Evertons winning midfield partnership this season

Andy McGurk · January 27, 2015

Again, lock this if there is a similar thread.

West Brom - Barry, McCarthy (Osman)

Wolfsburg (Home) - Barry, McCarthy

Aston Villa - Barry, McCarthy, Osman

Burnley - Barry, McCarthy, Osman

Lille - Barry, McCarthy, Osman, Gibson, Bešic

West Ham - McCarthy, Osman (only game I've been to this season, and it was appalling)

Wolfsbury (Away) - McCarthy (Osman), Bešic

QPR - Barkley, Bešic

Newcastle (1st half) - Barry, Bešic, McCarthy

Things we can learn (already know) from this that Martinez should also learn (already know)

1) Osman been involved in all but 2 wins, never thought I'd say this but we do desperately miss him

2) McCarthy has been involved in all but 1 win, thank god he's close to fitness

3) That one win with McCarthy or Osman, Barry wasn't involved at all.

4) Barkley can get away with being crap on the wing if McCarthy or Osman are there, otherwise its pointless.

5) Barry and Bešic cannot, I repeat cannot, ever play together. All of our worst performances have come with 2 of them together. maybe they are just too similar or what, but somewhere in their heads they are on opposite wavelengths.

Basically, if McCarthy and Osman are out, it should be Barkley+Bešic or Barkley+Barry.

Now I know some of you will say "it doesn't necessarily work like that, we still lost games with McCarthy, Osman etc", I know this, but most of those games were lost because of the defense, thats a different matter all together. A Defense should stop you losing, an attack should help you win. Early on when we did drop points with McCarthy and Osman, at least we were scoring goals (Man City aside).

Basically Martinez, if McCarthy or Osman are fit or not, JUST DON'T PLAY BEŠIC AND BARRY AT THE SAME TIME!!

Rant over.

Deleted member 24970 · January 27, 2015

Andy McGurk said:
Again, lock this if there is a similar thread.

West Brom - Barry, McCarthy (Osman)

Wolfsburg (Home) - Barry, McCarthy

Aston Villa - Barry, McCarthy, Osman

Burnley - Barry, McCarthy, Osman

Lille - Barry, McCarthy, Osman, Gibson, Bešic

West Ham - McCarthy, Osman (only game I've been to this season, and it was appalling)

Wolfsbury (Away) - McCarthy (Osman), Bešic

QPR - Barkley, Bešic

Newcastle (1st half) - Barry, Bešic, McCarthy

Things we can learn (already know) from this that Martinez should also learn (already know)

1) Osman been involved in all but 2 wins, never thought I'd say this but we do desperately miss him

2) McCarthy has been involved in all but 1 win, thank god he's close to fitness

3) That one win with McCarthy or Osman, Barry wasn't involved at all.

4) Barkley can get away with being crap on the wing if McCarthy or Osman are there, otherwise its pointless.

5) Barry and Bešic cannot, I repeat cannot, ever play together. All of our worst performances have come with 2 of them together. maybe they are just too similar or what, but somewhere in their heads they are on opposite wavelengths.

Basically, if McCarthy and Osman are out, it should be Barkley+Bešic or Barkley+Barry.

Now I know some of you will say "it doesn't necessarily work like that, we still lost games with McCarthy, Osman etc", I know this, but most of those games were lost because of the defense, thats a different matter all together. A Defense should stop you losing, an attack should help you win. Early on when we did drop points with McCarthy and Osman, at least we were scoring goals (Man City aside).

Basically Martinez, if McCarthy or Osman are fit or not, JUST DON'T PLAY BEŠIC AND BARRY AT THE SAME TIME!!

Rant over.

I see your point but a midfield is the defenders defence - it does matter. Also Osman doesnt play centrally he often drifts onto the wing or (left attacking midfield slot).

Barry is not the only guy to suffer this year, he, myself and everyone else misses Mccarthy's legs in the middle.

Andy McGurk · January 27, 2015

Paul Bernard said:
I see your point but a midfield is the defenders defence - it does matter. Also Osman doesnt play centrally he often drifts onto the wing or (left attacking midfield slot).

Barry is not the only guy to suffer this year, he, myself and everyone else misses Mccarthy's legs in the middle.

True, but if defensive midfield partnership aren't on the same wavelength then they aren't gonna give much protection. I know QPR are pants but in that game even Barkley played well defensively because he realised in need to be the legs and then the drive to get out of defense.

