Gareth Barry

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One of our best performers this season.
Agreed. Yes he was poor for large swathes of last season, but I know a fair few people who still use that fact to label him as a pariah this year.

This season he's been much more composed and effective, showing signs of the class we saw back in the 2013-14 season. Credit where credit is due.
 

Agreed. Yes he was poor for large swathes of last season, but I know a fair few people who still use that fact to label him as a pariah this year.

This season he's been much more composed and effective, showing signs of the class we saw back in the 2013-14 season. Credit where credit is due.

True this, we all need to judge him as he is now, and he is playing well. The side as a side might not be doing as well as we should but as an individual this season Barry hasn't let anyone down and has been a part of the better side of our play.
 
Interesting that Barry is one of the hardest workers(distance covered) in the prem this year and he certainly has been one of our best players this year. As our main holding midfield player I just wonder if he is getting involved too much ? I would expect my holder to get the ball off the back four and give to one of our talented players further forward and continue marking/scanning for danger. On so many occasions this year and last we are left 2 on 2 at the back while our defensive midfielders are caught in advanced positions joining in the forward play. I'm a big Barry fan but I wish he would just use his experience to snub out danger before it happens, than just be another body helping to pass it sideways in front of a bus parked in front of the oppo's penalty area.
 
With McCarthy playing out of position?

Also with McCarthy going off against Bournemouth and us being cut apart in centre midfield when teams run through us...

I think McCarthy is far better suited for our team and Barry needs someone to do the running for him...without McCarthy Barry is exposed...



People often get stuck in their views and Barry's appalling season last year has entrenched many people in such a view.

This season Barry > McCarthy.
 
With McCarthy playing out of position?

Also with McCarthy going off against Bournemouth and us being cut apart in centre midfield when teams run through us...

I think McCarthy is far better suited for our team and Barry needs someone to do the running for him...without McCarthy Barry is exposed...
McCarthy is the better player without doubt and in the long term he is far better suited for our team as you mentioned.

And you're perfectly correct that Barry now requires a good set of legs next to him to keep our midfield mobile, be that McCarthy or Cleverly.

Although, this season I personally feel McCarthy has underperformed in his individual role, while Barry has performed well in his position.

Last season I was highly critical of Barry in may performances, but this season I feel he is beginning to redeem himself.
 

Im going against popular opinion here and i know alot of people really rated his performance yesterday...

For me, he's just not "suited" to our system.

I'm not trying to be controversial here but here's what i see:

1-- Very slow player who cant cover for Baines so with Baines having Kone/Mirallas miles ahead of him he cant get up the pitch as he has no protection. A more mobile DM could easily cover for Baines this means LB is exposed as we saw yesterday.

2-- His challenges when he gets beaten for pace are shocking. He was carded yesterday but in fact when players are about to go past him he just fouls them...its all about lack of mobility and a more mobile player wouldnt be carded so much (doesnt he have the most cards in the Prem ever?). Hes applauded for this but i think rather than being clever and experienced its due to a lack of pace.

3-- Our defence likes to play a high line. Yesterday (when people were raving about Barrys performance) in the second half especially Barry was miles behind the play when Newcastle counter attacked due to his lack of pace. If we are going to play a high line against a team with pace (which newcastle luckily didnt have) then he may as well not be there if they counter.

I could go on an on but basically i think we need a more mobile player in there...

4-- As i mentioned in '1' he cant cover for Baines. But also, him being in DM means that McCarthy is being played out of position in CM and Besic also was shoved in their yesterday. Both are mobile DM players and their style and attributes suit the team better.

I like Barry as a player but his lack of mobility i think doesnt help the team whilst other mobile players who may not have the same experience or quality as him are played out of position to accomodate him.

If he was more mobile he would be rightly first choice but i just dont think he's suitable for the DM position in our team...maybe in a team which plays a deeper defence and counter attacks...but not a possession based side with a high line.

He may individually be having a good season but the team would benefit from McCarthy being in there with Besic as backup i think and new CM brought in rather than fitting square pegs in round holes.
 

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