah's Quay and Caersws are not healthy for a club who are struggling financially.

Barry may be a town of 50,000 people but only 333 turned up to watch this match. Success on the pitch is not to make 333 people happy on a Saturday. Success is absolutely imperative for the future of professional soccer in Barry.

Let's be honest. Barry Town AFC have been superb ambassadors for the town over the past decade. We have had some wonderful moments in European soccer and FAW Premier games, and LoW too.

If 1,000 people came every Saturday then Barry Town would be more visible. But for some reason very few people are interested in whether they survive or sink into oblivion.

Barry Town Ladies keep the name of Barry in the very top bracket of women's soccer in the British Isles. Are Barry people so blas that pride in Barry, in whatever sport, means nothing? To repeat - it's a cross-roads situation, where maybe the football players of our town think "what's the point?" No crowds to cheer us on, critics in the stands are hurling abuse if we make a mistake. What on earth is going on?

This match must be forgotten as quickly as possible. It is time to turn things around, with some new approaches on and off the field. For the record Barry were hit on the break three times for three goals. Richard Johnson, deputising for David Forde, made two superb saves to stop two more goals, but Barry had so many chances to win the game it was just unbelievable.

An appraisal must be made of what is not working. Against weaker teams 4-4-2 is fine, as seen when Barry beat Oswestry, but 5-3-2 is clearly the Barry way.

Andrew York, for so long the best centre back in the League of Wales, must play. Wing backs Gary Lloyd and Lee Phillips must get down the flanks more.

Kenny Brown played himself on Saturday and showed that experience counts. Kenny settled in central midfield and did well. Let's consolidate from the back and attack on the break. Every other team seems to play this way - why not Barry Town?

The change in the formation seems somehow to be unsettling. Over to you Kenny.

Barry travel to Caersws on Tuesday, January 15, for a night game in the FAW Premier Cup.

Mickey Evans outfought and out-manoeuvred Kenny Brown in the league game, so it is time for Kenny to turn the tables and see Barry into the semi-finals and a lucrative couple of games against Football League opposi