Summer 2019 transfer thread

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Originally Posted by My_Wife_Camille

I actually agree with your point completely and have been shot down for making it myself in the past but I personally don't put Barker into that bracket. I wouldn't be against him coming back but equally I wouldn't be overly excited if he did.

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Fair enough man. The spectrum of opinion on Barker on here has always surprised me.

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Originally Posted by Stevie Reid

Re: Barker, I remember the same arguments being made about him when he was here last year about goal and assists, and I still find it infuriating now. I won't digress too much, but I think that 'assists' is a ridiculously simple metric that doesn't really take into account the nuances of football - it's perfectly possible for a player to be the primary creator of a goal, and not to be credited for an assist (and vice versa). If there were a 'chances created' tally available, I'd pay a bit more attention to that.

But the contribution of a player like Barker can't just be boiled down so simply anyway - four assists and two goals doesn't sound great, and is an easy way to deride him, but I know what I saw with my own eyes. A player like Barker can run a team ragged all day, and not have a crucial intervention in the creation of a goal - however, in terms of tiring out a full back, occupying more than one player and creating space for others - just plain wearing the opposition down - he still can (and did) play a huge part in winning games.

As an out ball he was excellent, and could get us up the park in seconds - he also had a good appetite for the game, despite receiving some rough treatment. But the main thing for me was just the fact that he was one of the most exciting players I've ever seen play for Hibs, he got me out of my seat by beating men time and again, usually at great speed. How could anyone not enjoy watching that? No player at our level is going to have an end product all of the time, but on the days that he doesn't, if I'm continually being entertained by his input into the game anyway, that will do for me.

I thought he was a joy to watch, and would love to see him back.

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Could not agree more. That first half against Hearts when Murray scored the winner with Barker and Boyle on the wings was one of the most exciting I have ever watched. You knew both players were going to beat the full back every time they picked up the ball. Players like Barker are worth the entry fee alone.

The other thing is at this level, pace is hard to come by and it is so tough to defend against. Pace stretches teams. We would be a nightmare for defences next season with Allan playing in guys like Horgan, Boyle and Barker. Sign him up.

Barker was still fairly raw when he was here and it was his final ball/decision that infuriated me, he was the type of player like Boyle who got you off your seat, his only real problem is his injury record, similar to Agyepong.

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Originally Posted by Stevie Reid

Well his two goals came in his last seven appearances for us, and I know at least one assist did - so going by your strict adherence to such things, your point re: as the season went on isn't true.

You don't really address any of the points I made especially well in the rest of your post.

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Ok, what’s the point in having an ‘out ball’ who then takes the ball up the park in seconds if they do very little with it and presumably turning over possession on the process?

Bottom line - Barker wasn’t very good at the thing he was supposed to do (set up goals)

Therefore, I’d like us to sign someone who is very good at setting up goals and that’s not Barker.

Therefore, I don’t want Barker.

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Originally Posted by Stevie Reid

Re: Barker, I remember the same arguments being made about him when he was here last year about goal and assists, and I still find it infuriating now. I won't digress too much, but I think that 'assists' is a ridiculously simple metric that doesn't really take into account the nuances of football - it's perfectly possible for a player to be the primary creator of a goal, and not to be credited for an assist (and vice versa). If there were a 'chances created' tally available, I'd pay a bit more attention to that.

But the contribution of a player like Barker can't just be boiled down so simply anyway - four assists and two goals doesn't sound great, and is an easy way to deride him, but I know what I saw with my own eyes. A player like Barker can run a team ragged all day, and not have a crucial intervention in the creation of a goal - however, in terms of tiring out a full back, occupying more than one player and creating space for others - just plain wearing the opposition down - he still can (and did) play a huge part in winning games.

