Gareth Barry

[DylanMachell]

I'd agree but he does generally compensate for a lot of his lack of pace by excellent positioning and reading of the game - top speed or acceleration have never really been his strong point even in youth but on the plus-side it might have helped him avoid hamstring injuries!

yeah good point, hes got a really good footballing brain, and very good at covering the wing backs as they get forward, him and macca used to do that rerslly well together.

 

[sageyefc]

not a chance, hes too slow to chase anyone down.
im not saying hes a bad player, just depends who we are playing that id want him in the line up

Its a fact, he On average produces more tackles than any other midfielder we have. And as i say above, his positioning and reading of the situation makes up for lack of pace

 

[DylanMachell]

Hes doesn't need to be quick, his positioning is excellent and a lot of the time he'll break an attack up with his reading of the situation

his reading of the game is excellent,, but would you trust to him to chase back to break up an attack? not atall.

 

[sageyefc]

his reading of the game is excellent,, but would you trust to him to chase back to break up an attack? not atall.

Most of the time yes, the few who get past hes smart enough to bring down and take the yellow. But it rarely happens anyway because he keeps himself back most of the time

 

[LinekersLegs]

his reading of the game is excellent,, but would you trust to him to chase back to break up an attack? not atall.

But that doesn't mean he should always be dropped for those types of games, just that we might need to change our tactics a little such as playing a 3 man midfield with the other two energetic runners so he doesn't get exposed as much.

Thought he'd struggle against Spurs tbh, they typically press aggressively and are fast both of which usually cause him problems, but we set up well and Barry was one of the top performers.

 

[DylanMachell]

Most of the time yes, the few who get past hes smart enough to bring down and take the yellow. But it rarely happens anyway because he keeps himself back most of the time

theres been plenty of times where ive seen plays get past him, and hes struggled to get back, too many times

 

[blueblue]

I think that Barry may have played a huge part in the improvement in Besic. It can only benefit a young player learning from somebody like Barry every day.

 

[sageyefc]

theres been plenty of times where ive seen plays get past him, and hes struggled to get back, too many times

Simple fact is hes been our best midfielder this season so he won't be dropped and nor should he

 

[DylanMachell]

But that doesn't mean he should always be dropped for those types of games, just that we might need to change our tactics a little such as playing a 3 man midfield with the other two energetic runners so he doesn't get exposed as much.

Thought he'd struggle against Spurs tbh, they typically press aggressively and are fast both of which usually cause him problems, but we set up well and Barry was one of the top performers.

100% I personally feel the game is won in the midfield, some variation of 4-5-1 with 3 packed in the middle would work great I tjhink and I could see barry right in the middle

 

[ijjysmith]

not having any of it, barry is just too slow, im not saying hes [Poor language removed], ball at his feet hes great, the point im making is on the back foot chasing down, hes just too slow, simple as that, and what

That Iniesta is pretty slow isn't he?

 

[DylanMachell]

Simple fact is hes been our best midfielder this season so he won't be dropped and nor should he

ive not said hes been bad, city game he stood out and was brilliant, its just the slowness that bothers me, I think if it was a packed 3 midfuled with him bang in the middle it would be better off as theres more support around him, hes great on the ball, just the slowness out of him kills me

 

[toffeeblue9]

He'd be in my team, it would be a question of whether Besic or McCarthy partner him in midfield for me

Reads the game better than anyone we have, immaculate and intelligent use of the ball and he positions himself brilliantly hence the number of tackles he makes - also, although it gets overlooked because of his lack of pace, he still covers more ground than any of our players

An issue we have had is when we changed to a 433 in some games with him at the base of midfield and Cleverley and Barkley either side of him, we looked vulnerable as there was nobody with any pace to do the defensive bits alongside him. We need to have that 4231 with someone alongside Barry for the sake of the balance of the team, this is where we came unstuck a bit over Christmas

Besic, one day, might be able to do the job that Barry does but he's miles off that yet.

He had a great first season, a poor second season but this year he has been every bit as good as he was in his first season here. I guess, given he never really had any pace, that he hasn't needed to do too much to adapt his game just yet.

 

[DylanMachell]

That Iniesta is pretty slow isn't he?

the fact your comparing barry to iniesta shows what type of minded person you are. have u ever seen barry do anython close to iniesta? no. two different players totally. what inietsa does with his feet barry could do with his [Poor language removed] hands on Adderall

 

[ijjysmith]

the fact your comparing barry to iniesta shows what type of minded person you are. have u ever seen barry do anython close to iniesta? no. two different players totally. what inietsa does with his feet barry could do with his [Poor language removed] hands on Adderall

The fact you took is seriously probably says a little more about you mate.

 

[sageyefc]

ive not said hes been bad, city game he stood out and was brilliant, its just the slowness that bothers me, I think if it was a packed 3 midfuled with him bang in the middle it would be better off as theres more support around him, hes great on the ball, just the slowness out of him kills me

But as stated, his slowness hasnt proved a problem judging by the stats and the majority of Evertonians eyes, so don't really know what point youre making. Whoever plays next to him makes up the pace