Maybe Besic or Barry have to start to provide protection, but not both.

davek · January 27, 2015

Thought the three in the Derby we went with did well and could be deployed again more often in games.:

McCarthy Barry Besic. Held Liverpool off well. We didn't offer much in attack that day because we had Hibbert at RB rather than Coleman.

Deleted member 24970 · January 27, 2015

Andy McGurk said:
True, but if defensive midfield partnership aren't on the same wavelength then they aren't gonna give much protection. I know QPR are pants but in that game even Barkley played well defensively because he realised in need to be the legs and then the drive to get out of defense.

Maybe Besic or Barry have to start to provide protection, but not both.

Barry needs a rest and Besic looks good, i think besic can be rash at times and that is why barry sits behind him 'just in case' type of view.

For the record i almost hung myself at the thought of Osman being a shield infront of the defence, maybe thats part of the problem, although the dwarfs are tough in lord of the rings lol.

Osman can be a usefull addition in the final 20 minutes.

Andy McGurk · January 27, 2015

Paul Bernard said:
Barry needs a rest and Besic looks good, i think besic can be rash at times and that is why barry sits behind him 'just in case' type of view.

For the record i almost hung myself at the thought of Osman being a shield infront of the defence, maybe thats part of the problem, although the dwarfs are tough in lord of the rings lol.

Osman can be a usefull addition in the final 20 minutes.

lol at the thought of Leon "The Rock" Osman

I'm mainly thinking of the all round play though rather than just defense, to start with we need an actual defense for a midfield to protect.

If and when we DO defend well enough to get the ball, Osman seems to be at least an outlet who works enough in the middle or the wing, judging from the results, or McCarthy or Barkley can drive out of midfield with the ball on the counter.

Just can't see Besic or Barry doing that.

So many problems all over the pitch I know, but this seems to be one that can be fixed even with all the injuries we have.

beachy · January 27, 2015

Andy McGurk said:
lol at the thought of Leon "The Rock" Osman

I'm mainly thinking of the all round play though rather than just defense, to start with we need an actual defense for a midfield to protect.

If and when we DO defend well enough to get the ball, Osman seems to be at least an outlet who works enough in the middle or the wing, judging from the results, or McCarthy or Barkley can drive out of midfield with the ball on the counter.

Just can't see Besic or Barry doing that.

So many problems all over the pitch I know, but this seems to be one that can be fixed even with all the injuries we have.

Barry is the weak link. He missed the QPR game. How many minutes on the pitch since he tasted victory? Must be over 1000.

Besic and Barry both want to be the guy who drops deep to pick the ball up from the defence.. so as a duo doesn't really work. Besic can do everything Barry can but also run around a bit. The best partnerships would be Besic and McCarthy, or Besic and Barkley.

Don't really like all 3 playing together either as Barkley doesn't get close enough to Rom. Although maybe against the very best teams if we played on the counter attack it can work.

McCarthy and Barkley as a duo is the other interesting possibility. Maybe not suited to a team with attacking full backs as neither likes dropping deep.

Anyway, all pie in the sky as Martinez will pick Barry no matter what

ArtetaMoney · January 27, 2015

It's the 3 behind Lukaku that's the problem, said this all season.

Players played out of position and out of form, they lose the ball too easily, don't work hard enough to get it back when they do lose it, don't pass forward quick enough and don't show for the full backs to pass to.

All of which happened last season, which is why we done so well. Get them working together again, we will score more goals and the defensive midfielders will have less to do.

DrEFC · January 27, 2015

Just want boss Everton to return so much. It doesn't half depress the crap out of me :/

Will Escott · January 27, 2015

Recently I've been wondering if we do miss Osman. Regardless of the fact he's past his best, he is probably more of a leader on the pitch and having him in the squad does take pressure off Barkley.

Conway_West_ · January 27, 2015

as much crap as people give Osman, (I'm very guilty as well) we have missed him. With that being said, I still believe that McCarthy and Besic are our two best holding midfielders. I think Osman is best used as a utility man off of the bench, just my opinion. Barry has to be dropped as well. Martinez seems to trust him for his experience or whatever it may be, but I think it's clear that he is past it now.

deipnosophist · January 27, 2015

Besic and McCarthy for me. And I would play Barkley behind Lukaku until he (Barkley) recalls the concept that he can be quite talented. Mirallas on the left wing and get Deulofeu on the right.

disclaimer : injuries (ie hamstrings) permitting