Midfield reorganisation could provide more protection

Last season the Blues chopped and changed formations before settling on a back four, two holding midfielders and three floating behind the lone forward.

On Saturday there looked to have been a slight adjustment in that shape, with Danny Harrison in the holding role and Kingsley James and John Rooney as attacking central midfielders.

Harrison's dismissal on 15 minutes means it's difficult to form too much of an opinion on that, but even before the red card Barnet looked dangerous on the break.

Once Harrison had been sent off, the Bees exploited the space in the middle and were able to target fullbacks Danny Taylor and Gareth Roberts, who had little protection.

Going with one holding midfielder gives you an extra man in forward areas and that's helpful in home games against opponents who get behind the ball, but it can leave you susceptible to the counter.

Sticking with two in the deeper role affords a little more protection to the back four and would free up Rooney to push into a more advanced role, where he can be more effective.

It's all pretty redundant anyhow because the red card meant the plans went out of the window but it will be interesting to see the shape of the side over the next few games.

You've got to take your chances

It might sound deluded after a 5-0 pasting, but things could have been different had the Blues converted some decent chances.

Stop laughing and give me a minute. Matty Brown's header inside 60 seconds wasn't far away, Peter Winn's cross-shot was cleared off the line and Craig Hobson's lob bounced the wrong side of the post.

All three were good opportunities, and all three happened minutes before Barnet goals.

Had one of them gone in then the complexion of the game might have changed. Chester gain some confidence, the crowd starts to believe and the Bees momentum is halted.

I'm clutching at straws, I know but not being clinical in front of goal was a big problem last term, addressed when Matty Taylor came in on loan and all too obvious when he'd gone.

Steve Burr wants to add more firepower to his squad but good strikers don't come cheap so for now the priority must be becoming more ruthless as a team.

Keeper conjecture isn't helping

It was disheartening to hear some ironic cheers when Jon Worsnop made a routine catch in the second half because things like that are counter-productive.

Worsnop has been around long enough to know he shouldn't have brought John Akinde down when the big forward went clean through and for me he could have done better with the second.

But he wasn't the only one with reason to be disappointed, and I'm struggling to escape the feeling he's being singled out due to circumstance.

Worsnop will be as disappointed as anyone with the start he has made, and even more determined to prove himself. He was brought in over the summer to be first choice, no doubt. Steve Burr rates him, he'd been number Alfreton Town's number one and he was signed after John Danby had been transfer-listed.

But it seems that after a handful of friendlies and one league game, some have decided he's not up to standard. Worsnop has been under the microscope from he moment he arrived, chiefly because Danby remains at the club.

I do understand the support for Danby, he's been an outstanding servant and a more than capable goalkeeper. But I understand the manager's reasons for not selecting a player who is unable to train too.

It takes time for a keeper to form an understanding with his back four, and when you have a new keeper and a new defence that process can take even longer.

It's an unfortunate situation and one that is not the fault of the club, the manager, Danby, and least of all Worsnop, so I'd hope a solution can be found before the transfer window closes.