The Midfield

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Sona said:
We're edging closer to the start of the season and I thought it'd be worthwhile taking a look at the obvious conundrum that Koeman faces in this area of the park.

Even when he first arrived, Koeman voiced his intentions of addressing the midfield area.

The manager has so far looked to combine his midfield two in the following way: an all action, high-energy ball winner AND a playmaker.

Meanwhile, Steve Walsh has always mentioned how he looks at the character of a player; does he have a point to prove? Will he put the work in?

At present, we no doubt have the quantity, but do we have the quality?

Gareth Barry
View attachment 27204
Age: 35
Type: Deep Lying Playmaker
Strengths: Passing, Positioning
Weaknesses: Pace, Acceleration

Koeman must be gutted that he does not have this player in his prime. Barry can pick a pass, but is also sound defensively. However, he just can't implement that high energy pressing that the new manager craves.

Verdict: Starter (for now)

------------------

Idrissa Gana Gueye
View attachment 27200
Age: 26
Type: Ball Winner
Strengths: Interceptions, Acceleration
Weaknesses: Creativity

Noted for his interceptions and breaking up play, it looks as though Gana will be perfectly suited to the way that Koeman is looking for us to play this season.

Verdict: Starter

-----------------

James McCarthy
View attachment 27203
Age: 25
Type: Ball Winner
Strengths: Tackling
Weaknesses: Passing

A fan favourite in Martinez' first season, but now clearly struggling for form. On his day, has the tenacity to break down play at will, but all too often lacking going forward.

Verdict: First Choice Backup for Gana

----------------

Tom Davies
View attachment 27206
Age: 18
Type: Box-to-Box Midfielder
Strengths: Passing, Tackling
Weaknesses: Inexperience, Positioning
We have a real prospect on our hands here. I expect to see him involved from the bench frequently this season especially when looking to close out games. He's more of an "all rounder" in that he is good both going forward and defensively. Still not creative enough to be our playmaker though.

Verdict: First Choice Backup for Barry (for now)

-------------------

Darron Gibson
View attachment 27205
Age: 28
Type: Deep Lying Playmaker
Strengths: Passing Range
Weaknesses: Acceleration, Injuries

Yet another match missed for the Ireland international. It certainly seems as though the new contract was merely to prevent us from losing him on a free and I expect him to be gone by Sept 1st.

Verdict: Out

-------------------

Tom Cleverley
View attachment 27207
Age: 26
Type: Midfielder
Strengths: None of note
Weaknesses: None of note

Cleverley is the archetypal middle-of-the-road performer. Excels at nothing, but equally has no real weaknesses. He's a 6-out-of-ten performer each week and for that reason, I can see him being surplus to requirements. Zero involvement in the Espanyol match seems to back this up.

Verdict: Out

------------------

Also, Mo Besic. Not much point in commenting on the Bosnian here, as the landscape will no doubt have changed by the time he returns from injury and no one will be signing him whilst injured.

So where do we go from here?

We are in desperate need of someone creative to play alongside Gana; either Witsel or Carvalho would be suitable and both have been linked, whilst Carvalho could also play the Gana role of breaking up play from deep.

Come the end of the window, I would like to see our midfield options consist of:

Ball Winner: Carvalho/ Gana/ McCarthy

Playmaker: Witsel/ Barry/ Davies
Click to expand...


Carvalho = Not a ball winner.
Witsel = Not a playmaker.
Barry = Not a playmaker.
 
We didn't give Gibson a contract to stop him leaving on a free. Aside from anything else, if e doesn't ask for a transfer we'd have to pay a ridiculous amount of compensation.
 

Zatara said:
Carvalho = Not a ball winner.
Witsel = Not a playmaker.
Barry = Not a playmaker.
Click to expand...

You're missing my point mate.

I'm saying that Barry is being played as that type of midfielder under Koeman.

I also think people don't fully understand the term 'playmaker' when referring to deep midfielders in a midfield two. It is a term used to describe a defensive player or someone who plays deep, but also gets on the ball and begins moves from that area of the field.

People immediately think 'Pirlo' when this phrase is mentioned, but when referring to a midfield two, we should think more 'Carrick' (ie good at the defensive side of the game as well).
 

Steve0 said:
We didn't give Gibson a contract to stop him leaving on a free. Aside from anything else, if e doesn't ask for a transfer we'd have to pay a ridiculous amount of compensation.
Click to expand...

