Centre-midfield - we need to take the brakes off

[davek]

I know we haven't got two traditional sitting players in Barry and McCarthy, but neither of them are exactly box-to-box. Given that Roberto is never going to go with a dual strikeforce dont we need to have a different balance in CM now? Look at others and you see much more adventure: Ramirez/Lampard; Toure/Fernandinho; Arteta/Ramsey; Sandro/Dembele.

We tend to wait for total dominance in the opposition half and the right moment to make the final pass. I like that we do that, but we need another string to our bow, and being able to move into another shape and rhythm for a spell or two in the game, inviting teams on a little more and getting one of our CMs carrying the ball from deep, has to be something we look at. Obviously Barkley is the way forward on that score. We need to prioritise a replacement for him in that more advanced role in the summer. He's wasted there for my money. I dont think we can continue to progress next season with this CM pairing, tbh. We dont get enough options from there. Harsh I know given that that combo have been so reliable for us.

 

[Brennan]

Yep.

You need one of a player like Barry or McCarthy alongside a Barkley or a Gibson. If Gibson is fit then he's great, brilliant passer of the ball and always looks to move it forward rather than sideways.

The solution is to spend a decent amount of money on a number 10.

 

[Duncan Disordely]

Against the teams who are just willing to sit back and out 11 players behind the ball, like West Ham did yesterday, I totally agree. Barry and McCarthy do very similar jobs and you take replace one with the driving force of Barkley. This in turn then allows another attacking player to play behind Lukaku up top. You could rest Barry for some games and have either Naismith or Mirallas behind Lukaku which also gives room for McGeady or Deulofeu to play wide as well.

 

[Kiwi]

Seen it occaisionally from McCarthy. Hopefully as he continues to develop as a player that will become part of his game, as its really all he lacks to be a top player.

 

[Librarian]

Credit to Jagielka and Distin in transforming their games....but....
A bit better distribution from centre back wouldn't hurt either in releasing the midfield.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Not sure I agree. Our full backs are both incredibly adventurous, so we often have six players lending weight to any attack. I'd say that's as much as many, and our full backs offer more to our attack than arguably any other team in the league.

They can only do that because they know that there is a degree of protection left behind them in the shape of Barry and McCarthy.

 

[Foot Long Hot Dog]

Barkley in the deep lying role would be a disaster IMO, as he consistently gets caught in possession and would offer no defensive qualities in that position.

 

[Chang Elephant]

For me a quick way of taking the brakes off would be to drop Osman

 

[Billy Dean]

Completely agree with the OP. For my money Barkley will end up a number 8. Longer term I think him and McCarthy could be our regular CM pairing as the amount of games Barry will be able to play (if he signs permanently) will decrease. There are plenty of options for the no.10 role apart from Barkley.

 

[ijjysmith]

Been saying this for weeks mate.

Don't mind Barry and McCarthy at all.

But when we're losing or really need a goal it's not ideal for me at all.

 

[Brennan]

Not sure I agree. Our full backs are both incredibly adventurous, so we often have six players lending weight to any attack. I'd say that's as much as many, and our full backs offer more to our attack than arguably any other team in the league.

They can only do that because they know that there is a degree of protection left behind them in the shape of Barry and McCarthy.

McCarthy gets all over the pitch though, he doesn't sit in front of the centre backs. Barry does.

If we were going about it the right way you wouldn't see every team above us in the league playing with a more attack minded CM.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

McCarthy gets all over the pitch though, he doesn't sit in front of the centre backs. Barry does.

If we were going about it the right way you wouldn't see every team above us in the league playing with a more attack minded CM.

Are their fullbacks more attacking than ours? I'm inclined to think not. It seems that our advanced three tend to stay fairly central. The wide men don't hug the touchline because they know Baines and Coleman will provide the width. So we've got four players there in a central attacking position. Should be plenty surely?

 

[Chang Elephant]

Agree with Bruce, the formations not wrong, it's the personnel in certain positions (not necessarily Barry/McCarthy). Don't make me name both vertically challenged culprits though.

 

[Brennan]

Are their fullbacks more attacking than ours? I'm inclined to think not. It seems that our advanced three tend to stay fairly central. The wide men don't hug the touchline because they know Baines and Coleman will provide the width. So we've got four players there in a central attacking position. Should be plenty surely?

It's not about the number of attacking players though, it's about the quality and type of player.

McCarthy regularly gets into the opposition half and the final third, but he doesn't really know what to do with the ball when he gets it. He's fantastic for cleaning up and chasing down lost causes, but he's not going to slide a pass through for Lukaku to smash into the back of the net.

 

[Titus Bramble]

Not sure I agree. Our full backs are both incredibly adventurous, so we often have six players lending weight to any attack. I'd say that's as much as many, and our full backs offer more to our attack than arguably any other team in the league.

They can only do that because they know that there is a degree of protection left behind them in the shape of Barry and McCarthy.

But if we were to go with a more forward thinking CM it would allow us to swap our attacking focus. If both full backs are bombing on (which is boss btw) both CM need to be disciplined to sit back. But then we could also have a full back and a CM bombing on, so the other full back would need to stay back. I think this is the other strong to our bow Davek is referring to and I think he's right, it would make us more unpredictable.