2011 round-up (part three)

 After compiling the round-up for months January-March and April-June, here’s instalment part three.

July

The club received compensation from Notts County after reporting the club to the FA and Football League for their illegal approach for Martin Allen.

With pre-season in full-flow, trialists were on display, hoping to sign up contracts before the start of the campaign.



Pre-season results:
16/07 – Barnet v Peterborough     (D)       2–2
20/07 – Barnet v Gabala               (W)      1–0
23/07 – Barnet v Tottenham XI      (W)      3–2     (Lee Harrison’s testimonial)
26/07 – Chesham v Barnet XI        (L)       0–4
27/07 – Sutton v Barnet                (W)      4–2
30/07 – Barnet v MK Dons            (D)       1–1



Two more players wrapped up contract deals in July, with Steve Kabba signing for two years and Danny Senda, one year.



My Season Ticket

August

The month began with more short-term contracts for players who had initially joined the club on a trial basis. Jason Price and Ryan Watts both signed one-month deals after impressing in the pre-season games. Longer term, goal keeper, Dean Brill, put his name to a one-year deal, after being released by Oldham; hoping to stake his claim as Barnet’s number one. The final signing of the month was another one-month deal for defender Exodus Geohaghon. On the transfer front, both Price and Watts had their contracts ended at the end of month with the former going on to sign for Morecambe (the team he scored against on the opening game of the season!).

First game back after holiday, v Gillingham

Defenders Darren Dennehy and Daniel Leach – both of which were injured throughout the previous season – became long-term injury doubts again.



Lawrie Sanchez came out and said he was happy with the squad and won’t be bringing in any more players – a statement that didn’t go down well with fans and would come back to bite him once the season was underway.

The club said “NO” twice in August. 1) To the Cameroonian Football Federation, who had invited Clovis Kamdjo to train with the under-23’s squad. 2) To Charlton Athletic who had bid for winger, Mark Marshall, on deadline day. There was also interest from a number of other Championship and League 1 clubs.

06/08              Morecambe v Barnet           (W)      1–0
13/08              Barnet v Port Vale                (L)       1–3
16/08              Barnet v Gillingham              (D)       2–2
20/08              Rotherham v Barnet             (D)       2–2
27/08              Bradford v Barnet                 (L)       2–4

            5 points from 15
Goals For: 8              Goals Against: 11

09/08  (League Cup Round 1) Portsmouth v Barnet     (W)      1–0
23/08 (League Cup Round 2) Burnley v Barnet            (L)       2–3 (aet)
30/08  (JPT Round 1) Colchester v Barnet                  (W)      3–1

September



Despite last month’s news Darren Dennehy was bound to be a long-term doubt, he has a surprise return against Colchester in the JPT stating: “I feel perfect… as if I was never injured”.

Despite their troubles, Plymouth brought a fair few with them!

Darren Dennehy and Izale McLeod made the League 2 Team of the Week, and Izale was also in contention for Player of the Month award for his five goals throughout September.

Again, more signings this month – Lloyd Owusu a straight-forward replacement for Jason Price who, the previous month, had been let go by the club. Defender, Gary Borrowdale also joined on loan from QPR – in the hope the defence would become more stable and prevent conceding so many and unnecessary goals.

The first for the season, regarding the ground saga and the club’s future, came to rise when Chairman Tony Kleanthous broke his silence. The initial argument surrounded the fact the Saracens’ rugby team had planned to relocate to Copthall Stadium, an area that the Bees’ had previously been looking into. He then later in the month stated that the club’s days at Underhill were clearly numbered, although hoping we’d get to play at least half of next season at the ground.

03/09              Barnet v Accrington Stanley          (D)       0–0
10/09              Crewe Alexandra v Barnet             (L)       1–3
13/09              Barnet v Plymouth Argyle              (W)      2–0
17/09              Barnet v Oxford                             (L)       0–2
24/09              Swindon v Barnet                          (L)       0–4

            4 points from 15
Goals for: 3                Goals Against: 9

Part four is the final part of the 2011 round-up, and will include months October-December; keep your eyes peeled as it will feature in the New Year.

I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank you all for reading my blog and for the continued support and feedback! When I started writing, I didn’t think I’d have as many views and followers as I have, so thank you all, and have a very happy New Year! Hoping for a few new ideas for 2012, so if you have any suggestions of things you’d like to read, let me know!