DOUBTS OVER SKIPPER AND STRIKER
Posted on: Fri 09 Nov 2007
Ismail Yakubu, who has missed the last six games with a groin problem, and five-goal Liam Hatch, are both rated '50-50' by manager Paul Fairclough for the first round FA Cup tie against League 1 Gillingham at Underhill.
Yakubu, the 22-year-old skipper, who has yet to be on the losing side since being given the captain's armband in succession to Ian Hendon this season, warmed up with the players before Tuesday's game against Notts County and has trained on Thursday and Friday.
"We need to make a calculated decision on his fitness", said the manager.
Hatch, who passed a late fitness test on Tuesday after first ruling himself out with a bruised ankle, will be checked again before the Cup tie.
Fairclough's assessment: "Although I am saying both players have a 50-50 chance of playing the reality is that they probably only have slim chances".
Joe O'Cearuill has deputised alongside stand-in captain Sagi Burton in the absence of Yakubu; Fairclough switched Jason Puncheon to play alongside Adam Birchall when Hatch was doubtful for the Notts County game and he scored his seventh goal of the season.
The manager had hoped to have a full complement of fit players against Gillingham but, in addition to Yakubu and Hatch, Jason Norville has a tight thigh muscle, a possible legacy of playing six successive games after his long lay-off.
Barnet are anticipating their biggest crowd of the season, with the visitors expecting to bring nearly 1,000, and hopes are high against a team from a higher division after the club reached the fourth round of the Cup last season for the first time ever.
Mark Stimson, who took over as Gillingham manager a week ago and has overseen draws against "two good technical sides who pass the ball around a lot" in Swansea City (away) and Doncaster Rovers (home), is expecting the Bees to give his side a very hard test.
He is quoted as saying that he expects Barnet to play "a certain amount of football" but that he would be surprised if they can do it as well as Swansea or Doncaster.
Former Barnet players Simon King and Barry Cogan, now with Gillingham, will no doubt tell the new boss how the Bees have fared against the likes of Cardiff City, Colchester United and Northampton Town in Cup games.
Dennis Signy
Yakubu, the 22-year-old skipper, who has yet to be on the losing side since being given the captain's armband in succession to Ian Hendon this season, warmed up with the players before Tuesday's game against Notts County and has trained on Thursday and Friday.
"We need to make a calculated decision on his fitness", said the manager.
Hatch, who passed a late fitness test on Tuesday after first ruling himself out with a bruised ankle, will be checked again before the Cup tie.
Fairclough's assessment: "Although I am saying both players have a 50-50 chance of playing the reality is that they probably only have slim chances".
Joe O'Cearuill has deputised alongside stand-in captain Sagi Burton in the absence of Yakubu; Fairclough switched Jason Puncheon to play alongside Adam Birchall when Hatch was doubtful for the Notts County game and he scored his seventh goal of the season.
The manager had hoped to have a full complement of fit players against Gillingham but, in addition to Yakubu and Hatch, Jason Norville has a tight thigh muscle, a possible legacy of playing six successive games after his long lay-off.
Barnet are anticipating their biggest crowd of the season, with the visitors expecting to bring nearly 1,000, and hopes are high against a team from a higher division after the club reached the fourth round of the Cup last season for the first time ever.
Mark Stimson, who took over as Gillingham manager a week ago and has overseen draws against "two good technical sides who pass the ball around a lot" in Swansea City (away) and Doncaster Rovers (home), is expecting the Bees to give his side a very hard test.
He is quoted as saying that he expects Barnet to play "a certain amount of football" but that he would be surprised if they can do it as well as Swansea or Doncaster.
Former Barnet players Simon King and Barry Cogan, now with Gillingham, will no doubt tell the new boss how the Bees have fared against the likes of Cardiff City, Colchester United and Northampton Town in Cup games.
Dennis Signy
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