Post by QPR Report on Apr 2, 2009 7:43:13 GMT
And commiserations
Plymouth Herald - Barker back in Argyle fold
CHRIS BARKER is prepared to put personal tragedy behind him as he takes up the challenge of trying to help Plymouth Argyle escape relegation.
Barker has had to come to terms with the death of his mother, Pauline, through Cancer last month.
It has resulted in the 29-year-old playing in only one of the last four games – the 1-0 defeat away to Norwich City on March 14.
But now the experienced defender wants to focus all his attention on the Pilgrims' fight for survival.
He played the whole of the reserves' 1-0 win against Cheltenham Town at Home Park in the Totesport.com Combination on Tuesday.
And he hopes to resume the left-back role, which has been filled by Gary Sawyer, when Argyle travel to Blackpool this Saturday.
Barker told Herald Sport: "We have got a big, big battle and I want to be involved in that. We need every single player pulling together.
"It was nice to get 90 minutes under my belt on Tuesday.
"I needed that because I think I have played only once in three weeks.
"It's down to a mini-league now. We have got six games to go – three at home and three away. Hopefully, we can get as many points as we can, starting on Saturday.
"It's a big game. If we can win that one, we will drag Blackpool back into it."
Argyle had lost three consecutive matches before the international break, but before that they had picked up eight points from four games.
That included an impressive 1-0 win at table-topping Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Barker said: "We can beat anyone, and we can lose to anyone. That has been our problem all season.
"We went and beat Wolves away and then we lost to Burnley at home the other Saturday.
"As long as we turn up and play as we can do, we will be fine. But we need to do it more often, especially at home."
Barker's mother passed away the day before Argyle's 1-0 defeat away to Swansea City on March 10.
Prior to that, the former Queens Park Rangers defender had been regularly returning to his home city of Sheffield to visit her. He trained with Championship rivals Sheffield United while away from Home Park.
Barker's mother had put up a brave fight against Cancer.
"It has been going on for two years, but the last six weeks it went very quickly, as it can do," he said.
"The gaffer (Paul Sturrock) has been fantastic, and I travelled back down as much as I could do.
"When we haven't had a game on a Tuesday, I have been training up there (at Sheffield United) because we knew it was near the end. I have missed a couple of games and I want to get back in the team now."
Barker played for 71 minutes in Argyle's defeat against Norwich, which was between his mother's death and her funeral.
He said: "It was difficult, but it was nice to concentrate on something normal as well. The funeral was the week after, but you have got to move on and that's what I'm going to do."
www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/sport/BARKER-ARGYLE-FOLD/article-866771-detail/article.html
Plymouth Herald - Barker back in Argyle fold
CHRIS BARKER is prepared to put personal tragedy behind him as he takes up the challenge of trying to help Plymouth Argyle escape relegation.
Barker has had to come to terms with the death of his mother, Pauline, through Cancer last month.
It has resulted in the 29-year-old playing in only one of the last four games – the 1-0 defeat away to Norwich City on March 14.
But now the experienced defender wants to focus all his attention on the Pilgrims' fight for survival.
He played the whole of the reserves' 1-0 win against Cheltenham Town at Home Park in the Totesport.com Combination on Tuesday.
And he hopes to resume the left-back role, which has been filled by Gary Sawyer, when Argyle travel to Blackpool this Saturday.
Barker told Herald Sport: "We have got a big, big battle and I want to be involved in that. We need every single player pulling together.
"It was nice to get 90 minutes under my belt on Tuesday.
"I needed that because I think I have played only once in three weeks.
"It's down to a mini-league now. We have got six games to go – three at home and three away. Hopefully, we can get as many points as we can, starting on Saturday.
"It's a big game. If we can win that one, we will drag Blackpool back into it."
Argyle had lost three consecutive matches before the international break, but before that they had picked up eight points from four games.
That included an impressive 1-0 win at table-topping Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Barker said: "We can beat anyone, and we can lose to anyone. That has been our problem all season.
"We went and beat Wolves away and then we lost to Burnley at home the other Saturday.
"As long as we turn up and play as we can do, we will be fine. But we need to do it more often, especially at home."
Barker's mother passed away the day before Argyle's 1-0 defeat away to Swansea City on March 10.
Prior to that, the former Queens Park Rangers defender had been regularly returning to his home city of Sheffield to visit her. He trained with Championship rivals Sheffield United while away from Home Park.
Barker's mother had put up a brave fight against Cancer.
"It has been going on for two years, but the last six weeks it went very quickly, as it can do," he said.
"The gaffer (Paul Sturrock) has been fantastic, and I travelled back down as much as I could do.
"When we haven't had a game on a Tuesday, I have been training up there (at Sheffield United) because we knew it was near the end. I have missed a couple of games and I want to get back in the team now."
Barker played for 71 minutes in Argyle's defeat against Norwich, which was between his mother's death and her funeral.
He said: "It was difficult, but it was nice to concentrate on something normal as well. The funeral was the week after, but you have got to move on and that's what I'm going to do."
www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/sport/BARKER-ARGYLE-FOLD/article-866771-detail/article.html