But the new manager or Director of Football hadn't even been appointed when he was given the contract Steve?

So why do you think he was given one? Are you saying that the board have now told Koeman that he must play Gibson this season because we've now given him a contract?

Interested to know what you mean by "ridiculous amount of compensation" too, given that none of us know the inner workings of his contract. Not every single contract has a loyalty bonus (which I think is what you're referring to in your post).
 
Sona said:
We're edging closer to the start of the season and I thought it'd be worthwhile taking a look at the obvious conundrum that Koeman faces in this area of the park.

Even when he first arrived, Koeman voiced his intentions of addressing the midfield area.

The manager has so far looked to combine his midfield two in the following way: an all action, high-energy ball winner AND a playmaker.

Meanwhile, Steve Walsh has always mentioned how he looks at the character of a player; does he have a point to prove? Will he put the work in?

At present, we no doubt have the quantity, but do we have the quality?

Gareth Barry
View attachment 27204
Age: 35
Type: Deep Lying Playmaker
Strengths: Passing, Positioning
Weaknesses: Pace, Acceleration

Koeman must be gutted that he does not have this player in his prime. Barry can pick a pass, but is also sound defensively. However, he just can't implement that high energy pressing that the new manager craves.

Verdict: Starter (for now)

------------------

Idrissa Gana Gueye
View attachment 27200
Age: 26
Type: Ball Winner
Strengths: Interceptions, Acceleration
Weaknesses: Creativity

Noted for his interceptions and breaking up play, it looks as though Gana will be perfectly suited to the way that Koeman is looking for us to play this season.

Verdict: Starter

-----------------

James McCarthy
View attachment 27203
Age: 25
Type: Ball Winner
Strengths: Tackling
Weaknesses: Passing

A fan favourite in Martinez' first season, but now clearly struggling for form. On his day, has the tenacity to break down play at will, but all too often lacking going forward.

Verdict: First Choice Backup for Gana

----------------

Tom Davies
View attachment 27206
Age: 18
Type: Box-to-Box Midfielder
Strengths: Passing, Tackling
Weaknesses: Inexperience, Positioning
We have a real prospect on our hands here. I expect to see him involved from the bench frequently this season especially when looking to close out games. He's more of an "all rounder" in that he is good both going forward and defensively. Still not creative enough to be our playmaker though.

Verdict: First Choice Backup for Barry (for now)

-------------------

Darron Gibson
View attachment 27205
Age: 28
Type: Deep Lying Playmaker
Strengths: Passing Range
Weaknesses: Acceleration, Injuries

Yet another match missed for the Ireland international. It certainly seems as though the new contract was merely to prevent us from losing him on a free and I expect him to be gone by Sept 1st.

Verdict: Out

-------------------

Tom Cleverley
View attachment 27207
Age: 26
Type: Midfielder
Strengths: None of note
Weaknesses: None of note

Cleverley is the archetypal middle-of-the-road performer. Excels at nothing, but equally has no real weaknesses. He's a 6-out-of-ten performer each week and for that reason, I can see him being surplus to requirements. Zero involvement in the Espanyol match seems to back this up.

Verdict: Out

------------------

Also, Mo Besic. Not much point in commenting on the Bosnian here, as the landscape will no doubt have changed by the time he returns from injury and no one will be signing him whilst injured.

So where do we go from here?

We are in desperate need of someone creative to play alongside Gana; either Witsel or Carvalho would be suitable and both have been linked, whilst Carvalho could also play the Gana role of breaking up play from deep.

Come the end of the window, I would like to see our midfield options consist of:

Ball Winner: Carvalho/ Gana/ McCarthy

Playmaker: Witsel/ Barry/ Davies
Click to expand...
Great post but I'm wondering where does Barkley fit in then?
 
Sona said:
You're missing my point mate.

I'm saying that Barry is being played as that type of midfielder under Koeman.

I also think people don't fully understand the term 'playmaker' when referring to deep midfielders in a midfield two. It is a term used to describe a defensive player or someone who plays deep, but also gets on the ball and begins moves from that area of the field.

People immediately think 'Pirlo' when this phrase is mentioned, but when referring to a midfield two, we should think more 'Carrick' (ie good at the defensive side of the game as well).
Click to expand...

So Barry and Witsel are now playmakers and Carvalho is a ball winner...
 

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