John Barnes issues warning to underperformers

[Dunny]

Tranmere boss John Barnes has warned his struggling stars that he is not afraid to wield the axe.
Rovers have endured a torrid start to the 2009/10 campaign, with a 3-0 defeat against Carlisle on Saturday leaving them second from bottom in the League One table.
The substandard showings have infuriated Barnes, who took charge at Prenton Park over the summer, and he admits he would have no qualms about replacing established members of his first-team squad with hungry youngsters from the academy ranks.
"There are no excuses for players to perform the way they did (against Carlisle), and the way we defended in the second half, where we were second to everything," he fumed.
"I may have to put 15 and 16-year-olds in to show a bit of spirit and desire.
"We can't change anything because we haven't got any money to change anything. The players here have got to show more. There's no reason for them to play the way they did.
"I have belief in these players, but I am wondering if their belief is wavering. They have to want it more individually."

[Hortical]

Fans are already turning on John Barnes

Fans are already turning on Tranmere's John Barnes and Jason McAteer


By Stan Collymore
Last modified 15:55 06/09/09 //

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John Barnes and Jason McAteer are already under a lot of pressure at League One Tranmere after a poor start to the season.
Rovers have only won one League game in six since my old Liverpool team-mates turned up at Prenton Park in June.
And their struggles show having big names in charge is no guarantee of success.
TalkSport had a lot of callers moaning about boss Barnes and his assistant McAteer at the weekend following Tranmere’s 3-0 loss at Carlisle.
And it goes to show fans will not give ex-players any extra time just because they are a former England or Ireland international.
After Tony Adams’ disaster at Wycombe, I just wonder whether throwing big-names in at the lower league levels is really wise.
You have to scrap at that level and maybe being a star down the leagues is not the recipe for success.
Barnes and McAteer also make a bit of an odd couple to be honest.
Jason is a kind of fun-loving guy and John is very studious about his football but I wouldn’t have put them together.
I don’t know whether that was really thought through but Jason has played for Tranmere and they both live in the area so maybe it was convenient for the pair to get together.
But their bid for success is clearly not going to plan and it may have to be aborted soon at this rate.

[Raggs]

The sack awaits.....