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Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere manager John Barnes points the finger at his players as he refuses to take full responsibility for team’s slumping form
Sep 14 2009 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Daily Post
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BELEAGUERED manager John Barnes says his players must share the responsibility for Tranmere’s wretched start to the season.
Fans chanted “Barnes out” at the end of a 3-2 reverse to Walsall at Prenton Park that left Rovers with a record of six defeats in seven League One games under the former Liverpool and England winger.
“I understand the fans frustration,” Barnes said. “We will keep working. But I am not going to take all of the responsibility.”
Barnes blamed poor judgement and lack of quality in the team’s performance for a fifth straight league defeat. He said: “I am not going to take the responsibility for everything when you have performances and decision-making out there that players take which cost us goals.
“They have nothing to do with tactics, nothing to do with me getting the best out of the players, nothing to do with confidence. It’s just bad decision-making.
“I understand when things are not going well and you are lacking confidence but they are just bad decisions. The experienced players should know better.”
Barnes would take little comfort from a Tranmere display that showed more spirit and commitment than they could muster in recent heavy defeats to Leeds, Charlton and Carlisle.
He said: “I saw heart and desire in terms of them tackling and running around but we never showed quality at all.”
Barnes said: “We always give goals away when we are in possession of the ball, which I don’t understand.
“If I can make changes I will make changes. In fact I’m thinking of making changes – if I’m still here. I’m hoping to be.
“But it can’t continue because I can’t have those players out there making those decisions. I’ve showed faith in all of them and I believe in them. I still believe in them. But they don’t believe in themselves.
“I don’t know why I can’t get them to believe in themselves or whether anyone can get them to believe in themselves.”
Barnes said he expected to have a conversation this week with chairman Peter Johnson, the man who appointed him as manager in June. The manager sounded less than certain about his future at Prenton Park in the face of mounting pressure from results and supporter dissatisfaction.
He said: “As far as I am concerned I am the manager of Tranmere but you could hear the fans’ reaction. I’ve always said it is not personal.
“They are frustrated because the team is not doing well. I am frustrated. The players are frustrated.”
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Tranmere manager John Barnes points the finger at his players as he refuses to take full responsibility for team’s slumping form
Sep 14 2009 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Daily Post
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BELEAGUERED manager John Barnes says his players must share the responsibility for Tranmere’s wretched start to the season.
Fans chanted “Barnes out” at the end of a 3-2 reverse to Walsall at Prenton Park that left Rovers with a record of six defeats in seven League One games under the former Liverpool and England winger.
“I understand the fans frustration,” Barnes said. “We will keep working. But I am not going to take all of the responsibility.”
Barnes blamed poor judgement and lack of quality in the team’s performance for a fifth straight league defeat. He said: “I am not going to take the responsibility for everything when you have performances and decision-making out there that players take which cost us goals.
“They have nothing to do with tactics, nothing to do with me getting the best out of the players, nothing to do with confidence. It’s just bad decision-making.
“I understand when things are not going well and you are lacking confidence but they are just bad decisions. The experienced players should know better.”
Barnes would take little comfort from a Tranmere display that showed more spirit and commitment than they could muster in recent heavy defeats to Leeds, Charlton and Carlisle.
He said: “I saw heart and desire in terms of them tackling and running around but we never showed quality at all.”
Barnes said: “We always give goals away when we are in possession of the ball, which I don’t understand.
“If I can make changes I will make changes. In fact I’m thinking of making changes – if I’m still here. I’m hoping to be.
“But it can’t continue because I can’t have those players out there making those decisions. I’ve showed faith in all of them and I believe in them. I still believe in them. But they don’t believe in themselves.
“I don’t know why I can’t get them to believe in themselves or whether anyone can get them to believe in themselves.”
Barnes said he expected to have a conversation this week with chairman Peter Johnson, the man who appointed him as manager in June. The manager sounded less than certain about his future at Prenton Park in the face of mounting pressure from results and supporter dissatisfaction.
He said: “As far as I am concerned I am the manager of Tranmere but you could hear the fans’ reaction. I’ve always said it is not personal.
“They are frustrated because the team is not doing well. I am frustrated. The players are frustrated.”
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