As an out ball he was excellent, and could get us up the park in seconds - he also had a good appetite for the game, despite receiving some rough treatment. But the main thing for me was just the fact that he was one of the most exciting players I've ever seen play for Hibs, he got me out of my seat by beating men time and again, usually at great speed. How could anyone not enjoy watching that? No player at our level is going to have an end product all of the time, but on the days that he doesn't, if I'm continually being entertained by his input into the game anyway, that will do for me.

I thought he was a joy to watch, and would love to see him back.

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Couldn’t agree more


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I would take Barker.

Him and Boyle on both wings definitely caused oppositions teams problems. We had been crying out for width and speed - please we don’t have enough players who can go past opposition players.

His issues were didn’t score enough.
Injuries.

Both if he had improved - he wouldn’t be at Hibs level. Like Scott Allan he seemed to have a club that got the best out of him so would welcome him back.

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Originally Posted by Speedway

Ok, what’s the point in having an ‘out ball’ who then takes the ball up the park in seconds if they do very little with it and presumably turning over possession on the process?

Bottom line - Barker wasn’t very good at the thing he was supposed to do (set up goals)

Therefore, I’d like us to sign someone who is very good at setting up goals and that’s not Barker.

Therefore, I don’t want Barker.

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I think you're being a bit obtuse, but you carry on.

Also it's interesting that you take such an approach here. Going purely on metrics Jamie McLaren was an excellent goal scorer in his first spell -and he was signed to score goals - yet you didn't rate him.

Looks like we missed out on the mighty Curtis Main who is off to Aberdeen.

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Originally Posted by 90+2

Looks like we missed out on the mighty Curtis Main who is off to Aberdeen.

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Don’t think we missed out on him but Hearts did, was them and Aberdeen who were in for him.

Main is every bit an Aberdeen player.

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Originally Posted by Smartie

Main is every bit an Aberdeen player.

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That's what I thought as soon as I saw the post saying he'd signed there. :agree:

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Originally Posted by bingo70

Don’t think we missed out on him but Hearts did, was them and Aberdeen who were in for him.

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We should have been in for him though....or not 😉

https://static1.squarespace.com/stat...ng?format=750w

Barker had the 2nd most completed dribbles per game in 2017/18 and does not feature on the list of players who lost possession most often.

https://static1.squarespace.com/stat...ng?format=750w

He was also 29th in the league for key passes per 90mins which are passes that lead to a chance. (ahead of both Mackay Steven and Jordan Jones)

https://static1.squarespace.com/stat...NG?format=500w

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Originally Posted by CapitalGreen

https://static1.squarespace.com/stat...ng?format=750w

Barker had the 2nd most completed dribbles per game in 2017/18 and does not feature on the list of players who lost possession most often.

https://static1.squarespace.com/stat...ng?format=750w

He was also 29th in the league for key passes per 90mins which are passes that lead to a chance. (ahead of both Mackay Steven and Jordan Jones)

https://static1.squarespace.com/stat...NG?format=500w

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Nice one CG, really interesting to see that :aok:

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Originally Posted by CapitalGreen

https://static1.squarespace.com/stat...ng?format=750w

Barker had the 2nd most completed dribbles per game in 2017/18 and does not feature on the list of players who lost possession most often.

https://static1.squarespace.com/stat...ng?format=750w

He was also 29th in the league for key passes per 90mins which are passes that lead to a chance. (ahead of both Mackay Steven and Jordan Jones)

https://static1.squarespace.com/stat...NG?format=500w

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Fantastic stats

Saw a couple of games this year for Preston that Barker played a part in, and he was truly terrifying for the oppositions defenders. Would love him back.

Brandon Barker would be a great addition. Genuinely amazed thqat some people wouldn't want him back.

End product may not have been fully there but he was developing very well at Hibs and came onto a good run of form before his injury.

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Originally Posted by Speedway

When did it become law that all signing activity had to be referred to as recruitment?

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Don't worry it is only a matter of time before it becomes onboarding.

I think if we are going to be playing a 4-4-2 formation going forward we are going to need players that can play a more traditional left/right midfield role as opposed to simply being wide attackers.

