Barrows problem is similar to Fev in that they have no strength in depth and have a good 10 or so players but then are struggling for quality especially when you compare against Widnes and Halifax who have good strength in depth in all positions.
The other thing is that stepping up from NL2 to 1 is a big step and many teams struggle with having to play each week to the best of their ability and why for mine NL1 is the best League as any team from Barrow and Gateshead to Widnes can beat the rest or at least match them for most of the game.
Barrow should do well this year but they will not get above 4th nor will they get to the final of the Rail Cup.

You see, in my post i wasnt including Oldham, Batley, and Doncaster as any of the 4.
Dont get me wrong it looks like you have assembled a decent squad that should be well capable of comfortably keeping you in the division. I doubt you will be challenging for honours this season though, id guess your away form will see to that.

We'll have to agree to disagree I think. We have real strength in depth this year, more than i can remember in the last 20 years.

You may not have heard of some of them, but they're real quality players.

What sort of side are Barrow going to field against Oldham today? I believe Oldham are putting a strong side out so perhaps the game could reflect how far Barrow have come on from last season, That Said I know friendlys can be hard to judge.

What are Barrow's realistic expectations for this season? Top 6?

Im shocked to see Barrow least favourates of the Championship sides and behind Oldham I have predicted them to finish top 4 in our league as I feel they have made some quality signings. They do however say that the bookmakers are not far wrong?

Barrow should go fairly well this year, teams won't enjoy having to go up there. That said Barrow probably won't enjoy travelling away either. It'll be intersting to see how all their new players gel and how much effort they put in and how many of them are there for the money.

barrow 38 - Oldham 4
barrow are missing 7 from the starting line up

strength in depth ??

A ) Its a friendly game which is often used as trial and error.
B ) Oldham are a Division 2 side-albeit a good one and should go up but many said that last year!

C ) Playing against teams who have a number of players who have or at least should be in SL will be a strong test for Doncaster, Gateshead and Barrow. There are no easy games in Div 1 like in Div 2 and you cant afford to pick your games to finish in the top 4 or so.

Having said that Barrow will go well this season and thats great to see as they have had some hard times like many teams in NL1 in the recent past. However to expect them to be challenging for silverware is being very optimistic. I would expect Barrow to lose very few if any home games-similar to Haven in many ways. What will decide how they do in the League and Cup is how well they travel and how well they cope with any major injury lists which does happen often.

Oldham had a number of players missing as well. Dosnt bode well for Leigh though, what with their result against Oldham.

Three changes

Widnes ---11/4 -Betfred
Halifax ---10/3 -Betfred
Leigh ---11/2 -Bet 365 now 6/1 - tote sport
Whitehaven--- 11/2 -Bet 365 now 13/2 - tote sport
Featherstone--- 8 -Bet 365
Sheffield ---12 -Bet 365
Batley ---16 -Bet 365
Oldham ---25 -Bet 365
Doncaster ---25 -Bet 365
Barrow- ---28 -Betfred
Keighley ---33 -Bet 365
Gateshead ---50 -Betfred
Swinton ---50 -Bet 365
Dewsbury ---66 -Bet 365
Rochdale ---100 -Bet 365
York ---150 -Bet 365
Workington---150 -Bet 365
Blackpool ---250 -Bet 365
London ---350 -Bet 365 now 500/1 totesport
Hunslet ---500 -Bet 365