Barber

[plymouth wanderer]

http://www.newsnow.co.uk/A/580754503?-11201" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


GOALKEEPING guru Fred Barber will leave Wanderers at the end of his current deal.

The popular 48-year-old has served the club for 16 years in a coaching capacity and also works within the Northern Ireland international set-up.

After serving as part-time goalkeeping coach under Colin Todd, Barber was made a full-time employee by Sam Allardyce in 2004, having also served West Brom under Bryan Robson.

A hugely entertaining figure on and off the field, he was instrumental in Jussi Jaaskelainen’s career, taking him under his wing soon after his arrival from Finland and turning him into one of the Premier League’s most consistent performers.

Barber – who made close to 400 appearances for a variety of clubs in his playing career – has also been a key figure in Adam Bogdan’s rapid progression.

When Owen Coyle was appointed manager in January 2010, bringing with him goalkeeping coach Phil Hughes from Burnley, it was thought that Barber’s time with Wanderers had reached its conclusion.

But with Jaaskelainen pressing for him to stay at the club, a new role was created and Barber remained at the Reebok as director of goalkeeping, also bringing Whites legend Keith Branagan into the Academy goalkeeping set-up at the end of last season.

Following the club’s relegation from the top flight, and Jaaskelainen’s own exit, it has now been decided that Barber will move on – although it is understood he has not yet agreed a settlement with the club nor agreed terms elsewhere.

Barber also runs a series of successful coaching schools that have helped unearth a number of young talents, including former Manchester United star Tomas Kuszczak.

Wanderers have kept the vast majority of their backroom staff together for their first season back in the Championship in 11 years but announced last week that sports rehabilitatior Harry Brooke has also left to take up a position with the Oman national team.

[Mar]

This is a shame. Although since Coyle arrived you could see that the writing was on the wall with Fred Barber at the club seeing as OC wanted to have his own people in. Gotta say we've had a large number of successful goalkeepers come through the ranks at Bolton since Barber arrived at the club, Jussi, Al-Habsi, Bogdan so its a large credit to the likes of Barber and the scouting staff here.

It doesn't say when his current deal ends though... which is strange.

[DJBlu]

Mar beat me to it.

Only thing keeping him at the club(no pun intended) was Jussi. The writing was on the wall when he didn't renew a contract.

[jimbo]

Real shame. Still haven't got my head around Coyle's decision to prefer the man behind creating Brian Jensen to Fred Barber.

[TANGODANCER]

"Director of goalkeeping" says it all. Coaching was just a job at one time. Coach, assistant-coach, even at big club level should be enough. The basics don't change weekly and goalies surely know them? I doubt very much if Eddie Hopkinson, Brannigan and co etc, had a Director of goalkeeping.

[BWFC_Insane]

"Director of goalkeeping" says it all. Coaching was just a job at one time. Coach, assistant-coach, even at big club level should be enough. The basics don't change weekly and goalies surely know them? I doubt very much if Eddie Hopkinson, Brannigan and co etc, had a Director of goalkeeping.

I also doubt they had nutritionists, sports scientists, prozone analysts or sports psychologists. Are you saying all of those things are a waste of time too?

[Relentless09]

"Director of goalkeeping" says it all. Coaching was just a job at one time. Coach, assistant-coach, even at big club level should be enough. The basics don't change weekly and goalies surely know them? I doubt very much if Eddie Hopkinson, Brannigan and co etc, had a Director of goalkeeping.

I also doubt they had nutritionists, sports scientists, prozone analysts or sports psychologists. Are you saying all of those things are a waste of time too?

I doubt they needed them in the past

[TANGODANCER]

"Director of goalkeeping" says it all. Coaching was just a job at one time. Coach, assistant-coach, even at big club level should be enough. The basics don't change weekly and goalies surely know them? I doubt very much if Eddie Hopkinson, Brannigan and co etc, had a Director of goalkeeping.

I also doubt they had nutritionists, sports scientists, prozone analysts or sports psychologists. Are you saying all of those things are a waste of time too?

Did I say that anywhere? Mind you, lack of them didn't stop Eddie Hopkinson from being the best goalie in Bolton's history, or having them prevent us from getting relegated anyway .

[Riviman]

Has done a great job over the years - will he follow Jussi to West Ham???

[Hoboh]

Has done a great job over the years - will he follow Jussi to West Ham???

Yes and No

If Jussi's distribution had improved leaps and bounds and also his feet had been unglued from the line I would have positively said yes, but they didn't.

[Riviman]

Has done a great job over the years - will he follow Jussi to West Ham???

Yes and No

If Jussi's distribution had improved leaps and bounds and also his feet had been unglued from the line I would have positively said yes, but they didn't.

Yes Jussi has his faults, doesn't everyone. but he has, without doubt, been one of the best keepers in the premiership over the last 10 years. Not THE BEST but certainly up there with them.

[jaffka]

Has done a great job over the years - will he follow Jussi to West Ham???

Yes and No

If Jussi's distribution had improved leaps and bounds and also his feet had been unglued from the line I would have positively said yes, but they didn't.

Are you saying that Jussi was w@nk then?

[officer_dibble]

how very predictable

jobs for the boys

[TKIZ!]

All good things must come to an end

[CAPSLOCK]

[TKIZ!]

Bit melodramatic, CAPS?

[officer_dibble]

Must be the second coffin, I had the final nail as wiggin at home

[bobo the clown]

Not many nails still to go now.

This is probably the least of the issues at the moment, but fck, one way or another I do feel Agent Coyle will carry on reducing us back to Division 3 standards.


(& yes, Wiggin at home. But that was when he stood on the wires of the life-support machine I think)

[thebish]

they don't generally nail coffin lids down nowadays...

[bobo the clown]

they don't generally nail coffin lids down nowadays...

Screw Bish ?