As decent a player as Barker is I can't recall him ever tracking back. This is probably fine playing 3-5-2 or 4-3-3 but in a 4-4-2 it could leave us horribly exposed to attacks down our left flank. His fragility is also a concern when we will need whoever is playing left and right midfield to be able to get stuck in to tackles to win the ball in midfield as well as pushing forward.

I think Boyle and Horgan will be our first choice players for these positions for next season and I could see Mackie slotting in well to a left midfield position within that type of structure as well.

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Originally Posted by 90+2

Looks like we missed out on the mighty Curtis Main who is off to Aberdeen.

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Another lump who'll kick, elbow and foul every minute, Aberdeen are really turning into an ugly dirty team.

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Originally Posted by 90+2

Looks like we missed out on the mighty Curtis Main who is off to Aberdeen.

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Never on Hecky's radar

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Originally Posted by MyJo

I think if we are going to be playing a 4-4-2 formation going forward we are going to need players that can play a more traditional left/right midfield role as opposed to simply being wide attackers.

As decent a player as Barker is I can't recall him ever tracking back. This is probably fine playing 3-5-2 or 4-3-3 but in a 4-4-2 it could leave us horribly exposed to attacks down our left flank. His fragility is also a concern when we will need whoever is playing left and right midfield to be able to get stuck in to tackles to win the ball in midfield as well as pushing forward.

I think Boyle and Horgan will be our first choice players for these positions for next season and I could see Mackie slotting in well to a left midfield position within that type of structure as well.

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We do play 4-3-3/4-2-3-1

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Originally Posted by hibbyfraelibby

Never on Hecky's radar

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Yeah I was taking the piss out them wanting him 👍

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Originally Posted by MyJo

I think if we are going to be playing a 4-4-2 formation going forward we are going to need players that can play a more traditional left/right midfield role as opposed to simply being wide attackers.

As decent a player as Barker is I can't recall him ever tracking back. This is probably fine playing 3-5-2 or 4-3-3 but in a 4-4-2 it could leave us horribly exposed to attacks down our left flank. His fragility is also a concern when we will need whoever is playing left and right midfield to be able to get stuck in to tackles to win the ball in midfield as well as pushing forward.

I think Boyle and Horgan will be our first choice players for these positions for next season and I could see Mackie slotting in well to a left midfield position within that type of structure as well.

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What makes you think we’ll be playing 4-4-2 next season? Very few teams go with two central strikers these days. Everyone wants to copy Pep & Klopp in a 4-3-3. Heckingbottom quickly ditched two strikers, pushing Kamberi wide.

I don’t think you can question Barker’s ability, he’s a fantastic player. His injury record does concern me though

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Originally Posted by CapitalGreen

https://static1.squarespace.com/stat...ng?format=750w

Barker had the 2nd most completed dribbles per game in 2017/18 and does not feature on the list of players who lost possession most often.

https://static1.squarespace.com/stat...ng?format=750w

He was also 29th in the league for key passes per 90mins which are passes that lead to a chance. (ahead of both Mackay Steven and Jordan Jones)

https://static1.squarespace.com/stat...NG?format=500w

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Cool, there are over 10 signable players who are proven to be a better bet than Barker for creating chances in our league alone?

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Originally Posted by J-C

Another lump who'll kick, elbow and foul every minute, Aberdeen are really turning into an ugly dirty team.

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Turning into? They're right up there with Hearts in that respect already.
Give up constant fouls to break up play then tend to score from set pieces or balls lumped into the box. Horrible football team - effective, but horrible.

Curtis Main will do well at Aberdeen.

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Originally Posted by Diclonius

Curtis Main will do well at Aberdeen.

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Wonder if that means Cosgrove on way out.

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Originally Posted by 90+2

Looks like we missed out on the mighty Curtis Main who is off to Aberdeen.

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He absolutely reeks of Aberdeen