Tim Barker

[michaelandress]

Was I dreaming on my way to work yesterday or did Radio Ulster not say that Tim Barker was returning to Ulster from Glasgow?

[Big-al]

Thinks it true - won't be as bad as certain posters make out, he has been playing a lot better this season than any of our current locks. The back 5 of the Glasgow bpack have been playing well. He's also an Ulsterman too so thats a good sign

[The Ulsterian]

From
http://www.glasgowwarriors.com/articles ... arriors%29

Reports from Northern Ireland suggest Glasgow's Tim Barker could be set to sign for Ulster.
Radio Ulster claims Tim will return to Ravenhill on a two-year deal.
If confirmed the lock would be joining Ulster for the third time - Tim joined Glasgow from Ulster in 2005 before returning to Ravenhill after one season. He moved to France to join Castres Olympique and returned to Glasgow in 2008.

[Neil F]

Ulster are short a lock for next season, assuming the rumours about O'Donoghue are true. This season, we've seen the problems of trying to get through a season with only three specialist locks on the book. A fourth is definitely needed. Barker is a lock. He's played in the Magners League and is of reasonable quality. More importantly, he's Irish qualified. Barker will never be the best lock in the world but that doesn't mean that this isn't a sensible and fairly responsible signing for Ulster.

[WhiteKnightoftheWeld]

agreed Neil F

quelle surpris

somebody signs and if he's not a 90-odd capped world cup winning all black/springbok/wallaby, he's not good enough for our precious ulster rugby.
give the guy a chance. wait and see how he gets on.

if he's been playing for glasgow, who certainly for the first half of this magners campaign were in terrific form, then us having some of that is a big positive.

remember also that prospective players and agents may very well check out fans forums of clubs before they commit to signing. slagging off a player who has signed isn't the greatest move in my eyes. even basic criticism of a players game - agreed nothing personal other than the professional job that he's been signed to do has been discussed thus far - is a bit off until he actually gets onto the pitch and we see how he does.

in short, give it a rest.

[BR]

Except we HAVE seen how he does.

I saw him playing the other day, and thought he still looked the part. I actually think he did fairly well when he was here, but IIRC he got dcked about by UR and had little choice but to move on. What's his discipline been like in recent years?

[notj]

I think this is a good signing, purely on the basis that we need more squad depth in a good few positions and lock is certainly one of those positions. The signing we need at lock has to be Irish Qualified and have good experience playing competently at this level. Barker meets both of those requirements, he's also from Ulster and he already knows many of the people around at Ulster Rugby so there will be no problems with him settling in.

Not every signing we need to make is a Muller or a Rush, this guy will fill a gap in our squad and its good to welcome him back.

[Neil F]

Exactly, Notj.

This season, and these figures are exacerbated by injuries, I admit, Ulster have tried to get through a majority of this season by using:

4 props, 2/3 hookers, 3 locks, 6 backrows, 3 scrumhalves, 2 outhalves, 3 centres, 3 wingers, 2 fullbacks

Realistically, Ulster's entire squad rotation has revolved around the use of about 30 players. When we look in other threads, we see that the Ospreys are on tour with a 30 man squad. It says a lot about the ludicrous lack of depth in Ulster rugby at the moment. Those two fullbacks include Jamie Smith, who patently isn't ready for rugby at this level and the 6 backrows include TJ Anderson who has serious question marks over his quality. Given injuries, we're down to the barebones and selecting academy guys in the squads. At the start of this season, it was obvious that Ulster would be short of players and I have no doubts that one of the contributing factors to Ulster's decline in on-pitch performance is to do with the accumulated fatigue and injuries to a barebones squad.

We cannot fill up a squad with players like Rush and Muller and Botha. We can, however, build up some depth of talent by signing guys like Barker. He will come into Ulster and he will do a job. That's why he is being signed. In that respect, yes, Barker is a good signing for Ulster.

[Setanta]

I thought Barker played well for us when he was here; didn't he have to leave because of a certain Mary-Jane?

[michaelandress]

For the sake of clarity, I think this is a good signing - he was a solid player whenever I saw him play for Ulster. I was only supprised that his signing hadn't been posted on this site or on the 'Official' site before today, yet it was on the radio.

[HwoodMike2umate]

Michael - at school we were taught "surprised" not "supprised".

[cables]

For the sake of clarity, I think this is a good signing - he was a solid player whenever I saw him play for Ulster. I was only supprised that his signing hadn't been posted on this site or on the 'Official' site before today, yet it was on the radio.

Should have looked a little further Michael.

Re: TRANSFER RUMOURS!!
by cables » Mon Apr 12, 2010 5:04 pm

Just bought my print version of the Bele Tele. In it, Niall Crozier writes that Barker has signed for Ulster.

Perhaps not a rumour anymore.
Illegitimi Non Carborundum
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cables
Lord Chancellor

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Private message

It was rumoured prior to that and confirmed later by another Newspaper report.

[Ardglass2]

Ulster are short a lock for next season, assuming the rumours about O'Donoghue are true. This season, we've seen the problems of trying to get through a season with only three specialist locks on the book. A fourth is definitely needed. Barker is a lock. He's played in the Magners League and is of reasonable quality. More importantly, he's Irish qualified. Barker will never be the best lock in the world but that doesn't mean that this isn't a sensible and fairly responsible signing for Ulster.

Spot on

[WhiteKnightoftheWeld]

I have no doubts that one of the contributing factors to Ulster's decline in on-pitch performance is to do with the accumulated fatigue and injuries to a barebones squad.

Well said - i fully agree with this sentiment.
(being on the same wavelength as the whiteknightoftheweld is certainly something you should tell the grandkids about...)

Forget about star names in every position. We aren't even in a position to go out and buy 3/4 journeymen or middle-of-the-road forwards, and a few backs who have never quite made it anywhere but can fill in when required in a number of positions. The only option available to Ulster Rugby (unless some serious investment comes from somewhere) is to bring through the academy players and retain the senior players we have, and build up the squad (numbers-wise) that way.

The likes of Muller and BJ and Rush in this respect are a lot more valuable than the on-field duties they perform in white. Their presence on the training pitch with the young senior players and those in the academy will be invaluable to Ulster Rugby long after these guys retire and head home. Only problem - beyond Paddy - who does this for the backs?

To be honest, I'd be happy with a choice of Willis/Marshall/Porter at SH. I'd love to see a great outhalf there - while I rate IH highly, O'Connor isn't a viable option yet - he needs more time with the Ravens in my book. IH no doubt has his flaws - when he's good he's very very good, when he's bad he's rotten...

Centre - we've Whitten Paddy and Caveman, with Trimble as another possibility if needed.
Full back - As it stands for next year it's Bryn or Jamie.
Wing - Dani and Trimble with a few academy guys, and McCrea.

What I think we need is a Paul Warwick or an Isa Nacewa - somebody who can fill in all over the back division. Alternatively a Steiner figure - can play 10 or 12, and if needed will do a job at full-back. Don't think we're ready to be splashing big money on a top 10, instead I reckon we need a good jack of all trades.

[michaelandress]

O.K. Cables you win - as for Hwoodmike, you is two smart four me